Remittances from Expatriates

ASOKA SENEVIRATNE
WASHINGTON DC.

A recent news release from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka reveals that the Sri Lankans working abroad remits foreign exchange to the tune of US$1.92 billion a year.

This is truly remarkable and every single Sri Lanka working abroad should take the full credit for this. Secondly the free education system in Sri Lanka too should get its rightful mention here as the educated workforce from Sri Lanka too makes it share from these remittances.

However there is a sad aspect to this. While I give our current President Rajapaksha credit for isolating the Tamil Tiger Terrorists in the civilized world and also putting military pressure on the Wanni Tiger leadership, It is indeed not in his credit that he accompanied such a large contingent to the recently concluded UN summit at an exorbitant cost to the average Lankan citizen. Not to mention the frequent foreign travel by our politicians for the flimsiest of reasons. The cheapest hotel room in New is easily over $150 plus taxes and one can do the math.

Majority of Sri lankan expatriate work force make great sacrifice to work abroad specially in the Middle East. They leave their spouse and kids just in the hope of giving them a better life. Many a time we have heard of impoverished village girls commit suicide or beaten to death by cruel employers who pay these hard working girls less than $100 a month for doing a 15 hour day of work.

Other than wasting this hard earned foreign currency for mostly meaningless travel, what do the politicians do to recognize the contribution made by the Lankan expatriates? They can work on a scheme to provide duty concessions on their imports to Sri Lanka to the extent that even the import duty of a motor car can get a certain quantity of duty exemption and so forth. I have witnessed to my own eyes harassment at the customs to the returning maids from the Middle East pulling all their meager belongings upon entry to Sri Lanka. Of course the more affluent looking ones go through the customs with ease.

How about the Foreign Employment beareu pick every 1000th returning house maid to offer a gift voucher of $100 (one 1/50 of the cost of a foreign trip to a politician), or a TV or a Gift Voucher or similar. How about a lottery draw to the returning expatriates for a car or a RS 100000 cash price towards a house purchase or building materials on a monthly basis. The possibilities are infinite.

These expatriates workers must be recognized. They go through great hardship to acquire their skills, find the money to pay the job agencies, live in hardship with limited living accommodation, and most importantly go through tremendous mental agony deprived of their family and children.

When do our politicians change their outlook, attitude and most importantly do the common sense things for the good of the common man? I wonder...!!