Sri Lankans in the Middle Eastern region have remained largely unaffected following the recent attack on Iran, the island nation’s Foreign Ministry reported. This statement came after Israel and the U.S. launched a joint bombing on Tehran early Saturday.
According to foreign media, several Gulf Arab states reported being targeted by Iranian missiles on Saturday, following Tehran’s vow to retaliate against the strikes by the United States and Israel. This development threatens to destabilize a region known for its relative safety.
The Foreign Ministry stated, “So far there has not been much impact on the Sri Lankans in the Middle Eastern region at the moment.” It further assured that heads of missions are maintaining communication with the Foreign Ministry, and an emergency hotline will be established soon.
The Ministry has engaged with all diplomatic missions in the Middle East and has already set up an emergency hotline. This will allow Sri Lankan expatriates in the region to contact and stay connected in case of emergencies. The Ministry encouraged individuals to reach out via WhatsApp and IMO using the number +94719802822 or through the emergency hotline 1989 if needed.
The Gulf region is a critical economic hub for Sri Lanka, hosting approximately 1.5 to 2 million Sri Lankan migrant workers, mainly in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar. This group represents almost 10% of Sri Lanka’s total population and contributes over $5 billion annually in foreign remittances. These remittances are vital for stabilizing the country’s foreign exchange reserves and managing its international debt.
A full-scale war in the Gulf, following an Israeli attack on Iran, could result in a severe crisis for Sri Lanka. It would necessitate a costly evacuation and repatriation of hundreds of thousands of citizens from a conflict zone and lead to economic collapse due to the abrupt halt in remittance inflows and a surge in global energy prices.
For a nation still recovering from bankruptcy, such a conflict could deplete its limited dollar reserves and potentially trigger domestic social unrest as living costs rise and primary household incomes for millions disappear overnight.
(Colombo/February 28/2026)
