A Sri Lankan man who had travelled to Israel for employment in the construction sector but reportedly failed to report for work and spent time in various locations has been repatriated to Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Israel Nimal Bandara confirmed.

The ambassador said the man was in poor mental and physical condition, and therefore, an officer from the embassy’s Labour Welfare Division accompanied him on the flight to Colombo to ensure his safe return. He departed from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport yesterday morning (19).

Ambassador Bandara expressed gratitude to those in Israel who had provided care and assistance to the man during the past few days.

In addition, another Sri Lankan who had reportedly fallen into drug addiction after arriving in Israel was also sent back to Colombo. Since his passport had been lost, the embassy issued him a temporary travel document free of charge.

The ambassador revealed that, including these two cases, seven Sri Lankans facing crises related to alcohol and drug use have been repatriated from Israel this year. Two weeks ago, a man who suffered permanent disability after slipping in a bathroom while intoxicated was also sent back to Sri Lanka.

He further noted that two Sri Lankans who recently died by suicide in Israel were also reported to have been addicted to drugs.

Ambassador Bandara urged authorities and recruitment agencies in Sri Lanka to refrain from sending individuals with severe alcohol or drug dependence for employment in Israel, stressing the need to prevent similar incidents.