Sri Lanka Targets 250,000 Overseas Jobs for 2026

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment is working to secure overseas employment for 250,000 citizens in 2026. This initiative seeks to bolster household incomes and increase foreign exchange inflows as part of the country's broader economic recovery. By July 2026, 143,087 citizens had already departed for foreign work, comprising 73,623 skilled and 69,494 unskilled roles. These workers remitted 4.6 billion U.S. dollars during the first half of the year.

To address a slight decline in applicants caused by conflicts in West Asia, the agency is redirecting workers toward higher-paying positions in safer destinations. The government is specifically targeting the placement of 14,000 workers in Israel and 8,000 in South Korea.

As of July 2026, 7,873 Sri Lankans have departed for Israel, where they primarily fill roles in construction, agriculture, and caregiving. Additionally, 4,794 workers have already been placed in South Korea. The government is facilitating these placements through registered recruitment agencies to meet its annual targets.