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Italy to allocate job quota for Lankans

by Ravi Ladduwahetty

Italy is considering the allocation of an annual employment allocation to Sri Lanka, diplomatic sources told the 'Daily News' yesterday.

This measure has been devised to address the illegal immigrants that has concerned the Governments of both countries.

This could create thousands of employment opportunities for Sri Lanka hopefully by the year 2003 a Foreign Ministry official said.

Italian Ambassador in Sri Lanka Salvatore Zotta has informed Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando that his Government was considering the possibilities of granting an annual quota to Sri Lanka at its earliest, the Ministry official said.

He had pointed out to the Minister that the Italian Government was ready to cooperate with the Sri Lankan authorities, examine all possible avenues to find a permanent solution to the menace of illegal immigrants in a manner that would be equitable to both countries.

According to Labour Ministry sources, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe has also embarked on a mission to explore new employment opportunities for Sri Lanka's skilled and unskilled labour in the European market.

He had also made representations to the Italian Government.

During the negotiations with Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando, the Italian Ambassador urged the Sri Lankan Government to take stringent measures against those who commit human smuggling to Italy and other countries.

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