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Saudi maids stranded

18 August 2010 08:44 am - 27     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Indika Sri Aravinda


Over 300 housemaids are stranded at the Olaya camp in Saudi Arabia and among them are those who faced abuse and other forms of rape, UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayaka told reporters in Colombo today.

The families of those stranded at the Saudi camp also attended the press briefing today and sought assistance from the government. (Daily Mirror online)

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  Comments - 27

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  • Elaris Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:03 AM

    A golden opportunity to make use of Mihin Air

    priyanth Thursday, 19 August 2010 03:32 PM

    hats off to Ranjan. this is what namal baba should learn to do rather being the chief guests of gov events. ranjan is a people politician

    thusi Wednesday, 18 August 2010 04:26 PM

    Must be becoz as they are not covered up....as per Hussein.....

    afzal Wednesday, 18 August 2010 12:30 PM

    Hussein, Simply you don't make any sense. Know the reality of the situation before you talk.

    Yeti Wednesday, 18 August 2010 12:24 PM

    O.K. But what about those poor women who are abused and raped?

    desa Wednesday, 18 August 2010 12:23 PM

    Idiot.

    mrs jaya Wednesday, 18 August 2010 12:22 PM

    ok so do you expect the people who come to other countris from countries like to dress like the country they are in, ie. not covering up, don't be so ridiculous, and double standard

    mrs jaya Wednesday, 18 August 2010 12:19 PM

    i agree 100% with this, i too show these incidents to my children try to make them understand how hard all these sri lankans have worked, and also see how they are teated at airports

    Gamaya Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:56 AM

    Please join the Taliban and leave women alone.

    sam Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:52 AM

    So Hussein, the maids should talk to their husbands in Arabic? Don't be silly men.

    Robert Ace Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:45 AM

    Is that their husbands or their family must learn Arabic in order for the house maids to survive in Saudi?

    sameera aziz Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:28 AM

    plz look at the other side of the coin as well. like house maids, many saudi sponsors are being victims. house maids make lots of problems with their sponsors and their families. justice should be retained on both sides.

    AJ Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:22 AM

    The foreign bureau collects money but does not do anything at all. We have come across thousands of situations like these and no government authority is there to help our Sri Lankans... The money collected is pocketed by the corrupted ministers. The government is soleley responsible for the people.

    OneLanka Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:16 AM

    "Where all Sri Lankans gone"................judging by notes above every body seems concerned. So why not put your money where your mouth is an pledge some money to bring them back to Sri Lanka.....So here is my pledge SLRs 5000.....now let us see what all are made of......come on ladies and gents..........

    Glazierblue Wednesday, 18 August 2010 09:17 AM

    And foreign employment burea is silent about it. Their role is only to collect money from the overseas workers at the airport, claiming that these are for services provided by them when foreign workers face issues such as this.

    independent Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:50 AM

    Are you out of your mind. House maids will automatically learn the language as they live in Saudi houses. But how on earth do you expect their relatives to learn Arabis, just to talk to them. Don't be crazy

    bash Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:48 AM

    RanJan Ramanayake was involved in this type of support to house maid in Kuwait etc even before he entered politics, WELL DONE SIR

    Minister Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:28 AM

    Hussein, Do you want them to speak in Arabic to their husbands in Sri Lanka? Why not train their husbands to talk Arabic before their wives leave?

    channa Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:23 AM

    If Ranjan so concerned about housemaids he should pressure Govt. to take action against and protest against unauthorized Foreign Employee agencies, who promise innocent housemaids good salaries and then tricks them..?.......No Point speak about them when everything has happened....

    Heaman Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:19 AM

    If they cant use their mother language are you asking them to speak Arabic to their husbands in SrI Lanka. They are abusing these maids, 50% in Saudi maids face these harasement We see the authority is Sleeping. The Only Man who talks for this is Ranajn even before he became a MP. We are really proud of you at least you talk on behalf of these innocent people.

    Hussein Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:01 AM

    Sri Lankan maids must respect the law of Saudi Arabia when they go there to work. Some of these women use phones and talk to their husbands in Sinhalese. This will naturally anger the Saudi employers. So the Sri Lankan maids must learn to respect Saudi culture and Saudi rules. Tell me, How many of these Maids actually cover themselves up in Saudi Arabia?

    Minister Wednesday, 18 August 2010 09:52 AM

    It is the duty of the President to intervene and bring them back to their families in Sri Lanka.

    arshad Wednesday, 18 August 2010 09:45 AM

    Use the diplomatic channels to get compensation to the victims

    AMICUS Wednesday, 18 August 2010 09:35 AM

    THE AUTHORITIES ARE VERY QUICK TO GRAB THE FOREIGN CURRENCY EARNED BY THESE POOR MAIDS BUT VERY SLOW IN ACTING ON THEIR BEHALF, THAT TOO WHEN POINTED OUT BY PERSONS LIKE MP RANJAN RAMANAYAKE. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A 'DHARMA RAJYA' TO BORROW THE PHRASE FROM HELA URUMAYA !

    Cham Wednesday, 18 August 2010 09:29 AM

    I really feel for these people! These are the people who aided in bringing much needed foreign currency to the country and yet we are treating these people as 3rd class citizens. I have seen how these people are being treated in places like air ports and inflight because of what they do and because they can not communicate in English. They call people at the air port (checking staffs etc) as sir/madam where as those people calling them as sir/madam, after all they are purchasing the tikcets and pay their salaries through their hard work. I think government should take a stand and ease the difficulties these people are having and create a support program for people who are in need of help.

    Roshan Wednesday, 18 August 2010 09:21 AM

    Even the SL embassy staff doesn't help the Housemaids, when inquiry comes most of the time they side the saudi employer.

    Lam Wednesday, 18 August 2010 09:19 AM

    well done Ranjan, you have at least brought these poor peoples grievances forward


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