Wednesday Aug 20, 2025
Wednesday Aug 20, 2025
Tuesday, 19 August 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka is stepping up efforts to diversify overseas employment opportunities and attract greater foreign investment, with Labour Minister and Economic Development Deputy Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando leading high-level talks in Singapore last week.
Prof. Fernando, who visited Singapore from 11 to 13 August to attend the Invest Sri Lanka Investor Forum, met with Singaporean Minister of State at Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash and Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Alvin Tan, as part of a broader push to deepen bilateral labour and economic ties.
During discussions with Minister Dash, the two sides focused on enhancing protection, skills recognition and training opportunities for Sri Lankan workers, while exploring new avenues for employment in sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Prof. Fernando stressed that Sri Lanka is keen to move beyond traditional overseas job markets and expand into high-demand areas in Singapore’s economy.
Minister Dash reaffirmed Singapore’s interest in attracting skilled and competent Sri Lankan workers. In parallel, Prof. Fernando’s meeting with Minister Tan underscored Sri Lanka’s efforts to position itself as a reliable investment destination. Minister Tan welcomed the growing footprint of Singaporean businesses in Sri Lanka, particularly in food manufacturing, hospitality, and infrastructure, while Prof. Fernando highlighted the Government’s economic reform agenda designed to modernise industries and boost investor confidence.
Supporting the talks, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe provided updates on Sri Lanka’s financial sector stability, green financing initiatives, and economic recovery framework, assuring Singaporean stakeholders of a conducive environment for long-term partnerships.
Beyond Government-to-Government discussions, Prof. Fernando also met with foreign employment agencies in Singapore that recruit Sri Lankan workers. Discussions centred on ethical recruitment practices, welfare standards, and up skilling, with both sides agreeing on the need to align Sri Lankan workers’ competencies with Singapore’s evolving labour market needs.
The Sri Lankan delegation, which included High Commissioner Senarath Dissanayake, emphasised that boosting overseas employment and attracting foreign direct investment (FDIs) are twin pillars of Sri Lanka’s economic revival strategy.
With nearly 300,000 Sri Lankans already employed abroad annually and remittances being a key source of foreign exchange, officials see Singapore as a strategic partner both in terms of labour mobility and trade.
