Church and Sri Lankan officials to collaborate on meeting Sri Lankans’ needs

Dubai: The Holy Trinity Church in Dubai and the Sri Lankan Consulate-General on Saturday expressed their commitment to collaborate and work together to address the community’s concerns, particularly migrant labour issues.

The chaplaincy spearheaded the meeting which was the second in a series of meetings with consuls-general of different countries in Dubai. The Indian Consulate was the first to respond to the chaplaincy’s call.

“We minister to a large number of Sri Lankans, between 5,000-6,000 Sri Lankans, the majority of whom work as domestic workers,” Rev Dr Ruwan Palapathwala, senior chaplain of the chaplaincy of Dubai and Sharjah with the northern emirates, said.

Around 250,000-275,000 Sri Lankans live and work in the UAE, about 40 to 50 per cent of whom work as domestic workers. Collaboration between the two parties would help better address Sri Lankan workers’ needs and in the process maximise resources and avoid duplication of services, he added.

Dr Palapathwala said the church could act as a contact point of Sri Lankan expatriates who are in need. The church will assist them in any way they can and directly link them with the officials at the consulate for help.

Sri Lankan Consul-General to Dubai M.M. Abdul Raheem, for his part, welcomed the chaplaincy’s offer of help and said that they would treat all cases with high priority.

“From my office, I can nominate two officers from my office to handle these cases, coordinate, keep a record and have a continuous dialogue with the community,” Abdul Raheem said, adding that since assuming post in 2011, his office has upgraded consular services and has consistently reached out to all Sri Lankans in Dubai and the northern emirates.

The chaplaincy also volunteered their two social workers and council members to work hand in hand with consul officials in its social welfare programmes which include jail visits, counselling, and labour accommodation visits, among others.