The government of Sri Lanka has stood by a senior diplomat who was ordered by an Australian court to compensate her former housekeeper with over $360,000 in unpaid wages. The housekeeper was reportedly kept under conditions akin to slavery in Canberra. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo stated that Himalee Arunatilaka, who is now Sri Lanka's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, including the International Labour Organisation, adhered to the government-approved wage rates, which were low. Arunatilaka had served as Colombo's Deputy High Commissioner in Canberra until 2018. The Federal Court of Australia ruled last Thursday that Arunatilaka had violated the Fair Work Act and was not shielded by diplomatic immunity. Australian media outlets reported that the court mandated Arunatilaka to pay more than A$540,000 in back wages and interest to Priyanka Danaratna. Danaratna's lawyer, David Hillard, stated that she worked seven days a week for three years with only two days off in that period, which was due to a burn injury sustained while cooking. She was denied unpaid breaks, overtime pay, penalty rates, and regular payments or payslips. Hillard described the situation as an example of modern slavery. Danaratna was paid a total of Aus$11,212 for her three years of service, while the national minimum wage for a 38-hour week was Aus$656.90. After escaping the diplomatic residence, Danaratna sought help from the Salvation Army. However, the Sri Lankan foreign ministry asserted that the wages paid to the maid were in line with Colombo's approved rates. The ministry's statement read, "The allowance approved by the ministry as the salary of the employee has been paid to her. The ministry is satisfied that the said salary was paid to the domestic assistant by the employer as mutually agreed." This statement was issued over the weekend in response to criticism on social media and demands for the government to address the Australian court's decision.