Toll free number at Lankan embassy in Saudi - Daily News - February 11, 2014
Mifthia
Assistance for expatriate workers in Riyadh
Toll free number at Lankan embassy in Saudi
Mohammed Rasooldeen
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has set up a 24-hour telephone service to help those who seek to resolve issues. It is set up to assist expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia.
“The toll-free number is 8001180050. It is a 24-hour help line which will help distressed workers who need the embassy’s services,” Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Vadivel Krishnamoorthy told the Daily News.
The envoy said in addition to strengthening bilateral ties with the host government and its leadership, the embassy serves the Sri Lankan expatriate worker population, who bring in large revenues to the national coffers.
Krishnamoorthy said the Sri Lankan expatriates in the Middle East sent home US $ 2.5 billion in 2010. A significant portion of this sum came from the 350,000 Sri Lankans working in Saudi, he said.
Around one-third of Sri Lanka’s 1.5 million overseas workers live in the Kingdom, he added.
“I have made arrangements for expatriates to meet me without prior appointments on Wednesdays,” the ambassador said, adding that workers who have unresolved issues could meet him personally during office hours. He said workers can also meet him on other days provided they have an appointment.
He said Saudi Arabia is a key destination for Sri Lankan expatriates seeking employment opportunities.
“Our community has earned a name for discipline and being sincere, talented and hardworking. They are law-abiding residents,” he said.
The ambassador expressed appreciation for the amnesty granted by the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah which gave undocumented expatriates the opportunity to respectfully exit the country and return to Sri Lanka or to rectify their status.
Over 100,000 expatriates changed their professions and about 15,000 Sri Lankans left Saudi Arabia without facing penalties. It also enabled those who returned to Sri Lanka to reapply for jobs and return to Saudi Arabia, benefiting the Sri Lankan and Saudi Arabian labour markets.
“It has been the constant endeavour of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh to provide consular and other services to Sri Lankan expatriates at the mission and through monthly mobile services in the Eastern Province. The mission will also expand its services to Al-Hail from this year,” the ambassador said. The Embassy has been trying to improve the quality of service for the Sri Lankan community in Saudi Arabia, he said, pointing out that a senior Consular official can always be met without appointment.
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Mifthia Jalaldeen
Administrative Officer
Solidarity Center
No. 30A, Pamankada Lane,
Off W.A. Silva Mawatha
Colombo 6
Sri Lanka
Telephone: 94-11-2365211/4362597
Fax: 94-11-2366543
Mobile: 94-777-764786
Solidarity Center Website: www.solidaritycenter.org
