Govt. denies claim as baseless

by Saman Indrajith

SLMC leader and SJB Kandy District MP Rauff Hakeem told Parliament on Saturday that Sri Lankan expatriate workers planning to go to Israel were to be given military training in that country.

Hakeem said numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity had taken place in and around Gaza. “Israel is surrounded by Arab countries where hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans are working. We must reject Israel’s offer. This is a very sensitive matter. There is a plan to give military training to expatriate workers in Israel. They are to be given guns even if they work there as caregivers. These expatriate workers are to fill the vacancies created by the workers who have left due to war.

There is a five-day ceasefire, but war will resume. Sri Lankan workers are to be employed as farmers in areas grabbed by Israel from the Palestinians in Gaza. Several envoys from the Arabic countries have raised this question with me. Presidents of South Africa and Brazil have come close to severing diplomatic ties with Israel. It is not wise to send our people to Israel at a time when other countries are planning to suspend ties with that country. We should not be opportunistic. Please, reconsider the decision to send Lankans there and think of the consequences of them getting weapons training. There could be unintended consequences.

“We extend our condolences to the family members of two Lankan expatriate workers who were killed in the war. If such incidents recur then that could lead to disharmony among communities here. Please reconsider this decision at this time,” Hakeem said.

SLPP Polonnaruwa District MP Jagath Samarawickrama said those who were happy when the doctors left this country were now shedding tears for the Sri Lanka Lankans to be sent to Israel. “This is an opportunity that we must grab. I condemn this attempt to prevent us from using that opportunity,” the MP said.

Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said that there was no truth in the allegation by MP Hakeem. He said that Sri Lanka had got an opportunity to send 10,000 workers to Israel.

“No military training is provided for Sri Lankan expatriates. Making false allegations will affect Sri Lanka’s bilateral relationship with Israel. Allow the Sri Lankan government to maintain ties with Israel in line with its non-aligned foreign policy. We have condemned the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7 and military strikes carried out by Israel on Palestine since then. One should not make irresponsible statements and disturb diplomatic relations,” the Minister said.

He also denied allegations that Sri Lankans would be sent to war-torn areas and their lives would be in danger. The Minister said no employee would be sent to areas captured by Israel. He said all employees would be sent to areas that are not affected by the war.