Sri Lanka, Switzerland review migration partnership progress

Thursday, 31 July 2025 05:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The third meeting of experts on the migration partnership between Sri Lanka and Switzerland was held in Bern on Tuesday (29), where the progress made under the migration partnership since its launch in 2016 was reviewed.

According to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry, a discussion was also held on the future trajectory of the partnership after the formal handing over of the bilateral Safe Labour Migration Program (SLMP) to the Government of Sri Lanka last year.

This program was funded by Switzerland and underscores the commitment to institutionalising sustainable frameworks for the protection and welfare of Sri Lankan migrant workers.

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry Director General – Europe and North America Sugeeshwara Gunaratna and Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police State Secretariat for Migration Director – International Affairs Ambassador Hendrick Krauskopf Co-Chaired the meeting.

During the meeting, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration and maximising the benefits of migration for both migrant workers and members of their families in both origin and destination countries.

In this regard, discussions focused on pre-departure orientation, migration management, skills development, readmission and reintegration, and combatting human trafficking. In particular, further Swiss assistance for the skills development of Sri Lankan migrant workers and strengthening collaboration with the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) were discussed.

The two sides also exchanged views on current migration trends in both countries and opportunities for Sri Lankan workers through the development and recognition of the domestic skills development framework.

The Sri Lanka delegation comprised representatives of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, the Department of Immigration and Emigration, as well as the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva.

The Switzerland delegation comprised representatives of the State Secretariat for Migration, the Federal Office of Police, and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

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