Authorities have uncovered an alleged racket involving fraudulent Israeli job contracts operating within the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). 

Two suspects were arrested yesterday (12) after they were found preparing fake agreements claiming to provide employment opportunities in Israel.

According to the SLBFE, the suspects had brought individuals to the Bureau and attempted to issue them with forged contracts. 

They were taken into custody while on the first floor of the SLBFE premises, where police recovered seven foreign travel passports and several documents, including fabricated Israeli job contracts.

The arrested individuals are scheduled to be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court today (13).

The SLBFE has launched further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Applications open today for Sri Lankan workers seeking employment in Israel’s restaurant and renovation sectors, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) announced.

The Bureau said its official web portal www.slbfe.lk will allow qualified applicants to register online. 

For the restaurant sector, the portal opens at 12.00 noon today to register 4,000 applicants. Eligible candidates are men aged 25–40, with at least one year’s experience in a restaurant kitchen, eight years of schooling, and good English proficiency. 

Applicants must also be physically and mentally fit, and only those who have not previously worked in Israel, nor have immediate family members employed there, can apply.

For the renovation sector, registration will open tomorrow at 2.00 pm, with 12,000 slots available across four fields: plastering and gypsum board work, electrical box installation and block wall construction, carpentry, and ceramic tiling. 

Each category will take 3,000 applicants. Eligible candidates are men aged 25–45, with ten years of schooling and basic English knowledge, subject to the same restrictions on prior employment in Israel.

The Bureau noted that those who previously failed the final test for construction jobs cannot reapply, though applicants from other Israeli job categories may apply for these four fields. 

Selection will be conducted by qualified Israeli representatives, who will test applicants’ professional skills. 

The SLBFE urged job seekers to apply only for sectors where they have genuine experience and qualifications. (Newswire)

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A person who defrauded money from youth by promising jobs in South Korea has been taken into custody by officials of the Special Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

According to the SLBFE, it was revealed that letters were sent to Members of Parliament stating that the Lions Club International, together with the SLBFE, had organized a program to provide jobs in South Korea, and requesting them to connect youth from their areas. 

Based on information received by SLBFE Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe, the matter was referred to the Investigation Division, and two undercover agents were deployed to gather details.

On March 28, during an introductory program at Kiyuro Advanced Education School near Rahula Junction in Matara, it was announced that youths completing language training would be placed in government‑facilitated jobs in South Korea, with a registration fee of Rs. 20,000.

It was further stated that those who registered would receive a voucher worth Rs. 35,000 from the Lions Club International for Korean language studies.

Acting on this information, investigation officers arrested the suspect on March 28 in the Matara area. He is a 49‑year‑old resident of Galle who had been working as a journalist. 

Further investigations revealed that the suspect had previously operated a language training centre named Akazuki Lanka in Galle, and had also directed trainees there into this scheme. 

It was also uncovered that the Lions Club International had no involvement in providing such jobs. In addition, evidence showed the suspect had previously engaged in a racket involving Japanese jobs.

The SLBFE stressed that the South Korean job program operates strictly between governments and that the Bureau does not collaborate with any other institutions. 

Therefore, the SLBFE urged the public not to provide money or personal information to any external parties claiming to offer South Korean jobs.

The arrested suspect was produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court on March 28 and has been remanded until April 7. (Newswire)

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A woman accused of defrauding nearly Rs. 16 million by promising jobs in Romania without a valid licence from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has been arrested after evading authorities for months.

According to the Divaina newspaper, the woman was arrested by officials of the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau recently.

The SLBFE had received 15 complaints stating that the suspect, who had previously worked in Romania, used her connections there to collect money from individuals by promising jobs but failed to deliver. 

Investigations were launched, but she evaded officers by moving between areas, including Piliyandala, Wellampitiya, Kolonnawa, and Kahathuduwa.

During the probe, four others who assisted her in the racket were arrested and produced before the court.

