• Highest number of workers to Kuwait: 77,500
• 33,500 jobs targeted in Israel, Japan, and Korea

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, has announced a target to send 310,000 Sri Lankan workers for overseas employment in 2026.

According to the Bureau, the highest demand comes from Kuwait, with a target of 77,500 workers. Other key targets include: United Arab Emirates: 63, 500, Qatar: 44, 000, Saudi Arabia: 31, 000, Targets have also been set for 17 other countries.

Under government-to-government Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), the Bureau plans to send 15,000 workers to Israel, 12,500 to Japan and 6,000 to South Korea in 2026.

2025 Performance Review In 2025, although the initial target was 300,000, Sri Lanka exceeded expectations with 311,207 workers departing for foreign jobs. Consequently, the country received over USD 8,000 million in migrant remittances during that year.

2026 Current Progress For the current year, 20,484 workers have already departed for foreign employment in the month of January alone.