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SLBFE does little for migrant workers, says Action Network
By Nilika Kasturisinghe
While the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment boasted that the collection at its Airport branch during the month of May was the highest ever and had exceeded Rs. 10 million, the Action Network for Migrant Workers charged that the Bureau does little to ease the hardships of the migrant workers who bring in this money.
The Action Network for Migrant Workers, an NGO which works to safeguard the interests of migrant workers, said on an average they receive about 10 complaints each day but not more than three of these are suitably dealt with by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

The Action Network said said that the Bureau provides scant solace to the migrant workers most of whom come from distant parts of the country seeking redress.
Citing a recent case, sources at the Action Network for Migrant Workers said a couple from Kolonnawa employed in the middle east had been facing difficulties, and the wife had returned spending her own money to purchase the air ticket.

However, even though several months had passed her husband who is suffering from various health problems could not be brought back to Sri Lanka despite having handed over the money, for his return passage, to the agency which recruited them.
"The SLBFE does not even have the powers to compel the job agency to bring back this sick man despite his wife having paid for his passage," they said.

The Action Network for Migrant Workers which can be reached on telephone numbers 805127 and 805579 was instrumental in facilitating the signing of the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their families which came into force in Sri Lanka on July 1.

This Convention guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of person and a host of other rights often denied to migrant workers. The SLBFE in a media release on Thursday stated that its Chairman, Susantha Fernando announced that the collection at the Airport branch of the Bureau exceeded 10 million in May this year. "In May 2001 the income of the Airport branch of the Bureau totalled Rs. 3,837,200, and last year's collection was Rs. 4,924,200 while in May 2003 the collection rose to Rs. 10,147,800," the release stated.


Immunization campaign against measles on Sept. 5
Children who missed out on being immunized against measles at the age of three are being given another opportunity in a campaign to be launched on September 5, the Epidemiological Department said.

In a mass scale campaign to be launched the Epidemiological Unit has decided to give this 'second opportunity measles immunization' to children between the ages of 10 and 14 years.

"This is the group that was affected during the 1999-2000 measles outbreak," acting epidemiologist Dr. N. Abeysinghe said. The first round of immunization is normally given at nine months and the second round is administered at three years of age.
Prior to the year 2000, children were given only immunized once at the age of nine months.

From year 2000 onwards, the Epidemiological Unit introduced a second round of immunizations as practiced in several developed countries. Those children in the age group of 10 to 14 years who had missed the second round of immunization are therefore advised to get the vaccine during the campaign scheduled to be held in September.

At present the programme is being conducted in the North and East of the country. On September 5 the Epidemiological Unit intends immunizing as many children as possible living within the Colombo Municipality area. They intend deploying more than 550 nursing staff.

Odds and Ends

No words to utter
"A man of few words but an affable and affectionate person." Those were the words used by an Indian delegate at last week’s regional seminar for Asian Parliamentarians held at the Parliamentary complex in Kotte to describe speaker Joseph Michael Perera.

He picked up the words from Parliamentary Affairs Minister A.H.M. Azwer who used similar words to describe the Speaker. What Mr. Azwer failed to tell the delegates was that the Speaker had probably exhausted his entire vocabulary trying to discipline the members of the local legislature.

In grumbling mode
At the regional seminar Samurdhi Commissioner Dr. Kumari Navaratne who made a presentation spoke on the lack of funds and people for the poverty alleviation work to be carried out successfully. She said she had to hire outside help just to prepare answers to oral questions raised by MPs in Parliament regarding Samurdhi payments to individuals. During the break, a foreign representative inquired from an opposition politico why the lady was grumbling", only to be told, "It is not only her but even her Minister is grumbling these days."

Silence brings welcome relief
PA’s Badulla district MP Nimal Siripala De Silva was armed with a police report on 52 cases of violence committed against PA supporters in the aftermath of the previous general elections in the Haguranketha electorate and revealed its contents to journalists at the PA's weekly news briefing. Mr. De Silva even read out individual instances of violence and action that had been taken. More than 15 minutes into this exercise, his colleague Dr. Sarath Amunugama who was seated next to him suggested that a separate news conference be held to discuss this report.
"It is a very serious matter and we need to discuss this in detail", he said.
Serious or not, the journalists heaved an audible sigh of relief being relieved it was over for the time being at least.

Vests and investments
Talking about ministerial missions for military procurements, here is a confession by a Mirihana businessman. The businessman has claimed the credit for arranging an arms deal for a political boss in whose office and home he spends a lot of time. The businessman also has claimed that he contributed five million rupees towards the UNP's 2001 election campaign. He also boasts that he had taken great pains to protect the life of a political leader. He said he had requested a buddy, a high flyer at one time, to smuggle into the country a bullet-proof vest for the political leader.

Police Chief hopping mad!
The gala event at the Police Officers' Mess was planned for members of the Police Commission. After a few cocktails, Police Chief, T.E. Anandarajah had invited Police Commission Chairman Ranjith Abeysuirya PC to have dinner. IGP Anandarajah's face had then turned red with embarrassment when he discovered that some SSPs, DIGs and ASPs, in a high state of intoxication, were helping themselves to the hoppers and other items of food that had been laid out on the dinner table for members of the Police Commission. Apparently the intoxicated officers had the hoppers as snacks after drinks! So much for law and order.

Only a smirk from the Minister
It was amidst rumours of an impending crossover by Housing and Plantation Infrastructure Minister Arumugam Thondaman that he addressed a news conference last week, on the estate workers' citizenship issue. The rumours were fuelled by a meeting he had with President Kumaratunga a day earlier. One scribe attempting to shed some light on the matter queried from the Minister whether he would be retaining the same portfolio when the PA forms the next government with the help of his party. The Minister responded with a smirk and the guessing game continues.


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