Sri Lankans employed abroad will be honoured as “Overseas Heroes”
The Western countries including the European Union was unable to impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka because of remittances being sent by the Overseas Heroes (Rata Wiruwos).
This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Employment Development and Welfare Dilan Perera addressing a media conference held at the Information Department this morning. The media Conference was held to enlighten the media personnel about the future programmes of the Ministry and its affiliated institutions.
The Minister said that a large percentage of foreign exchange being received by Sri Lanka is provided by the Overseas Heroes. In the year 2009 it amounted to Rs. 813.91 Million which comprised 47.03% of the total foreign exchange received by the country. He said that in the year 2011 Sri Lanka earned Rs. 937.73 as foreign exchange and of this amount 49.63% amounting to Rs. 465.37 Million was provided by the Overseas Heroes.
The Minister said that Sri Lanka is in an economically stable position today because of the strength being provided by the Overseas Heroes employed in the Middle East countries, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy and many other countries. He said that steps have been taken to further strengthen and develop this sector.
He said the government was able to sign an MOU with the Italian government last year and because of this Italy has become the latest employment avenue for Sri Lanka. Already two officers from the Italian government has arrived in Sri Lanka and working in the Italian Embassy in Colombo to formulate mechanisms for recruitment of Sri Lankans for employment in that country.
The Minister emphasized that no one should make any payment for obtaining foreign employment as the government has made the necessary mechanisms to send people for foreign employment under the government guarantee. He said that 9998 persons passed the Korean Language examination last year and their names are in the relevant Website at present and persons for future employment in Korea will be selected by the Korean companies from this list. He said that the Korean government has also expressed willingness to recruit Sri Lankans for employment in the fisheries sector outside this normal process.
Minister Pererea also said that arrangements have been made to hold a 3 day workshop in the Lebanese capital Beirut from May 13 – 15 with the participation of 17 Ambassadors in order to discuss about the problems being faced by overseas employed Sri Lankans and to plan out the future roadmap for foreign employment in the relevant countries. He said that the Ministry and the relevant institutions are now focusing attention on sending more and more skilled personnel and professionals and to arm them with necessary technical qualifications. (niz)
Source: Government News Portal
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Although nearly 50% of all foreign exchange is being remitted by Sri Lankan mothers, wives and sisters working as servants in Arabian households and now Asian households, this is not exactly a cause for pride or honour. Sri Lankans have been a noble race of people who prided themselves on their ability to feed their country with rice and export it as well. (The Rice Bowl of the East)During colonial conquest, they never submitted to subjugation or colonisation until the superior maritime fire-power of the Europeans prevailed.
Those people who feed off the sweat and labour of our sisters, mothers and wives who toil in these foreign lands and praise them should feel ashamed that unlike Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and the like, we have regressed in independence and self-dignity and become slaves of these countries.
The social cost of separation, broken marriages, rape, adultery, destitution of children whose parents have neglected them due to foreign travel, are all more important than the money Sri Lanka receives, for the rich to feed off.
Married people working abroad means separation from their family for a few years at least for them to earn some money to improve their life style. This is rather sad as it means wife/husband does not enjoy the company of the partner, the children likewise will miss the company of their mother/father. It may lead to many family and social problems. Hence as LP mentioned, it is not a matter for the govt to boast about. They encourage it because of the foreign exchange earned for the govt. But at what costs to the family as a social unit!
I’d rather that govt creates jobs in SL itself by encouraging foreign investors to open businesses in SL with tax holidays as incentives. This would benefit the people of SL because they could stay and enjoy the country, its culture and above all the company of their families, relatives and friends. This is progress. The country should be exporting products from SL and not labour. Our skilled and unskilled labour force is our asset to be made use of by the country by employment within the country for its development, and not for another country to tap into.
I hope the Hon President would rather work hard to encourage foreign investors to set-up businesses in this country, rather than find work opportunities abroad to workers to face endless suffering by family members and the workers themselves, even being assulted, not paid and even killed.
Married people working abroad means separation from their family for a few years at least for them to earn some money to improve their life style. This is rather sad as it means wife/husband does not enjoy the company of the partner, the children likewise will miss the company of their mother/father. It may lead to many family and social problems. Hence as LP mentioned, it is not a matter for the govt to boast about. They encourage it because of the foreign exchange earned for the govt. But at what costs to the family as a social unit!
I’d rather that govt creates jobs in SL itself by encouraging foreign investors to open businesses in SL with tax holidays as incentives. This would benefit the people of SL because they could stay and enjoy the country, its culture and above all the company of their families, relatives and friends. This is progress. The country should be exporting products from SL and not labour. Our skilled and unskilled labour force is our asset to be made use of by the country by employment within the country for its development, and not for another country to tap into.
I hope the Hon President would rather work hard to encourage foreign investors to set-up businesses in this country, rather than find work opportunities abroad to workers to face endless suffering by family members and the workers themselves, even being assulted, not paid and even killed.
Of course Lasantha..!
I commented mentioning the same disaster under the news of recent “women’s day”.
SL socity is in its lowerst level today & earns enough Disgrace by sending women abroad as Labours. Only the Blind Fools will be proud of money earned by such slavery sweat of women.
Actually the defeating of terrors is just one thing among the lots to do in SL. It hasn’t been able to run SL properly ever after independence at all. Instead SL has driven into disaster in every aspect. So this’s only regrettable for us.!
SLBF also had been largely corrupted & misused money collected by foreign workers. What a proud.!
Nicolas & Neela are well matched couple…!
Hey Amden,
Don’t forget me; I am a Dias too!
You’re wonderful man (මාර පොරක්) then how do you relate to double ND couple…?
Couple means only two. Is one of ND working abroad..?!*₹¥$€£¿;-)
There is no ‘Pora Dias’. He has himself admitted he is actually ‘Diaspora’ Tamil, once I exposed his name has been formed by an angaram of ‘diaspora’.
Brother Amden,
Don’t you know that there is something called “open marriage” nowadays. In the past, there were only two people in a marriage. Nowadays there can be more than two people in a marriage. It is very exciting concept, Amden. When you are bored with one partner, you go with the other. C’mon Amden, open up and become new age guy.
That’s why i never get marry…!