SL to take stringent domestic measures to protect migrant workers

Sri Lanka is committed to ensure that the migrant workers have safe and dignified employment abroad and will take stringent domestic measures to prevent migrant workers falling prey to human trafficking or human smuggling, Sri Lanka’s Foreign affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Colombo Process in Colombo on Thursday (25), Minister Samaraweera said although the Sri Lankan government emphasises safe and orderly migration, there are a considerable number of citizens falling prey to human trafficking or human smuggling.

“This illegal and irregular means of migration puts valuable lives at risk. Hence, we are determined to reinforce stringent domestic measures,” the Minister told the forum.

He said it is important to build our capacities to prevent trafficking and smuggling in persons by introducing coherent policies, regulations and legislations.

Recognising that migrant workers contribute to the economy of the country considerably with their earnings, the Minister said the government is committed to ensuring that the migrant workers have safe and dignified employment abroad.

However, he acknowledged that despite all efforts some migrant workers face unfortunate tragedies and hardships and his ministry along with the Ministry of Foreign Employment has done its best to represent the interests of those workers on such occasions.

The Minister said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disbursed Rs. 181 million as compensation to 181 distressed persons and families within the last eight months of this year.

The 5th meeting of manpower ministers grouped in the Colombo Process was held Thursday at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. Sri Lanka is the current chair of the Colombo Process and accordingly Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorala chaired the ministerial meeting as the incumbent chairperson.

Representatives from the eleven manpower-exporting Asian countries in the Colombo Process - Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia - participated in the forum.