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Crisis-hit Lanka sees record labour migration as rupee collapse, high inflation weigh
ECONOMYNEXT –Sri Lanka saw a record high labour migration in 2022 as tens of thousands of people moved to other countries in search of jobs in foreign currency after the island nation’s currency collapsed and inflation soared to an all-time high, the government data showed.
The island nation’s rupee fell over 60 percent in 2022 – from 200 rupees to 360 rupees – after the central bank printed billions of rupees to finance the government spending in the face of higher state expenditure and lower government revenue.
The money printing also resulted in the inflation rising to record 73 percent in September – forcing millions of people to cut three meals a day to meet their ends.Sri Lanka saw 311,269 people leaving the country in 2022, the highest in history. Previously, the country’s annual peak was 300,413 in 2014.
It was more than double of the migrated population of 121,795 in the previous year, the central bank data showed.President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government has been encouraging people to leave the shores and to earn in dollars to help the country to move out of the unprecedented economic crisis.
The South Indian island nation saw a steep fall in its foreign currency reserves, shortage of dollars, and failure to import essentials, leaving tens of thousands of people in queues for cooking gas, fuel, and medicines.
The shortages led the country to declare sovereign debt default on April 12 before people started street protests across the country which later ousted both former leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, ex-prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.The government has announced a raft of incentives for those who send foreign currency remittances to the country.
But the country is yet to see a significant increase in foreign remittances in proportion to the increase in labour migration last year.The worker remittances plummeted 36 percent to $3.3 billion in the first 11 months of the year compared to the previous year’s $5.2 billion, the central bank data showed.
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Heat Index at Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 12 April 2026, valid for 13 April 2026.
Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 05th to 15th of April in this year.
The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (13th) are Pesalai, Mankulam and Nedunkerny about 12:11 noon.
The Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) TAIMUR and ASLAT arrived at the Port of Colombo on a goodwill visit on 12 Apr 26.
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in
compliance with naval traditions.
The duo of ships is commanded by Captain NIAMAT SAEED KHAN (PNS TAIMUR) and Captain NADIR MATEEN AFRIDI (PNS ASLAT).
Meanwhile, the ships are expected to conduct a Bilateral Naval Exercise LION STAR V with the Sri Lanka Navy in Colombo seas.
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Heat Index at Caution level’ in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
Showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces.
Sun directly overhead Pesalai, Mankulam and Nedunkerny about 12:11 noon
PNS TAIMUR & ASLAT arrive in Colombo
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