The first group of Sri Lankans selected for jobs in the agricultural sector left for Israel last night (Dec 18).
According to the Foreign Employment Ministry, thirty (30) people were included in this group that left from the Katunayake Airport.
Another group of twenty (20) people will leave for Israel this morning (Dec 19), with another group of thirty (30) people is scheduled to be sent to Israel tonight.
Air tickets for the first batch of workers were handed over by the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara at a ceremony held yesterday to mark International Migrant’s Day.
During the event, the Minister stated that, according to a bilateral agreement between the two countries, 10,000 workers will be able to fly to Israel in the next few weeks.
Emphasizing that there is no need to give money to any party for these jobs, he said if it is discovered after going abroad that someone has paid money to obtain these job opportunities, they will be brought back, as both governments have reached an agreement on repatriating those who have paid money.
Minister Manusha Nanayakkara further announced that Israel has also agreed to hire twenty thousand workers for job opportunities in the construction sector. (NewsWire)