The likely escalation in the conflict linking Israel, Lebanon, Iran and other parts of the Middle East following the assassination of the Hamas leader, and the unfolding situation in the United Kingdom and the turmoil in Bangladesh has once again swung the spotlight back on safety and security of Sri Lankan travellers, migrant workers, students and our citizens who are residents overseas. 

With reports coming out of the United Kingdom about riots which have erupted following anti-immigration protests in towns and cities across Britain in the last week, as attacks by far-right groups on hotels housing asylum seekers and on mosques continued, questions have been raised about the significant Sri Lankan expat and student population, who may be affected by the riots. However, unlike the United Kingdom and other western countries, Sri Lanka does not issue ‘travel warning’ or ‘advisories’ to Sri Lankans who may find themselves in the middle of such a crisis. This has many expats wonder, if Sri Lanka as a State that only cares and looks out for its citizenry, post ‘tragic’ incidents, and raises the question why the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have an mechanism to warn Lankans residing overseas and provide guidelines as to what to do and not in such volatile situations?

In Bangladesh, post collapse of PM Hasina, the bay of Bengal State has descended into anarchy, with at least 24 people, including an Indonesian national, were burnt alive by a mob in Bangladesh at a starred hotel owned by a leader of Awami League party, international media reported yesterday. The victims, mostly boarders, were burnt alive late on Monday night as the mob set afire Zabir International Hotel. There have also been reports of mobs attacking ethnic and religious minorities following Hasina’s downfall. The Sri Lankan Government on their part has said they are closely watching the situation and are in touch with Sri Lankan citizens in the country, especially Lankan students.

Safety and security of Sri Lankan migrant workers have been a long-standing issue, with multiple governments taking a lacklustre approach to the issue, resulting in thousands of Sri Lanka citizens, mostly women and mothers, who sought employment in the Middle East through official and unofficial channels, return to Sri Lanka, scared and bruised for life. Others have been less fortunate, with many unexplained and suspicious deaths, and instances of torture and what would likely constitute slavery reported periodically. Over the last few decades, returning Lankan migrants’ workers have had little praise for the regulator Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE) and the diplomatic missions of the MFA. Even with Sri Lanka now trying to find migrant work opportunities for Sri Lankans, the situation about their safety, security and a safety network to effectively track, communicate and warn workers, is lacking.

Given that Sri Lankan migrant workers, and the expatriate community has been life line for Sri Lanka, especially over the last four years, while the island weathered severe economic crisis and socio-political upheaval, the safety and security of our citizens overseas must be given more focus and made a policy priority. 

Sri Lanka jubilantly announces the quarterly foreign remittances and uses them as a marker to indicate foreign exchange flow when dealing with the IMF and international creditors. However, the State needs to do more to ensure that those who sent remittances are not merely ‘numbers on ledgers’ and understand their responsibility towards Sri Lankan passport holders. Why Sri Lanka has not been able to replicate an online database and communication system such as the ‘Smart traveller’ service run by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) remains a mystery.  The Australian system provides free international travel advice for Australians overseas. It also provides localised warnings, consular assistance, notary services, facilitates accredited translation and interpreter services, advice on travel insurance and is quickly updated, providing Australians overseas with warning, guidelines on safety and access to critical assistance. 

It is high time that Sri Lanka got its act together and invested in creating such a system. Sri Lanka cannot afford to be complacent with its duties to Sri Lankans residing overseas.