{
  "id": 2257003,
  "title": "Jobs of 7,000 Lankans in Israel in jeopardy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/jobs-of-7-000-lankans-in-israel-in-jeopardy",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T00:00:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/jobs-of-7000-lankans-in-israel-in-jeopardy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Around 7,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers in Israel are currently facing potential deportation due to taking up jobs outside the employment categories under which they entered the country, according to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra. This issue was brought up by Badulla District NDF MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, who stated that approximately 30,000 Sri Lankans are currently employed in Israel. Out of these, 7,000 workers who initially entered Israel for designated employment sectors have since shifted to other jobs and are now at risk of deportation after applying for refugee status. Dasanayake asked if the Sri Lankan government could step in to safeguard the interests of these affected laborers, drawing attention to previous interventions by India and Bangladesh in similar cases. Hemachandra revealed that the government is currently investigating the situation based on information received from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). He also expressed concerns about the recruitment practices of certain workers sent to Israel under a previous administration. According to Hemachandra, former Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara had instructed the SLBFE to forward a list of workers to Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA), while the Bureau was simultaneously undertaking its own selection process for overseas employment programmes. Hemachandra emphasized that some workers recruited for agricultural jobs were not adequately informed about the specific categories of work they were assigned to. He believed that this wasn’t the fault of the migrant workers but rather an oversight in the recruitment process. Hemachandra noted that some workers ended up in other employment sectors and subsequently applied for refugee status. Israeli authorities offered a temporary amnesty period, allowing affected workers to regularize their status. However, Hemachandra accused the previous government of failing to provide the necessary assistance during this period and instead planned to send another batch of around 6,000 Sri Lankans to Israel to replace those already present. He alleged irregularities and corruption in the recruitment process for the proposed replacement group, suggesting that funds were collected for the purpose. Hemachandra also accused former officials and others of involvement in the recruitment process. The present government is working to resolve the matter and aims to achieve a fair outcome for the Sri Lankan workers at risk of deportation. This issue arises as thousands of Sri Lankan workers remain caught between their original employment agreements and Israeli immigration requirements, seeking a solution that protects their interests while addressing their legal status in the country.",
  "summary": "Chamara blows whistle on workers who abuse their contracts by Saman Indrajith Around 7,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers in Israel are facing possible deportation after taking up jobs outside the employment categories under which they entered the country, with the government, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra told Parliament yesterday. The […]",
  "key_points": [
    "7,000 Sri Lankan workers in Israel face potential deportation.",
    "Workers took jobs outside initial employment categories.",
    "Government investigating situation and seeking fair resolution."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}