Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath announced that the government has initiated steps to grant voting rights to Sri Lankans living overseas, marking a major milestone in ensuring greater democratic participation for the Sri Lankan diaspora.
The Minister said that arrangements are being made in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Administration, and that a special committee has already been appointed to create the necessary legal and procedural framework to realize this long-awaited objective.
He added that a United Nations delegation had recently visited Sri Lanka for discussions on electoral reforms, during which steps were explored to enable Sri Lankans living abroad to exercise their voting rights in future elections.
Minister Herath further revealed that the government is also working to establish a new contributory pension systemfor Sri Lankans employed overseas.
“The existing system is not effective enough. We are designing a new model through which workers can receive higher pension benefits. The scheme will utilize funds from the Social Services Department, and the necessary legal mechanisms are being prepared,” he explained.
The Minister made these remarks while attending a ceremony held yesterday (27) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism to mark the 40th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). A special commemorative cover was also issued to mark the occasion.
Commenting on employment opportunities in Israel, Minister Herath said that an increasing number of Sri Lankans are being deployed for jobs there through the SLBFE.
“There have been allegations that the Bureau is not managing this programme properly, but this is a misunderstanding. The selection process is handled entirely by the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) of Israel, not by us. The system is transparent, and political interference in job allocations has been completely eliminated,” he stated.
He cautioned job seekers not to make any payments to unauthorized agents or intermediaries, emphasizing that the SLBFE has introduced a digital system to ensure transparency in fees and recruitment.
“If anyone demands additional payments for foreign employment, the Bureau must be informed immediately. We have already taken legal action against several agencies that misappropriated money,” the Minister said.
Minister Herath also disclosed that a new Bill is being drafted to address legal gaps in the SLBFE Act, which currently limits the Bureau’s ability to take legal action against agencies that defraud job seekers, particularly those offering employment in countries such as Romania.
“This new law will enable stronger enforcement and better protection for Sri Lankans seeking overseas employment,” he added.
