Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara yesterday said that if conflicts develop in the Middle East, they are ready to bring expatriate workers to Sri Lanka and more than US$ 5 million have already been allocated for that purpose. He said that if the conflicts in the Middle East escalate there, it will affect Sri Lanka badly.
He said that plans have been prepared to keep Sri Lankan expatriate community in safe places until they are brought back to Sri Lanka.“Plans have been made to provide them with all the facilities they need, until they are brought back to Sri Lanka,”he said.
The President has instructed to prepare all arrangements to bring them by sea and land as soon as possible if situation worsens. The President has also appointed a separate committee for that. A separate hotline is to be introduced for the purpose soon.
“We advice foreign workers to remain calm and not to make any preparations to cross the border. Focus on carrying out your work safely. Any conflict in the Middle-East may lead to another crisis in our country.The money sent by foreign workers is used to import oil and gas, so we hope for peace to prevail,”he said.
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