COLOMBO : Minister of Labour, Nimal Siripala De Silva, on Tuesday offered a possible ray of hope for Sri Lanka’s expatriate workers, who have been stranded overseas without the means to return home.
The minister announced that directives have been issued to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment,(SLBFE) to dip into the significant funds it holds in fixed deposit accounts to pay for repatriation air tickets.
The minister further explained that such Lankans should have been registered with the SLBFE before their departure to overseas workplaces and also they should prove that that they cannot afford a return air tickets.
The Minister also requested the SLBFE to ensure adequate quarantine facilities to accommodate the incoming Lankans under such arrangements,