In the midst of escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel has confirmed that two Sri Lankans have gone missing. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara, issued a special statement detailing the situation and announcing measures to protect Sri Lankan citizens in the region.
Ambassador Bandara revealed that approximately 20 Sri Lankans working near the Gaza Strip are being relocated from their current residences to safer accommodations. To support affected Sri Lankans in Israel, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has allocated USD 20,000 for relief efforts. Furthermore, the Foreign Employment Bureau has approved an additional USD 10,000 to ensure access to food and medical care in case of emergencies.
Unofficial sources indicate that one Sri Lankan has tragically lost their life, while two others remain missing during the recent clashes in Israel. International Red Cross representatives are actively collecting information from the families of the missing Sri Lankans.
Nimal Bandara disclosed that the Sri Lankan Embassy has obtained crucial information, including photographs and physical descriptions, to aid in the identification of the two missing individuals. This data will be forwarded to the International Red Cross in Israel to facilitate their identification.
Israel is currently home to more than 8,000 Sri Lankan nationals, and recent developments have prompted discussions within the Cabinet regarding plans for the potential evacuation of Sri Lankan workers in the event of further emergencies arising from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