Investigators eventually used an undercover decoy to contact the suspect, arranging for her to sign employment agreements at a lawyer’s residence in Kolonnawa. She was arrested at that location.

After being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, she was remanded until March 3. 

Authorities are continuing investigations to determine if more individuals are involved in the scam. (Newswire)

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The Special Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has arrested five individuals involved in foreign employment fraud.

According to the SLBFE, the suspects were arrested as a result of investigations carried out during the first week of 2026. 

On January 8, 2026, officers raided an institution named Order Solutions operating in the Boralesgamuwa area without a valid license from the SLBFE, which had been posting advertisements on Facebook claiming to provide assistant jobs in factories in Dubai. 

During the raid, officials seized 10 employment contracts for Dubai, 27 applicant forms, and a computer used to prepare related documents, while one suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court on January 9 and was ordered to be remanded until January 20.

Meanwhile, on January 8, 2026, two women running an institution called Samurai Japanese Language Center were arrested by investigation officers. 

The center, located on Maharagama Road in Boralesgamuwa, had advertised on Facebook offering driver jobs in Japan while operating under the guise of a Japanese language training institute. Upon inspection, officials found a large number of forged official seals in the names of school principals, divisional secretaries, a commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department, university lecturers, and other private educational institutions. 

They also seized forged GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level certificates, along with two government-printed books containing 100 student progress reports each, which are issued only to school principals by the Ministry of Education. Further investigations revealed that the institution was teaching Japanese while preparing fake documents for unqualified individuals to be sent to Japan. It was also discovered that a relative of the women works in Japan and was facilitating these job opportunities.

The two women were arrested under charges of preparing, using, and possessing forged documents and were handed over to the Boralesgamuwa Police. 

They were produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court on January 9 and were ordered to be remanded until January 19. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) says a total of 3,712 young Sri Lankan men and women left for employment opportunities in South Korea during the year 2025. 

According to the SLBFE, 54 youths, including 06 women, qualified for jobs in South Korea’s manufacturing sector departed on SriLankan Airlines flight UL 470 on Tuesday (16). 

This group is recorded as the 939th batch of Sri Lankans to secure employment in South Korea.

Recently, there has been a growing trend of young women also seeking employment in South Korea. Accordingly, 132 women have departed for jobs there in 2025.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding between the SLBFE and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, these job opportunities are provided under the E‑9 visa category. Employment is available in manufacturing, construction, fisheries, agriculture, and service sectors.

Beneficiaries are permitted to stay in South Korea for a period of 4 years and 10 months. After completing the stipulated period and returning to Sri Lanka, workers are allowed to re‑enter South Korea. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment has set up an emergency disaster response unit to assist families of Sri Lankan migrant workers and others abroad, in light of the current disaster situation in the country.

This unit was established under the directives of Minister Vijitha Herath, with Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra also instructing the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to provide immediate relief to the migrant worker community.

Due to practical challenges in delivering emergency aid, the SLBFE has allocated up to Rs. 15,000 per family registered with the Bureau. Families can use this allowance to purchase essential goods from local shops, based on their preference. A circular has been issued to facilitate this process, according to Bureau Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe.

A special program has also been launched to provide compensation for damages caused by the disaster. Under this scheme, information on affected migrant worker families must be collected and submitted by Provincial Senior Managers to the Bureau’s Deputy General Manager (Social Development), in line with the conditions outlined in the circular.

To assist children of migrant workers, the SLBFE has introduced a program to provide school books and supplies. Each child in need will receive material assistance up to Rs. 10,000, ensuring their education continues despite the disaster.

As part of immediate relief measures, migrant worker families are also eligible for up to Rs. 7,000 in aid for purchasing essential medicines.

Affected migrant workers abroad can share their family details with the SLBFE through the hotline 1989 or via WhatsApp at +94 719802822. (Newswire)

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The former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), Mohamed Hilmy, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission on charges of financial misappropriation, has been remanded. 

The former SLBFE Chairman was remanded until December 09 after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today. 

