More than 20 Sri Lankans found sleeping in Al Hudaiba Park, Dubai have been provided shelter, thanks to good samaritans in the community, Khaleej Times reported yesterday.
It said social workers, the Sri Lankan Welfare Association Sahana, and the Consulate-General of Sri Lanka in Dubai came to the aid of the stranded nationals who were in the UAE on visit visas.
“All of them came here on visit visas and were unable to find job opportunities. The mission, through community associations, has been offering stranded persons’ alternative accommodation arrangements,” Nalinda Wijerathna, the Consul-General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, has told Khaleej Times.
Welfare groups have confirmed that all homeless will be moved to shelters.
A stranded Sri Lankan said, “Most of us here do not have money to purchase return tickets or pay for quarantine once we reach there. We are without any facilities and live on food given by those who pass by.”
Meanwhile, board of director at Sahana, Vishwa Thilakarathna, said various shelters run by Sahana were accommodating 110 distressed people, including women.