Sri Lankan expatriates languishing in Saudi jails even after completion of their jail terms would be released soon, said Keheliya Rambukwella, Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare. Rambukwella who was leading a three-member labor delegation to the Kingdom described his talks with Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs, as fruitful. “I must say that Prince Muhammad took firm action by demanding the list of those (Sri Lankan) prisoners, who despite serving their jail terms and wanted to release them immediately,” Rambukwella said on the conclusion of his three-day official visit to the Kingdom. Prince Muhammad also agreed to make necessary adjustments in the process that usually has long delays for preparing a formal chargesheet against those Sri Lankans apprehended after committing minor or grave offenses, the Sri Lankan minister said without giving the exact number of prisoners to be benefited following the talks. He said that there are around 200 Sri Lankans now serving different jail terms in Saudi Arabia. Rambukwella said during his talks with Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, Minister of Labor, three major issues were resolved that included follow-up of labor disputes by labor office in case of employer-employee breach of contract. __
