By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Israel has turned to India and Sri Lanka in its search for much-needed workers to revive its largely comatose construction industry, after the country deported thousands of Palestinian workers and revoked their work permits following Hamas’ Oct 7 attack on it.

Around 82,000 Palestinians worked in the country’s construction industry prior to the assault, accounting for a third of the sector’s workforce.

The 10,000 Sri Lankan workers will join some 9,000 compatriots already in Israel, working in farming and care for the elderly.

The first group selected for jobs in the Israeli agricultural sector left for Israel from the Katunayake Airport ob the 18, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.

Accordingly, thirty persons were included in this group. Another group of twenty left for Israel on the 19, with an additional group of thirty have bee sent to Israelom theeame day

Minister of labour Manusha Nanyakkera 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.

It has seen a steep increase in the number of people migrating since the economic crisis in tye island , with about 312,000 leaving in 2022 and 268,000 this year, government data shows.

They have gone to countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, Canada and New Zealand.

Left without these workers – as well as another 2,000 from China and Eastern Europe who returned home after Oct 7 – construction sites across Israel have gone quiet, significantly denting the country’s economy.

The labour shortage has been exacerbated by the mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of Israeli reservists for the war against Hamas.

The Israel Builders Association (IBA) estimates that the industry, one of the country’s biggest economic sectors with a market size valued at US$71 billion (S$94 billion) in 2022, has been operating at just 15 percent of its pre-war capacity.

This has brought urgency to the recruitment of fresh foreign workers, and representatives from IBA will be in India and Sri Lanka next week to screen applicants for various roles such as plastering, ceramic tiling, building formwork and iron bending.

“The goal is bringing 10,000 (workers) very quickly to Israel because time is running (out) and we are already in a big, big problem financially,” Mr Shay Pauzner, IBA’s deputy director-general, told The Straits Times on the phone from Tel Aviv.

These workers are expected to be in Israel by the end of January, as “we are working very fast because the situation is very, very dire”, he added.

They are part of a batch of 30,000 new workers that the Israeli government has allowed the IBA to recruit from different countries.

On Dec 15, the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam, a government recruitment agency in the Indian state of Haryana, put out an advertisement calling for construction workers for Israel.

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s flag carrier SriLankan Airlines has issued an apology to customers affected by recent travel disruptions that involved a series of cancellations and delays.

The airline faced challenges as two Airbus A330 aircraft were grounded for several days during a busy period.

One aircraft required an extended check, with a part replacement delayed due to a global supply shortage, whilst the other experienced a burst tire incident in Paris.

Simultaneously, delays in receiving two spare engines and a newly leased A320 aircraft further strained the operational fleet, leading to unavoidable flight cancellations and delays.

SriLankan Airlines acknowledged the inconvenience caused to passengers during the festive season and expresses regret for any disruption to travel plans.

The island nation’s flag carrier is actively working to expedite travel arrangements for affected passengers.

Looking ahead, significant improvements are expected in the coming days. The recently leased A320 aircraft has already been incorporated into the fleet, and two A320s are set to return to service with replaced engines in the next week.

Additionally, a backup A330 from Air Belgium is scheduled to arrive this weekend, with the airline anticipating the return of both grounded aircraft.

Colombo (LNW): Foreign Minister Ali Sabry has announced plans to enhance Sri Lanka’s global diplomatic presence by reopening some of its overseas missions that were previously closed and establishing new missions.

The Minister told Daily Mirror that he is intended to seek the Cabinet’s approval for the reopening of missions in Iraq, Frankfurt (Germany), and Cyprus.

Additionally, Sri Lanka aims to establish new diplomatic missions in New Zealand, Morocco, and Rwanda, showcasing the country’s commitment to fostering international relations and expanding its diplomatic footprint.

Colombo (LNW): In an unprecedented crackdown on narcotics trafficking and underworld activities, the “Yukthiya” (Justice) island-wide police operation has achieved remarkable success within just seven days of its launch.

13,666 suspects have been apprehended, in the law enforcement agencies’ commitment to addressing the pressing issues of narcotics and organised crime.

The government said it is determined to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens by dismantling criminal networks and disrupting illegal activities.

Colombo (LNW): With Christmas Day approaching, more than 2,300 churches nationwide are gearing up to hold masses, and special security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of these gatherings.

Over 7,500 police personnel have been deployed to churches conducting Christmas Day masses.

The comprehensive security programme, spanning the entire country, aims to safeguard the public during the festive season.

