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Last rites far from home

The plight of Sri Lankan migrant workers who died from COVID-19

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8 October 2020 06:28 pm - 20     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Piyumi Fonseka 

@Piyumi_Fonseka on Twitter


The body of the Sri Lankan migrant worker Bandu who died of coronavirus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- far from home -- was kept inside the ambulance in front of the crematorium. A few of his work friends came by for a last goodbye. In silence, the body, wrapped in a white plastic bag, was reduced to ashes in a matter of minutes.

More than one million Sri Lankans work in 14 labor destinations including Gulf nations, becoming the backbone of the workforce of many wealthy nations, while also being the major source of foreign income in their motherland. 

Many have endured decades of sweat and tears to provide for their families, with the hope of returning one day to build a house, to start a family and just to ease their financial struggles. But, for sixty seven Sri Lankan migrant workers returning home was not a reality, this year.

Thousands of migrant workers who were already struggling with low wages, lack of job security and social protection, are now suffering the worst effects of the pandemic. Many have lost jobs, accommodation and even have contracted the virus. 

Silent funerals

A death from coronavirus means that the body cannot be sent home, and that it has to be cremated or buried in the country where the person dies. As per latest data, 67 Sri Lankan workers have died due to the Coronavirus. As the transportation of deceased workers has been halted due to the disruption of regular international flights, repatriation of these workers who died abroad has been directly affected.

Bringing bodies from abroad carries the risk of coronavirus infection through the coffins used during transportation. Owing to the current situation, it has made it difficult to bring their bodies back home. Therefore, following the request from the government, families of deceased workers have started giving their consent to perform the final rites in the countries where they had been working. 

Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) Spokesman Mangala Randeniya said; “considering the time it might take for bringing the bodies’ home, we started contacting families on allowing cremation abroad. Once they agreed, they gave an affidavit and then they were sent to Sri Lankan missions abroad for performing the final rites.”

No last goodbye

Bandu Fernando has been a migrant worker in Dubai for twenty years. He was working as a labourer in a restaurant when he unfortunetly got exposed to the virus. His family in Koralawella, Moratuwa is devastated as they could not even see Bandu for the last time. Sharing their agony, the widow Nishanthi Fernando said she and her children still could not wrap their heads around the loss. 

“He was planning to come to Sri Lanka in May for a family occasion. We had so many plans for his visit. When he was not feeling well, he informed us. We kept in touch with him throughout the journey. It was good that he had friends with him in Dubai as he had been working there for two decades.”

“Foreign bureau officials informed us regarding the situation. We realized that we had been left with no option but to allow his final rites in the destination. The pandemic snatched the most important thing in my life,” Nishanthi said, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

Duty of the government and the COVID crisis

According to the SLFEB, the government authority responsible for providing financial assistance to the aggrieved families, an insurance compensation of Rs. 500, 000 will be paid to migrant workers who have registered with the SLBFE and died while being employed abroad.

This compensation has been increased to Rs. 600,000 for those who registered after March 16, 2020 and went abroad. The amount paid for the religious rites of the deceased was earlier Rs. 30,000 and it has been increased by Rs. 10,000 for those who died due to COVID-19. After the families give permission, undertakers performed the final rites in the presence of a representative of the Sri Lankan mission and workers’ friends in the country.

One of the most pressing and long-standing issues the Sri Lankan migrant workers are facing is the lack of coordination and weak communication between them and Sri Lankan embassies when they need support. The situation is the same in the Gulf where around 1.5 million Sri Lankans are working and in many other countries.
During interviews with migrant workers, they told Daily Mirror that restrictions imposed by their host countries to slow the spread of COVID-19 have further curtailed their already limited ability to contact embassies to seek any support that they need. 

“There is no point in talking to our embassies here. They want us only till the agencies send us here. After that, they don’t care about us. I tried to contact embassy officials for weeks for help because I did not know any Sri Lankans in my neighbourhood. But, I couldn’t reach out to them,” a migrant worker stranded in Qatar complained.

As per the National Labour Migration Policy developed in 2008, the Sri Lankan Diplomatic Missions in host countries shall recognise as their priority, the duty to protect the rights of migrant workers and to extend immediate assistance, including the repatriation of distressed or beleaguered Sri Lankan migrant workers. It also states that repatriation is the responsibility of the State and the State shall ensure safe repatriation for all workers in need.

“This will address emergencies faced by migrant workers, due to sudden and serious health issues, and grave safety and security issues. Diplomatic Missions shall make sure return and reintegration take place with full protection of rights and freedoms,” the policy states.

Unfortunate plight of ‘the lifeblood of the country’

Migrant workers not only in the Gulf but also many parts of the world are excluded from emergency protections during the pandemic. The Sri Lankan government depends on up to $7 billion in annual remittances from these workers, who have been praised as the “lifeblood of the country.” However, they are often ignored. The recent example is the statement of the current Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage who referred to the infected workers as “bombs.”

As the coronavirus outbreak has spread rapidly around the globe, the Sri Lankan government is still struggling to combat it. Especially with the new Minuwangoda cluster which is increasing at an unprecedented rate, the country has again suspended flights bringing stranded Sri Lankans home.

