Library open for Lankans in Riyadh
Mohammed RASOOLDEEN in Riyadh
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia opened a library for stranded
housemaids in Riyadh on Saturday.
The library located in the mission's safe house meant for the
housemaids, will enable its inmates to spend their leisure in reading
books and magazines. Books were donated by the Sri Lanka Bureau of
Foreign Employment, (SLBFE) which looks after the interests of the
island's overseas workers.
Around 2,000 books including novels, magazines and newspapers were
displayed in the reading room of the safe house.
The library was opened to mark International Migrants Day, which was
observed last week throughout the globe, labour counsellor of the
embassy Anura Muthumala told the Daily News on Monday.
He said the arrangement was made on an initiative of the SLBFE.
Prior to their departure for overseas employment, Lankans are
expected to register with the SLBFE,which has its offices in the major
cities of the country.
Last year, the official said, the country received around $4.1
billion in foreign remittances from Sri Lankan overseas workers.
He said around 500,000 Lankan workers are in Saudi Arabia.
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