News
Foreign jobs: Lanka fails to seize opportunities for want of planning
Out of 425 who applied only 3 passed language proficiency test
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has found fault with the Foreign Employment Ministry, the Foreign Employment Bureau and other relevant institutions for failing to take advantage of the high demand for skilled workers for overseas jobs.
The COPA recently directed the Foreign Employment Ministry to prepare an efficient programme to send trained personnel for overseas jobs in consultation with other institutions, including vocational training institutes.
Instructions were issued at a meeting held in parliament on 21 Oct., under the chairmanship of MP Kabir Hashim to examine the performance of audit report on the evaluation of the role to be played for the quality development of the foreign employment sector.
Chairman Hashim said that the officials of institutions would be called before COPA again in the future.
The chairman of the Committee pointed out that though there was a huge demand for skilled workers for overseas employment, the country couldn’t take advantage of the situation for want of proper coordination among relevant institutions.
The committee paid attention to the fact that a national migrant labour policy had remained unimplemented. Thus, the committee emphasised that these policies should be updated periodically. Although the officials said that the work had commenced, it appeared that there was a delay and the Committee pointed out the need to operate with a specific plan and purpose as the basic arrangement related to sending foreign workers are in these policies.
According to an agreement between the United States of America and the Sri Lankan government in 2016, although there is space for qualified nurses in the country, it was revealed that out of a group of 425 nurses who had applied, only three nurses passed the relevant language proficiency test.
Furthermore, according to the agreements between the governments of countries like Japan, Korea and Israel, although there is scope for sending trained workers, it was revealed that the number of trained workers going abroad from this country isat a low ebb due to the reduction in the number of people with language proficiency and professional skills suitable for those respective countries. The Committee pointed out at length that these institutions including the Foreign Employment Bureau should cater to these open job opportunities through the relevant ambassadorial relations and to train workers with professional skills.
At a time when the country is in an economic crisis, the Committee pointed out at length the need to identify and promote these foreign employment sectors as a source of foreign exchange earnings. For that, the committee emphasised the need for the research department within the Foreign Employment Bureau to operate more efficiently.
State Ministers (Dr.) Suren Raghavan, Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Diana Gamage Members of Parliament Tissa Attanayake, Niroshan Perera, (Dr.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, J. C. Alawathuwala, Isuru Dodangoda, (Prof.) Charitha Herath, Wasantha Yapabandara and Weerasumana Weerasinghe were present at this Committee meeting. Mr. Ananda Wimalaweera, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment and Mr. Mahendra Kumarasinghe, Chairman of the Foreign Employment Bureau were also present.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri departed the Port of Colombo today, 11 September 2026, following the successful completion of a four day official visit.
On her departure, the Sri Lanka Navy bade farewell to the ship in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.
During the visit, naval personnel from both navies engaged in joint initiatives to strengthen bilateral ties. These included a friendly volleyball match, a beach cleanup along the Galle Face
promenade, and a training exercise on Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy Special Boat Squadron (SBS).
As part of the visit, the Indian Navy handed over a consignment of spares and supplies to the Sri Lanka Navy. Visiting crew members also toured key tourist attractions in and around Colombo.
Official interactions of this nature aim to enhance cooperation and knowledge-sharing between the two maritime forces, supporting joint responses to evolving regional maritime challenges.
A meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and representatives of the Sri Lanka Scout Association was held at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (10) afternoon .
The President was briefed on the 11th National Scout Jamboree, scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in January 2027, as well as the current status and progress of its organisational arrangements.
The official logo of the National Scout Jamboree was also presented to the President and officially unveiled on the occasion.
Views were also exchanged on the programmes currently being implemented by the Sri Lanka Scout Association and its future plans.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised the importance of expanding the Scout Movement to more schools and the contribution that the Scout Movement can make to the Government’s programmes to combat drugs.
President’s Senior Additional Secretary Roshan Gamage; Chief Scout Commissioner, Attorney-at-Law Manoj Nanayakkara; President of the Sri Lanka Scout Association Ransiri Perera; Deputy Chief Scout Commissioner (Acting) Kapila Perera; Chairman of the Executive Committee Kamalnath Jinadasa; and Jamboree Co-Organising Commissioner, Engineer Amil Abeysundara, were among the senior representatives of the Sri Lanka Scout Association who attended the occasion.
[President’s Media Division]
A meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Catholic religious leaders, led by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, was held at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (10).
Special attention was given to the Government’s programme to strengthen coexistence, peace and reconciliation among all communities in the country and to ensure national unity by preventing any form of racist or religiously motivated hate activity.
The progress of investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks was also discussed.
Lengthy discussions were held on measures that could be taken to prevent environmental damage and destruction affecting the lives of the people.
The Catholic religious leaders commended the measures taken by the Government to safeguard trust among all communities and expressed their fullest support for these efforts.
The issues faced by Catholic communities, including infrastructure development in areas where Catholic people reside, as well as measures that should be taken to address these issues, were also discussed at length.
Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini, Rev. Fr. Julian Patrick and other priests, as well as Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, President’s Senior Additional Secretary Roshan Gamage and others, were also present at the meeting.
President’s Media Division (PMD)
Rybakina sets up blockbuster Sabalenka final at US Open
INS Udaygiri departs Colombo concluding formal visit
President meets representatives from Sri Lanka Scout Association
Putin lands in India for BRICs summit, shadowed by Iran and Ukraine wars
Meeting between Catholic religious leaders and President
Shafali, Deepti power India into sixth T20 Asia Cup final
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoNamal remanded until Sept. 18 over Airbus deal investigation
-
Latest News5 days agoTharanga creates history with Diamond League crown in Brussels
-
News5 days agoDispute which triggered listed company director being detained at BIA resolved
-
Features4 days agoAfter the parade: What a traffic OIC’s walk-out tells us
-
Sports12 hours agoDDS set to lose Test captaincy
-
Editorial6 days agoPower vs Equality
-
Editorial4 days ago
Arrests as theatre
-
Latest News4 days agoHarshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth