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Government losing billions by shutting down consular offices, charges CSO

27 Dec 2021

  • Ethera Api claims funds invested in social security abroad will be lost
The Government’s recent closure of several consulates abroad, including the Cyprus Consular Office, in a measure to save foreign exchange, will ultimately cost the country billions, charged the Ethera Api civil society organisation (CSO). Speaking at a press conference held yesterday (26), Ethera Api Secretary Lakshman Nipunaarachchi, who is a former MP, stated: “The Government has decided to close consulates in several countries. As a result, the Sri Lankan people in those countries are hampered in resolving their problems. The Government is closing these consulates as a cost-cutting measure, but it has plenty of other options to cut spending. “Right now, people are trying to go abroad to earn more. Cyprus is a country that currently employs nearly 15,000 Sri Lankans. New immigrants are also looking for jobs in Cyprus. There is a benefit scheme for foreigners working in Cyprus, called the Cyprus Security Fund. The fund is made up of employees’ and employers’ money. That amount is 16% of the employee’s salary. Hundreds of thousands of workers in Cyprus deserve that funding, but many immigrants from Cyprus are unable to obtain the funds. The Sri Lankan Government has to make a diplomatic deal to get those funds. Ethera Api, as an organisation, is in a big struggle to get this fund. We continue to exert pressure on this Government, and also previous governments, in this regard. “We also obtained information from the Government about a large number of people who worked in Cyprus. But the issue is still unresolved. The Cyprus Fund is a huge source of foreign reserves for Sri Lanka. What the Government should do is not close the consular office in Cyprus at this time to cut costs. The consulate is being set up to obtain funding from Cyprus for Sri Lanka.” He thus explained that closing the Cyprus Consular Office would result in Sri Lankans working in Cyprus being unable to repatriate their money invested in the Cypriot Social Security Fund upon completion of their service. “If this consular office is closed now, all this work will come to a standstill. Employees’ funds cannot be brought back to Sri Lanka. When such a large sum of money could be obtained, the Government is trying to close the consular office to cut costs. This is a decision that the Government should be ashamed of.” He also noted: “There is another allegation that Sri Lankans working at the Italian Embassy in Sri Lanka are being barred from obtaining visas to go to Italy. For a long time, a large number of Sri Lankans abroad have complained to us, as an organisation, that this is an unnecessary hindrance. The Government should make a special intervention regarding this allegation. We urge the Government to resolve this issue and create an opportunity for Sri Lankans going to Italy to travel without hindrance.” Speaking at the same briefing, Ethera Api Treasurer Attorney-at-law Janaka Adhikari further stated: “The Consulate General in Cyprus had six employees. Can’t the Government maintain these six employees? When this consulate is closed, will the Sri Lankans in Cyprus go to the Italian Embassy to solve their problems? In such a situation, the Cabinet recently decided to establish diplomatic relations with a very small country of about 165 sq. km, with a population of about 38,000, called Liechtenstein. This is a country like Swaziland, which has very concessionary tax policies. Do the people of our country need tax relief in such a country? Meanwhile, the consulate in Cyprus, home to about 15,000 Sri Lankans, is being shut down.” The organisation thus called on the Government to ensure that these consulates be maintained to facilitate Sri Lankans living in those countries.


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