Sri Lanka is not in a position to influence the politics of other countries, as it is a non-aligned country, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara said.
Addressing a forum at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, the Minister stated that it is futile to protest in Parliament over the matter with the expectation of ending the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
These comments were made following the adjournment debate in Parliament on Tuesday regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, where the government was accused of supporting terrorism in the region.
Nanayakkara, defending the government’s ties with Israel, charged that the Opposition was canvassing for votes by attempting to derail the government’s programme through which Sri Lankans sought employment in the Middle East.
In March, the governments of Sri Lanka and Israel reached an agreement to enhance job opportunities for Sri Lankans in several areas, including hospitality, construction, and infrastructure.
Plans are underway to send some 40,000 Sri Lankan job seekers to Israel, Minister Nanayakkara said, thereby improving the livelihoods of the youth.
