The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has set a target of securing overseas employment opportunities to 250,000 Sri Lankans during 2026.

The Bureau said these job opportunities will be facilitated through the Sri Lankan government and recruitment agencies registered with the SLBFE.

Although the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to a slight decline in the number of Sri Lankans seeking overseas employment, the Bureau is taking steps to direct workers towards higher-paying jobs in safer destinations.

Accordingly, 143,087 Sri Lankans have left for overseas employment so far this year. Of them, 92,590 are male workers, while 50,497 are female workers.

Meanwhile, the SLBFE plans to deploy 14,000 Sri Lankan workers to Israel, one of the most popular destinations among Sri Lankan migrant workers. So far, 7,873 workers have departed for employment in Israel.

The Bureau also expects to send 8,000 workers to South Korea, with 4,794 workers having already left for employment there.

According to SLBFE data, 73,623 Sri Lankans have migrated for skilled employment so far in 2026, while 69,494 workers have departed for unskilled jobs.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan migrant workers remitted US$ 4.6 billion to the country during the first six months of 2026, from January to June.