The number of Sri Lankans seeking foreign employment has declined sharply, the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) said yesterday, attributing the drop to fraud and mismanagement by politicians of the previous government.

ALFEA member Muhammad Azam said prospects for overseas employment have been “blurred” by past fraudulent practices, discouraging many job seekers. The issue was discussed at a recent meeting of the Association of Registered Foreign Employment Agents in Colombo.

He noted that the downturn has resulted in a significant reduction in workers heading to destinations such as the Middle East. However, ALFEA plans to work closely with the government next year to streamline and formalise foreign employment procedures.

“With proper regulation and state support, remittances are expected to rise to around US$10 billion next year,” Azam said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) reported that more than 300,000 Sri Lankans have gone abroad for work so far this year, including 184,085 men and 116,106 women.

The Bureau said 194,982 workers migrated independently, while 105,209 secured employment overseas through licensed agencies. Sri Lanka earned US$7.19 billion in worker remittances during the first 11 months of the year, the SLBFE added.