I am writing about a strange situation that has occurred at the Honorary Sri Lankan consulate in Hong Kong (HK) Just this week (Monday), an unusual practice has been started in contracts endorsed by the Honorary Consulate of Sri Lanka. A notice has been posted in the consulate that all employment contracts normally endorsed by the consulate has to allegedly first pass through a man called Nathan Ng. He seems to have paid an exorbitant amount to the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau and obtained this right. The amount he asks for placing his chop on the contract is HK$2,000 (SL Rs. 22,500). What is happening in Sri Lanka? In a time when the economy is nose diving, does the government endorse these extra payments? Some agents have immediately withdrawn the contracts that were to be endorsed as they cannot pay such a fee. If this continues, the foreign exchange brought into Sri Lanka by domestic helpers in HK will definitely suffer. Many Sri Lankan domestic helpers will not be able to find jobs in Hong Kong.

Could the relevant authorities please look into this matter. It seems like someone’s palm has been greased and the domestic helpers have to suffer.
Kumudu Silva