Lankan domestic aide who left Saudi 22-years ago to receive end-of-service benefits from sponsor

 A Sri Lankan domestic aide who left Saudi Arabia 22 years ago is to receive his end-of-service benefits in Colombo from a Saudi sponsor, who died six years ago. The sponsor requested his next of kin to pay the benefits to the man if he could be found after his return to Sri Lanka, Arab News reported.

The beneficiary was found in Sri Lanka and the family of the sponsor will make the payment shortly on completion of formalities. Saudi sponsor, Shukr Sweilem Al-Shammary, who died six years ago, requested his next-of-kin to pay the end-of-service to Mohammed Zizan Hameed Lebbe, a Sri Lankan domestic driver, who had worked with him from 1987 to 1996 in Riyadh.

According to the last will of Al-Shammary, the deceased asked his heirs to pay SR11,000 to the driver or to his family.

Indika Thilakaratne , labor counselor at the Sri Lankan Embassy, said that he received the money and it has been sent to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment to pay the nominee or his next-of-kin.

Nalin Rajapaksa, media officer at the Ministry of Foreign Employment, told Arab News that the ministry launched an islandwide search for the driver to clear the payment.

Mohammed Zizan Hameed Lebbe, right, with Rihan Razick, who found him in Sri Lanka. (Image courtesy Arab News)