Acting Foreign Minister addressing the families of deceased migrant workers yesterday (17) at the Ministry stated that even though the lives of their family members who died were ‘priceless’, the financial compensation was being awarded with the hope that it would help the families.

However, he observed that the Government is able to financially compensate only those who found employment through legal means.

The Acting Minister stated that Sri Lankans seek employment abroad to improve their economic circumstances. The remittances they send back to Sri Lanka immensely help the local economy.

The Minister added that the Government of Sri Lanka was doing everything possible, including resorting to legal action, to ease the difficulties faced by Sri Lankan workers aboard. Dr. de Silva cited the recent change in the stoning verdict against a Sri Lankan woman in Saudi Arabia as a successful example of an intervention where the Government resorted to all possible avenues to protect the life of a citizen. Such cases were often protracted and complex as legal and regulatory systems varied from country to country.

The Acting Minister observed that Sri Lanka should explore all possible avenues to increase local employment and reduce the number of Sri Lankans going abroad.