Kuwait, Lanka prisoner transfer plan

Ben GARCIA

KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein A. Bhaila who concluded his three-day visit to Kuwait , mentioned the discussion regarding the transfer of prisoners agreement, which he declared nearly finalised.

“We have ratified the agreement in Sri Lanka and we are just waiting for Kuwait’s ratification. This issue was included in the discussion with our President during his visit here last May,” he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Kuwait in May where various investment, cultural and tourism agreements were signed. Bhaila paid a courtesy visit to his counterparts and other government officials in Kuwait and discussed issues of mutual relations and the welfare of the 150,000 strong Sri Lankan workforce in Kuwait.

As the head of foreign consular relations and the Middle East mission, Bhaila and his delegation also met with the Ministers and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Interior with whom he discussed the conditions of housemaids and labourers in Kuwait.

Specifics, according to him, were seriously worked out including the number of work-hours and holidays and minimum wage issues.

“Some of our discussions will be formally signed in December. About the housemaids, we have to sign and agree on some issues related to their concerns. We cannot just do it unilaterally. We spoke about raising their salaries and work-related conditions, but not yet in full details,” he said.

Bhaila also delivered an invitation to Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, stressing their desire to invite the Amir to Sri Lanka.

“My President personally invited HH the Amir last May but again to reiterate his desire, he sent me a letter of invitation. It will be handed over by the Sri Lankan ambassador in the next few days and I am confident that he will accept our warm invitation,” he added.

The Deputy Minister also invited the Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka, which according to him, was accepted and tentatively scheduled early next year. Political relations between Sri Lanka and Kuwait have always been excellent, according to Bhaila.

Moreover, he stated Sri Lanka was grateful to Kuwait especially since Kuwait was the first country in the Middle East to generously respond on their country’s need for aid during the 2004 tsunami. The Sri Lankan population in Kuwait has reached 150,000 wherein 85 per cent of Sri Lankans here are engaged in domestic work.