The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) reports that over 100,000 Sri Lankans have registered for foreign employment from January to mid-May this year.
A total of 100,413 individuals have departed for overseas jobs during this period. Among them, 64,150 registered independently, while 36,263 went through licensed foreign employment agencies. The group includes 39,496 women and 60,917 men.
Kuwait has become the most sought-after destination, attracting 25,672 workers. Other top destinations include the United Arab Emirates (18,474), Qatar (14,162), and Saudi Arabia (12,625).
Additionally, 4,212 people registered for jobs in Japan, 3,395 for Israel, and 2,036 for South Korea. The rest have secured employment in various other countries.
The SLBFE also noted that it aims to send 340,000 Sri Lankans abroad for work by the end of 2025.
