Sri Lanka migrant workers in Libya:

All facilities provided to be flown home

Rasika SOMARATHNA

More than 300 Sri Lankans who were still in Libya and nearly 100 others who had already fled to nearby countries were to be brought back home within the next few days.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chief, Kingsly Ranawaka yesterday said that 33 migrant workers from Libya had arrived in Cyprus on a special flight chartered by the company they were working with, while another 76 Sri Lankan migrant workers from Libya had arrived in Malta.

The SLBFE and the Foreign Ministry have successfully negotiated with relevant embassies to bring them back to the country as soon as possible, he added.

As a result, 22 Sri Lankans who were evacuated to Malta were expected to return to the country yesterday night. The 33 Lankans who had arrived in Cyprus were to be brought back home today.

Another 54 Sri Lankans who are presently in Malta, were to arrive in the country on Friday, according to the SLBFE. Meanwhile another 4 Sri Lankans who fled to Egypt amidst the growing unrest in Libya, were brought back to the country yesterday. In addition, another 300 Sri Lankans still in Tripoli, Libya were to be brought back to the country during the coming weekend by specially chartered flights. The SLBFE Chairman said that all Sri Lankans in Libya and also those who had fled to other countries, were reportedly safe and in good health. The SLBFE earlier said that they would spend Rs.100,000 per person as travel costs to bring all the Lankan migrant workers from Libya back home.

To meet the needs of those arriving, a 24-hour operational service center has been set up at the arrivals lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport by the SLBFE. The centre will gather information on the workers and help clear their documents without any delay.