By BEGENA GEORGE
Published: 3rd August 2007
SRI LANKANS, estimated at over 12,000 working in Bahrain, are being urged to take advantage of the government’s general amnesty by contacting the country’s counsellor.
The Sri Lankan Embassy looking after the affairs of its citizens in Bahrain is based in Kuwait.
However, Sri Lankan honorary consul-general P B Higgoda said that people could visit the Sri Lankan Club, Manama, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
The amnesty began on Wednesday and will run until December 31 to allow illegal immigrants to legalise their stay or leave the country without penalty.
By BEGENA GEORGE
Published: 3rd August 2007
SRI LANKANS, estimated at over 12,000 working in Bahrain, are being urged to take advantage of the government’s general amnesty by contacting the country’s counsellor.
The Sri Lankan Embassy looking after the affairs of its citizens in Bahrain is based in Kuwait.
However, Sri Lankan honorary consul-general P B Higgoda said that people could visit the Sri Lankan Club, Manama, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
The amnesty began on Wednesday and will run until December 31 to allow illegal immigrants to legalise their stay or leave the country without penalty.
“Those who wish to legalise their stay or even go home without paying a penalty should contact me since there is no Sri Lankan Embassy in Bahrain,” said Mr Higgoda.
“I’m optimistic of being able to deal with the cases of the workers who approach me single-handedly since there are not going to be more than a couple of hundred cases anyway.
“Ho-wever, I will sometimes be joined by volunteers, who usually assist me in my counsellor mission in Bahrain on various occasions.
“The cases will be reviewed first to decide whether the worker’s situation allows him or her to benefit from the amnesty or not.
“If they can, then I will take up their case and do the needful, including forwarding the application for further processing to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait.
“Nearly 50 people have already approached me since the amnesty was ann-oun-ced.
“Th-ese include people I meet during counselling session at the club.
“Most of them are housemaids who have runaway from their sponsors’ complaining of abuse or non-payment.
“Most of the illegal residents so far want to go back home instead of legalising their status to stay here further.
“I ask them to pass the message of the amnesty to all those they know – their friends, relatives, co-workers or roommates.
“I also give them my contact number to be passed around so that a person in need will be able to contact me.”
Mr Higgoda praised the Bahrain government for providing a chance for expatriates to legalise their stay or leave the country without having to pay penalty.
“The government did what it had to do and now it is up to the expatriates to take advantage of this privilege,” he said.
Mr Higgoda can be contacted on 39460644. begena@gdn.com
© Gulf Daily News