In an exclusive interview with Saudi Gazette, the new Sri Lankan Consul General A. Sabarullah Khan said he is focused on solving the problems of Sri Lankan expatriates in the Kingdom and on furthering bilateral ties between the two countries. “In Saudi Arabia, our main mission is to strengthen our relationship with the Saudi government on all levels, from culture to trade, and promoting the welfare of the Sri Lankan community here,” Khan said. He estimated the number of Sri Lankans in the Kingdom at around half a million, admitting that there is no official database in this regard because “many Sri Lankans who have been working in Saudi Arabia for over 30 years came here before we started regulating foreign employment, while others have overstayed or have come through neighboring countries. So we do not have the details of all individuals.” Khan said the majority of the Sri Lankan workforce comprise female domestic helpers and unskilled workers, such as, drivers, cleaners, etc, along with a “good number of professional workers as well”. “The main problem confronting our unskilled workers is underpayment or nonpayment of salaries, and solving this is the top agenda of our mission,” he said. “Now,” he continued, “we have a control record and rules in Sri Lanka to maintain the quality of our labor – drivers, housemaids, cleaners, etc. – and we do not permit illiterate people to go abroad.” Khan said that less than two percent of the Sri Lankan workforce in the Kingdom report labor problems, “which though an acceptable percentage in any work sector, we are trying hard to solve these problems”. “We are working closely with Saudi authorities in this regard. We are constantly telling them about this vacuum in the system in order to solve the problem of nonpayment and underpayment of salaries. Although it is a challenge to legally solve all the issues of our people, we have to follow the policies and the law of the land,” he said “Moreover,” he said, “we want more people to people contact between the two countries. Boosting bilateral trade, which is currently small, and promoting Saudi tourism to Sri Lanka are some of our targets”. “Saudi Arabia is a strong potential market for Sri Lanka. More trade delegations will visit Saudi Arabia and the consulate will focus on strategic plans to expand trade between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka in sectors, such as, garments, agricultural products, etc. In the manpower sector, we want to increase the number of our skilled workers in the Kingdom,” said Khan. Starting off as a science teacher, Khan went on to join the Sri Lanka scientific service, and transferred to the foreign services in 1994. He worked as the assistant director of foreign affairs in the Sri Lankan foreign ministry. Khan was then transferred to Amman from where he went back to Sri Lanka to serve as deputy chief of protocol, later joining the country's Bangkok mission as a consular minister. That was followed by his transfer to New Delhi, and from New Delhi to Riyadh, where he worked as deputy minister in the Sri Lankan mission. He was then appointed to his current position as the consul general. Khan said he is working towards improving his mission's consular services in the Kingdom. The consul general in his message to the Sri Lankan community urged his countrymen to “stay united and focus on development as Sri Lanka needs the help of its nationals”.
