Reports about stranded worker in Israel: Embassy clarifies

Colombo, Sept. 18 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lankan Mission in Israel has clarified that recent reports on Facebook and other social media claiming that a Sri Lankan worker has been stranded in the country are misleading.

In a statement, Sri Lankan Ambassador Nimal Bandara said the 42-year-old worker had arrived in Israel in August under the government quota scheme of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment to work in the construction sector.

However, the Ambassador noted that the man had begun consuming alcohol heavily shortly after his arrival, wandered in various locations instead of reporting to his assigned job, and had eventually abandoned his workplace. He added that the worker had a history of heavy drinking in Sri Lanka and had previously undergone rehabilitation.

Ambassador Bandara said the individual had initially been persuaded to return to Sri Lanka but absconded. Authorities located him in the Jerusalem, Netanya, and Bathiyam areas, and he is scheduled to be brought to the Sri Lankan Embassy today before being handed over to Israeli religious authorities.

“It is deeply regrettable that, while this matter has been managed responsibly, misleading news continues to circulate on social media based on inaccurate information,” the Ambassador added.