23 November 2023 04:31 pm Views - 1904
He told Parliament that even Arab diplomats were bemused about the moves.
The MP said this while while referring to the lead story of today's Daily Mirror newspaper.
"The Foreign Employment Minister had sought Cabinet approval to send 10,000 employees to Israel. I am saddened about this. We have to be sensitive at a time like this. This is a very insensitive thing too. It will impact on our security and economic implications," he said.
He said that on a previous occasion when such recruitments were made during the tenure of Dilan Perera as the subject minister, they were given military training at the Diyathalawa camp before being sent to Israel.
“They have to work in farms which have been vacated by the poor Gaza residents. These people are going to be forcibly sent there. Their security is not assured. I was at a diplomatic function yesterday where many Arab diplomats participated. They were also bemused and ridiculing this move. You can earn foreign exchange, but the timing is bad,” the MP said.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who responded said Sri Lanka had been sending workers to Middle Eastern countries over the years and this is also part of that agreement.
"I don’t think there will be 10,000 to go to Israel. I don't think people will go to a war-torn area. This is just a continuation of the old practice. However, I will inquire about it from the Foreign Employment Minister," he said.
The President said Sri Lanka's stance has not changed and it had condemned the attack on the Gaza Strip.