Foreign jobs for Tiger surrendees

Rasika Somarathna

The Government will offer lucrative foreign employment opportunities for LTTE surrendees and needy internally displaced persons from conflict affected areas to improve their livelihoods.

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman, Kingsley Ranawaka said yesterday that they would open two new district branch offices in Vavuniya and Jaffna shortly to co-ordinate the effort.

The SLBFE branch at Trincomalee will also be upgraded into a fully fledged district co-coordinating office, Ranawaka added.

This program which is to be carried out under the purview of Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella would give preference to those affected due to the conflict, when it comes to future opportunities abroad, Ranawaka added. The SLBFE is also planning to initiate training facilities in the district offices as well as other sub branches, which would provide training in a variety of fields in accordance with international standards.

According to the SLBFE, private entrepreneurs will also be encouraged to open manpower recruitment agencies in the newly liberated areas.

Ranawaka said a large number of lucrative foreign employment opportunities are in the pipeline while the authorities are on the look out for all viable opportunities in the international labour markets with emphasis on skilled labour which would earn higher wages and perks.

In a bid to enhance opportunities for labour migrant hopefuls, the Government recently took steps to sign MOUs with Libya, UAE. South Korea, Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. They also hope to enter into similar MOUs with Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Japan.

Libya has offered over 100,000 jobs for Lankans while Korean job offers too have gathered momentum over the years. Japan has also agreed to offer Sri Lankan youth a three year training stint.

Sri Lanka's migrant work force, currently in excess of 1.6 million, is considered to be the country's biggest foreign exchange earner.