Govt. defends Ex-Ambassador Arunatilaka

20 December 2024 04:24 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 34 Bookmark

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While standing by former Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Canberra Himalee Arunatilaka, who faced a lawsuit over a salary issue of a domestic aide, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said Arunatilaka had not committed any financial fraud and that it was due to an issue with Sri Lankan salary scale.

The Minister said as a standard practice, the diplomats are facilitated by the Foreign Ministry to take domestic assistants, and they are paid by the Foreign Ministry according to the Sri Lankan salary scale.

He said in this incident, a case had been filed because the salary paid to the domestic aide according to the Sri Lankan salary scale is less than the standard salary scale in Australia.

The Minister said not only Sri Lanka some other countries like India have similar issues as their salary scale is less than European countries and Australia.

He said the government regrets the inconvenience caused to Arunatilaka and added that a policy decision must be taken regarding the matter.

The Minister said the government will take a policy decision on the salary scale of domestic aides working in foreign missions.

Comments - 34

Judge said worker kept like slave, government is appalling with its Human Rights outlook Friday, 20 December 2024 04:41 PM

The judge has said the worker was abused by not giving them freedom of movement. Is that standard government policy to keep domestic workers like indentured slaves?

4 51

Australian police is watching, no more slave servants for Sri Lankan diplomats, Friday, 20 December 2024 04:45 PM

Is Vijitha Herath now disrespecting the laws of Australia, and ignoring the judgement handed down. Abused done to the domestic by Ex-Ambassador Arunatilaka seems all okay by MP Vijitha Herath, then MP Vijitha Herath is a disgusting fellow.

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wickrama Wijayasiri Friday, 20 December 2024 10:05 PM

Yes, we have the option to hire locally and pay accordingly. Just find out how many Sri Lankans want these postings. Even the clerical staff should be hired locally!

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Maybe middle east employers can start paying only Sri Lanka salary scale too Friday, 20 December 2024 04:46 PM

Is the Vijitha Herath mad.

3 25

Pat Pathirana Friday, 20 December 2024 04:51 PM

‘Government regrets the inconvenience caused to Arunathilaka??? WTF?? How about the domestic worker who had to work 14 hours a day and 7 days a week??? Is that okay for you minister???

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sunil Friday, 20 December 2024 04:53 PM

Don't try to cover up for a convicted person and spoil the name of NPP She knew what was to be paid as per the agreement she had signed with the domestic Then what about the hours of work and keeping the maid in solitary confinement

2 24

Rip Winkle Friday, 20 December 2024 04:57 PM

Oh, c'mon mate! Arunatilaka is also guilty of slave like treatment of her maid who was forced to work seven days a week from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm for roughly three years, only taking two days off during that period when she burned her hand while cooking. Arunatilaka ought to be forced to pay compensation to the maid for the above at least.

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Buddhist Friday, 20 December 2024 05:04 PM

Why Vijitha Herath is ignoring the other judgement where its said that she has not paid wages for the overtime the worker was asked to do? Is this not a crime even according to Sri Lankan laws?

2 22

VJ Friday, 20 December 2024 05:12 PM

The Foreign minister’s explanation is not very convincing. I believe the host country labor laws are applicable in this case. Is the assistant high commissioner paid a salary according to the Sri Lankan salary scale while deployed in Australia?

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Saman Perera Friday, 20 December 2024 05:12 PM

so this means every other country will pay Sri Lankans with local salary scales, is that OK for this Govt? you needs to follow the country you are in with labor law., In Australia they have a minimum hourly rate / OT rate

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Antony Friday, 20 December 2024 05:13 PM

Very disappointed. If the helper had come to Singapore her basic facilities will include: basic salary S$650 working hours per day capped 10 hrs. 1 day off per week. Medical fully covered. Once in 2 years return air ticket with 1 month paid leave. If the helpers are being benefitted working to normal families are as such, surely they should be paid and looked after more better when they work for diplomats. Not sure how the minister down played the case taking the diplomat’s side.

2 16

Nimal Fernando Friday, 20 December 2024 05:20 PM

So are the diplomats also paid according to the Sri Lankan salary scale when abroad?

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wickrama Wijayasiri Friday, 20 December 2024 09:58 PM

Yes. Do not get in to legal matters you have no idea about. Everybody commenting appear to be lawyers in SL, as usual.

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Disgrace to nation by Ex-Ambassador Arunatilaka Friday, 20 December 2024 05:27 PM

Government clearly doesn't want to pay the $600,000 in Australian court judgement. Also the whole fault seems to be with Sri Lankan government policy. They don't seem to understand the legal requirements for their official staff when posted either. The whole matter of defending previous government official and decisions is a debacle. The judge specifically mentioned about the poor behaviour of Ex-Ambassador Arunatilaka when handing down the latest $100,000 fine as well. How can Australia just watch idly by as it's court is insulted by Lanka government saying they have policy to ignore Australian laws?

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THIS DIPLOMATE HAS NO SHAME, SHE SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED. MUST HAVE BEEN A CORRUPT POLITICIANS PICK. Friday, 20 December 2024 05:32 PM

SORRY I THINK THIS FOREIGN MINISTER IS SO WRONG, SRI LANKAN SALARY SCALE!!! IS HE OUT OF HIS MIND!!!. HE HAS THE NERVE TO THINK IT WAS OK PAYING A MAID WHO GOES OVERSEAS TO WORK FOR A DIPLOMAT S SRI LANKAN DOMESTIC WAGE!!. TIME TO CHANGE THESE ANCIENT RULES

1 14

Dr Tissa Fernando Friday, 20 December 2024 05:33 PM

First bad decision by the new Govt.

