News
JVP: What happened to proposal to use SLBFE deposits totalling Rs. 14 bn to repatriate workers?
By Saman Indrajith
Thousands of Lankan migrant workers were stranded in West Asian countries amidst the COVID-19 pandemic after losing their jobs while the government continues to make statements promising to bring them all home, says the JVP-led Progressive Women’s Collective (PWC).
Addressing the media at the JVP headquarters in Pelawatte yesterday MP Dr Harini Amarasuriya said the situation of the stranded migrant workers was deteriorating day by day while the government kept postponing bringing them home.
She said that some workers who had lost their jobs were staying at places provided to them by their employers while others received help from fellow Sri Lankan workers. “But with the gradual increase in the number of coronavirus infections, more people faced difficulties. Nobody has an exact figure of the Lankan workers killed by the pandemic abroad so far. Their situation is worsening. The government should not forget the fact that they were the ones who contributed to the national economy to run this country.
“We have raised this issue many times. We also staged a demonstration opposite the Foreign Employment Bureau. There has been no response from the government. The family members of the stranded worker have no way of contacting them. There are no officials in embassies and high commissions to answer queries about the workers. Our party leader raised this issue in Parliament several times and the government kept on saying it was planning to bring them back. The government so far has helped only those who could spend around 400,000 to 500,000 out of their pockets to fund their passage home.”
PWC member and JVP member of the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Samanmalee Gunasinghe said the government kept telling lies to the people about the issue of bringing the migrant workers home. “There were reports that the Prime Minister and ministers had discussed the use of Rs 14 billion in bank deposits of the Foreign Employment Bureau to bring the stranded Lankans home. Yet, no action has been taken so far. In the meantime, corpses of workers form West Asian countries are delivered to Chilaw, Rajanganaya, Anuradhapura and Hambantota. The Labour Minister pledged in Parliament that the Lankan workers would be brought home free of charge. He said that any migrant worker unable to obtain air tickets to Sri Lanka should immediately report to the Sri Lankan Embassy in that country or call the toll free number 800119119, but anyone who dial that number can understand that there is no response. Why do they cheat people in this manner?” she queried.
PWC Member Saroja Savithri Paul Raj said those who wanted to return also had to pay for PCR testing. “Many of those stranded workers do not have money.”
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
Lanka Premier League draft set to take place on March 22
Trump to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Machado at the White House
Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
Expressions of Interest called to develop selected locations within the Pelawatte Sugar Factory premises
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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