The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Mr. Presiding Member, I move the following:

¶ 02 “This Parliament resolves that a unit vested with legal powers be established to inquire into issues faced by migrant employees including assault, abduction, rape, sexual harassment, homicide and financial fraud, to arrange necessary facilities for affected workers to return safely to Sri Lanka, and to ensure their protection.”

¶ 03 I brought this because migrant workers render an immense service to our country, yet we underappreciate them. Last year, they brought in about USD 8.4 billion, and now about USD 725–750 million per month, which we take for granted. We must treat them properly.

¶ 04 They are the true economic heroes of Sri Lanka. Many do not go willingly—they go to escape debt, due to medicine or fuel shortages, or a severe economic crisis. High interest rates make repayment impossible. They go abroad as a response to bankruptcy at home. Their sacrifice helps the country, but their families bear a heavy burden.

¶ 05 My core objective is how we safeguard the approximately USD 8–10 billion annually they remit. Remittances stabilize our foreign reserves; thus we must value their family sacrifices, children’s lost childhood, safety and dignity. Sometimes they risk their lives. We praise remittances but forget the people behind them. There are many agencies involved; the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment will respond. But the system—Foreign Employment Bureau, embassies, labour, police, immigration—is not functioning effectively in practice.