Government will not accept sending migrant workers to Israeli-held Palestinian lands: Bimal

Colombo, May 16 (Daily Mirror) - The government will not accept sending of migrant workers to places in Palestine which are held by Israel, Minister Bimal Ratnayake said.

He told reporters that Sri Lanka continues to hold its stance for a free Palestinian State and said that Sri Lanka will not approve of hostilities by Israel against Palestine.

Responding to a question on MP Rauff Hakeem’s recent statement that Sri Lanka should stop sending migrant workers to Israel, the Minister said Hakeem had been in several governments as a Minister but had done nothing to stop sending Sri Lankan workers to Israel.

Minister Ratnayake said Sri Lanka cannot suddenly stop economic ties with Israel and said that Sri Lanka will continue diplomatic and economic ties with Israel like several other countries.

"If Sri Lanka suddenly stop ties with Israel, it will impact the economy. Some Sri Lankans are also currently employed in Israel. Sri Lanka will act like several countries, including Saudi Arabia, China and Russia, who stand with Palestine but continue ties with Israel for diplomatic and economic purposes,” he said. 

He said Sri Lanka believes in an independent Palestinian State and an Independent Israel State and Sri Lanka will have to continue political and economic ties with Israel.