Former United National Party Deputy Leader and Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake has warned that the large-scale departure of Sri Lankan workers could create a serious risk to the country’s ability to attract foreign investment.
Karunanayake said nearly 300,000 Sri Lankans have left the country for employment in recent years, creating new challenges for the domestic economy.
He said the issue had also been highlighted by Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Dhammika Fernando and senior BOI officials, who had warned that the shortage of workers could affect Sri Lanka’s efforts to attract much-needed foreign investment.
According to Karunanayake, the continued migration of workers could leave investors facing difficulties in finding the skilled and qualified workforce required to operate businesses in Sri Lanka.
He stressed that foreign investment is essential for economic growth and that the Government should take immediate steps to address the growing labour shortage and its potential impact on investment.
The MP urged the authorities to give priority to the issue, warning that Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and future growth could be affected if the country is unable to retain an adequate workforce.
