A Sri Lankan housemaid in Lebanon was admitted to a hospital after her employer has forcibly made her drink soft drinks with nails threatening her with a knife. This was reported in the Sri Lanka media too. Although the incident has taken place more than a month ago, the Embassy has not taken any action to file a police case against the employer or report the incident to the authorities in Sri Lanka. The Foreign Employment Bureau has leant the incident through outside sources.

According to the SLFB, at first the Ambassador has denied this incident. After the media revealed the truth he has sent a report. The reason for hiding the incident was that the Agent who brought her to Lebanon is a very good friend of the Ambassador and Labour Officer Mr.Premarathna.

According to the sources from Lebanon Mr. Premarathna and another labour officer known as Mani have visited the hospital a week ago and forced her to accept a thousand dollars and leave for Sri Lanka. When the victim refused to accept this offer, she was threatened.

After the incident was reported in the Sri Lankan media they have again visited the hospital with the Ambassador and requested the victim not to tell the police that the employer forced her to drink soft drink with nails. Some Sri Lankans at the hospital have chased them from the ward.





There are a lot of allegations against Mani and Premarathna. As they have been appointed during the time of Minister Keheliya, the Ambassador is trying to save them. He has even recommended one year extension for them. According to well-informed sources in Lebanon, Mani has been collecting funds for a LTTE front Organization in Lebanon. Sri Lankans are asking as to how a well-known LTTE agent obtained a job at the Sri Lankan Embassy. The Ambassador cannot do anything against them as they are supporting his side businesses. In the meantime the Ambassador has also recommended the SLBFE a laborer at the Embassy only with fifth grade qualifications for a post of labour officer.

Already the Ambassador has sent a report to the authorities in Sri Lanka on the incident about the house maid to save both Mani and Premarathna. People in Lebanon are waiting for the decision of the Minister Dillan Perera on this matter. They believe the Minister would punish the culprits.