Business

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, has set a goal to send 310,000 Sri Lankan workers abroad in 2026. The Bureau reports that Kuwait is the top destination, needing 77,500 workers. Other key countries include the United Arab Emirates with a target of 63,500, Qatar at 44,000, and Saudi Arabia aiming for 31,000. In total, 17 countries will be included. Additionally, through signed agreements between governments, planned deployments for 2026 also feature Israel with 15,000, Japan with 12,500, and South Korea with 6,000 workers. The Bureau mentioned that while the goal for 2025 was 300,000 workers, the actual number of departures was higher, with 311,207 Sri Lankans going abroad for work. This rise significantly benefited the national economy, as migrant remittances reached over USD 8,000 million in 2025. For this year, progress is already visible, with 20,484 workers having left for overseas jobs in January alone.