MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN
COLOMBO – Saudi Arabia repatriated a Sri Lankan patient in a special jet at a cost of Rs 10.7 million at the request of his family members.
A private company in Saudi Arabia repatriated on Thursday a Sri Lankan patient, who is in a coma state to Colombo on a special jet costing a sum of $58,000 to the establishment .
Andrew, his pet name, from Kasawatha, had been working in Riyadh as a manager of Gulf West Company in Jeddah for several years and he entered into a coma when he suddenly fell ill two months ago.
The patient was ferried to Colombo airport in a special aircraft equipped with a team of medics and parmedics, Faseeh Marikar, a Sri Lankan working in the same company said here on Friday. The patient was flown to Colombo on Thursday morning and he has been sent to a private nursing home from the Colombo airport to continue treatment.
According to Ismath Ali, members of the family of Andrew were happy to see the patient alive despite his serious health condition. The family, which remains to be anonymous thanked the Saudi company for the magnanimity shown towards one its loyal workers.
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment,SLBFE, gives a maximum grant of Rs 500,000 to families in such cases for repatriation purposes provided the migrant worker is registered with the Bureau.
Such a fine gesture by the company. They appreciated a loyal worker. May God help him to recover.
Rodney
Sydney, Australia