Over 144,000 Sri Lankans left country for foreign jobs in 2025

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

A total of 144,379 Sri Lankan workers have left the country for foreign employment during the first six months of 2025, according to data released by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).   

The report indicates a significant rise in male migrant workers, with 88,684 men securing jobs abroad, compared to 55,695 women during the same period.  Among destination countries, Kuwait topped the list with 38,806 workers, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 28,973, and Qatar with 21,958 migrant workers.   

Notably, there is a growing trend of Sri Lankan workers seeking employment outside the traditional Middle Eastern countries, especially in East Asia. According to the SLBFE, 6,073 workers migrated to Japan, and 3,134 to South Korea between January and June 2025.   

The economic contribution of these workers remains substantial. Sri Lankan migrant workers remitted USD 3.73 billion to the country in the first half of 2025 — a notable 18.9% increase compared to USD 3.14 billion recorded in the same period last year.   

In June alone, workers abroad sent USD 635.7 million back to Sri Lanka. The SLBFE anticipates that total remittances for 2025 will exceed USD 7 billion, providing critical support to the national economy.