Employment opportunities for Lankans in Libya

By Ananda KANNANGARA

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The new Sri Lankan embassy which will be opened in Libya next January will pave the way for Sri Lankan professionals and skilled workers to find employment opportunities in future, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said yesterday.

The proposal of establishing a Sri Lankan embassy in Libya was initiated last month following a visit made by a 12- member Libyan labour delegation in the country.

During their four-day visit, the Libyan delegation, led by Labour Minister in Libya, Matough Mohamed Matough met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and several key Cabinet Ministers including Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. SLBFE, Deputy General Manager (Foreign Relations) L.K. Ruhunage told the Sunday Observer that establishing a Lankan embassy in Libya will benefit local migrant workers.

He said only a small number of Sri Lankans is presently employed in Libya and it is expected to send a large number of nurses, doctors, engineers, accountants and workers for construction and hotel services after establishing the embassy. Meanwhile a foreign Ministry official Abdul Ikram, when contacted by the Sunday Observer said the Lankan mission in Cairo presently oversee all official matters related to Lankans living in Libya.

He said the initial steps have already been finalised to establish the new Lankan embassy during the first quarter of next month.