The (Sri Lankan) Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Sri Lankan embassy in Addis Ababa, and with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), succeeded in ensuring the safe return of twelve Sri Lankan migrant workers stranded in Somaliland as a result of a labour dispute.
As Sri Lanka does not have diplomatic and consular presence in Somaliland, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Sri Lankan embassy in Addis Ababa worked with the IOM office in Hargeisa which interceded to negotiate with the employer concerned in Somaliland to resolve the labour dispute, secure the release of the Sri Lankans, and make arrangements for their safe return.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges all Sri Lankans to be cautious in undertaking employment in high-risk territories in which Sri Lanka does not have resident diplomatic and consular presence.
By Keshala Dias
