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The post Suralowa (සුරලොව) – Live in Israel – Saturday 13/6/26 appeared first on LANKACONNECT.

Sri Lanka’s economy continues to receive strong support from citizens working overseas. According to the latest figures released for April 2026, the amount of money sent home by Sri Lankan foreign workers reached USD 767.9 million in a single month.

This represents an impressive growth of approximately 19% compared to the same period last year. In April 2025, foreign remittances totaled around USD 646 million, showing a clear upward trend in the country’s foreign exchange income.

The data also reveals that during the first four months of 2026 alone, Sri Lanka received more than USD 3.06 billion through remittances sent by overseas workers worldwide. These figures were published based on reports from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan government continues to strengthen international cooperation and agreements with foreign countries in order to expand employment opportunities for its citizens. In addition, efforts are being made to train skilled workers, open new job markets, and improve welfare and support programs for Sri Lankan employees working abroad.

As a result of these initiatives, thousands of Sri Lankans continue to seek employment overseas as a major source of income. From the beginning of 2026 until early May, approximately 79,954 Sri Lankan workers had departed for foreign employment.

The United Arab Emirates remains the leading destination for Sri Lankan workers, with more than 17,000 workers traveling there during this period, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.

In addition, 2025 became a historic year for foreign remittances, as Sri Lanka recorded more than USD 8 billion in remittance inflows for the first time ever — the highest amount in the country’s history.

Source – SLBFE

The post Significant Increase in Foreign Remittances from Sri Lankan Workers Abroad in 2026 appeared first on LANKACONNECT.

Today, on 9 May 2026, the LankaConnect platform officially opens in its first experimental version during the Sri Lankan New Year Festival in Bir al-Maksur, near Haifa.

The platform is currently launching for one special purpose:

To upload and share official festival photos and videos so participants can easily view, enjoy and relive the celebrations online.

Throughout the festival, photographers and video teams are documenting performances, family moments, community gatherings, cultural shows and unforgettable memories from the event.

The media will gradually be uploaded to the LankaConnect website so the Sri Lankan community across Israel can access and share the content after the festival.

But today’s launch is only the beginning.

The Future Digital Home of Sri Lankans in Israel

The LankaConnect team announced that the website will officially launch in full very soon, with the goal of becoming the central digital home for the Sri Lankan community in Israel.

The platform is being built especially for Sri Lankan foreign workers and families living across Israel, with a strong focus on community support, information, communication and daily life.

According to the development team, LankaConnect will provide extensive information about:

• Foreign worker rights in Israel
• Legal updates and important regulations
• Israeli news and community updates
• Safety alerts and practical information
• Life guidance for Sri Lankans living in Israel

The goal is to create one trusted place where Sri Lankans can stay informed, protected and connected.

WhatsApp Communities and a Safe Digital Space

One of the main features of LankaConnect will be direct integration with community WhatsApp groups managed by the LankaConnect team.

These groups are expected to create a safer and more organized digital environment for Sri Lankans in Israel to communicate, share information and participate in community life.

The project will include:

• Community discussion groups
• Hobby and interest groups
• Hebrew language learning groups
• Event and activity groups
• Support and guidance communities

Organizers say the vision is not only to build a website, but to create a complete digital ecosystem for Sri Lankans living in Israel.

Hebrew Learning Courses Adapted for Workers

LankaConnect also plans to launch a special Hebrew language learning section designed specifically for Sri Lankan workers.

The courses are expected to focus on practical Hebrew used in daily work and life in Israel, including vocabulary adapted to different professions and workplaces.

The project aims to help workers improve communication, confidence and integration into Israeli society.

Events, Photos and Community Memories

The platform’s Events section is expected to become one of the largest digital archives of Sri Lankan community life in Israel.

Future plans include:

• Photo galleries from community events
• Video libraries from festivals and celebrations
• Community event calendars
• Party and gathering announcements
• Cultural activity updates

Every future Sri Lankan community event in Israel is expected to become part of the LankaConnect digital archive.

