Foreign job scams under scrutiny as Sri Lanka readies major law overhaul

Vijitha Herath

Koshala Wickremasinghe

Sri Lanka would overhaul its foreign employment framework within months, stepping up efforts to curb illegal migration after a growing number of citizens were rescued from cybercrime camps in Myanmar and conflict zones in Russia, the officials said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath issued a stark warning that organised trafficking networks are increasingly exploiting the economic pressures and social media to lure Sri Lankans abroad through illegal channels, often disguising jobs as short-term travel opportunities.

“We have intervened to rescue the Sri Lankans trapped in cyber-slave camps in Myanmar and those illegally recruited for conflicts but people continue to fall prey to these scams,” Herath said, addressing a press conference yesterday. 

He urged the public to reject the overseas job offers made through visit visas. He said such arrangements have become the primary route used by the human smugglers to bypass the regulations and exploit the vulnerable job seekers.

The authorities have identified coordinated groups operating online to target youth with promises of quick employment and high pay, Herath said, adding that the government is strengthening laws to take tougher action against the traffickers.

“We also need the public to be vigilant and only use official channels,” he said.

The warning comes as labour migration remains a critical pillar of Sri Lanka’s economy, with overseas employment generating billions of dollars in annual remittances and supporting foreign exchange inflows. The officials say the rise in illegal recruitment not only puts the workers at risk but also undermines formal migration systems and weakens the oversight of a key economic sector.

In response, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman Koshala Wickremasinghe said a new Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act is expected to be enacted within the next four months. The legislation will repeal and replace the existing Act No. 21 of 1985, which the authorities say is no longer equipped to address the modern trafficking methods and digital recruitment networks.

The proposed law aims to close the regulatory gaps, particularly those linked to visit visa employment scams and cross-border human trafficking. Wickremasinghe said that despite the continued raids and enforcement actions, illegal recruitment activities persist, highlighting the need for stronger legal powers and penalties.

Under the new framework, the authorities plan to introduce tougher sanctions and expand regulatory oversight to ensure that foreign employment is routed through the SLBFE-approved, protected mechanisms. The officials say the reforms are intended to safeguard the workers, preserve remittance flows and restore confidence in Sri Lanka’s overseas employment sector, at a time when global labour markets and migration risks are becoming increasingly complex.