Government Allocates $5 Mn for Repatriation of Sri Lankans from Middle East

Colombo (News 1st): Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara says that steps will be taken to bring the Sri Lankans back to the country if the conflicts in the Middle East escalate. 

He highlighted that over US$ 5 million has been allocated for this purpose. 

The minister also said that plans are underway to provide all necessary facilities to the Sri Lankans in the Middle East, until they are brought back to the island. 

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara announced that the President has instructed to bring Sri Lankans from the Middle East and that a committee has also been appointed for this matter. 

Minister Nanayakkara pointed out that about 12,000 Sri Lankan workers are in Israel, 15,000 in Jordan, 7,500 in Lebanon, and around 500 in Egypt, working in conflict zones. 

The Middle East Region is currently in a critical situation due to the intervention of Hezbollah and Iran in the Israel-Hamas war.