Over 100 stranded Lankan Kuwaiti workers return

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

The government brought down over 100 workers who were stranded in Kuwait in the early hours of yesterday (13) morning, Media Secretary to Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorale said.

The group reached Sri Lanka in two SriLankan Airlines flights, UL230 and FZ551. Many of them were from Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Galle, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Kandy.

"The Ministry provided the transport cost for 54 of them, as they did not have money to go back home," he said.

They had stayed in safe houses by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Kuwait for a long time. Among them were eight men and many had sought safety in these houses as their visas had expired, breach of contract and physical torture.

Minister Athukorale is now on an official tour in Kuwait. She is scheduled to meet the Labour Minister in Kuwait and other officials during her visit. Bilateral discussions will focus on improving safety and security and welfare measures of Sri Lankan labour migrants.

The other Sri Lankans who were still in safe houses in Kuwait will return home in batches, he said.

"These people were in Kuwait with expired visas and some were even working without any agreements. It was illegal for them to continue working in that country but they had problems in returning home. The Minister instructed the authorities to do the needful to bring them back to Sri Lanka," he said.

Despite the Government's efforts to bring them back home, the number of Sri Lankans entering safe houses was increasing due to various reasons.