In collaboration with the Public Security Directorate of Jordan, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Jordan has successfully coordinated the deportation of 31 Sri Lankans who were issued deportation orders by Jordanian authorities.
The group of Sri Lankans returned to Sri Lanka on October 27, according to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Amman.
These individuals initially entered Jordan on July 22 using visit/tourist visas with hopes of securing job opportunities. However, they were subsequently detained by the North Amman police station and placed in correction centers following a decision made by the North Amman Court on October 12.
The trend of migrant workers arriving on visit/tourist visas and overstaying or attempting to cross international borders illegally has been a recurring issue, as noted by the Sri Lankan Embassy in the Jordanian capital. Since January 2023, the embassy has actively worked to facilitate the deportation of approximately 120 stranded Sri Lankans, with the cooperation of Jordanian authorities.
The Embassy's officials have visited the correction centers to ensure the welfare and safety of these individuals during their stay. The stranded Sri Lankans have received essential humanitarian support, including medical assistance and access to necessities, thanks to the assistance of Jordanian authorities.
The Sri Lankan Embassy strongly advises its citizens not to enter Jordan on visit/tourist visas without confirmed job opportunities and the required visas. Many Sri Lankans, both male and female, continue to fall victim to human smuggling and subsequently face deportation after being held in correction centers.
Additionally, the embassy requests all Sri Lankans to seek overseas job opportunities legally and to register with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) before their departure.
