A total of 211,666 Sri Lankan migrant workers departed for foreign employment during the first nine months of the year, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
Of that total, 141,916 individuals went abroad through their own means, while 69,750 travelled via foreign employment agencies. The departures comprised 134,761 males and 76,905 females, with 108,343 classified as skilled professionals.
September recorded the highest monthly volume of departures for the year thus far, with a total of 29,752 workers leaving the country. Additionally, the SLBFE reported that Sri Lanka brought in USD 6,131 million in worker remittances over the first eight months of 2026. (Newswire)