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Fully fledged Departure Lounge opens today

by Ananda Kannangara

A fully fledged "Departure Lounge" for the benefit of Sri Lankan migrant workers using the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake for various destinations worldwide will be opened at the Airport by Labour and Employment Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe today (July 17) at 7.30 a.m.

Defence Minister, Thilak Marapona will be the Chief Guest on the occasion. The departure lounge will thereafter be supervised by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

"During the past two decades our workers rendered an invaluable service to swell the country's economy by bringing a colossal sum of foreign exchange to the country, so that it is the duty of the Government also to provide them with necessary infrastructure facilities in recognition to their service", Minister Samarasinghe told the Daily News.

He said many more facilities will be provided by the SLBFE towards these workers even in the future after consulting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The new "Departure Lounge" will provide the migrant workers with rest rooms to stay until their schedule flights arrive, telephone calls and E-mail facilities free of charge and also free meals during their stay in the Lounge.

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