Security strengthened for migrant workers

By Ananda Kannangara

Additional Law Enforcement Officers will be recruited to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to strengthen security for migrant workers.

The existing security arrangements at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to crackdown unauthorised personnel waiting in the vicinity to prey on Sri Lankan migrant workers returning home will be improved by the SLBFE from next month, Chairman, SLBFE, Attorney-at-Law Kingsley Ranawaka told the `Sunday Observer'.

It is reported that over 800 Sri Lankans are return from Middle Eastern countries daily and 85 per cent of them are females.

The chairman also said two SLBFE branch offices at the arrival and departure terminals of the BIA were opened several years ago following numerous requests by our female workers and civil organisations.

He also said that the Bureau very often receives information on migrant workers being waylaid by persons on their way home from the airport or robbed of their hard-earned money and other valuables.

The Bureau provides transport to the expatriate returnees to their homes or to the SLBFE welfare home 'Sahan Piyasa' near Airport.