President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the police to provide the security needed by the Israeli community in the country and to prioritise the welfare and security of Sri Lankans currently in the Jewish State following the ongoing war in the region.
The President also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the safe return of Israelis, including tourists and employees, from Sri Lanka to Israel, urging the police to provide security for Israelis in Sri Lanka. He also called upon officials to prioritise the immediate requirements of Sri Lankans residing in Israel, especially their safety, in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel and Government departments have launched a program to offer the utmost possible assistance to the Sri Lankan community living in Israel, according to officials of the President’s Media Division.
Sri Lankans working or residing in Israel for various purposes now have access to channels to directly inform the Sri Lankan authorities in case of life-threatening situations or related difficulties, they said.
They could convey their needs or obtain information through: Phone: (+94) 117966396. WhatsApp: (+94) 767463391. Email: [email protected]
According to the officials, all Sri Lankans in Israel can avail themselves of these services through the immigration procedures or any other appropriate method.
President Wickremesinghe has expressed deep concern over the turbulence in the region, and its implications on Sri Lankans and Israelis residing in both countries.
The President said the need for immediate action was to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans working and living in Israel.
The Government including the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has also offered US$ 30,000 to be used for the welfare of Sri Lankans in Israel in case of any emergencies, an official
said.
Two Sri Lankans are still missing and feared dead or taken hostage and one injured following the invasion of Hamas fighters on Saturday last week. There are around 8,000 Sri Lankans working in Israel and 90 percent of them are caregivers.
The Cabinet last week discussed the evacuation of Sri Lankan workers from Israel, if an emergency arises due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, according to informed sources.
“Although the matter has been discussed at length, no final decision has been made, and such a decision will be taken after monitoring the situation on the ground in the conflict area,” they said
There is an undisclosed number of Israeli nationals who are either working or staying in Sri Lanka at present, many of whom are tourists, according to officials.
