The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, I answer on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.

¶ 02 (a) (i) Yes. Many Sri Lankans working in Italy have recently faced difficulties when converting Sri Lankan driving licences to Italian licences.

¶ 03 Sri Lanka and Italy first signed a bilateral agreement in 2011 for reciprocal recognition of driving licences, with a clause for renewal five years after first issuance. As the agreement allowed obtaining a valid Italian licence without sitting theoretical or practical tests, it was highly beneficial to Sri Lankans.

¶ 04 The first renewal took place in 2017. After its expiry on 3 March 2022, the Italian authorities proposed a new agreement.

¶ 05 Discussions on the new draft commenced in 2022. Talks on the main agreement have now concluded and an agreed text is ready for signature.

¶ 06 However, since the Sri Lankan driving licence format has changed several times, the Italian side requested additional clarifications regarding those periods, which delayed signature.

¶ 07 On 21 October 2024, Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, through the Sri Lankan Embassy in Rome, requested further clarifications relating to licence formats, regulations on exchange of personal data, etc. The Embassy has provided the responses to the Italian authorities, and we await their review.

¶ 08 The Embassy in Rome has since informed that the Italian side has confirmed no further clarifications/reviews are required. The final table of driving licence categories/equivalences will be sent to Sri Lanka for verification. Upon that confirmation, the agreement can be signed on an early convenient date.

¶ 09 (ii) With regard to inhuman treatment, monitoring indicates that only a limited number of Sri Lankan female domestic workers face such violence annually.

¶ 10 The SLBFE Conciliation Division records close to 3,000 complaints annually; of these, complaints relating to violence—physical, psychological, or sexual—are fewer than 150.

¶ 11 (iv) Action is taken under the provisions of the SLBFE Act—particularly Sections 44, 65 and 66. Where the worker migrated through a licensed local agency, the agency, complainant, relevant foreign mission, and the foreign agent/employer coordinate to resolve the issue immediately; legal action is instituted as provided in the Act. If unresolved, the mission undertakes diplomatic interventions. For self-migrated workers, the Embassy and employers are engaged; if the person did not migrate through SLBFE registration, direct intervention is limited and such complaints are referred to the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry.

¶ 12 (v) Against licensed agencies/licensees, cases are filed in a Magistrate’s Court under Section 64(a) of the SLBFE Act (as amended by Acts No. 9 of 1994 and No. 56 of 2009 to the principal Act No. 21 of 1985). For unlicensed entities/individuals committing fraud, prosecutions are instituted in the Magistrate’s Court under Section 64(b) of the Act.

¶ 13 (vi) Upon a complaint to the SLBFE Special Investigations Division, both parties are summoned and an inquiry is held. Where documentary proof of monies paid is produced, efforts are made to reach an agreement for refund. If no settlement is reached, a case is filed in the Magistrate’s Court and concluded per court order.

¶ 14 (b) Not applicable.