Sri Lankan migrant workers in Bangladesh have not been harmed in the recent unrest reported in the country, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said.
Speaking in Parliament today, Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said a total of 2835 Sri Lankans are living in Bangladesh from 2019 to date.
“A total of 2690 Sri Lankans were sent as trainees, among which 107 are women and 2583 are men. A total of 145 Sri Lankans were sent as low-skilled migrant workers, among which 06 are women and 139 are men,” he said giving a breakdown of the Sri Lankans residing in Bangladesh at present.
Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said that the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangladesh has informed that no Sri Lankans have been injured in the unrest in Bangladesh.
“If there is a situation where Sri Lankan migrant workers need to be brought home, the Sri Lankan Embassy will ensure their safety and take the necessary measures as and when required,” he assured.
Clashes between protesters and security forces killed at least 139 people across Bangladesh after the high court last month reinstated job reservations removed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2018.
However, the Supreme Court ordered that 93% of government jobs should be allocated on the basis of merit, against earlier quotas of 56% for groups such as families of freedom fighters, women, and people from underdeveloped areas.
More than 500 people, including some opposition leaders, have been arrested so far over days of clashes in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. (Newswire)
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