MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN
COLOMBO – A group of 14 stranded Sri Lankans were repatriated home on Tuesday from Muscat, the Sri Lankan embassy in Oman announced here on Friday.
The Sri Lankan ambassador in Oman, O.L. Ameer Ajwad told the Colombo Times from Muscat that the entire group were female workers who had work related problems.
Ajwad explained that these workers have been working for some time in various households and they seek refuge at the embassy if they cannot resolve their issues with their respective sponsors.
The envoy said most of the issues that come up for the embassy are settled after successful negotiations. However, he said there are some cases where the two parties cannot come to an amicable settlement and the mission has to send such employees back home at their own expenses. There are cases where the distressed Sri Lankans cannot afford to buy their air tickets and the mission sponsors their passage back home through some Sri Lankan well-wishers who readily help such deserving cases.
Asked about the causes for such disputes, Ambassador Ajwad said it varies from case to case and some Sri Lankan workers complain about delayed salaries, sponsors’ denial to send the workers on vacation and lack of understanding between the employer and employee due to communication difficulties.
