Registered workers to return from Lebanon.

 

Chairman of the Foreign Employment Bureau was quoted saying that

the Government hopes to evacuate 2600 Sri Lankan workers registered with the Sri Lanka embassy in Beirut. Only one casualty has been reported up to now out of the 80,000 workers involved.

three airlines -Sri Lankan, Qatar Airways and Aeroflot are airlifting workers free of charge. Workers have to rough out due to the large numbers involved but the Sri Lanka embassy, Caritas, IOM and other humanitarian organizations are assisting those who have been affected. The SLBFE has provided IDD facilities to the workers to enable them to contact their families back home

There are a number of workers who have overstayed their visas due to the lucrative nature of employment. On the other hand the Lebanon employees have to spend around US$ 1500-2000 to get each worker and they are reluctant to let them go.