During the first six months of 2025 (January to June), a total of 144,379 Sri Lankan migrant workers departed the country for overseas employment, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
The SLBFE highlighted that male migrant workers significantly outnumbered female workers during this period. Specifically, 88,684 men left the country for employment abroad, compared to 55,695 women.
Kuwait remained the leading destination, attracting 38,806 Sri Lankan workers, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with 28,973 and Qatar with 21,958.
Meanwhile, there is a growing shift toward East Asian countries as new employment destinations. During this period, 6,073 workers went to Japan, while 3,134 headed to South Korea, indicating a move away from the traditional Middle Eastern job markets.
In terms of economic impact, the SLBFE reported that Sri Lankan migrant workers sent home US$ 3.73 billion in remittances during the first half of 2025 — an 18.9% increase compared to the US$ 3.14 billion received in the same period last year.
In June 2025 alone, remittances amounted to US$ 635.7 million.
Looking ahead, the SLBFE expects total foreign remittances to reach US$ 7 billion by the end of 2025, underscoring the crucial role of overseas employment in supporting Sri Lanka’s economy.
