SL will face a dollar crisis again if Middle East goes to war – Minister Manusha Nanayakara

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said that if the Sri Lankan migrant workers in the Middle East are forced to return due to a war situation, the recovery of foreign remittances will stop and Sri Lanka will once again go into an economic crisis.

He addressed a media briefing about the rising war in the Middle East region after the assassination of leader of the political wing of the Hamas organisation, Ismail Haniya in Iran. He highlighted the dangerous situation that Sri Lankan workers in the Middle East, particularly those in Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, may face due to this situation.

The development of a war in the Middle East region can affect Sri Lanka in many ways. At this time, the Sri Lankan Government is focusing on the safety of Sri Lankan workers in the Middle East. As per the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, an amount of US$ 5 million has been allocated to bring them home in case of an emergency.

The Minister pointed out that due to the war situation in the Middle East, the import of essential fuel and gas to Sri Lanka may be in crisis, and thus Sri Lanka will have to face an energy crisis again. Earlier, when crises arose in the Gulf region, fuel transportation was stopped due to the blockade of sea routes.

He mentioned that if that happens, the country may fall again without electricity and fuel. To prevent such a situation, we are making all the necessary arrangements as a responsible Government.

The Minister said that a large number of Sri Lankans are employed in the conflict zone, with more than 12,000 Sri Lankan workers in Israel alone, 15,000 in Jordan, 7,500 in Lebanon and nearly 500 in Egypt. The Minister asked Sri Lankan workers to act with understanding and not to cross borders dangerously.

He also said that the President has instructed that all arrangements be made to bring them back to Sri Lanka by sea or air if the need arises.