K D Lalkantha, a Politburo Member of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), speaking at a function in Doha recently.
A non-profit organisation of Sri Lankan expatriate communities is working with the Sri Lankan authorities for a voting arrangement for Sri Lankans working overseas, said the co-founder of the organisation during a recent visit to Doha.
Currently, Sri Lankans working outside the country are not able to exercise their voting rights.
‘Ethara Api’ (We live abroad), the largest network of Sri Lankans working abroad, has operations in 27 countries across all continents.
“Sri Lankan expatriate workers form the largest source of income in terms of foreign exchange brought to our country and their welfare and rights should be protected. They should be able to exercise their voting rights and have several other benefits and facilities,” K D Lalkantha, a Politburo Member of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the political party initiated the ‘Ethara Api’ during his recent visit to Doha, told The Peninsula.
The organisation is also urging the Sri Lankan authorities to introduce a pension scheme for Sri Lankans, and for a special university entrance system for expat children and several other initiatives.
“We are working to urge the government to introduce a pension scheme for Sri Lankans working abroad and university admission for students doing school education in foreign countries should be made easy,” said Lalkantha.
Speaking about the ‘Ethara Api’ organisation’s activities and purpose of his visit to Doha, Lalkantha said, “We have branches in more than 27 Middle East and European countries. I came here to meet Sri Lankans working here, and during three days met with about 3,000 people and explained about the initiatives we are taking for the benefit of them.”
“We are also working with the Sri Lankan expatriates here to start a Doha chapter of Ethara Api and affiliate it with the embassy,” he added.
More than 1.8 million Sri Lankans work abroad and around 120,000 are in Qatar.
