Delivering the 2026 Budget Speech today, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced several new initiatives to support Sri Lankans employed overseas, acknowledging their vital role as the country’s largest source of foreign exchange through remittances.
He revealed that a housing loan scheme at concessional interest rates will be introduced for migrant workers, to be implemented using funds from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) under an interest reimbursement mechanism.
Furthermore, a contributory pension scheme for foreign workers will be established, with the SLBFE assigned to initiate and complete the necessary groundwork within 2026.
The President added that Rs. 2,000 million will be allocated from the Bureau’s funds for the initial phase of these programmes.
