Labor issues topped the agenda at a meeting held this week between Saudi Arabia’s Labor Minister Adel Fakeih and Sri Lankan Ambassador V. Krishnamoorthy.

In an interview with Arab News Friday, Krishnamurthy said: “I met with Minister Fakeih to discuss Sri Lanka-Saudi labor relations.”

He said that the amnesty period gives Sri Lankan workers an opportunity to rectify their status in the Kingdom or leave Saudi Arabia gracefully without facing embarrassment.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Labor, the Passport Department and the Women’s Welfare Center for their support in the implementation of the amnesty guidelines and coming forward to help many Sri Lankan expatriate workers change their employers or receive exit permits.

Krishnamoorthy said the discussions between them included a range of matters of urgent public importance, such as extension of the amnesty period and the procedures followed by the mission.

He said the Sri Lankan Embassy will take measures to ensure the status of its citizens is rectified before the amnesty period comes to an end “since we have made arrangements to ensure a successful completion of procedures by Sri Lankan nationals well in time.”

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah gave illegal foreign workers a second chance by extending the amnesty period to Nov. 3 for them to gain legal status in the country.

Other points covered in the meeting included future avenues for cooperation between the two countries, as Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia share cordial bilateral relations with a balance of trade in favor of the Kingdom.

In a landmark event, the two countries signed a general agreement on economic, trade, investment, scientific, technical, cultural, youth and sports cooperation a few years ago in Colombo, which opened a new chapter in Saudi-Lanka relations.

Krishnamoorthy said the Embassy was committed to offering quality services and maintain the dignity of the island nation. The Kingdom is an important partner for Sri Lanka by virtue of the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, he said.

The two nations will build on a spirit of cooperation and understanding between their people to enhance trade and commerce, find investment opportunities and develop cultural cooperation, he said. – Arab News