31 such bereaved next of kin of the victims received Sri Lankan Rupees 51 Million from the Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera.

The highest amount of Sri Lanka Rupees 8.7 Million was paid to the family of a deceased Sri Lankan professional who died in a motor accident in UAE.

These payments were secured in consultation with the Authorities in the destination countries by the Sri Lanka Missions in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman and Qatar.

The Ministry of External Affairs together with the relevant Missions in the host countries has released nearly Sri Lankan Rupees 181 Million as compensation, salary dues and other redress during past 10 months of 2014.

All those beneficiaries had travelled aboard through legal channels and therefore the funds were released based on the merit of each case, Minister said. (SDF/KH)