Only 1% Lankans involved in illegal activities abroad - SLBFE

by Ananda Kannangara

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said that of the 1.3 million Sri Lankans working in foreign countries, only one per cent is involved in unlawful activities and serving jail terms.

According to Bureau statistics over 600 Sri Lankan workers are currently in foreign detention camps and some of them are serving jail terms for committing offences.

SLBFE, General Manager, H. Batagoda told the Sunday Observer that during the past few months the Bureau had received complaints from the Public and Human Rights organisations with regard to the fate of these workers and said that steps have already who are facing hardships been taken to bring the workers to Sri Lanka during the next few months.

During the first three months of this year, 450 workers were brought from Kuwait following a request by Foreign Employment and Promotion Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to the Labour Ministers in the Gulf Region.

"The repatriation of victimised workers by the Bureau began six months ago and during this period more than 650 workers arrived in the country," he said.

He said workers who undergo various difficulties and return empty-handed are covered under the "Suraksha Insurance Policy".

Action will be taken against private employment agencies who send workers without keeping up-to-date records of foreign employers," he said.