Acting IGP Thennakoon has issued instructions to senior officers and OICs to coordinate necessary security arrangements, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa asserted.

Circulars outlining security protocols have been distributed to Senior DIGs and Police OICs.

Recognising approximately 2,862 churches across the country, a Civil Committee has been established at each church, and local police authorities are coordinating with these committees to implement security measures.

The Acting IGP has directed the use of the Special Task Force for relevant security measures and has urged seeking assistance from the Army or other security forces if necessary.

To address security concerns, a dedicated hotline (0112472757) has been established at Police Headquarters for priests of churches.

The public is urged to take precautions for the safety of homes and business premises during trips or events, and special operations targeting reckless drivers will be conducted during the festive season.

Colombo (LNW): Former Indian State Minister of External Affairs, M.J. Akbar, has expressed India’s expectation for Sri Lanka and other independent countries in the region to prioritise the safety of neighboring nations in their policy decisions.

Akbar made these comments during a webinar organised by the Pathfinder Foundation, where he discussed India’s expanding influence beyond its traditional neighbourhood.

He underscored India’s ‘neighbourhood first’ policy, emphasising the importance of mutual understanding among nations.

While acknowledging Sri Lanka’s independence and unique perspective, Akbar urged the country to take into consideration India’s security concerns in its decision-making processes.

1. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles says some religious leaders & lawyers who may be having links with drug dealers & underworld leaders are trying desperately to thwart the “Yukthiya” programme launched by the Govt & Police to eliminate narcotics distribution & organized crime: asserts he & the President will not be deterred by such efforts: assures the Govt will relentlessly pursue the goal to rid the country of the menace of narcotics & organized crime.
   
2. Ministry of Public Security says that during the islandwide operation over the 7 days ending 23rd Dec’23, 13,666 persons were arrested, while 9.8 kgs of Heroin, 4.6kgs of Ice, 272 kgs of Cannabis & 65,924 pills were recovered: also say that “ill-gotten gains” including properties & vehicles, valued at more than Rs.293mn have also been seized by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the Police.
   
3. Police say bodies of 2 persons shot to death recovered from an abandoned land at Tunnana in Padukka: the dead persons have been identified as those of underworld figure Don Indika alias ‘Manna Roshan’ and his accomplice ‘Supun’.
   
4. Dambulla Economic Centre Trade Assn Secretary I G Wijenanda says skyrocketing vegetable prices have driven traders to display prices for lower quantities (100g) of vegetables in order to sell their wares.
   
5. Former Secretary to the Ministry of Education Dr Tara de Mel says the existing system of School and State university education is outdated and has ceased to be inspiring or capable of firing the imagination of students: asserts the system doesn’t adequately prepare students for newer jobs of the emerging decades of the 21st century.
   
6. SL Banks Assn (SLBA) says banks exercise their legally-enshrined right to parate execution as a last resort: also says their objective is to protect depositors’ funds that had been lent to borrowers: asserts the parate execution remedy is aimed at recovering mortgaged assets from willful defaulters & businesses that are no longer viable.
   
7. Veteran actor Rex Kodippili, 85, passes away.
   
8. Statistics of SL Tourism Development Authority show that over 1,404,998 tourists visited SL by 21st Dec’23: in 2022, only 719,978 tourists visited SL.
   
9. A 30 ft. high Christmas tree with 2,000 live vegetable plants grown & sent by people from all over SL, erected at the Presidential Secretariat roundabout in Galle Face Green.
   
10. World Health Organization says SL ranks among the top 30 countries with the highest dengue endemicity worldwide: also says this year’s surprising spike in dengue infections represents a potentially high public health threat.

Colombo (LNW): The Human Trafficking, Human Smuggling, and Maritime Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have identified three individuals involved in the trafficking of Sri Lankans to Myanmar.

Through comprehensive investigations, the suspects, residents of Aralaganwila, Wathuregama, and Dorathiyawa, were located, but they have reportedly fled the areas.

According to CID reports, these individuals facilitated the travel of a group of Sri Lankans to Myanmar using visit visas.

Recent reports highlighted that 56 Sri Lankans are forcibly detained in a Burmese terrorist camp, working as cyber slaves. Three escapees, who managed to return to Sri Lanka, provided statements to the CID.

The escapees, comprising four young men and a young woman, had initially travelled to Myanmar in April 2023 with the expectation of working as Data Entry Operators but returned to Sri Lanka on November 4, 2023, following their escape.

Investigations are ongoing to unravel the complexities of this human trafficking network and address the welfare of the victims.