Marketplace and Community Services

LankaConnect also plans to introduce a marketplace system adapted specifically to the needs of foreign workers in Israel.

The platform is expected to include:

• Job listings
• Apartments for rent adapted to foreign workers
• Ride-sharing boards
• Currency exchange rates
• Community business advertisements
• Service directories

The goal is to simplify everyday life and create a trusted community-based platform for practical needs.

Chef Suranga’s Corner

One unique section planned for the website is “Chef Suranga’s Corner.”

Visitors will be able to enjoy recipes, food content and culinary experiences featuring both Sri Lankan and Israeli dishes.

The section is expected to include traditional foods, cooking ideas and cultural food experiences connected to the Sri Lankan community.

Cricket, Community and Culture

The LankaConnect team also announced future entertainment and sports features, including cricket-related content for the large Sri Lankan cricket community in Israel.

Additional community features and digital services are expected to be added gradually after the official launch.

Built for the Community — Free for the Community

According to the LankaConnect team, the entire project is being dedicated freely to the Sri Lankan community in Israel.

The vision behind the platform is simple but ambitious:

To build a true digital home for every Sri Lankan worker and family living in Israel.

At the moment, the website is operating in an experimental version and additional features are still under development.

The official full launch is expected soon.

For now, festival participants are invited to explore the website, enjoy the uploaded photos and videos and become part of the growing LankaConnect community.

Today marks not only the celebration of a New Year.

It marks the beginning of a new digital future for the Sri Lankan community in Israel.

The post LankaConnect Opens Today in Experimental Mode During the Sri Lankan New Year Festival in Israel appeared first on LANKACONNECT.

For thousands of Sri Lankans living and working in Israel, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is far more than a traditional holiday. It is a deeply emotional time that reconnects people to their families, culture, childhood memories and spiritual roots — even while living far away from home.

This year, the Sri Lankan community in Israel will gather to celebrate the Sri Lankan New Year Festival on 9 May 2026 in Bir al-Maksur, near Haifa.

The festival was originally planned for 18 April 2026, shortly after the traditional New Year period in Sri Lanka. However, due to the security situation in Israel during that time, organizers made the responsible decision to postpone the event in order to ensure the safety of families, workers, children and guests expected to attend.

While the delay was disappointing for many people who had been waiting excitedly for the celebration, the decision also reflected something very important about the Sri Lankan community in Israel — unity, responsibility and care for one another.

What Is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year?

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year, known in Sri Lanka as “Aluth Avurudda,” is one of the most important cultural celebrations in the country.

It marks the traditional solar new year and is celebrated by both Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus across Sri Lanka. Unlike January 1st celebrations, this holiday is deeply connected to astrology, family traditions, spirituality, gratitude and renewal.

Families prepare traditional sweets and foods, clean and decorate their homes, wear new clothes, exchange gifts and visit relatives. Religious observances, blessings from elders and acts of kindness are central parts of the celebration.

For Sri Lankans abroad, especially foreign workers living far from home, the New Year carries an even deeper emotional meaning.

It becomes a reminder of home.

A reminder of parents, children, friends and villages left behind.

A reminder of identity.

A Festival That Brings the Community Together

In Israel, the Sri Lankan community has grown into one of the strongest and most connected foreign worker communities in the country.

Many Sri Lankans work in caregiving, hospitality, agriculture and other important sectors that support Israeli society every single day.

Despite the physical distance from Sri Lanka, the community continues to preserve its language, traditions, music, religion and cultural identity.

Events such as the 2026 Sri Lankan New Year Festival are not just entertainment events.

They are emotional and cultural gatherings that allow people to feel at home again — even for one evening.

The festival is expected to include:

• Traditional Sri Lankan music and dance performances
• Cultural shows and community activities
• Traditional Sri Lankan food
• Family and children’s activities
• Community networking and social gatherings
• Celebration of Sri Lankan culture in Israel

For many workers who spend long months away from family, events like this provide emotional strength, happiness and a sense of belonging.

