Srilanka, May 16 -- The government will not accept sending of migrant workers to places in Palestine which are held by Israel, Minister Bimal Ratnayake said.

He told reporters that Sri Lanka continues to hold its stance for a free Palestinian State and said that Sri Lanka will not approve of hostilities by Israel against Palestine.

Responding to a question on MP Rauff Hakeem's recent statement that Sri Lanka should stop sending migrant workers to Israel, the Minister said Hakeem had been in several governments as a Minister but had done nothing to stop sending Sri Lankan workers to Israel.

Minister Ratnayake said Sri Lanka cannot suddenly stop economic ties with Israel and said that Sri Lanka will continue diplomatic and economic ties...