Libya, Lanka sign employment MoUs

Irangika Range

Colombo: Sri Lanka yesterday signed a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Libya for the supply of Sri Lanka expatriate workers at higher salaries to Libya for education, hospitality and health sectors for the first time.

Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday, Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said at least 1,000 doctors and 1,000 nursers will be sent to Libya in the first phase.

Under this MoUs, Libya will set up a hotel school following the assistance and guidance of the Sri Lanka Hotel School to train Libyan students. In the Education and Technical sectors, students of both countries will benefit from exchange programmes.

"We will maintain a database related to the construction industry to explore opportunities and recruit skilled manpower and professionals for development activities in Libya," he said.

The Minister said the visit of Libyan Manpower, Training and Employment Minister Prof.Ma'atouq Mohamed Ma'atouq at the invitation of Sri Lankan Government marked a milestone for both Libya and Sri Lanka. The MoU is due to be effective shortly and the first team comprising 10 local doctors is expected to be sent to Libya to explore the employment potential.

With the Liberalization of the Libyan economy, a number of job opportunities have been created. "Libya is a friendly country and this move will straighten the relations between the two countries," the Minister said. Secretary of the General people's committee for Manpower Training and Employment, Prof. Ma'atouq Mohamed Ma'atouq said this opportunity has stepped forward to make close rapport and cooperation between two countries.