Postponed — But Not Cancelled

The decision to postpone the festival from 18 April to 9 May was made during a sensitive security period in Israel.

Organizers faced a difficult situation.

On one side was the strong desire to celebrate together during the traditional holiday season.

On the other side was the responsibility to protect thousands of expected visitors and ensure that families could attend safely and peacefully.

Rather than cancel the festival entirely, the organizers chose patience and responsibility.

That decision was appreciated by many members of the community, who understood the challenges of organizing such a large cultural event during uncertain times.

Now, with the new date confirmed, excitement inside the Sri Lankan community is growing once again.

More Than a Festival

For many people attending, this festival is not simply another public event.

It is a symbol of resilience.

A symbol of cultural pride.

A symbol of unity between people living far away from home but continuing to support each other in everyday life.

The Sri Lankan community in Israel has faced many challenges over the years — distance from family, difficult work conditions, language barriers and emotional loneliness.

Yet despite all of this, the community continues to grow stronger.

The 2026 Sri Lankan New Year Festival is expected to become one of the most emotional and meaningful Sri Lankan community gatherings in Israel this year.

A Message to the Community

As the festival approaches, organizers and community leaders are encouraging Sri Lankans across Israel to participate respectfully, support one another and celebrate the holiday in a spirit of peace and unity.

New Year celebrations are about new beginnings.

About hope.

About leaving difficulties behind and moving forward together.

And for thousands of Sri Lankans living in Israel, this festival represents exactly that.

Happy Sri Lankan New Year 2026.

May this year bring peace, health, safety and success to all families and communities.

The post Sri Lankan New Year Festival 2026 in Israel: A Celebration of Culture, Hope and Community appeared first on LANKACONNECT.

Introduction

Plenty of workers lose time and money here because they start with the wrong assumption. One person pays for lessons too early. Another waits for a simple conversion that does not actually fit the documents in hand. The problem is usually not willingness — it is starting on the wrong path.

The most useful first move is not booking anything. First, find out which licensing path applies to you.

Two different routes

The first route is converting a valid foreign license. For eligible applicants, especially in the B/1 context covered by the Ministry of Transport conversion guide, this can be much simpler than starting from zero.

The second route is getting an Israeli license for the first time. That usually means the full licensing process: eligibility checks, required learning steps, and the necessary tests.

How to know which route fits you

If you hold a valid foreign driver’s license and your situation fits the current conversion conditions, start by checking the conversion service.

If you do not hold a convertible foreign license, or your situation falls outside the conversion rules, you are looking at the regular first-license process.

Many workers waste time and money following what another person did instead of checking which track fits their own documents and status.

Key steps in the first-license process

If you are going through the full first-license route, the process in Israel generally includes:

• Vision test
• Written theory exam
• Practical driving test
• Required lessons with a licensed instructor

The exact requirements and order can vary, so check the current official guidance before booking anything.

Key steps to confirm

Vision test: usually done at a licensed optician or clinic before the theory exam

Theory exam: available in multiple languages at some test centers — confirm availability in advance

Do not book lessons or pay test fees before confirming which route and steps apply to your situation

Preparation that saves time

Put all key documents in one folder before the first appointment:

• Passport details
• Visa details
• Foreign license details (if relevant)

Check that names, numbers, and dates match across documents.

A lot of wasted time comes from mismatched details or partial paperwork — not from the driving rules themselves.

A practical way to think about timing

A worker who needs a license because a new job depends on it is in a different situation from one who wants a license because friends say it is useful.

Plan accordingly.

If driving would immediately change your work options, the process deserves careful planning from the start.

If not, public transport may be the smarter short-term answer while you prepare properly.

Conclusion

Getting an Israeli driver’s license becomes manageable once you identify the correct route first.

Build the paperwork, tests, and appointments around that route instead of copying what someone else did.

The goal is not to move fast. The goal is to start in the right place.

Ask the Expert

“I hold a valid Sri Lankan license and have been in Israel for eight months. Is my situation eligible for the B/1 conversion track, and what is the first step?”

