Sri Lankan migrant workers in Bangladesh safe amidst unrest, confirms Minister

Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara says that there had been no reports of violence against Sri Lankan migrant workers in Bangladesh.

Speaking today in Parliament, Minister Nanayakkara pointed out that, since 2019, a total of 2835 Sri Lankans have been residing in Bangladesh.

He provided a breakdown of Sri Lankans currently residing in Bangladesh, stating that 2690 Sri Lankans were sent as trainees, consisting of 107 women and 2583 men. Additionally, 145 Sri Lankans were sent as low-skilled migrant workers, including 6 women and 139 men.

According to Minister Nanayakkara, no Sri Lankans have been hurt in the turmoil in Bangladesh, according to information provided by the Sri Lankan Embassy there.

He reassured that should there be a need to repatriate Sri Lankan migrant workers, the Sri Lankan Embassy will prioritize their safety and promptly implement any required measures.

At least 139 people were reported dead in clashes between protesters and security forces across Bangladesh following the reinstatement by the high court last month of job reservations that had been removed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2018.

Nonetheless, the Supreme Court mandated that 93 percent of government job allocations be based on merit, overturning previous quotas of 56 percent reserved for groups including families of freedom fighters, women, and individuals from underdeveloped regions.

Over the course of several days of clashes in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, over 500 individuals, including several opposition leaders, have been arrested.