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Lanka launches labour migration blueprint with ILO, SDC help
ECONOMYNEXT –Sri Lanka’s labour and foreign employment ministry launched its labour migration blueprint for 2023-2027 on Wednesday.
The National Policy and National Action Plan for Migration for Employment was developed by the ministry with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and financial backing from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
“Our workers abroad are the ones who helped Sri Lanka rise again; they are the ones who helped build back our foreign reserves from zero,” labour and foreign employment minister Manusha Nanayakkara said at the launch.
“This policy is to protect and safeguard them. Today our dollar reserves are close to 4 billion US dollars, of that 3.5 billion came from our migrant workers this year.”
Nanayakkara said his ministry had seen 312,000 workers go abroad last year through legal channels, and a larger contingent than that would have gone by the end of this year.
“As we gather to launch this strategic roadmap, we acknowledge the significant role that migration for employment has played in our nation’s development,” ministry secretary R P A Wimalaweera said.
Sri Lanka had previously introduced labour migration policies in 2008 and 2015. This latest policy was approved by cabinet last month.
“This is not just a document, it is our commitment to address the complex and multi-faceted challenges and the opportunities that labour migration presents.”
“The world of migration is evolving: We needed a fresh approach, one that aligns with the current situation and the latest trends in national, regional and global migration.
Wimalaweera pointed out that labour migration is a catalyst for the country’s economic growth and fostering human capital development.Around 200,000 workers go abroad annually. An estimated 1.7 million Sri Lankans are employed abroad at present, according to the ILO.
“Before the end of the year we should also have things related to emergency evacuation plans for migrant workers,” Simrin Singh, ILO country director said.
The new policy will have in place “plans to protect stranded or affected migrant workers, the engagement of employers and recruitment agencies, and the promotion of a skills passport, which will build the skills of migrant workers so they enjoy higher skilled employment,” she said.
Labour migration plays a key role in furthering economic development in Sri Lanka, which has seen a growing outflow of labour migrants.According to the Central Bank, remittances reached 500 million US dollars in August this year.
“We have observed the struggles of returning migrant workers into the local labour force. Together with the Sri Lankan authorities, we agreed on the need for revision of the existing labour migration policy to make a more coherent, inclusive, national policy that leaves no one behind,” said ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr Siri Walt.
by Saman Indrajith
TheBatalanda Presidential Co-mission report was tabled in Parliament yesterday (14) by the Leader of the House and Transport Minister, Bimal Ratnayake.
Minister Ratnayake announced that the government has decided to forward the report to the Attorney General for legal advice. Additionally, a Presidential Committee will be appointed to provide guidance and recommendations on how to proceed with the findings of the report.
Ratnayake said that the Cabinet-of-Ministers, along with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has made a policy decision to take necessary action in response to the report. He reassured the public that steps are being taken to ensure that such a dark chapter in the country’s history is never repeated.
Minister Ratnayake said that a two-day debate on the Batalanda Commission report will be scheduled in Parliament at an appropriate time, allowing for a detailed discussion on the report’s findings and recommendations.
The report, which will be printed in all three official languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English—will be made available to the public in the near future. Ratnayake confirmed that printed copies would be provided to Members of Parliament, as well as the general public, for review.
The Leader of the House revealed that there are 28 evidence volumes associated with the Commission’s work, which will be submitted to Parliament at a later date for further scrutiny.
Ratnayake said that as the entire country is concerned about the findings of the Batalanda Commission, the government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised, and preventing future atrocities, stands clear. The next steps, including legal action and policy recommendations, will be shaped by expert advice and informed parliamentary discussions, he said.
The Parliamentary watchdog Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has found that there were fake documents regarding the importing of medicines under the emergency procurement system in 2022 and 2023.
This was revealed during a COPE meeting held at Parliament probing the transactions of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA).
NMRA CEO Saveen Semage told the Committee that several fake documents have been found due to the lack of registration of medicines.
Stating that six such fake documents were found last year alone, Saveen Semage said he had recorded statements regarding each of the documents with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.
He revealed that, however, no investigations have been conducted yet into the incidents.
“We have documents with confessions from a woman accepting that fake documents had been made. However, a statement has not even been recorded from that woman yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, COPE member MP Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana also revealed that the highest number of waive-off registrations (WOR) for medicines had been obtained in 2022 and 2023.
He said 656 waive-off registrations (WOR) had been obtained in 2022 and 261 in 2023, adding that this proves that discrepancies have taken place during the emergency procurement of medicines during these periods.
Furthermore, Deputy Director General of the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry, Dr. G. Wijesuriya, said discussions are underway on allowing the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) to directly import essential medicines.He pointed out that it was essential to take a policy decision in this regard as a solution to mitigate such discrepancies.
by Norman Palihawadane
Department of Prisons’ Media Spokesperson, Gamini Dissanayake said yesterday that retired Superintendent of the high security Boossa Prison, Siridath Dhammika, who was tragically gunned down at Thalagaha, in Akmeemana, on Thursday (13), had been provided with a firearm for his protection during his tenure, considering the potential threat to his life.
Dissanayake said that during his service period, he had received threats from certain individuals.
Furthermore, the Prison Department stated that during his service, there were no significant issues or shortcomings found in his personal records.
Dissanayake said that the majority of detainees at the Boossa Prison are individuals linked to organized crimes.
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