Submit your question: LankaConnect.com/ask-the-expert

The post How to Get an Israeli Driver’s License: A Simple Guide appeared first on LANKACONNECT.

Nobody sits down and decides to be exploited on time. It happens slowly. One late finish becomes routine. One rest day gets borrowed. One long week stretches into a long month. And suddenly you are working much more than you are paid for — and you have no record of when it started.

Time is money in a very direct sense in labour law. Every extra hour beyond the legal limit has a price. If it was not paid, it was taken.

The basic rules for working hours

In Israel, the regular working week is 47 hours for a 6-day week or 43 hours for a 5-day week. A regular day of work is 8 hours on a 6-day week and 9 hours on a 5-day week.

Once you go beyond those daily limits, overtime begins.

The overtime rate is: – First two overtime hours in a day: 125% of your regular hourly rate – Further overtime hours in the same day: 150% of your regular hourly rate

This means a 10-hour day on a 6-day week should appear on your payslip as 8 regular hours and 2 overtime hours at 125%. If your payslip only shows 8 hours, those two extra hours were not paid.

The important exception for live-in caregivers

Many Sri Lankan workers in Israel work as live-in caregivers — and if you are one of them, this section is among the most important in the entire guide.

If you work as a caregiver living in the employer’s home, the overtime rules described above do not apply in the same way. Israeli case law has established a different framework for live-in caregivers because of the nature of round-the-clock presence.

This does not mean caregivers have no rights. It means your hours, rest, and payment calculation work differently. If you are a live-in caregiver and you are unsure how your hours should be calculated, this is exactly the kind of situation where guessing is dangerous — check with an expert.

A related issue: on-call time. Being required to stay near the employer’s home, available to respond at short notice, is different from genuine free time. Whether on-call hours count as work time in your specific caregiver arrangement is one of the most contested questions in Israeli labour law. If this affects you, it is worth raising with the Ombudsman.

Are you a live-in caregiver unsure about your hour calculation? Use Ask an Expert on LankaConnect. The rules for caregivers are specific and your situation deserves a personal answer.

What counts as work time

Most workers think “work time” means whatever is written on the schedule. It does not. Work time includes It includes: time waiting at the workplace at the employer’s request, training time required by the employer, time spent completing tasks before or after the official shift, and work done on what should be a rest day.

If your employer asks you to arrive 30 minutes early every morning to prepare, that 30 minutes is work time. If it never appears on your record, it is hidden unpaid work.

Weekly rest: what it actually means

Every worker in Israel is entitled to at least 25 consecutive hours of weekly rest. That is not “some free time when work is quiet.” It is an uninterrupted period during which you should not be called, not be asked to respond, and not be expected to be available.

If your rest day is regularly interrupted — short calls, brief returns, messages that require immediate action — you may effectively have no real weekly rest at all. When that happens consistently, it should be documented and questioned.

How to keep track without making it complicated

You do not need special software. A phone note updated at the end of each day works perfectly. Write: date, start time, finish time, any unusual instruction, and whether you worked during what should have been your rest day.

This habit costs almost nothing. But if a dispute arises about how many hours you worked over the past three months, your log is the difference between having evidence and having a memory.

When the shift record and the payslip tell different stories

This is where most problems become visible. You know you worked long days. The payslip shows only regular hours. The gap between your record and the employer’s record is where underpayment lives.

When you see that gap, the first step is a written question: “My records show I worked 11 hours on May 6th. The payslip shows 8 hours and no overtime. Please explain how the hours were counted.”

Sending that in writing does two things at once: it creates a record, and it forces a real answer. What the employer says next — or does not say — tells you where you actually stand.

