SLBFE's Ineptitude Leaves Migrant Workers In The Lurch

The present crisis has undoubtedly brought misery and hardship to most segments of society in a magnitude unseen before and from the Sri Lankan perspective, the worst-affected appear to be our migrant workers stranded all over the world.

- Susantha Fernando

Long considered the lifeblood of Sri Lanka, their hard-earned foreign exchange has kept the coffers moving even at this most difficult period. Their annual contribution to our economy averages USD 7 billion per year (LKR 1,300 billion) which is almost 40% of national income. It is no secret that these funds form an integral part of State revenue and the most consistent income stream for many decades outsmarting garments, tea, tourism or anything else the country can produce.

Unfortunately, during this pandemic, their wellbeing has been put on the back burner with hardly any effort to confront the issues faced by them in foreign countries. We have seen planeloads of affluent Sri Lankans being repatriated from western countries, a majority being children and relatives of politicians and members of the elite. A national outcry is being promoted by mainstream media with vested interests in highlighting the plight of such individuals, particularly those studying overseas, but no high-ranking official has cared to look into the wellbeing of stranded migrant workers mainly in the Middle East and European countries.