(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that through new avenues Sri Lankans will be provided with opportunity to find employment in the world’s most advanced countries.
The Premier said the objective is to find employment for skilled workers in advanced countries like the U.S. and Japan as well as in the Middle East and instructions have been given in this regard to increase the number of institutions to train skilled workers for foreign employment.
The Prime Minister also said steps will be taken to increase the assistance rendered to the migrant workers and their families under the present government.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe made these remarks while participating in a ceremony held at the Temple Trees yesterday (11) to present scholarships to the children of migrant workers in the Western Province.
At the ‘Ran Nena Pahan’ ceremony, the Premier presented scholarships to 773 students who obtained excellent results at the Grade Five Scholarship, GCE O / L and GCE A / L examinations. The Foreign Employment Bureau spent nearly Rs. 20 million for the scholarships that ranged from Rs. 20,000 to 25,000.
Addressing the gathering, the Premier noted that the foreign employment is the highest foreign exchange earner for the country today and considering that the scholarship to the children of migrant workers has been doubled.
He said every family’s dream, hope is to own a house and provide a good education to their children and therefore, this year’s budget has proposed to grant Rs. 10 million loan to build a house.
“We have a responsibility to help, give a hand to those who provide a service to the country,” the Premier said.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said earlier migrant workers found employment in the Middle East and now the objective is to provide education and more training to those who are seeking foreign employment.
The Premier said the Foreign Employment Minister is currently negotiating with the government of Japan and expressed hope that soon many Sri Lankan migrant workers will find employment tin Japan.
Minister of Telecommunication, Foreign Employment and Sports Harin Fernando also addressed the gathering.
