Migrant worker remittances exceeds $ 6 b

Ishara Mudugamuwa

Central Bank statistics revealed the remittance from Sri Lankan migrant workers exceeded US$ 6 billion in 2012, Institute of Policy Studies founder member and chairman Prof W D Lakshman said. "Migrant workers play a significant role in the country's social and economic development," he said.

Participating as the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony of the International Conference on Migration in Colombo yesterday, Prof Lakshman said migrant workers play a significant role to boost the country's foreign exchange earnings, human resource development, etc.

"In addition to economic advantages, there are social benefits of labour migration. Migrant workers contribute considerably to uplift the living standards of their families by fulfilling health, education, food and nutrition needs of family members, " he said. Prof Lakshman said migration is a complex and historical phenomenon and the history of labour migration in Sri Lanka was triggered by the 1970s which opened up new employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in professional, skilled and unskilled jobs.

Global Migration Policy Associates, Geneva vice president and ILO former senior migration specialist Dr Piyasiri Wickramasekara said labour migration can make a significant impact on source countries.