Sri Lanka defends diplomat in Australia who held maid under ‘slavery-type conditions’
- An Australia court found Himalee Arunatilaka breached the Fair Work Act, and was ordered to pay US$360,000 in back wages to her former housekeeper
Sri Lanka’s government has defended a top diplomat ordered by an Australian court to pay more than US$360,000 in back wages to her former housekeeper held in Canberra under “slavery-type conditions”.
Colombo’s foreign ministry in Colombo said Himalee Arunatilaka, currently Sri Lanka’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, including the International Labour Organization, had followed government-approved rates in paying low wages.
Arunatilaka had previously been Colombo’s Deputy High Commissioner in Canberra for three years, up until 2018.
The Federal Court of Australia on Thursday found Arunatilaka had breached the Fair Work Act and was not entitled to diplomatic immunity.
Australian media reports said the court ordered Arunatilaka to pay more than A$540,000 in back wages and interest to Priyanka Danaratna.