2020-2025: 1.4 m migrated for employment

A total of 1,410,995 Sri Lankans left for foreign employment through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) during the period from 2020 to 2025, with the highest number migrating to Kuwait, it is learnt.

Data received by The Daily Morning under the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016, shows a steady rise in foreign employment departures over the six-year period. In 2020, a total of 53,698 Sri Lankans left for foreign employment, including 21,208 males and 32,490 females. The number increased to 122,905 departures in 2021, comprising 41,145 males and 81,760 females. 

A sharp increase was recorded in 2022, when 310,948 Sri Lankans migrated for foreign employment. Of these, 124,004 were males and 186,944 were females. In 2023, a total of 297,586 individuals left the country for foreign jobs, including 132,907 males and 164,679 females. The number rose slightly in 2024, reaching 314,668 departures, consisting of 128,010 males and 186,658 females. In 2025, 311,190 Sri Lankans left for foreign employment, including 120,302 males and 190,888 females, indicating a continued demand for overseas employment opportunities.

Country-wise data shows that Kuwait recorded the highest number of Sri Lankan migrant workers during the period, with 317,807 departures. This was followed by Qatar with 252,519, Saudi Arabia with 238,595, and the UAE with 216,693 departures. Other destinations included the Maldives with 54,869 departures, Romania with 47,903, Oman with 42,080, South Korea with 35,477, and Japan with 31,848 migrant workers. Further, Israel recorded 29,023 departures, Jordan 22,729, Bahrain 17,261, Cyprus 16,461, Singapore 12,617, and the UK 10,349 departures. 

Additional destinations listed in the data included Malaysia with 9,873 departures, Seychelles with 6,781, and Lebanon with 6,160 Sri Lankan migrant workers during the period under review. Several other countries recorded fewer than 5,000 departures of Sri Lankan migrant workers each during the period under review.

Sri Lanka experienced a significant increase in outward migration for employment following the economic crisis in 2022, which led to severe shortages of fuel, gas, medicine, and other essential goods across the country. The crisis also resulted in high inflation, a loss of income, and reduced employment opportunities for many households.

Source - The Morning