High level delegation to Libya:

Jobs for skilled Lankans

Rasika Somarathna

A high level delegation, comprising members from several Ministries were scheduled to leave for Libya today to discuss matters with Sri Lanka's latest migrant labour market, which has offered more than 100,000 jobs for Sri Lankan skilled workers.

Libya recently decided to open its doors for Sri Lankan migrant workers, with a major share of the country's foreign job market being offered to skilled Lankan labour.

Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka said yesterday that according to an agreement reached by the two countries, Lankans would be offered lucrative opportunities mainly in the construction, port, oil, and tourism sectors.

According to Ranawaka, emphasis has been laid in promoting skilled manpower in accordance with Sri Lanka's recent policy change of giving prominence to such workers with better perks to discourage the common practice of sending untrained labour.

The deal was clinched late last year with the visit by Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to Libya, and the reciprocal visit by their Labour Minister to Sri Lanka.

Ranawaka said that the high level officials from sectors such as health, tourism, hotel and construction would join the delegation which is scheduled to discuss matters regarding the implementation process of the agreement.

Libya is considered as an awakening economic giant in the region with the country experiencing an economic boom specially in the construction, oil, and tourism industries in recent times.