Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Atukorale referring to a statement by the Joint Opposition over the insurance scheme introduced by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) alleging a loss of Rs. 1,500 million, said she is ready to appear at any inquiry in this regard.
She said she did not except any personal advantage or benefit out of the insurance scheme
The ministry issuing a release stated:
"The correct facts on the insurance scheme are given below. On March 10, 2015, the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) proposed an overseas insurance scheme to the former chairman of the SLBFE.
This is to enter into agreement with them for a scheme of insurance for indemnifying in financial terms the loss of life, physical injuries, medical treatment, legal expenses incurred to the employee during the period of employment and stay abroad.
Approximately, 200,600 Sri Lankans leave for foreign employment. The majority is to the Middle East. The employees encounter various physical related conditions and employment related issues during their work and stay abroad. Taking into consideration the number of employees, problems they encounter and the credibility of the proposer the SLIC, being the leading state insurance provider, the Board of Directors of SLBFE approved to enter into agreement with SLIC to carry out the scheme. The premium for the policy, Kuwait Dinars 30 is to be paid by the foreign agent or the employer and not by the employee or the local agent.
Therefore, the employee is not burdened. The premium of Dinar 30 is for two years.
The SLIC pays the SLBFE Kuwait Dinars 2 as an administrative fee which amounts to approximately Rs. 12.0 million per annum.
It was alleged in media that the SLBFE has by circular discontinued the insurance scheme to Kuwait in question based on a statement made at the parliamentary session on 30th the last. This is false. The SLBFE has an operation a mandatory insurance scheme for employees to Qatar and the UAE. Based on the representations made by the employers of the non domestic sector, the SLBFE discontinued the mandatory requirement of an insurance policy for this segment.
The requirement of an insurance policy for the domestic sector still continues. Minister Thalatha Atukorale regrets the baseless statement and stands by the facts given above and once again requests a prompt and speedy inquiry on the charges purportedly lodged at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption."