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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said not many Sri Lankans were expected to be repatriated, as most were willing to remain and work in non-affected areas despite the war in Lebanon.

“So far we have only received between 3,000 to 4,000 applications for repatriation from Lebanon and expect a total of about 7,000 people to return, as many of those living and working in non-affected areas are opting to stay back due to the fear of losing their jobs,” SLBFE acting general manager H. Batagoda said.

He said of the 80,000 migrant workers some 3,000 had returned from Lebanon with more expected to return in the coming days while some migrant workers were detained at work places or arrested while crossing into Syria without proper documents. Consular Affairs Director General I. Anzar said the Government was negotiating with Lebanon and Israel, to ensure safe passage for Sri Lankans.

“We are talking to Lebanon and Israel about stranded Sri Lankans. We cannot go from house to house checking whether any Sri Lankans are being detained. But if there are any such cases we will bring them to the notice of our embassy,” he said. Mr. Anzar warned Sri Lankans about the dangers of attempting to cross the Lebanon-Syrian border without proper travel documents because of the possibility of being arrested at border check points.
Meanwhile long queues of people were seen at the SLBFE wanting to telephone their relatives in Lebanon. The SLBFE said it was providing IDD facilities and the services of an Arabic-speaking translator to anyone who wanted to talk to relatives and friends.

While some were successful in contacting those in Lebanon some others had to return disappointed.

Stella a young girl from Mattakkuliya stood in the queue carrying an infant with the girl’s mother and brother wanting to call their sister in Lebanon.

“Even after the crisis we were unable to get her new contact number from the agency. We had to tell a lie that the SLBFE wanted the number and somehow managed to get it. Though I tried a couple of times the line was engaged. The SLBFE phone operator managed to get through and said a lady answered the phone and said my sister had run away. This is her baby and two more of her children live with us,” she said.

S. Nesan from Deniyaya had come to talk to his 19-year-old daughter, who had been in Lebanon for about three months.

“She wanted to go abroad to build a better house for us and save some money for her future. But now I’m left with a number on a piece of paper and the line is eternally engaged,” he said.

Parwathi (42) from Kalutara had come to the SLFBE to call her daughter after many attempts to contact her daughter from her neighbour’s phone had failed.
“As soon as I knew there were problems in Lebanon, I tried several times to call my daughter but the lines didn’t work. I went to the airport to see whether she is coming, but that too was of no use. Now I have come here to try and call my daughter once more,” Parwathi said.