A total of 211,666 Sri Lankan workers have departed the country for overseas employment during the first nine months of 2026, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
Of the total, 141,916 workers secured employment abroad through their own arrangements, while 69,750 travelled through licensed foreign employment agencies.
The departures included 134,761 male workers and 76,905 female workers, with 108,343 of those who left classified as skilled workers.
September recorded the highest number of departures for foreign employment so far this year, with 29,752 Sri Lankans leaving the country during the month.
Meanwhile, the SLBFE said Sri Lanka received approximately US$6.131 billion in remittances from migrant workers during the first eight months of 2026.
