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Efforts to help Lankans caught in Mid-East tension

by Ananda Kannangara

A two-member labour delegation from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) on Wednesday left for the Middle East to look into the future welfare needs of around 600,000 Lankan expatriate workers who are facing a war situation, currently prevailing in the region.

The Lankan delegation consist of the SLBFE Deputy General Manager (Foreign Relations) L.K. Ruhunage and SLBFE Working Director H.A. Wimalasooriya will join the Sri Lankan Consular General in Saudi Arabia Bandula Somasiri during their eight-day stay in the region.

They are expected to visit Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Abudhabi where a large number of Sri Lankans are employed.

It is reported that out of all the Middle East countries, around 250,000 and 180,000 workers are employed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait respectively.

"During this short tour our delegation will have a series of talks with the Ambassadors, Second Secretaries, Labour Ministers and officials in the respective countries and discuss matters pertaining to the current deteriorating situation in the Middle East", SLBFE Chairman Susantha Fernando told the Daily News yesterday.

"A comprehensive report on the situation of the Middle East and also the living conditions of Lankan workers will be handed over to Employment and Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe soon after their arrival in Sri Lanka", the Minister said.

It is said that the delegation is also expected to meet Sri Lankan expatriate workers too.

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