According to the Bribery Commission, he is accused of having unfairly presented a bid to an institution named JSF Holding in the process of selecting an institution to provide training for officers of the SLBFE, during his tenure as Chairman in 2024. 

This facilitated the improper payment of Government funds amounting to over Rs. 05 million to the said institution, the Commission said. (Newswire)

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A foreign employment agency that had its license temporarily suspended due to involvement in overseas job fraud has been raided by the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

The raid was carried out on Thursday (20) in the Maradana area, following information that the agency was continuing to recruit workers for foreign employment without a valid license.

Investigations revealed that the agency’s license had been suspended after receiving 85 complaints related to foreign employment fraud. During the raid, the license holder and three officials working at the agency were taken into custody by investigators.

Authorities also seized a large number of documents, including 256 foreign travel passports, believed to be linked to fraudulent recruitment activities.

The suspects were produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court yesterday (21).

The SLBFE has urged the public to exercise caution when seeking foreign employment.

It advised that before handing over money or passports to any agency or individual, applicants should verify whether the agency holds a valid license and whether it has received official job orders.

For verification, the public can visit the official SLBFE website (www.slbfe.lk) or contact the 1989 hotline for instant information. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) says a total of 3,469 Sri Lankan youth have departed for employment opportunities in South Korea during the course of 2025.

The SLBFE said in a statement that a group of 77 qualified individuals, including 2 women, left for jobs in South Korea’s manufacturing sector on November 11. 

These employment opportunities are facilitated under the E-9 visa category, based on a bilateral agreement between the SLBFE and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea. The E-9 visa enables Sri Lankans to work in manufacturing, construction, fisheries, and agriculture.

Candidates are selected through a transparent online process, with computer-based examinations. The SLBFE emphasizes that no external influence can affect the selection process.

Accordingly, during this year, 836 individuals have departed for jobs in the fisheries sector, 2,512 individuals for the manufacturing sector, 28 individuals for construction jobs, 32 individuals for the service sector, and 2 individuals for the agriculture sector. 

Successful candidates are permitted to stay in South Korea for 4 years and 10 months, and upon completion of their term, they may be eligible to re-enter under stipulated conditions. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) says complaints received by the Bureau regarding financial fraud incidents involving foreign job offers advertised through social media are increasing day by day.

Investigations have revealed that the majority of these advertisements are fake and have not received approval from the Bureau.

Therefore, the SLBFE urges job seekers to verify whether the institution offering such jobs is legally registered with a valid license from the Bureau, and whether the job opportunity has been officially approved by the Bureau, before making any payments or handing over travel documents.

Furthermore, if anyone has information about fraudulent institutions or individuals, the SLBFE requests that they report it to the Police Unit of the Special Investigations Division via 0112882228 or the hotline 1989. (Newswire)

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A new government initiative offering discounted air tickets for Sri Lankan migrant workers officially launched today at the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency in Nawala

The ticket counter was opened under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra.

The program provides airline tickets at rates lower than those available in the open market. All migrant workers leaving for employment abroad, regardless of destination, are eligible to purchase these discounted tickets.

Officials present at the opening included Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Employment B.S. Yalagama, SLBFE Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe, and Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency Chairman Lal Hettiarachchi. (Newswire)

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Two individuals, including a retired Army Colonel, have been arrested in connection with a large-scale foreign employment scam that defrauded nearly Rs. 20 million from job seekers by promising employment opportunities in several European countries.

According to the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), the suspects operated under a registered agency named FC International in Negombo, claiming to secure jobs in the hospitality sector in Hungary, the Netherlands, and Finland.

Investigations revealed that while the agency had obtained approval for job placements in Hungary, no official requests or job orders existed for hospitality positions. The SLBFE said it had received around 20 complaints from victims across the country who had paid large sums but were never provided the promised jobs.

Following investigations, officers arrested two suspects, a resident of Mawanella with long-standing experience in the foreign employment sector and a retired Army Colonel residing in Kadawatha, in operations carried out in Mawanella and Imbulgoda.

