A government meeting on April 22 reviewed progress on facilitating foreign employment for retiring Sri Lanka Navy personnel in the global shipping and marine sector.
The discussion was held at the Office of the Deputy Minister of Defence in Colombo and was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku.
Officials focused on the steps needed to establish a structured mechanism to help retiring naval personnel obtain internationally recognised professional qualifications required for entry into the global maritime industry. Currently, many retiring sailors lack the competency certifications that international shipowners and seafaring manpower agencies demand, limiting their access to higher-paying overseas jobs.
The meeting reviewed progress on addressing gaps in certification requirements and explored measures to improve coordination among the Sri Lanka Navy, the Ministry of Defence and maritime regulatory authorities.
Emphasis was placed on expediting efforts to develop a sustainable framework enabling retiring personnel to secure internationally accepted competency certifications in line with global standards.
The initiative aligns with broader government efforts to boost remittances through skilled labour migration. Migrant worker remittances rose 26.5% in the first quarter of 2026 according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, with the maritime sector representing one of the fastest-growing segments of overseas employment for Sri Lankan workers.
No timeline was announced for the finalisation of the new certification framework.
