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Govt. obtains Rs. 480m from UN Compensations Committee

by Ananda Kannangara

The confidence and the recognition placed by the United Nations Security Council towards the Government's peace initiative helped us to obtain Rs. 480 million from the United Nations Compensation Committee to compensate our Migrant workers who lost employment in the Gulf war in 1991, Employment and Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said yesterday.

He made these observations at a ceremony held at the BMICH to coincide with the presentation of compensation to 1692 Sri Lankan migrant workers. Each worker received approximately Rs. 286,000 at today's ceremony organised by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

"The international community and also the donor organisations have already accepted the peace process initiated by the Government to stop the Northern war and they are now ready to grant any kind of assistance to our country since they have placed a high confidence over the leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Minister Samarasinghe also requested the workers to invest the money they received on proper avenues such for starting self employment projects which will benefit not only their families but also the country's economy in the future.

While paying a glowing tribute to one million Sri Lankan workers employed in foreign countries Samarasinghe said that numerous welfare facilities will be granted by the SLBFE in recognition to their tireless service rendered towards the uplift of country's economy.

"We have decided to issue a uniform and a travelling bag to every worker leaving the Airport for foreign jobs from May 1 this year, so then they can go to their work places in a respectable manner", he said.

Samarasinghe also said that around 95, 000 workers who lost employment in 1990 were already paid compensation and steps will also be taken to pay compensation to balance number of few workers in due course.

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana commended the Government's effort taken to pay such a colossal sum of money to migrant workers at a short period and said that all the additional income generate by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) will be utilised for the well- being of migrant workers who shed their sweat and toil to bring foreign exchange to the motherland.

Chairman, SLBFE Susantha Fernando said that during the past 12 months the Bureau launched several programs to introduce additional welfare services towards the migrant workers and this immensely helped to earn millions of foreign exchange last year.

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