International Migration Day is observed on December 18. Migrant laborers “Heroes of the country? Living bombs?” The Protect Union organized a public awareness program and a street drama show in May, which was held in Hatton yesterday. A large number of locals, teachers’ union representatives, trade union representatives, and civil society organizations attended the event.

In the fallout of the country’s financial crisis, Sri Lanka is feeling the dollar deficit more than ever. Foreign workers are the true shareholders in the country’s largest foreign exchange earners, as the country’s reckless rulers and proud nation have been reminded time and again. It is common for rulers to exploit and deceive workers who bring in billions of dollars in foreign exchange for their own ruthless political interests. This is not a sign of a state with rulers who care about the country’s prosperity in any way as it sinks deeper into the abyss by the day. As a result of the global epidemic, opportunistic politicians in Sri Lanka and the proud nation labeled them as human bombs and expelled Sri Lankan foreign workers from their workplaces and countries. It should not be forgotten that the country’s heroes had to suffer and beg for months before being returned to their homeland. This message is being conveyed to foreign workers who beg for votes to appoint heads of state, who exploit the country’s resources, and who lose dollars when they need dollars. We still have the right to make you a national hero and a human bomb to these greedy, cynical patriots, fellow workers. This can be altered. We are banding together to fight for your rights in order to help you overcome the many crises you are facing. Let us make foreign workers a truly dignified and entitled group.