The Sri Lankan Mission in Israel has said that several reports circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms claiming that a Sri Lankan worker in Israel has been stranded are misleading.
Issuing a statement, Sri Lankan Ambassador Nimal Bandara said the 42-year-old man had arrived in Israel in August under the government quota scheme of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment to work in the construction sector.
Shortly after the Sri Lanka man’s arrival, he began consuming alcohol heavily and spent time wandering in various places instead of reporting to his assigned job, and had eventually abandoned his workplace, the Ambassador said.
Clarifying that the individual had a history of heavy drinking in Sri Lanka and had previously undergone rehabilitation, Ambassador Nimal Bandara said he had been persuaded to return to Sri Lanka, but had absconded.
Stating that the individual had been located in the Jerusalem, Netanya, and Bathiyam areas by the authorities, Ambassador Nimal Bandara said he is scheduled to be brought to the Embassy today and will subsequently be handed over to Israeli immigration authorities.
“It is deeply regrettable that, while this matter has been managed responsibly, misleading news continues to circulate on social media based on inaccurate information,” the Ambassador added.
Note: Changes have been made from Israeli religious authorities to Israeli immigration authorities per the change made in the official press statement.
The full statement of Ambassador Nimal Bandara;
I would like to clarify that several reports circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms claiming that a Sri Lankan worker in Israel has been stranded are misleading.
The individual concerned arrived in Israel on 9th August 2025 under the government quota scheme of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau to work in the construction sector. He is 42 years old, married, and has one child.
However, shortly after his arrival, he began consuming alcohol heavily and spent time wandering in various places instead of reporting to his assigned job. He eventually abandoned his workplace. It is noteworthy that he had a history of heavy drinking in Sri Lanka and had previously undergone rehabilitation.
On 30th August 2025, his parents reported the matter to the Treasury, and they were advised to persuade him to return to Sri Lanka. I also requested him to provide the necessary documents to facilitate his return.
Despite this, on 5th September 2025, when it was discovered that he was in Jerusalem, the Israeli police were informed, and he was admitted to Shaare Zedek Medical Centre under police custody due to his poor physical condition.
He was expected to be handed over to Israeli immigration authorities; however, he left the hospital the same night. Later, on 9th September 2025, he returned to his residence and stated that he had secured a new job.
On 16th September 2025, following information from a Sri Lankan resident, Nadun Iduwara, regarding his presence in the Netanya area, the police were notified. He was located and detained temporarily for about four hours. Since he had not committed any crime, the police released him, after which he once again absconded from the care of the community members assisting him.
A video clip of him surfaced from the Bathiyam area on 17th September 2025. He is scheduled to be brought to the Embassy today and will subsequently be handed over to Israeli immigration authorities.
It is deeply regrettable that, while this matter has been managed responsibly, misleading news continues to circulate on social media based on inaccurate information. Furthermore, the publication of his name, village, passport details, and photographs constitutes a serious violation of his privacy. (Newswire)