Migrant workers to the fore

SLBFE appeals to 1.6 million strong workforce for assistance to the North

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) expects to call on the 1.6 million strong Sri Lankan migrant community for assistance in supporting the development drive in the North.
“Migrant workers are one of our strongest economic strengths, they would certainly make a significant contribution to boost economic survival in the North,” SLBFE Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka said yesterday.
“We all value transparency and fair disclosure in our collections, and in the wake of the disaster caused by the separatist LTTE in the North, their contributions will be immensely beneficial to the innocent civilians,” SLBFE Chairman stated. He further added that the names of donors who contribute towards the cause will be displayed on SLBFE web site, www.slbfe.lk.
The collected funds would be used to supplement government efforts in rebuilding the conflict affected people and areas with the utilisation of monies being supervised by a specially appointed monetary board. According to the SLBFE, contributors could send their donations directly to Account Number 9290730 (swift code-BCEYLKLS) set up at the Bank of Ceylon head office.
More than 1.6 million Sri Lankan migrant workers serve in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. There are more than 300,000 are in Kuwait, over 75,000 are in Jordan, and 45,000 are in Bahrain. A recent Central Bank report reveals that migrant workers have earned over US$ 2.91 billion during the last year.