Foreign Ministry and Foreign Employment Bureau team up to step up efforts to assist Sri Lankans in the Middle East
Sri Lanka Missions in the Middle East have reported that the welfare measures for migrant workers in the Middle East have received an added boost this week following the decision by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to make available resources from the Worker’s Welfare Fund, originally confined to those registered with the Bureau, to all migrant workers irrespective of their registration status, to units within Sri Lanka Missions abroad in 16 stations. This is in addition to funds already allocated by the Foreign Ministry and services provided by missions in collaborations with local Sri Lankan associations and religious establishments across the world in 67 cities.
I wish the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival, which is the most splendid cultural extravaganza of the nation, to be a peaceful, a joyful, a prosperous as well as a healthy period for every citizen of our country.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany invites all Sri Lankan expatriates including students in Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Northern Macedonia and Montenegro and all Sri Lankan nationals, who are currently in Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Northern Macedonia and Montenegro with short-term visa, who are unable to return to Sri Lanka due to the current travel restrictions, to register voluntarily with the Embassy. 
Is there any silver lining in the dark cloud for ‘Ceylon Tea’ ? The Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka (TRI) has released a scientific paper under the theme: ‘ Anti - viral ’ properties of tea - black tea may become the unique brew of choice with no side effects to fight against Corona Virus? ".
Foreign Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena met with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Relations today at the Ministry to discuss about the welfare of the Sri Lankan expatriate communities, difficulties currently being faced by these communities and ways to explore practical solutions to assist expatriate communities at this time of need.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations, sensitive to the concerns of the OSLs amidst the rapid spread of the COVID-19 and the inability to return to Sri Lanka, has held consultations over the past 2 days with its Heads of Missions based in 67 cities across the world, to facilitate the wellbeing and safety of Overseas Sri Lankans, while pre paring for any exigencies they could have to meet in the coming days.