Minister’s intervention ends Nandani’s 17-year ordeal

Atapattu Bandara

Kusuma Nandini who was kept a virtual prisoner at her sponsor’s home in Saudi Arabia for 17 years returned to Sri Lanka recently after claiming compensation for her service.

She was not paid her salary even once after her first two years during her 17 years ordeal and forbidden from communicating with her relatives in Sri Lanka.

She had been kept as a slave at one home for 15 years and then transferred to the home of her sponsor’s brother.

Foreign Employment Promotion Minister Dilan Perera intervened and negotiated with the Saudi officials for her release and provided her with compensation through legal action.

As a result, Saudi Home Affairs Ministry and Police took action to release the maid and pay her compensation. Her salary arrears and compensation to the tune of Rs. 2.4 million had been paid to her by her sponsor in Riyadh according to court decisions.

“I am very happy and thankful to the mission in Riyadh , Sri Lankan embassy in Riyadh and Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau for having rescued me from this house where I was working like a machine,” she said. Kusuma Nandani is a mother of two and they had come to the Bandaranaike International Airport to welcome her and bring her back home.