Sri Lanka Missions in the Middle East have reported that the welfare measures for migrant workers in the Middle East have received an added boost this week, following the decision by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to make available resources from the Workers’ Welfare Fund, originally confined to those registered with the Bureau, to all migrant workers irrespective of their registration status, through units within Sri Lanka Missions abroad in 16 stations.

The government will mediate in purchasing the produce which farmers are unable to sell and based on the social benefits implemented by the Presidential Task Force, measures would be taken to grant financial provisions to the people, said the Director-General of the Government Information Department, Nalaka Kaluwewa.

Hon Minister Wimal Weerawansha during a cordial meet that took place at the Army Headquarters on Wednesday (15) gifted a new drone to Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army and Head at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) for use in ongoing Army COVID-19 control.

Sri Lanka Navy deployed its Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) SLNS ‘Samudura’ to seize a vessel loaded with a large consignment of drugs in high seas about 548 nautical miles (985km) off Sri Lankan shores.