Sri Lanka, which has 80,000 migrant workers in Lebanon, has sought the help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Caritas – the social welfare arm of the Catholic Church, and the government of India in evacuating its nationals from the war zone in southern Lebanon. As of 30 July, more than 1,250 Sri Lankan workers had been evacuated from Lebanon. However, thousands more have registered with their embassy in Beirut asking to be evacuated. At least one Sri Lankan woman, Vijitha Mallika Liyanagamage, 23, was reportedly killed in the violence. Meanwhile, Labor Relations and Foreign Employment Minister Athauda Seneviratne told a media conference in Colombo that the government has been encouraging Sri Lankan workers to stay put in Lebanon and only those specifically asking to be brought back would be assisted.
4,000 job offers in Syria, Jordan for Sri Lankan workers fleeing Lebanon: ALFEA
According to Anver Ulumudeen, president of the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) there are about 4,000 jobs – 3,000 in Jordan and 1,000 in Syria – which are being offered to Sri Lankan workers leaving Lebanon. Ulumudeen has reportedly been negotiating with the Syrian and Jordanian governments to expedite the processing of job visas and other documentation to enable the evacuating workers to immediately move into their new jobs upon arriving in Damascus. He also announced that in the light of the emergency situation, recruiting agencies are waiving off all fees, hence the employment transfer will not cost the workers anything.
NGOs have expressed concern over the appalling condition of refugee camps in India where a large number of Sri Lankans are accommodated after fleeing from separatist violence in their country. Seven organizations belonging to the Federation for Peoples’ Rights (FPR) have called on the Sri Lankan government to disclose the true condition of the refugee camps, particularly the Mandapam camp and the quarantine camps. A recent study of the Mandapam camp noted the widespread malnutrition among refugee children. The organizations also recommended the creation of a commission to suggest how the situation in the camps could be improved.
Sources: Debabani Majumdar, “Sri Lankans ‘stranded’ in Lebanon," BBC News, 17 July 2006; “No Lankans affected in Lebanon," Daily News, 18 July 2006; Walter Jayawardhana, “Sri Lanka embassy in a massive operation to move 80,000 migrant workers out of Israeli bombing zones," LankaWeb News, 19 July 2006; Rasika Somarathna amd Channa Kasturisinghe, “Safety measures for Lankans in Lebanon," Daily News, 20 July 2006; Rashomi Silva and Rajmi Mantunga, “Lebanon: IOM help to track down stranded Lankans," Daily News, 21 July 2006; Agencies, “Sri Lanka evacuates 300 out of 93,000 from Lebanon," The Peninsula, 22 July 2006; Reuters, “You think only RP has evacuation problems?," Malaya, 22 July 2006; Ananda Kannangara, “Team in Lebanon to evacuate Lankans," Sunday Observer, 23 July 2006; Feisal Samath, Bernama, “Jobs for fleeing Lankan migrant workers from Lebanon," 23 July 2006; “Sri Lankan maids stranded by war in Lebanon," lankaeverything.com, 23 July 2006; IANS, “Plight of Sri Lankan refugees in India evokes worry," Hindustan Times, 24 July 2006; Manjula Fernando, “Lanka, one of first countries to evacuate workers from Lebanon," Daily News, 25 July 2006; Walter Jayawardhana, “Dispatching of Sri Lankan war refugees breaks down and only 300 could be helped out of 80,000 in Lebanon," LankaWeb News, 25 July 2006; “Caritas helping migrant workers escape Lebanon and return home," The Indian Catholic, 25 July 2006; “Sri Lankan maids stuck as other foreigners evacuate," Taipei Times, 25 July 2006; AFP, “Sri Lanka urges nationals to stay in Lebanon," The Peninsula, 26 July 2006; “Sri Lankans unsure about fleeing Beirut," BBC News, 26 July 2006; Vilani Peiris, “Sri Lankan government abandons thousands of citizens trapped in Lebanon," Asian Tribune, 27 July 2006; “Caritas helps poor migrants in Lebanon to get home," Caritas, 27 July 2006; Manjula Fernando, “More Lankans coming home from Lebanon," Daily News, 28 July 2006; AFP, “More Sri Lankans arrive home from Lebanon," Today Online, 29 July 2006; “Over 600 Lankans arrive from Lebanon," Daily News, 29 July 2006; AFP, “More arrive home from Lebanon," Gulf Times, 30 July 2006; Agencies, “Second batch of Lankans arrive from Lebanon," The Peninsula, 30 July 2006; “India to assist evacuating Lankans in Lebanon," Sunday Observer, 30 July 2006