Date: 2013-05-22 Answered

3436/2013: DEMISE OF SHILAWATHI IN SAUDI ARABIA : INSURANCE CLAIMS AND COMPENSATION

3436/’13

Hon. Ranjan Ramanayake,— To ask the Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare,—

(a) Is he aware that—

(i) a woman named Walimunidewage Shilawathi who was a resident of Pothuhera died while being employed in Saudi Arabia; and

(ii) the post-mortem had revealed that her death was caused by strangulation with a tie ?

(b) Will he inform this House—

(i) whether he will submit the report on the investigations into the death of this woman named Shilawathi;

(ii) the action to be taken regarding this death; and

(iii) whether measures will be taken to secure insurance claims and compensation entitled to the deceased ?

Asked Date

2013-05-22

Asked by

Hon. Ranjan Ramanayake, M.P.

Ministry

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare

Legislature

Seventh Parliament of the D.S.R. of Sri Lanka

Session

First Session

Question History

Answer

ගරු ඩිලාන් පෙරේරා මහතා (විදේශ රැකියා ප්‍රවර්ධන හා සුබ සාධන අමාත්‍යතුමා)

(மாண்புமிகு டிலான் பெரேரா - வெளிநாட்டு வேலைவாய்ப்பு ஊக்குவிப்பு, நலனோம்புகை அமைச்சர்)

(The Hon. Dilan Perera - Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare)

Sir, I table* the answer for Question No. 09.

* සභාමේසය මත තබන ලද පිළිතුර:

* சபாபீடத்தில் வைக்கப்பட்ட விடை :

* Answer tabled:

(a) (i) Yes

(ii) No. According to the medical report and the report of post mortem recceived through the Sri Lankan Embassy in KSA the cause of death has been reported as a suicide.

(b) (i) Yes.

The medical report* and the post mortem report* issued by the Saudi Authorities are forwarded herewith.

(ii) The suspicion of the relatives on this death was reported to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia on 02nd January, 2013

(iii) No compensation can be claimed from Saudi Arabia since this has been declared as a suicide. However, all possible attempts are being made to claim compensation from the insurance scheme which is in operation in Sri Lanka.

The SLBFE has spent Rs. 239,568.24 to repatriate the dead body to Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has received the request from the next of kin of the deceased on 11.02.2013 to obtain the insurance

compensation and the SLBFE has referred the request under the refernce no. VR/4460/2013 to NITF with the view of payment of the relevant of

compensation. Accordingly, by letter dated 24/04/2013, SLBFE has been informed that a sum of Rs. 400,000 was approved in favour of Walimunidevage Sheelawathie.

However, as there are discrepancies in the names given in birth certificate, marriage certificate and passport, the SLBFE is now in the process of clarifying

the legal heirs. Once those discrepancies are clarified the arrangements will be made to pay the compensation.

Answered Date

2013-05-22

Answered by

Hon. Dilan Perera, M.P.