Bar on Lankan workers going to Bahrain lifted

By Lal Gunesekera

The temporary suspension imposed on Sri Lankan workers leaving for Bahrain has been lifted from April 1, as that country had returned to normalcy after last month’s unrest. The ban was lifted after Sri Lanka’s Consul General P. B. Hikgoda gave the green light.

Media Secretary of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Kalyanapriya Ramanayake told The Island that on the instructions of Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Dilan Perera, the Chairman of the SLBFE Kingley Ranawaka had made necessary arrangements for Sri Lankans registered with the SLBFE to leave for Bahrain.

The unrest in certain Middle-East countries did not have much effect on Sri Lanka with 4,7180, 4,5976 and 4,9812 Lankans finding employment in January, February and March respectively.