1 19

Jude Friday, 20 December 2024 05:34 PM

How about leave given only for few days and working all 7 days

1 14

Dr Tissa Fernando Friday, 20 December 2024 05:40 PM

No domestic aides please , they should get used to do housework like do many expats who work 12 hours daily abroad and send us money. These domestic aides agree to salary scales just to get in and once they get into the foreign country , they just run away after finding new lovers. That is the reality man. But the government decision to stand by the diplomat is commendable.

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Sunil Friday, 20 December 2024 05:48 PM

What about working excessive hours ? Is it right to exploit domestics without overtime pay. Sri Lanka is a signatory to ILO and must comply.NPP was voted to protect the downtrodden and voiceless but what is happening now. I think Minister Herath will change his stand after going into detail.

1 15

Maqs Friday, 20 December 2024 05:52 PM

Very funny. Has to work in Australia but the salary is that of Sri Lanka. What logic is this? Is the High Commissioner also paid as per Sri Lanka salary scale?

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Gt Friday, 20 December 2024 05:54 PM

So over working and under paying is OK because it's normal practice? Does that mean it's OK or you are taking advantage of poor people, why do sri Lankans get paid less for doing the same job? Even when people go overseas for work with the foreign bureau/agencies they are paid less for same work? 1 example is someone I know who went for cleaning work in a company samasco in Saudi, sri Lankans are paid 3 times less than Philippinos for the exact same work paid by same company... why is that? Is the foreign bureau or agency taking huge cuts from our workers salaries? People who can barely feed their families? There should be minimum wages that are similar to other countries foreign workers, our people are almost sold into slavery made to pay huge sums to terminate employment contracts even if living conditions are horrible, 8 lakhs to terminate contracts...

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Ylg Friday, 20 December 2024 06:14 PM

Was it only the salary that was the issue?

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wickrama Wijayasiri Friday, 20 December 2024 10:07 PM

At this point nobody knows. Only innuendo. The accuser was not challenged as the Accused has diplomatic immunity from prosecution.

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Ashad Dole Friday, 20 December 2024 06:40 PM

A very strange determination from the Minister. So this should be taken as the yardstick where All Sri Lankan domestic helpers going to work in the Middle East and elsewhere should be paid in Local Salaries and in local currency.

1 10

Citizen Friday, 20 December 2024 06:56 PM

Oh no I did not expect this from this minister. We need clarification as to how he came to this conclusion

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Aquarius Friday, 20 December 2024 07:31 PM

Mr. Herath, defending the Ambassador may be your duty, but there is more than the issue of salary. Does the salary stipulate the number of hours per day or is it left to the discretion of the employer? Also cutting down on free movement is an abusive act. All in all the behaviour is typical of the employers in the middle east, where it is a norm to abuse working hours and confiscate passports to make them, prisoners. Any policy decision should address all these issues to help our domestic employees across the globe.

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Lanka Friday, 20 December 2024 07:35 PM

There is a misunderstanding in this matter : what is it ? First of all, foreign missions and their officials must respect all their employees respectfully and they should not be disrespecting them at all misusing their power and positions: The government must take some responsibility to change the wages and salaries of all diplomatic missions : how could people live on Sri Lanka salary scale in London or Melbourne? For that matter in many other capitals? Above all this please send some good people into foreign missions : 90%’of them are arrogant and corrupt and do not provide public services as they should be doing: many Tamils are scared of going to D/ missions:

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wickrama Wijayasiri Friday, 20 December 2024 10:02 PM

Yes, it will be from now on. The previous bunch were political cronies and relatives of them. Hire locally, and pay accordingly. Sri Lankans are clamoring to get these postings and once there, try to jump ship to get asylum and immigration, wven the cooks and domestic aids.

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BnW Friday, 20 December 2024 09:13 PM

This only shows how ignorant is the foriegn minister. In Australia, you cannot even use the word domestic aid or servant. Was the ambassador also paid lankan salary? How could this victim live in Australia with lankan salary?

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Massdeen Friday, 20 December 2024 09:14 PM

Please Mr Minister don’t spoil the Government name by trying to help one particular diplomat, you need to resothe law of that country. Please don’t get involved in that judgement, the law must be upheld, the people will lost the trust and faith they hv placed in the new Government

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DJ Friday, 20 December 2024 09:25 PM

Mr. Minister, I thought you are going to set an example. How can a domestic worker live on the Rs. in a foreign country and please don't compare with other countries sir.

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kumar Friday, 20 December 2024 09:42 PM

The Foreign Ministry sets the pay for the domestic aides that ambassadors and other diplomats employ. Before leaving, the Foreign Ministry and the domestic aides will sign an agreement on it. The foreign ministry, not the officer, must bear responsibility if there is something wrong in the salary.

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Citizen Friday, 20 December 2024 10:09 PM

It is absolutely outrageous that the government blindly supports the former ambassador without conducting any investigation or due diligence process. The poor domestic worker is double-victimized..

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wickrama Wijayasiri Friday, 20 December 2024 10:13 PM

This case started during RW's time. Why did he not resolve it? She is a MR appointee! These people commenting appears to be all SLPP and UNP supporters trying to get political milage here. Vijitha is absolutely correct. If there is a case and accusations they need to be filed in Sri Lanka. That is the law and convention.

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