Govt. opens special ‘HOPE GATE’ for expatriate workers

Giving honourable recognition to expatriate workers, a special ‘HOPE GATE’ was opened on Thursday at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.

This special gate is opened for workers leaving and returning from foreign countries, where all necessary facilities are to be provided to the expatriate workers at the airport, and a special hospitality service team has also been deployed to provide support.

Through the HOPE GATE, a special rest facility for expatriate workers will also be established soon.

After opening jointly with Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said that the VIP facility at the airport for those with money or power will be now given to expatriate workers in the same way. 

“These people are going to bring foreign exchange to the economy, not to spend. Therefore, the migrant worker should be given all necessary facilities and respect at the airport,” he pointed out.

Explaining the name of the special gate he said: “A person leaves for overseas employment with the hope of building his own life. Hoping for a good house, car, education for children, and high standards of living. The Sri Lankan who leaves this gate must first realise his hopes.

“Thereafter, with the hard-earned foreign exchange they remit to the country we must develop the country. Only then will we be able to create the prosperous country we all hoped for. This is why it is named HOPE GATE — a door of hope.”

Nanayakkara stressed the third-class treatment received by the migrant worker at the airport and onboard must end. “It is a work that should be done from the heart, beyond duty. It should be provided by a well-educated and trained team with positive attitudes and respect for all people and professions equally,” he added.

He also called on workers whilst fulfilling his hopes and country’s hopes, they must protect the underlying settings and reputation of those aspiring to leave for foreign employment.

“We are also ready to provide benefits to workers who earn and remit money via formal channels. Work is underway to introduce a pension scheme for them from next week,” the Minister revealed.

Similarly, a special housing loan program with subsidised interest will also be implemented in the future. 

However, he said these incentives will only be entitled to those who have registered with the Foreign Employment Bureau.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the purpose of opening this gate was to provide the care, acceptance, facilities, and services given to the politician and businessmen in the same way to the migrant worker.

He commended Minister Nanayakkara for implementing many creative programs to give due recognition to the expatriate workers.

Outlining several complaints of many misdemeanours from taxi drivers to migrant workers, de Silva said special transport facilities will be provided for migrant workers in the future. 

He also said a team of specially trained officers will also be deployed to assist migrant workers in airport operations.

Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry Secretary K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, Immigration and Emigration Department Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya, Airport and Airport Services (Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Major General (Retd.) G.A. Chandrasiri, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau Chairman Mahendra Kumarasinghe, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau General Manager D.P. Senanayake, and migrant workers were present at the opening of the HOPE GATE.