8,000 Sri Lankans in Israel so far willing to stay on; 27 leave northern Gaza
COLOMBO – Twenty-seven Sri Lankans in northern Gaza have been forced to evacuate to the southern strip, but there is no indication yet that some 8,000 Sri Lankans currently living or working in Israel wish to return to the island en masse, according to officials.
Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara told reporters on Monday (16) that officials are gathering information on all Sri Lankans in Israel and people who wish to come back are welcome to do so.
“There is no trend of Sri Lankan workers in Israel coming back to Sri Lanka. We’re ready to bring them back anytime they like,” he said.
Media spokesman for the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) Gamini Senarath Yapa said some 8,000 Sri Lankans are currently in Israel through legal or illegal means.
“There are three Sri Lankan families living in the Gaza strip. That’s 17 Sri Lankans. Their safety has been confirmed,” said Yapa.
“There are six Sri Lankans living in the West Bank. Their safety too has been confirmed by the Sri Lanka office in Palestine,” he added.
Sri Lanka ambassador to Israel Nimal Bandara was shown speaking on the privately owned Swarnavahini network on Monday, saying 27 Sri Lankans were among those who moved from northern Gaza to the south of the strip amid the ongoing fighting between Israel Defence Forces and Hamas.
“These 27 plan to enter Egypt through a passage opened by Egypt,” said Bandara.
The International Red Cross has requested Hamas to provide details on the hostages. According to Bandara, it has been confirmed that there are hostages from 36 countries including Sri Lanka.
“We got to know on Saturday (14) that two Sri Lankan women were abducted near the Jordan Israel border. It was confirmed Sunday (15) night they were indeed Sri Lankans, aged 44 and 50.
“One of them is from Matale, but there is no information on the other. It is suspected that she had travelled on a tourist visa without registering at the SLFEB,” he said.
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