Sri Lankan migrant workers in Bangladesh have remained unharmed amid the recent unrest in the country, according to Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara. Addressing Parliament, Minister Nanayakkara confirmed that there are currently 2,835 Sri Lankans living in Bangladesh since 2019.

Among them, 2,690 were sent as trainees, comprising 107 women and 2,583 men. Additionally, 145 Sri Lankans, including six women, were sent as low-skilled migrant workers. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangladesh has assured that no Sri Lankans have been injured during the ongoing clashes.

Minister Nanayakkara said that the embassy is prepared to ensure the safety of Sri Lankan nationals and will take necessary measures if an evacuation becomes necessary.

The unrest in Bangladesh erupted following a high court decision last month to reinstate job reservations previously removed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in 2018. The Supreme Court has ordered that 93% of government jobs should be allocated based on merit, overturning earlier quotas of 56% for groups such as families of freedom fighters, women, and people from underdeveloped areas. The resulting clashes between protesters and security forces have led to at least 139 deaths and over 500 arrests, including opposition leaders, in the capital, Dhaka.