Dr. Sarath Obeysekera

For decades, hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans have travelled to the Middle East seeking employment. Their remittances have become one of the country’s most important sources of foreign exchange, supporting countless families and contributing significantly to the national economy.

Many employers in the Gulf provide fair wages, good accommodation and respectful working conditions. However, there have also been well-documented cases of abuse, exploitation, unpaid salaries, passport confiscation and poor treatment of both male and female migrant workers. These incidents have highlighted the importance of strong diplomatic engagement and effective protection for Sri Lankan workers overseas.

Today, the Middle East itself is undergoing profound political and strategic change. Regional conflicts, particularly involving Iran and its neighbours, continue to create uncertainty. Countries in the region are also investing heavily in advanced industries, renewable energy, artificial intelligence and, in some cases, civilian nuclear energy programmes. Such developments bring both opportunities and responsibilities.

The international community rightly expects that any expansion of nuclear technology will be subject to strict international safeguards, transparency and oversight under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Peaceful nuclear energy can support economic development, but regional instability makes responsible governance essential.

Sri Lanka should carefully monitor these developments because instability in the Middle East directly affects our migrant workers, oil prices, shipping routes and the inflow of foreign remittances.

The Government must now move beyond general commitments and implement a clear, time-bound action plan to protect migrant workers. This includes renegotiating bilateral labour agreements with enforceable safeguards, establishing rapid-response consular units in key host countries, mandating insurance and legal aid coverage for all outbound workers, and strictly regulating recruitment agencies through licensing, monitoring and penalties for malpractice. Simultaneously, Sri Lanka must invest aggressively in vocational and technical education, digital skills training, and language proficiency programmes to transition workers into higher-value employment sectors both abroad and at home. Incentives for private sector job creation, support for entrepreneurship, and targeted partnerships with emerging industries must become central pillars of national policy.

The sacrifices made by Sri Lankan migrant workers demand immediate and sustained action. Protecting their rights, ensuring their dignity, and reducing overdependence on low-skilled foreign employment must be treated as urgent national priorities. The Government must act decisively, allocate adequate resources, and hold institutions accountable to deliver measurable outcomes. Only through such focused and strategic intervention can Sri Lanka safeguard its citizens while building a more resilient and diversified economic future.

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera