Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has reiterated its unwavering support for a free and independent Palestinian state and announced that it will not approve the deployment of Sri Lankan migrant workers to areas in Palestine currently under Israeli control.
Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Bimal Ratnayake made the statement during a press briefing on Thursday, emphasizing that while Sri Lanka opposes Israeli hostilities in Palestinian territories, it must maintain a pragmatic approach in its foreign relations.
"Sri Lanka continues to stand firmly for the rights of the Palestinian people and their aspirations for statehood," Minister Ratnayake said. "We will not send our workers to parts of Palestine that are occupied by Israel."
The Minister was responding to a recent call by MP Rauff Hakeem, who urged the government to immediately halt the practice of sending Sri Lankan workers to Israel. In response, Ratnayake criticized Hakeem’s remarks, noting that the MP had served in multiple administrations yet had not taken tangible steps to address the issue during his tenure as a cabinet minister.
While reaffirming Sri Lanka’s principled stance on the Palestinian cause, the Minister stressed the importance of balancing national interests. "We cannot sever economic and diplomatic ties with Israel overnight. Many Sri Lankans are currently employed in Israel, and any sudden action would have serious economic repercussions," he explained.
Ratnayake pointed out that Sri Lanka, like several other countries such as Saudi Arabia, China, and Russia, maintains its support for Palestine while continuing engagement with Israel. He stated that Sri Lanka will pursue a dual-track foreign policy—supporting a two-state solution that envisions both a sovereign Palestinian state and a secure Israeli state.
"We will continue our diplomatic and economic relations with Israel, while remaining steadfast in our support for the Palestinian people. This is the practical path forward, both morally and economically," he concluded.