Simple checklist

• Know your daily regular hour limit (8 hours for 6-day week, 9 for 5-day week)
• Record start and finish times every day including breaks
• Note any work done during scheduled rest time
• Check whether overtime lines appear on the payslip and match your records
• If you are a live-in caregiver, verify which specific rules apply to your arrangement
• Ask a written question when the payslip does not match your records

WHERE TO GET HELP

Organisation	What they help with	Contact
Ombudsman for Foreign Workers’ Labour Rights — Ministry of Labor	Wage, hours, leave, dismissal complaints. Free. No lawyer needed. Complaints accepted in many languages.	Shlomo (Selma) St 53, Tel Aviv · gov.il (search: foreign worker rights)
PIBA — ජනගහන හා සංක්‍රමණ අධිකාරිය	ඔබේ වීසා, රැකියා බලපත්‍රය, හෝ ඊශ්‍රායලයේ නෛතික තත්ත්වය ගැන ගැටළු ඇත්නම් PIBA හා සම්බන්ධ වන්න. (Visa, work permit and legal status questions)	*3450 · piba.gov.il
Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel	Passport renewal, document authentication, consular assistance, emergencies	israelembassy.gov.lk

Have a question about your rights? Use Ask an Expert on LankaConnect for a personal answer based on your real situation.

The post Working Hours, Overtime and Weekly Rest Rules Explained appeared first on LANKACONNECT.

You arrived in Israel to work. You are sending money home, you are managing a difficult schedule, and you are doing your best in a language that is not yours, in a country whose rules are not always explained to you.

That situation deserves real information — not vague advice, not fear, not silence.

This guide is your starting point. It explains what you are entitled to, what you need to watch, and where to go when something feels wrong. Most of it applies whether you are new or have been here for years.

What Israeli law says about foreign workers

Most foreign workers in Israel are entitled to the same basic labour rights as Israeli workers — plus additional protections that apply to you as a foreign worker in Israel.

That means you are generally entitled to: minimum wage, overtime pay where the law applies, weekly rest, annual leave, sick leave, health insurance, monthly payslips, prior notice before dismissal, and annual convalescence pay after one year.

Annual convalescence pay — called dmei havra’a in Hebrew — is a separate payment that comes once a year, at a time your employer sets — not necessarily a fixed month. After completing one year with the same employer, every worker is entitled to it. The amount is set by law and calculated by multiplying a fixed daily rate by the number of entitled days. Many workers do not know to expect it — and never ask. Check your June or July payslip carefully and ask if it does not appear.

The 2026 Foreign Workers’ Rights Handbook, published by the government, is the main official source. Your sector — caregiving, agriculture, construction, or other — may have additional specific rules that sit on top of the general law.

Two more areas that come up less often but matter enormously when they do.

If you are injured at work — including during work-related travel — you may be entitled to benefits through the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi). Report the injury to your employer in writing the same day if you can, get medical care, and keep every document. Injuries that go unreported at the time are much harder to claim later. Caregivers and agricultural workers face higher physical risk than most — knowing this right by name is part of the job.

If you are pregnant, Israeli law gives you specific protections. Dismissing a pregnant employee generally requires prior approval from the Ministry of Labor — it is not something an employer can simply decide. Maternity leave and allowance rights also apply in certain conditions. If this is relevant to your situation, speak with the Ombudsman before any employment decision is made. After is usually too late.

The documents that protect you

Your protection starts with paper. Workers who have organised documents make better decisions and are harder to cheat.

Keep these in one folder, with a backup copy in email or cloud storage: passport, visa, employment contract, employer name and contact details, placement bureau information, bank records, payslips, and housing details.

A placement bureau (סוכנות השמה) is the agency that arranged your employment in Israel. Many Sri Lankan workers arrived through a bureau, which also takes ongoing responsibility for certain conditions of your employment. If a problem involves the bureau rather than the direct employer — for example, a fee dispute, a visa issue, or a placement that did not match what was promised — the bureau itself can be the subject of a complaint to the Ombudsman.

Add to that folder: photos of any written instructions, shift schedules, WhatsApp messages about work, and any housing condition you want to remember later.

This is not paranoia. It is preparation. Workers who cannot produce a payslip from six months ago often cannot prove what they were paid.

The three things to track every month

Of all the habits you can build, three matter most: hours worked, money paid, and days off actually taken.

Write them down. Even a simple phone note updated once a week is enough. These three records will answer almost every dispute before it becomes a crisis.

