File photograph: Israeli Defense Force, 2021.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has said that only a handful of the nearly 20,000 Sri Lankans currently in Israel have requested to return home, despite escalating tensions in the region due to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran and its assault on Gaza.
Addressing parliament, Herath stated that only a few individuals had expressed a desire to leave. Among them were two businessmen and another individual who requested to return following the death of his son in Sri Lanka.
“We are arranging for people to come back via third countries in case the war gets worse,” said Herath. “They will have to cross into Jordan through the border and fly out from Amman.”
According to the minister, Sri Lankan nationals in Israel have so far opted to remain, adhering to local security protocols. “They said they are following the security arrangements of the country,” he added.
The government is reportedly coordinating through embassies in the region and has drawn up contingency plans should the situation deteriorate. “If the war intensifies, we will send flights to bordering countries to bring them back,” Herath told parliament.
At least four Sri Lankan workers in Israel have been injured- one seriously - and are currently receiving treatment, the minister confirmed. He also appealed to Sri Lankan nationals currently on leave in Sri Lanka not to return to Israel at this time, citing increased risk.
The Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment has temporarily halted the deployment of new workers to Israel’s construction and agriculture sectors. The programme, which had seen high demand in recent months, was popular due to reported salaries ranging from Rs. 800,000 to Rs. 1 million per month, according to former minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.
Herath also noted that there are currently 35 Sri Lankan nationals residing in Iran. Although no evacuations have been requested from that group, the government continues to monitor the situation closely.
The minister added that Sri Lankan officials are working with the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) to ensure that visa extensions are granted for those unable to return immediately. “They have informed us that they will act to extend Sri Lankan workers’ visas in the future,” he said, acknowledging, however, that Israeli government functions remain limited amid the current crisis.
Sri Lanka has continued to send thousands of workers into Israel, mainly to replace Palestinian labourers, as Colombo continues to maintain strong ties with Israel, despite its Gaza assault.