1,000 Sri Lankan nurses to work in Israel next year

20 January 2026 12:40 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 17 Bookmark

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Colombo, Jan. 20 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) plans to send 1,000 Sri Lankans to Israel for home-based nursing jobs in 2026.

Eligible candidates include those who have completed a nursing training course at the Bureau or a registered training institution, hold an NVQ III certificate, or have at least 11 months of experience in the nursing profession. Applicants must be between 25 and 45 years old and have sat for the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination. Candidates who have completed the Bureau’s English course and possess good English language skills can also apply.

Selected applicants will receive a visa valid for five years and the opportunity to earn a monthly salary of over Rs. 600,000.

The recruitment is conducted under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Governments of Sri Lanka and Israel. To date, 2,656 Sri Lankans have been eligible for nursing employment in Israel under this agreement, and 107 professionals have already been sent in the first two weeks of 2026.

These positions are offered solely through the SLBFE in collaboration with the Population and Immigration Services Authority (PIBA) and the Government of Israel. The Bureau has warned the public not to give money, passports, or documents to any other individual or institution, as there is no alternative route to obtain these jobs.

Comments - 17

MirakRajBanda Tuesday, 20 January 2026 12:45 PM

It's just a bait and you will be cooked, roast or baked once in Israel. Mark my word!!!!

16 25

Ceylonese Tuesday, 20 January 2026 01:14 PM

I think this is morally not right, Israelis killed, has been killing children in Gaza, and we nursing them makes us complicit in their atrocities. Not right Mr. President, pls intervene.

17 24

Jeeves Tuesday, 20 January 2026 02:04 PM

Meanwhile what happens to health care for Sri Lankans? We have a shortfall already. Can we afford to lose 1000 nurses, with more to follow? This is a ridiculous and foolish proposal and will have terrible consequences for Sri Lankans. Have we become the work force of Israel; constructing their buildings, caring for their elderly and now working in their hospitals? Moreover, reports of living conditions in Israel , exploitation of workers and failure to pay agreed wages have been reported. Government needs to think of better strategies to earn revenue and develop our country too.

10 27

Sandun Tuesday, 20 January 2026 02:17 PM

No point government touting these salary figures to entice people, unless they have checked the average salary of Israeli nurses there, factor in living expenses which will be higher than here, and what about the social impact on families left behind, especially their children? Sending our skilled workers will mean a significant deficit here. Nurses are the backbone of our hospitals. Even a skilled surgeon depends on post operative nursing care otherwise the patient can die from infection.

4 22

Concerned medic Tuesday, 20 January 2026 02:20 PM

So how does this ministry intend to help our depleted hospital staff here? Hire from India? Isn’t the Ministry of health complaining about this unwise proposal?

1 27

So, what happens to our healthcare? Tuesday, 20 January 2026 02:27 PM

Any government has a duty of care to the health and welfare of their people first and foremost! This action displays the opposite. Sri Lankans will suffer and bear the consequences, whilst Israel benefits. And what a country to become entangled with! Despised by most of the world for their aggressive actions and selfish natures.

3 23

Just saying Tuesday, 20 January 2026 02:31 PM

Why is our government allowing Israel to suck us dry? Perhaps Israelis should be serving their own country in more ways than just war!

6 20

Are Sri Lankan nurses being ripped off! Tuesday, 20 January 2026 02:45 PM

Average basic nurse’s salary in Israel is $4500-5000 per month! Do the maths! Why are English-speaking Sri Lankan nurses getting less than half of the normal salary? They should be getting closer to 1400,000 SLR not 600,000! No wonder they are trying to recruit here! We are being exploited!

4 24

Punchi Tuesday, 20 January 2026 02:51 PM

This is aged care positions not nursing in hospitals

10 14

Curious Tuesday, 20 January 2026 02:52 PM

When will the Sri Lankan minister look into our welfare instead of working for Israel?

2 25

Are we a colony of Israel to be exploited? Tuesday, 20 January 2026 03:06 PM

Have we become a colony of Israel? Their flags are plastered everywhere. They have taken over Arugam Bay to such an extent that we are treated like foreigners there. Our army is protecting them at our expense. Now, we are sending our workforce; skilled and unskilled to keep their country developed, and we are being paid peanuts too! When will this madness end? What is the opposition doing?

9 28

Weary Tuesday, 20 January 2026 03:11 PM

Slave wage. Now import nurses from India

2 11

Aela Tuesday, 20 January 2026 03:56 PM

The monthly pay mentioned is not a slave wage and we are not short of nurses so what's the problem in letting them go out. After all what great incentives have our successive govts done to generate employment locally?

20 9

Just wondering Wednesday, 21 January 2026 04:32 PM

Reply to Aela : Your Hebrew- sounding name suggests a definite bias …..

0 5

Why are we being pimped out for peanuts? Tuesday, 20 January 2026 03:12 PM

Why is the government doing this? Sending our nurses to Israel will have a serious impact on all of us. Moreover, they are being paid very little in comparison to the basic nursing salary. They will not be doing half a job for half the salary, will they?

11 23

What about our health tourism industry? Tuesday, 20 January 2026 03:15 PM

We should have been promoting health tourism here. That would have been more lucrative as well as keep our workforce in the country. These short term strategies are not helping us develop as a nation.

6 17

Bad decision Tuesday, 20 January 2026 03:41 PM

Far better to send to UK. They will be paid significantly more than 600,000 per month, and less chances of being exploited! They can join nurses’ unions and demand their rights. In Israel, they will be paid much less and made to do far more work! Who is being helped here; Israelis or Sri Lankans? Israel is benefiting for sure.

7 18

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