The main suspects, including the owner of FC International, her husband, and the agency’s manager, have reportedly gone into hiding following the arrests. The court has imposed a travel ban on them while efforts are underway to apprehend the fugitives.

The arrested suspects were produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court and remanded until October 10. Meanwhile, the SLBFE has suspended the agency’s operating licence pending further investigations.

The operation was led by Chief Inspector Ariyawansa, with Inspectors S.K.K. Madushanka and Alwis, and Investigation Officers Idunil Pushpakumara and Sergeant Dahanayake.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Employment, Arun Hemachandra, said the Special Police Unit continues to receive a growing number of complaints related to foreign employment scams. 

The public has been urged to report any information regarding fraudulent foreign job agencies or individuals to the SLBFE Special Investigation Unit via 011-2882228. (Newswire)

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An Assistant Manager of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency (SLFEA) has been detained over an allegation of soliciting bribes amounting to Rs. 1,050,000.

Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said, the officer of the SLFEA, a subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), was detained by the Investigation Division of the SLBFE. 

Commenting on the incident, he further said that this Government maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and will ensure full cooperation with the authorities to carry out a transparent investigation and protect public trust. (Newswire)

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Several key public-facing divisions of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which were moved to the “Mehewara Piyesa” building in Narahenpita during the previous administration, have been relocated to Battaramulla. 

According to the SLBFE, many complaints were lodged with the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Employment, Vijitha Herath, and the Deputy Minister, Arun Hemachandra, stating that migrant workers faced difficulties in accessing services at the location in Narahenpita.

The concerns included transportation challenges for migrant workers, inconveniences faced by SLBFE officers assigned to work at this location, high rental costs for the building, and disruptions to effective public service delivery.

The SLBFE said responding promptly to these issues, and under the guidance of both ministers, an inquiry was conducted, and necessary actions were taken. 

As a result, the previously relocated departments were moved to a location close to the main SLBFE office, and are located at No. 465, Ganahena, Battaramulla.

Due to spatial limitations at the main office, the new site was chosen with care to ensure improved accessibility for migrant workers and smooth coordination with the main office, the SLBFE said.

The relocated departments are:

1. Welfare Division
2. Repatriation Division
3. Foreign Relations Division II
4. Business Dispute Resolution Unit
5. Institutional and Industrial Training Division
6. Research Division
7. Marketing Division
8. Deputy General Manager (Social Development)
9. Senior Manager (Social Development)
10. IM Japan Unit

The SLBFE stated that migrant workers can access the services of these departments at the new location from today (01 Aug). (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has taken legal action against individuals involved in fraudulent foreign employment activities and unlicensed recruitment agencies, recovering over Rs. 199.4 million for affected victims, between January and July 2025.

According to the SLBFE, these prosecutions were initiated based on special raids conducted under the guidance of Deputy General Manager (Legal) Nelum Samarasekara, as well as complaints received by the Bureau.

During the past seven months, a total of 567 court cases have been filed against foreign employment fraudsters, while the SLBFE received 2,620 complaints during that period.

Within this timeframe, the SLBFE’s Special Investigations Division carried out five raids, one of which targeted a licensed foreign employment agency engaged in illegal practices.

A total of 36 suspects were arrested, including seven individuals affiliated with licensed recruitment agencies.

Additionally, in 2024, the SLBFE successfully recovered over Rs. 182.5 million for victims of foreign employment fraud. That year, the Bureau received 4,658 complaints related to foreign employment issues. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is taking steps to enhance the language proficiency and training of Sri Lankans seeking employment in Japan, aiming to improve the overall quality of the workforce, SLBFE General Manager D.D.P. Senanayake said.

He made these remarks during a meeting yesterday (28) with Kimura Hisayoshi, Chairman of IM Japan, and Managing Director Masahiko Fukagawa, who are currently visiting Sri Lanka. The meeting was held with the senior management of the SLBFE.

