The story of Lechemi

by Sunil Kahagalla

This is the story of Weerasighe Lechemi 36 old, mother of the two kids, live in Paranagampitya, Kumbalanga in Ibbagamuwa, Kurunegala district of Sri Lanka who was victim of the service in Middle East, now she back to home. In 2010 May 17th she joint as a house maid in city of Aradiya at Kuwait, she has been worked in the house owner of the home a policeman and his wife was a teacher and three children lived there, first three months the house owners didn’t pay salaries to her, then she asked the again about the salary, they hammer to her and insert the 15 bolts into her hands and legs, next she escaped from the home with help with another fellow, and get asylum in the embassy of Sri Lanka, she didn’t received full treatment then on 2010 November 8th return to Sri Lanka with empty hand. Sunil

First month in my service at home in Middle East, I asked the salary from house owner then house owner informed me they will pay both salaries coming month, next month I again asked the salary, and they promised to send my money to home and pick my Bank account number and address of my house. but they never given any amount of money to my home or my palms, third month I asked again the salary, at that time owner of the house hammer me and pulled to the ground then his wife dig my body like thorn or needles, I was cried with hard feelings but they didn’t released me, at the moment small kids of the master in house fall down from the steps then wife step up towards to the kid, I got opportunity to escaped and run to down and mother of the house master sent me to hospital next to Sri Lanka embassy, I spent three months in embassy without any support to return, Then I called to owner of the Agency in Sri Lanka, who sent me to middle east, he asked me two hundred thousand rupees, but at the moment I am empty handed, finaly I received a air ticket instead to my three months salaries, then I back to home on 2010 November 8th empty handed.

The agency owner reached my home when I return and threatened me and my husband don’t tell police or anyone to the real story and also told me don’t go government hospital for treatment, but I complained to the Gokarella police and admit the state hospital then doctors have done four operation me and took out 15 nails from my body, before I went to abroad as a house maid. I lived in rent house, then I back motherland my family and myself living in one of the relations home for one month, next we rented a house we have to pay Rs. 750 per one month, I don’t have my own place, earlier house close to the school, still now kids in home they haven’t find the school, because of present change, now they are in frustration therefore they do not have any interesting to go school, I haven’t received any relief, I don’t have receive any compensation from state or any authority, I need to go hospital every two weeks for treatment, cant do anything myself, when my husband go for the works he do all house works, my hands are paining so hardly, two fingers of my hand do not move properly which were wounded by the bolts. Before my Middle East journey I work in the rice mill, but I unable to work. I had a dream to build a my own house and schooling children, but we unable to go through the dream with earning of my husband daily wedges,

Many women in Middle East are slaved in poisoned as a housemaid; they are in danger and have been faced many physical and mental harassments, but they tolerate the sad feelings in there minds because no one listening the drastic condition and sad stories of them, hove many of them are raped and killed and loose body parts, finely there are silenced, many dead bodies coming from air as a cargo, poor families do not have any strength go for the legal action, but in this drastic condition government send poor women as a slave to inhuman countries like middle east continually, they earning lot of money through the slavery system and they call it foreign exchange, but I ask you can you rise your voice against the modern slavery system witch running through the government and their supporters and free the women in present slavery conditions. And we called for other women; human rights organizations and who are working for the justice to collective action against the violent against the women when they worked in abroad, and presser to the government for get immediate action. Please remove all ill seed of slavery system on human society.