Steps being taken to resolve employment issues of Sri Lankan workers in Israel: Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra

23-Aug-2026

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The Government is taking appropriate measures to resolve the problems faced by Sri Lankan workers in Israel and address issues that have arisen in the recruitment process, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra said.

He made these remarks in response to a question raised by MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake during Question Time in Parliament on August 20, 2026.

In his question, MP Chamara Sampath said that around 30,000 Sri Lankans are currently working in Israel.

Approximately 7,000 people who travelled to Israel to work in certain specified employment sectors subsequently entered other occupations and also sought refugee status.

He asked whether the Sri Lankan Government could intervene in the matter in the same manner as the Governments of India and Bangladesh had intervened in relation to such workers.

Deputy Minister Hemachandra replied:

“Various irregularities occurred during the previous Government’s period in the process of sending workers to Israel. Former Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara had instructed the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment by letter to send a list provided by him to Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority.

“This action took place while the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment was selecting workers for foreign employment programmes under the proper procedures.

“Some Sri Lankan workers recruited for employment in Israel’s agricultural sector were not properly informed about the employment category in which they were expected to work.

“As a result, some workers subsequently joined other occupations and claimed refugee status. The Israeli authorities had previously provided an amnesty period to regularise their status.

“However, the previous Government failed to intervene appropriately to provide relief to Sri Lankan workers who were in Israel during that period.

“Instead, a plan was pursued to send approximately 6,000 new Sri Lankan workers to Israel in place of workers who were already there.

“It has also been reported that irregularities and corruption occurred in the recruitment process for Israel, including the collection of money from applicants.

“In this situation, the present Government is taking steps to resolve the problems faced by Sri Lankan workers in Israel and rectify issues that have arisen in the recruitment process.

“Necessary measures will be taken to provide a fair solution to the affected Sri Lankan workers,” he said.