| 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.
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. |
