📢 Selected Youth for Israeli Jobs Plan Peaceful Protest Over Delays

• Key Issues & Demonstration Details • Nearly 3,000 youth selected under the Government-to-Government (G2G) recruitment program for Israel's construction sector plan a peaceful protest on 6 August 2026 (9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) at the Parliament Roundabout, Battaramulla. • Candidates are urging intervention from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to address prolonged recruitment delays, lack of transparency, and unfair treatment. • Candidate Grievances & SLBFE Concerns • Candidates fulfilled all requirements—including professional examinations, interviews, and the official Israeli lottery selection—yet many have waited over 1 year without employment agreements or explanations. • Protesters report that private recruitment agencies appear to receive a higher volume of job agreements for similar roles, raising serious fairness concerns regarding the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). • Protracted uncertainty has led to financial and emotional hardship for affected candidates and their families. • Economic Context & Sector Focus • The issue impacts key segments of Sri Lanka's foreign employment and construction labor export programs, where candidates seek a transparent administrative review to facilitate timely foreign deployments.