The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has provided the Treasury with Rs.7 billion this year. Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara officially handed over a cheque for Rs. 4 billion from that amount to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday (29) evening.
This money was provided by the SLBFE from the operations surplus they earned, taking into consideration the economic situation of the country for buying essential pharmaceuticals and pay salaries of public employees as well as other essential tasks.
Rs. 3 billion was handed over to the President from the relevant Rs.7 billion and steps had been taken at that moment itself to provide Rs.100 million to the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital to buy drugs.
A number of senior officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment R.P.A. Wimalaweera, SLBFE Chairman Hilmy Azeez, the Minister’s Advisor Shan Yahampath participated on this occasion. A review was carried out on this occasion, regarding the progress achieved by the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment during the year 2023, as well.
The Minister informed the President regarding the main programmes being implemented as of now by his Ministry. The President was informed about the Garu Saru programme to give respect
to the people who work in the informal sector in Sri Lanka and connect them to the information system related to the labour market by making them join for social security programmes.
The minister also explained about the introduction of vehicle import permits for workers abroad and related matters, in order to increase the inflow of remittances into the country, the programme of creating associations for workers abroad, the career guidance workshops conducted under the Smart Club programme.
The minister who pointed out that it was possible to obtain US Dollars 7 billion as remittances during the past period of 18 months, also informed the President about pension scheme introduced to workers abroad, and the opening of a separate portal for workers leaving for jobs abroad.
The Minister explained to the President about the steps being taken to digitalize the SLBFE. The President who declared that remittances from workers abroad, is the main source from which foreign exchange flows into the country expressed his pleasure regarding the programme being implemented by Minister Manusha Nanayakkara and appreciated the steps taken to reform labour laws through the new jobs act.
Although, previously on several occasions in history, the SLBFE had provided Rs.3,382 million to the Treasury, this is the first time it has handed over Rs.7 billion within a year.
Subashini Senanayake