A special operation has been launched by the police to trace underage children employed as domestic workers in the Western province.

The operation comes in the wake of the death of Ishalini Jude Kumar, a 16-year-old girl who was employed as a domestic worker at the Colombo residence of MP Rishad Bathiudeen.

It was learnt that the girl had been sexually abused multiple times prior to her death. She wad admitted to hospital after severe burn injuries. Several family members of MP Bathudeen have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The new operation is launched under the supervision of the Police Women and Childrens Bureau and the Community Police Unit.

Employing underage children is a criminal offence in Sri Lanka.