Senanayake noted that there is a high demand for Sri Lankans in Japan’s caregiving sector. In response, the IM Japan Chairman proposed increasing the number of trained caregivers and maintaining a pool of trained individuals ready for deployment.

Kimura also agreed to support the SLBFE in conducting training sessions required for the Skills Proficiency Tests related to Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program.

Stating that more applicants are joining the program through awareness shared by senior trainees and returning workers, Senanayake emphasized the value of communicating the program’s benefits through those with firsthand experience.

During the meeting, air tickets were officially handed over to 12 technical interns who departed for Japan yesterday, along with 8 workers scheduled to leave on August 3 under the SSW program.

The event was attended by SLBFE Additional General Manager (International Affairs) P.G.G.S. Yapa, Senior Manager (Recruitment) Susil Kumarapeli, Recruitment Manager Ananda Premasiri, and IM Japan Colombo Office representatives Tamura and Shigiyoka.

These employment opportunities are facilitated under the Memorandum of Understanding between the SLBFE and IM Japan. So far, 600 Sri Lankans have secured jobs under the Technical Intern Training Program, while 51 have been placed under the SSW program. (Newswire)

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A total of 144,379 Sri Lankan workers left overseas for employment between January and June 2025, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

Of them, 88,684 were male workers, reflecting a notable increase in male labour migration compared to females, of whom 55,695 migrated for jobs during the same period.

Kuwait emerged as the top destination with 38,806 Sri Lankans employed, followed by the UAE (28,973) and Qatar (21,958).

The SLBFE also noted a growing trend of Sri Lankans moving to East Asian nations. Japan welcomed 6,073 Sri Lankan workers, while South Korea received 3,134 Sri Lankans.

Meanwhile, foreign remittances by Sri Lankan migrant workers amounted to USD 3.73 billion during the first six months of 2025, an 18.9% increase from the USD 3.14 billion received in the same period in 2024.

In June alone, remittances stood at USD 635.7 million. The SLBFE anticipates that total remittances for 2025 will surpass USD 7 billion. (Newswire)

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New regulations introduced by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) for all Sri Lankans seeking foreign employment in non-domestic sectors for the first time come into effect from today (01 July).

Accordingly, all Sri Lankans seeking foreign employment in non-domestic sectors for the first time must obtain certification of their employment contracts from the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in the respective country before registering with the SLBFE.

This mandatory requirement applies to workers migrating to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea.

The SLBFE states this move is aimed at strengthening the protection and legal rights of Sri Lankan workers overseas by ensuring contract transparency and authenticity before departure.

However, the requirement does not apply to individuals travelling for self-employment in professional categories. 

Such individuals will be exempted if they can produce a passport indicating their profession or relevant documentation confirming their professional status in the destination country. (Newswire)

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The Deputy Minister of Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra, has instructed the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to launch a formal inquiry into a series of circulars that were recently rescinded under Chairman’s Circular No. 07/2025, dated 19 June 2025.

Deputy Minister Hemachandra said that these circulars, issued under the previous administration, appear to have raised serious legal and procedural concerns, particularly regarding their consistency with the SLBFE Act, No. 21 of 1985. 

Issuing a statement, he further said that, however, these concerns were not formally addressed in the rescinding circular.

Outlining the purpose of this inquiry, Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra said they will:

• Identify the annulled circulars and examine their legal basis.
• Investigate whether proper legal and procedural clearances were obtained.
• Identify the officials responsible for drafting and issuing them.
• Assess the impact of these circulars on the Bureau’s operations and Sri Lankan migrant workers.
• Recommend necessary legal, administrative, or disciplinary actions.

Deputy Minister Hemachandra further said that a full report has been requested within 14 days.

“This process is part of our broader effort to ensure transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in all foreign employment matters. Sri Lankans seeking overseas employment deserve a system that is fair, lawful, and accountable. We are committed to making that a reality,” he added. (Newswire)

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