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)