Two Sri Lankans in Israel to be repatriated tomorrow over drug addiction

Colombo, Sept. 26 (Daily Mirror) - Two Sri Lankans employed in Israel, who have reportedly become physically and mentally unstable due to drug addiction, will be repatriated tomorrow (27), the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) announced.

The Bureau said the Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel has made arrangements to facilitate their return.

One of the workers had travelled to Israel in September 2024 under the Israeli employment program after registering with the Bureau. However, he had failed to report to his workplace for the past two months and was later brought to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem by fellow Sri Lankans. Following the intervention of the Sri Lankan Embassy, arrangements were made to send him back to Sri Lanka.

The other worker has been living in Israel for about seven years but had also failed to report to work due to long-term drug addiction.

The SLBFE urged Sri Lankan job seekers to refrain from engaging in illegal activities, warning that drug use abroad could cause severe physical and mental harm and may even result in imprisonment under the host country’s laws.

The Bureau further said that it will strengthen monitoring of institutions issuing fraudulent certificates for foreign employment and vowed to take legal action against such entities or individuals.