Rs. 56.9 million was awarded today (13) to 40 Sri Lankan workers who faced various hardships in Saudi Arabia. The event took place at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) under the leadership of General Manager Devapriya Gunasinghe.

A total of 639,381.00 Saudi Riyals (approximately Rs. 56.9 million) was recovered and presented to these workers as unpaid or delayed wages and allowances. This amount was successfully secured through legal interventions, operations, and rescue missions conducted by the Employment and Labor Welfare Division of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia between January and November 11, 2026. During this period, efforts were also made to rescue Sri Lankan workers who were held illegally and repatriate them to Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, the funds due to them were remitted to the SLBFE, after which the claims amounting to Rs. 56.9 million were formally distributed to them today. These funds were successfully recovered due to the direct intervention, negotiations with employers, and necessary legal actions taken by officials, including Mangala Randeniya, the Advisor of the Employment and Labor Welfare Division at the Riyadh Embassy.

In addition, under the constant guidance and instructions of the Bureau, the Embassy’s Labor and Welfare Division has directly intervened on several occasions to resolve complaints regarding delayed or unpaid wages and other employment-related payments owed by employers. The Bureau has also instructed that such issues continue to be addressed in the future.

Senarath Yapa, Additional General Manager (International Affairs) of the Bureau, also participated in the compensation distribution event.