Although 5,42,893 job opportunities have been created for skilled workers in the country, only 79,785 have been sent abroad for that purpose, according to a recent report by the National Audit Office.
These job opportunities were received during the period from 2015 to 2018. During this period the country has received 13,76,465 employment opportunities under 7 service classifications.
Of these, 4,73,856 were domestic workers and 2,80,261 were unskilled jobs, the report said.
According to the report, only 32% of the job opportunities available to domestic workers and unskilled workers were directed at workers.
In 2018, Rs. 1,138,124 million was added to Sri Lanka’s revenue from foreign employment, which represents 7.7 percent of GDP.
Although the Ministry of External Affairs has designated 2019 as a Trust Area, the systematization of emigration has declined, the audit report said.
While there were 26,2961 jobs abroad in 2011, it has dropped to 20,3186 by 2019. Also, the number of men going abroad has decreased