Manjula Ukwaththa, a suspect who was arrested for child trafficking, has been released on bail.

According to the Police, he was released on two sureties of Rs. 200,000 and subject to bail conditions.

The suspect will be produced before the Moratuwa Magistrate’s Court on the 4th of January .

He was arrested yesterday after the Police and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) received multiple complaints about the suspect and his alleged business of selling new born babies. Several journalists also raised the issue on social media and called for rapid action against Ukwaththa.

Initial investigations have revealed that the 47-year-old man has sold nearly 30 newborn babies to date. On his social media pages, Ukwaththa portrayed himself as a pious man helping needy women in raising their children.

The Police have already found of 12 pregnant women, another 12 women among whom five had already handed over their children to third parties for money..