President Orders Uninterrupted Welfare Support for Sri Lankan Migrant Workers

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to ensure that Sri Lankan migrant workers receive all government welfare assistance and benefits available to them without unnecessary delays or obstacles.

The President issued the directive during a discussion with officials of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment at the Presidential Secretariat, according to the President’s Media Division.

The meeting reviewed the implementation and progress of welfare programmes for Sri Lankans employed overseas, including housing assistance, loan facilities and duty-free concessions.

President Dissanayake said migrant workers make an important contribution to the national economy through foreign exchange earnings and stressed that eligible workers should be able to access government support without administrative barriers.

He also called for an accurate and regularly updated database of Sri Lankan nationals working abroad. The President said reliable information on overseas workers would enable authorities to plan and implement welfare programmes in a more systematic and efficient manner.

The discussion also examined difficulties encountered in delivering existing benefits and assistance to migrant workers.

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath, Labour Minister and Deputy Finance and Planning Minister Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage and Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja attended the meeting.

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe and other officials were also present.

The President’s directive comes as the government reviews mechanisms for providing welfare assistance to Sri Lankans employed overseas and improving the administration of benefits available to migrant workers.