Government intervention sought

Release of Lankans held by Iraqi Police

Channa Kasturisinghe and Rasika Somaratne

COLOMBO: The fate of five Sri Lankans arrested by Iraqi border police about three months ago is still unknown and the relatives are seeking the authorities, intervention to get them released soon. The Sri Lankan truck drivers along with 16 others from India and Nepal employed by Kuwait and Gulf Link (K.G.L) Transport Company had been arrested by Iraqi authorities in May 2006 while transporting meat from Kuwait to Iraq.

Some relatives of these Sri Lankan employees yesterday told the Daily News that their repeated requests to the authorities to intervene in getting them released have been in vain. "We at least do not have any means of communication with them and we are worried about their lives," they said.

Bandula Jayathilaka, 39, of Arrawwela is among the five Sri Lankans in Iraqi police custody. His wife Priyadarshani Withanage said she wrote to the Foreign Employment Bureau seeking its assistance. "I met several officials and wrote many letters but still they have not been able to get my husband released. So I think the Government should soon intervene and discuss with Iraqi authorities on this issue," she said.

Mala Abegunasekara of Gampaha, the wife of K.A.P.C Perera said that her husband went abroad in March 2006 to work for K.G.L, an American company based in Kuwait.

"We came to know that he was arrested by Iraqi police while transporting meat. It is the responsibility of the Company to ensure the release of my husband and the others. But if they are not doing that, the Government should pressurise the agency and the company to take necessary action," she said.

Deputy General Manager of the Foreign Employment Bureau L. K. Ruhunage said the company concerned was to send their lawyers to Iraq to ensure the release of the workers in custody. "We have been informed that one of the Sri Lankans has already been released. We will take every possible action to get the others released," Ruhunage said.