SL maid held in Saudi since ’99

A Sri Lankan housemaid, who had been held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia since 1999, without being paid amidst physical harassment by her employer, has been given her dues and was brought back to the country over the weekend, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE) officials said.

The woman, Murine Jasintha (44), a resident of Muvunuwatawana, Chilaw, was brought back to the country two days ago by the SLFEB.

She went to Riyadh when she was 29, on an SLFEB registered working agreement.

After SLFEB officials intervened in the matter, the employer agreed to pay her dues and release her.

According to SLFEB sources, the woman was not allowed to get in touch with her family members two months after she started working. It is also reported that she had not been given proper meals and she had often faced physical harassment by her employer.

However, she had managed to escape from the employer’s place and sought refuge at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh.

“Our Mission in Riyadh summoned the employer and informed him about the possible legal action against him unless he paid the wages with arrears.

“He accepted his fault and agreed to pay the dues for fifteen years. No legal action was taken against him therefore,” an SLFEB official said.

Ms. Jasintha is currently waiting at the SLBFE Sahana Piyasa welfare centre in Katunayake, until her family members arrive to take her home today, the SLFEB said. (26).