The rights that cause the most problems

Based on what foreign workers in Israel commonly face, these are the areas where problems appear most often:

Wage and overtime. You may be paid every month without ever checking whether the amount is correct. Many underpayments are hidden inside routine. Article 14 covers minimum wage. Article 15 covers overtime.

Annual leave. Workers often lose days because no one kept a clear record. Article 16 explains how leave is counted.

Sick leave. Getting sick is stressful enough. A missing certificate or late message can turn a genuine illness into an unpaid absence. Article 17 covers this step by step.

Payslips. Many workers file payslips without reading them. Article 18 shows you what to look for.

End of employment. Dismissal and resignation both have rules that most workers do not know until it is too late. Articles 19 and 20 cover notice and severance.

Rest and holidays. Weekly rest and religious holidays have legal protection. Article 21 explains what that means in practice.

Exploitation and documentation. If something feels wrong and keeps repeating, Articles 22 and 23 will help you understand what you are seeing and how to record it.

Talking to your employer. Raising a rights issue does not have to mean conflict. Article 24 shows a calmer, more effective approach.

When something feels wrong

A good first step is almost always a written question — not an accusation, not silence. Ask about one specific issue. State the date, the amount, or the shift. Save the answer.

If the answer does not come, or if the problem is serious enough that you do not feel safe raising it with the employer, there are official options.

The Ombudsman for Foreign Workers’ Labour Rights (within the Ministry of Labor) handles complaints about wage, leave, hours, and other employment rights. You can file a complaint without needing a lawyer.

PIBA — the Population and Immigration Authority handles matters related to your visa and legal status in Israel.

For workers who need additional guidance before deciding on a formal step, HaKeren is an independent organisation that assists foreign workers in Israel.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel is also a resource Sri Lankan workers can turn to — for passport renewal, document authentication, consular assistance in emergencies, and general support. Keep the embassy contact details saved in your phone alongside your other important numbers.

Time limits on complaints: most labour rights claims in Israel have a limitation period — generally seven years for wage claims, but shorter for some other matters. This means that waiting too long to file a complaint can close the door on money you were legitimately owed. If something happened months or years ago and you are still deciding whether to act, check the deadline before assuming it is too late.

Have a specific situation you’re not sure about? Use the LankaConnect Ask an Expert feature. Describe what is happening and get a personal answer based on your real circumstances — not a general explanation.

The mindset that protects you long-term

You do not need to memorise every law. What you need is a habit: one short check each month. Does my payslip match my real month? Were my hours counted correctly? Do I still have the documents I need?

Workers who do that check regularly catch problems early, when they are still fixable. Workers who wait until something feels very wrong often find the records are already missing.

Rights only work when you know to use them. Everything else in this category is designed to help you do that.

Simple checklist

• Keep your passport, visa and contract in one folder with a backup copy
• Save every payslip and bank record
• Write down hours worked and rest days taken
• Check your wage every month — not only when something feels wrong
• Raise one focused written question early rather than building silence
• Contact the Ombudsman or PIBA when you need official help
• Know where the Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel is located

WHERE TO GET HELP

Organisation	What they help with	Contact
Ombudsman for Foreign Workers’ Labour Rights — Ministry of Labor	Wage, hours, leave, dismissal complaints. Free. No lawyer needed. Complaints accepted in many languages.	Shlomo (Salame) St 53, Tel Aviv · gov.il (search: foreign worker rights)
PIBA — ජනගහන හා සංක්‍රමණ අධිකාරිය	ඔබේ වීසා, රැකියා බලපත්‍රය, හෝ ඊශ්‍රායලයේ නෛතික තත්ත්වය ගැන ගැටළු ඇත්නම් PIBA හා සම්බන්ධ වන්න. (Visa, work permit and legal status questions)	*3450 · piba.gov.il
Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel	Passport renewal, document authentication, consular assistance, emergencies	israelembassy.gov.lk

The post Complete Guide to Worker Rights in Israel for Sri Lankan Employees appeared first on LANKACONNECT.