Thirty-one (31) Sri Lankans who have been granted deportation orders by the Jordanian authorities returned to Sri Lanka last week (Oct 27).
The deportation was facilitated by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jordan in collaboration with the Public Security Directorate of Jordan.
Issuing a statement, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Jordan said these Sri Lankans entered Jordan on July 22, 2023, on visit/tourist visas with the anticipation of finding job opportunities.
Subsequently, they were arrested by the North Amman police station and detained in correction centres following a decision made by the North Amman court on October 12, 2023.
The issue of migrant workers arriving on visit/tourist visas and overstaying or attempting to cross international borders illegally has been a recurring trend in the past. From January 2023 up to the present, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Jordan has been actively involved in facilitating the deportation of approximately 120 stranded Sri Lankans, with support extended by the Jordan authorities.
The Embassy officials visited the correction centres to ensure the welfare and safety during their stay. The stranded Sri Lankans were provided essential humanitarian support including medical assistance and access to basic necessities by the Jordanian authorities, it said.
The Sri Lankan Embassy further advised Sri Lankans not to arrive in Jordan on visit/tourist visas without a confirmed job opportunity and required visa, stating that many male and female Sri Lankans continue to fall victim to human smuggling and are subsequently subjected to deportation after being held in correction centres.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jordan requested all Sri Lankans to seek overseas job opportunities legally and to register with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) before their departure.