Colombo, Jan 6: Sri Lanka has announced plans to facilitate 350,000 foreign employment departures in 2026, underscoring the government’s strategy to strengthen overseas labour migration as a key pillar of economic recovery.
The move follows a record inflow of workers’ remittances in 2025, estimated at US$ 7.8 billion, the highest ever recorded by the country and exceeding the previous peak registered in 2016. Officials said the sustained inflow of remittances has played a vital role in stabilising Sri Lanka’s external finances amid ongoing economic adjustments.
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Minister Vijitha Herath said remittance earnings had already reached US$ 7.19 billion by November 2025, with monthly inflows consistently averaging between US$ 650 million and US$ 700 million. Based on these trends, authorities projected a historic annual total for the year.
The overseas employment sector remained robust in 2025, with 310,915 Sri Lankans departing for foreign jobs, marginally below the record level seen in 2024. However, officials highlighted a shift in the composition of employment, noting an increase in placements in higher-income and skill-intensive markets.
When combined with earnings from tourism — which generated approximately US$ 3.2 billion in 2025 — remittances and tourism together contributed nearly US$ 11 billion to the national economy, providing a crucial buffer for foreign reserves.
Data from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment show that while traditional Gulf destinations continued to absorb a large share of migrant workers, demand patterns are changing. Departures to the United Arab Emirates increased sharply, while placements in Saudi Arabia and Qatar declined during the year.
At the same time, Sri Lanka recorded growing labour demand from non-traditional destinations, particularly in East Asia and Europe. Employment opportunities in Japan, Israel, and Romania expanded significantly, reflecting policy efforts to diversify labour markets and secure better-paying opportunities for migrant workers.
Authorities said future migration policies will place greater emphasis on skills development, worker protection, and access to higher-wage employment, as Sri Lanka seeks to maximise the economic benefits of overseas labour migration while improving outcomes for its workforce.
