News
Six Lankan youth held under slave like conditions rescued from desert farm in Kuwait
Six Lankan youth,detained, beaten, not given food and wages and forced to work in a farm run in a desert near the border with Iran in the state of Kuwait have been rescued with great effort and sent home.
The youth had arrived at the BIA at 03.30 am yesterday on board a Jazeera Airways flight J-9551 from Kuwait, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau sources said adding that their officials had taken the youths to their homes.
All of them are residents of Kinniya in Trincomalee, and had gone for these jobs in Kuwait through an illegal broker from their home area. They had been employed in a farm run by a Sheikh in Kuwait.
The operation to rescue them had been arranged following a telephone call made by the group of Sri Lankans from this farm to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait during the night.
It was not an easy task to rescue the Sri Lankans who were detained in this farm in the difficult desert area where there are no roads.
It is reported that a special military operation was launched with the support of a Major General, the head of Kuwait’s highest security forces, to deal with the influence of the powerful Sheikh of the State of Kuwait and the difficulties in the surroindings.
Also, with the assistance of the chief security officer and the Kuwaiti government, it was made possible to obtain their travel documents to despatch the group home.
Abdul Halim, the second diplomatic officer of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait, and Janaka Samarasekara, the third secretary, also have helped to rescue mission.
At present, three other youth also from Kinniya, who were kept in the farm in this manner, have now come to Sri Lanka and with the information elicited from them, the Trincomalee Police are investigating the illegal broker who sent them there.
As part of the official visit to London for the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, held discussions with academic experts from the British Council on Wednesday [20 May 2026].
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in education, particularly in the areas of teacher training, English language programmes, education frameworks, and language acquisition skills.
The British Council shared international experience and highlighted its ongoing engagement in Sri Lanka, while expressing readiness to support the country through technical assistance, teacher development initiatives, and policy collaboration.
Discussions also included views on improving quality assurance, expanding research collaboration, and enhancing learning opportunities.
The Prime Minister appreciated the British Council’s continued engagement in Sri Lanka and reiterated the importance of deepening partnerships.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division’
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom, met with members of the Sri Lankan community living in London on Wednesday [20th] and engaged in cordial discussions.
Despite the event being held on a weekday, it was notable that nearly one thousand Sri Lankans representing the Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities attended with great enthusiasm.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that despite natural disasters and international crises, the present government has succeeded in stabilizing the country’s economy while providing relief to the people. She further noted that Sri Lanka’s political culture has now undergone a positive transformation that is irreversible.
Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj, addressing the event, stated that a governance system has now been established in the country where all communities are treated equally and the benefits of economic development are shared fairly among all citizens.
Moving away from the traditional method of political gatherings, the event also provided an open platform for members of the Sri Lankan community to directly raise questions and express their views to the Prime Minister and the Minister.
Commenting on the organization of the event, the organizing committee stated that all expenses, including dinner, were borne by the participants themselves. The organizers further remarked that it is unsurprising that opposition groups, accustomed to organizing such events through the misuse of public funds, appear unsettled by this transparent process.
The occasion was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya currently undertaking an official visit to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026 held a bilateral meeting with the Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom ON Wednesday [20]. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera, along with officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed Sri Lanka’s appreciation to the United Kingdom for the support extended in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwa, including ongoing rebuilding and recovery assistance. The Prime Minister also commended the United Kingdom’s support in facilitating increased bilateral trade and exports for Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister briefed the UK delegation on Sri Lanka’s recent economic developments and policy priorities, the Government’s commitment to advancing human rights and reconciliation, as well as Sri Lanka’s positive growth trajectory.
The two sides also exchanged views on current global geopolitical developments, challenges in the energy sector, and the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and long-term energy security.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening structured academic mobility frameworks while ensuring fairness, clarity, and integrity within migration systems.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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