Sri Lankans in the UAE have told of helping desperate families in their crisis-hit country.
Tens of thousands have left Sri Lanka so far this year alone to work overseas, figures released by the government show.
The majority have moved to Gulf Co-operation Council nations to secure jobs.
More than 150,000 have left the country since January, the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment said.
The island nation plunged into crisis last year as its foreign exchange reserves ran out and food and energy prices surged. Mass protests led to the removal of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Sudeesha Sandeepani arrived in Dubai last month with one thing in mind, to help pay for her family's food, water and electricity back home in Kurunegala, north-western Sri Lanka.
The 24-year-old found a job as a cashier at a Dubai restaurant and hopes to save and send regular sums home.
I want to earn so I can get a regular supply of electricity and water for my family
Sudeesha Sandeepani from Sri Lanka
“My family is poor so I came to the UAE looking for a job,” the former teaching assistant told The National.
“Our house does not have electricity. I want to earn so I can get a regular supply of electricity and water for my family.”
The employment bureau said more than 311,000 left the country last year and it anticipates similar numbers to depart this year, typically finding employment in Gulf countries.
The surge includes professionals, such as bankers and doctors.
The middle class is now increasingly part of the migration that in the past largely comprised housemaids, semi-skilled and unskilled workers seeking employment overseas.
Inflation stood at an average of 46.4 per cent last year, hitting hard the poor and vulnerable.
Ms Sandeepani hopes to eventually save enough money for a larger home for her younger brother and sister, who now live with relatives.
“My home now is small. I want to build a bigger home for my family,” she said.
“I will first start with sending home money every month.”
A former Sri Lankan government official has found work in a Dubai manufacturing factory after arriving in the country a few months ago.
“I need to help my family as we have financial issues,” said the 26-year-old who gave her name as Shehara.
“I must send money home to my parents for their daily consumption of food and for medicines.
“I work in reception and administration but I can do accounts-related jobs. I need to work harder so I can save enough and help by family.”
'Everyone is struggling'
Doctors who never contemplated leaving their home country have also moved to the Gulf, including one from Colombo who has been looking for a job in the UAE for the last two months.
“I’m still on the lookout for a good job,” said a general physician, who has worked in Sri Lanka for several years. She spoke to The National on condition of anonymity.
"I didn’t have plans to migrate but after the crisis I thought we should have a plan for my daughter’s future.
“Everyone is struggling at home.
“The health care sector is rapidly developing in the UAE so I decided to come to Dubai.”
Citizens in Sri Lanka have access to free medical treatment and education.
But the country’s universal health care system was affected last year with operations cancelled because of power failures and a critical shortage of essential medical supplies.
Soaring electricity and fuel tariffs have made it difficult for parents to send their children to school.
Need of the hour
Sri Lankan government figures show the migration pattern to the GCC.
More than 50,000 left the country last year to work in Saudi Arabia, employment bureau numbers show.
Another 79,123 workers left for Kuwait, 71,953 moved to Qatar and 35,563 came to the UAE. Oman received 10,669 and 3,370 went to Bahrain.
Ishtiaq Raziq, a banker who came to the UAE in 2008, said the region attracts people because of employment opportunities and the tax-free status.
“There has been an acceleration because of the crisis,” he said.
“There are bankers in the financial sector, IT professionals, construction surveyors coming here."
He said that people are unable to save money with the worsened cost of living crisis in Sri Lanka.
“They want to save for their children’s education and to take care of loved ones at home," he said.
Remittances from Sri Lankans overseas and a cash infusion from tourists returning to the country are expected to prop up the economy.
The government has said $480 million in remittance was received in May out of a total of $2.3 billion received so far this year from overseas workers.
Authorities hope more than $500m will be sent each month this year to reach the level of $5 billion a year before the pandemic.
“The GCC has always been an attractive place because it’s a hub for business between Europe and Asia Pacific,” Mr Raziq said.
“It is also only four and a half hours away from home in case of any family emergency.
“The newcomers will contribute to sending remittances home and that is what is the need of the hour.”
The unprecedented economic crisis has led to severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel and electricity.
The IMF approved a $3 billion bailout in March to help the nation of 22 million people restructure its debt.
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India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
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Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
SUCCESSION%20SEASON%204%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreated%20by%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJesse%20Armstrong%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brian%20Cox%2C%20Jeremy%20Strong%2C%20Kieran%20Culkin%2C%20Sarah%20Snook%2C%20Nicholas%20Braun%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS: 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING - EUROPE
Albania 0 Italy 1
Finland 2 Turkey 2
Macedonia 4 Liechtenstein
Iceland 2 Kosovo 0
Israel 0 Spain 1
Moldova 0 Austria 1
Serbia 1 Georgia 0
Ukraine 0 Croatia 2
Wales 0 Ireland 1
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
What is a robo-adviser?
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Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
RESULT
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87')
