Moves to ensure welfare of Lankans under Jeddah bridge

by Mohammed RASOOLDEEN in Riyadh

On a special arrangement made by visiting Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila, free meals are being given to stranded Sri Lankan workers who are roughing out under the Kandahar Bridge in Jeddah.

On instructions from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bhaila was in Jeddah leading a four-member team to look into the welfare of the stranded Sri Lankans staying under the bridge.

The delegation comprised officials from the Sri Lankan Employment Bureau and Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare.

Bhaila said that as a relief measure, he had made arrangements to deliver lunch and dinner packets daily to around 260 Sri Lankans which included 50 women, until their departure to the government deportation camp.

Visiting Deputy Minister Bhaila, who met the workers under the bridge, confirmed to Sunday Observer on Friday that accommodation facilities had been offered to them at the consulate.But they rejected the offer since they feel staying under the bridge will give them an opportunity to get immigration clearance soon and they would be sent back at the expense of the Saudi government, he said.Around 3,000 Asian workers, including Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Indonesians and Sri Lankans, gathered under this bridge claiming they are Umrah and Haj overstayers.

The Jeddah governorate, in co-operation with the Immigration Department, deports these expatriates at its own expense to clear the backlog of stranded workers in the Kingdom. Bhaila said that none of the Sri Lankans had any valid documents to vouch for their stay in the Kingdom. Most of them had run away from their sponsors and sought refuge on the grounds that they are Umrah overstayers. The Minister said that officials could easily identify workers who had given their fingerprints on arrival at the airport.There were 30 such workers in the group, the Minister contended that stranded workers staying under the bridge was a regular feature.