KUWAIT, 24 May 2007 — Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, who wrapped up a state visit on Tuesday, told the heads of Lankan missions in the Gulf to look after Sri Lankan expatriates with a sense of dedication and work for their well-being.
“You all should work for the welfare of our people and promote bilateral relations with the respective host countries. If you cannot do this, please give way to better people to work as our envoys in these important stations,” Rajapakse told Lankan ambassadors in the GCC countries at the Bayan Palace in the Kuwaiti capital.
“Work well or quit” is the principle to be followed by every public servant in my government,” he added. Stressing the importance of Lankan workers in the Gulf, the president said there are 1.5 million Lankan overseas workers throughout the world and more than 75 percent of them are in the Middle East. “These overseas workers bring in 28 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. They should be treated fairly in appreciation of their contributions to the country’s economy,” Rajapakse noted.
Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia A.M.J. Sadiq; Lankan Ambassador to United Arab Emirates, Nabavi Junaid; Ambassador to Qatar, S.B. Atugoda; Ambassador to Oman, Mohammed Mahroof; and ambassador to Kuwait S.A.C.M. Zuhyle, were present at the president’s briefing. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Labor Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Additional Foreign Secretary Tikiri Bandara Maduwagedera, were also there.
The president, who separately met community members at a reception, assured them that his government would do everything for their welfare, security and safe stay overseas.
