Strapline: 2602 bodies are yet to be returned to Sri Lanka
- K.Prasanna
More people are seeking foreign employment opportunities due to various reasons such as the rising cost of living, unemployment and poverty that resulted from the economic crisis.
In turn, foreign employment agencies have made this a money-spinning operation by sending people who seek employment on tourist visas to foreign countries. As a result, news of many Sri Lankan women who went to Oman as domestic workers but were subsequently sold at auctions sparked controversy.
Apart from these agencies, the government is also encouraging people to take up foreign jobs in with hopes of earning foreign exchange. Currently, the government has facilitated those working in government departments to seek foreign employment by granting them with unpaid leave.
Although the government is encouraging foreign employment, it does not look like they have paid attention to the long-term consequences.
The Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment has revealed that out of the 77 Sri Lankan maids currently staying at safe houses provided by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman, only 12 have registered with the bureau.
It is also reported that nearly 90 Sri Lankan women who worked in Oman on tourist visas were forced into prostitution, abandoned by agents, and were sold at auctions. An officer who was on duty at the Oman Embassy was also suspended, summoned to Sri Lanka and arrested in relation to this case.
According to the information provided by Mr. P.P. Weerasekara, Information Officer of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, in response to an information request made through the Right to Information Act, 69,845 people were accommodated in the safe houses run by the embassy between 2016 and 2021. They are in safe houses due to various reasons such as poor health, overstaying their visas, harassment (sexual and physical), non-payment of wages, breach of contracts, and illegal employment.
During 2017-2021, 326 people who were in the safe houses run by the embassies have been brought back to Sri Lanka, and LKR 22,956,592.90 have been spent on it, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. Of this, LKR 2,182,624.83 were spent to bring 63 people to Sri Lanka in 2017, LKR 888,779.63 to bring 22 in 2018, LKR 2,168,097.79 to bring 39 in 2019, and LKR 7,468,097.79 to bring 74 people to Sri Lanka in 2020.
A Right to Information request made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the deaths of people who sought foreign employment revealed that 3742 Sri Lankans who went to work overseas to work have died between 2016-2022. It is further reported that these deaths have occurred due to Covid-19, medical conditions, accidents, suicides, murders, and other reasons. This information was provided by the Ministry’s Information and Legal Officer Ms. Kumudini Abeykoon.
While 1140 bodies have been brought back, sadly, 2602 bodies are yet to be returned home. In 2016, 437 people who went for foreign employment died abroad. Of that, 152 dead bodies have been brought to Sri Lanka, while 173 bodies have not been brought to Sri Lanka. Bodies of 249 out of the 458 people who died in 2017, the bodies of 352 of the 448 people who died in 2018, the bodies of 383 of the 472 people who died in 2019, the bodies of 618 of the 741 people who died in 2020, the bodies of 675 of the 797 people who died in 2021, and the bodies of 173 of the 389 people who died in 2022, have not been returned to their families.
The statistics further revealed that 415 people have died due to COVID while working abroad during the pandemic period between 2020-2022. Also, during the period 2016-2022, 2744 people died due to poor health conditions, 327 due to accidents, 176 due to suicide, 33 due to murder, and 47 due to other reasons.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also worked to provide compensation to the families of those who died while working abroad. Thus, between November 2010 and November 2022, 1756 families of deceased persons have been compensated. Accordingly, LKR 201,000,000.00 in 2010, LKR 155,000,000.00 in 2011, LKR 171,000,000.00 in 2012, LKR 200,000,000.00 in 2013 for 171 families, LKR 181,796,142.99 in 2014 for 187 families, LKR 209,691,863.60 in 2015 for 143 families, LKR 346,660,177.09 in 2016 for 194 families, LKR 371,179,908.18 in 2017 for 209 families, LKR 418,685,868.26 in 2018 for 182 families, LKR 394,713,468.46 in 2019 for 163 families, LKR 247,035,111.48 in 2020 for 107 families, LKR 277,439,174.22 in 2021 for 138 families, and LKR 346,864,310.21 in 2022 for 90 families, have been paid as compensation.
Thus, the government should pay attention to Sri Lankans working abroad, especially those who are facing various problems. The government must ensure that the interests of the workers who generate foreign exchange to the country are being secured. It is also necessary for workers to be aware of the risk of going abroad through fake agents who are not registered under the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.
Number of Sri Lankans who died while working abroad
- Number of bodies that have been brought back to Sri Lanka
- Number of bodies that have not been brought back to Sri Lanka
| Year | Number of bodies that have been brought back to Sri Lanka | Number of bodies that have not been brought back to Sri Lanka |
| 2016 | 285 | 152 |
| 2017 | 209 | 249 |
| 2018 | 96 | 352 |
| 2019 | 89 | 383 |
| 2020 | 123 | 618 |
| 2021 | 122 | 675 |
| 2022 | 216 | 173 |
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