Issuing a statement, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi said urged Sri Lankan community members in UAE who are looking forward to going back to Sri Lanka to be patient until the repatriation flight operations are resumed shortly. Further it said that the procedure of the repatriation operations will be notified in due course, the notice issued by the Embassy read.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan embassies abroad are still unable to provide an exact number of Sri Lankan migrant workers, infected with the deadly virus. The plight of the stranded migrant workers exposes severe results of the decades-long systemic problems of Sri Lanka’s national foreign employment agency and the hands-off approach of the government in matters related to migrant workers.


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  Comments - 20

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  • Amnesty International Thursday, 08 October 2020 07:46 PM

    My heart goes out to these victims and their families. Hopefully they are allowed to perform the final rites as they wishes. Because in Sri Lanka Muslims and Christians are deprived from that for no good reason, forced to cremate their loved ones instead of burying.

    Jeeves Friday, 09 October 2020 02:06 AM

    Doubt that most Middle Eastern countries would permit any Buddhist religious ceremonies. At least Sri Lanka is tolerant to practice of ALL religions; or has Amnesty International forgotten that?

    M.P. Silva Friday, 09 October 2020 10:43 AM

    Our hears also go out to the migrant workers. Which country allows Covid patients to their rightful burials ? All are being buried according to WHO guidelines. Is this real Amensty International? Why cant you help them to get proper treatment in such rich countries ? Look for that opportunity instead of commenting about rituals after they die.

    Mario DE SilVa Friday, 09 October 2020 12:27 AM

    send to my email

    Amnesty International Friday, 09 October 2020 09:52 AM

    Jeeves, you are right. But violation of human rights in other countries does not make it right to violate human rights in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka you can not practised all religions: to be able to bury the death is very very important. And it does not cause Covid 19.

    Roisin Friday, 09 October 2020 10:25 AM

    That does not make it right, Jeeves. The conclusion is that Also in Sri Lanka you can not perform final rites, for no reason.

    Ranaweera Friday, 09 October 2020 10:47 AM

    2 Sri Lankan bankers died last week and their families were hospitalised for covid. They got infected after they flouted Dubai rules and had a getogether with 3 other families to celebrate 50th birthday of one of the males. Their bodies were buried here. No one is reslly allowed to see these bodies. Every country is following the WHO guidelines in this area.

    Sha Friday, 09 October 2020 10:54 AM

    Jeeves, its because of people like you only this country is still a developing country for the last 70 odd years.

    Amnesty International Friday, 09 October 2020 12:02 PM

    M.P. Silva, ofcourse I am not the real Amnesty International. Only a paying member of Amnesty International for 30 years. But I have to hide my real name because I am afraid of the white vans

    Mohan Fonseka Friday, 09 October 2020 06:10 PM

    Very good article. The current Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage who referred to the infected workers as “bombs.” Let me see his educational background.

    Esther Cohen, Europe Friday, 09 October 2020 07:31 PM

    Ranaweera, the WHO guidelines says it is safe to bury Covid 19 victims. Only in Sri Lanka it is forbidden. Amnesty International only talks about burying, not the rites

    Once a migrant worker Saturday, 10 October 2020 06:53 AM

    SLBFE is the most corrupt institution. They are only worried about the payment before leaving. Can anyone say any benefit received from them? UAE is one country that has the freedom of following your religion. Last rights for covid deaths is something that the health authorities decide I suppose.

    Gamarala Saturday, 10 October 2020 08:15 AM

    Only the living make a big fuss of death. Once a person is dead, that's the end, it matters little what is done after that except to please the living. When will people come to the realization that humans are no more important than any other life form on this earth, and that is linked to fear that there is nothing else after death? We are born, we live, we die, the same as everything else on this earth, and there is nothing wrong with that.

    M P Fernando Sunday, 11 October 2020 07:35 PM

    Thank you

    Lucifer Monday, 12 October 2020 12:15 AM

    Go complain to Gotler if you and your entire family needs a summary execution and cremation.

    Saravanaraj Monday, 12 October 2020 08:44 AM

    Technology greatly improved yet at any given time we don't know how many Sri Lankanare out there? To begin with GOSL must record name and contact detail of all Expats, then create a small cluster or network to connect them. Always make sure they are in touch with local embassy. Once the cluster is created they can look after themselves

    Christian Monday, 12 October 2020 09:40 AM

    Gamarala, you are entitled to have your personal opinion, but not to force it on others. That is the whole point of freedom of religion and human rights

    Suree Monday, 12 October 2020 04:20 PM

    How sad but if they come to sri lanka and work in a garment factory and get ill, they get cursed to hell and all their subsequent lives. We only seem to sympathise with the dead.

    Esther Cohen Tuesday, 13 October 2020 01:51 AM

    Suree, when victims family can bury their loved one, like the Bible, Thora or Koran says, it helps them, the living, in their grief. To allow them you sympathise with the living

    Saranga Thursday, 15 October 2020 12:09 PM

    National SHAME Disgusting


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