The Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, I table the answer.

¶ 02 (a) (i) Number of Sri Lankan workers registered with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau who migrated for employment by year:

¶ 03 2018: 211,234 2019: 203,085 2020: 53,698 2021: 122,905 2022: 310,948 2023: 297,585 2024: 314,676 2025: 311,125 Total: 1,825,256

¶ 04 (ii) Provided under Annex 01. I table the annex.

¶ 05 (iii) Remittances by year (USD million): 2018: 7,000.10 2019: 6,717.10 2020: 7,103.90 2021: 5,491.00 2022: 3,789.40 2023: 5,969.60 2024: 6,575.40 2025: 8,070.00

¶ 06 (iv) Measures for welfare (selected):

¶ 07 - Scholarships for children of migrant workers: Grade 5 (Rs. 25,000), GCE O/L (Rs. 30,000), GCE A/L (Rs. 40,000). Eligibility criteria include Bureau registration and specified exam performance/registration in recognized programmes. From 1996 to 31.12.2025, Rs. 1,262.17 million has been disbursed to 58,467 beneficiaries.

¶ 08 - School supplies packs (Rs. 10,000) for children of currently abroad or returnees within 5 years: 6,734 packs distributed by 31.12.2025 at a cost of Rs. 72.147 million.

¶ 09 - Medical financial assistance from the Employees’ Welfare Fund for un-insured migrants: up to Rs. 150,000 for treatment; Rs. 300,000 on death.

¶ 10 - Free local insurance cover for registered departing workers.

¶ 11 - Rs. 10,000 Sathosa voucher for families of first-time departing female domestic workers.

¶ 12 - Financial aid for treatment of children with special needs; support to enhance talents at national/international level. In 2025, Rs. 2.532 million provided to 92 children.

¶ 13 - Housing for fully and permanently disabled returnees (earning capacity below 65%) without a house: Four houses (valued at Rs. 1 million each) provided in 2024. From 2025, unit value increased to Rs. 2 million; seven fully disabled workers’ houses in process.

¶ 14 - Provincial-level medical camps: one per province planned for 2025 (8 conducted).

¶ 15 - Provision of medicines and nutritious food to migrant workers/their families upon verified requests: Rs. 4.251 million to 81 individuals in 2025.

¶ 16 - Emergency assistance for families: Rs. 15,000 emergency grant for dry rations; up to Rs. 50,000 for physical damage due to natural disasters; additional support based on formal remittance history. To date, Rs. 3.27 million to 195 individuals; expansion proposed under a new mechanism for 2026.

¶ 17 - Introduction of a contributory migrant workers’ pension scheme jointly with Sri Lanka Social Security Board and the Bureau.

¶ 18 - CSR grants up to Rs. 1 million to schools in rural areas with high numbers of migrant workers’ children.

¶ 19 - Self-employment support for returnees under 52 years with one year or more overseas work: in-kind grants up to Rs. 150,000 in two phases; by 31.12.2025, Rs. 15.809 million to 307 returnees.

¶ 20 - Self-employment support to current migrants’ families: in-kind assistance up to Rs. 150,000 in two phases; by 31.12.2025, Rs. 4.7 million to 84 families.

¶ 21 - Recognition grants of Rs. 50,000 and publicity support for successful returnee entrepreneurs.

¶ 22 - Concessionary loans up to Rs. 2 million at 8% interest through multi-loan schemes for registered migrants.

¶ 23 - Entrepreneurial grants for returnees (Rs. 1,000,000; Rs. 500,000; Rs. 250,000) selecting five per Divisional Secretariat Division; total Rs. 744 million for 331 DS Divisions; by 31.12.2025, Rs. 10.87 million to 37 beneficiaries; technical committees provided.

¶ 24 - Awareness programmes to develop returnees into entrepreneurs; 31 meetings held by 31.12.2025.

¶ 25 - Counseling referrals for registered migrants/ family members visiting Bureau/provincial offices; counseling provided to 79 individuals by 31.12.2025.

¶ 26 - Collaboration with NGOs/civil society for socio-economic development programmes for migrant communities.

¶ 27 - Organizing markets to sell products of returnee entrepreneurs/self-employed; by 31.12.2025, 28 “Migrant Workers’ Product Markets” held at a cost of Rs. 1.597 million.

¶ 28 - Establishment of cooperatives for returnees to build collective economic strength; by 31.12.2025, four cooperatives established.

¶ 29 - On death of registered migrants: Rs. 600,000 insurance plus an additional Rs. 1,400,000 from the Employees’ Welfare Fund, totaling Rs. 2,000,000.

¶ 30 Forthcoming measures: - Increase funeral grant for deceased registered migrants from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 100,000. - Provide milk powder to address malnutrition among children aged 2–5 of female migrants. - Free access to Bureau training courses for children of deceased migrants as per need. - Work with Central Bank-approved banks to provide loans up to Rs. 10 million for registered migrants for house purchase/construction, with part interest reimbursement; 10-year repayment. - Support day-care fees for children of migrants earning USD 300 or less per month. - Organize a conference for children of migrants preparing for Grade 5, O/L and A/L. - Provide laptops/educational-sports equipment up to Rs. 200,000 for children of registered migrants (earning USD 300 or less) pursuing degrees at state/UGC-approved private universities or higher diplomas (NVQ4+). - Implement a social security programme integrated with the security deposits of foreign employment agents and, with the Social Security Board, introduce a pension-type benefit for long-term/active registered migrants.

¶ 31 (b) Not applicable.