The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has set a target of securing overseas employment for 250,000 Sri Lankans during 2026, with a stated focus on higher-paying jobs in safer destinations.
According to Ada Derana, the Bureau said the opportunities would be facilitated through the Sri Lankan government and recruitment agencies registered with the SLBFE. Officials framed the drive as part of efforts to steer migrant workers toward markets that offer better wages and stronger protections.
The Bureau said 143,087 Sri Lankans had left for foreign employment so far this year — 92,590 men and 50,497 women — noting that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East had caused a slight decline in departures. The region has long been the primary destination for Sri Lankan migrant labour, and instability there has pushed authorities to diversify placements.
Israel features prominently in this year’s plan. The SLBFE said it intends to deploy 14,000 workers to Israel, of whom 7,873 have already departed. Sri Lanka has expanded labour agreements with several countries in recent years as remittances from overseas workers remain a vital source of foreign exchange for the economy.
Remittances from the migrant workforce are among Sri Lanka’s largest sources of foreign income, and the government has repeatedly stressed the importance of safe, well-regulated migration channels as it works to sustain the country’s economic recovery.
