COLOMBO : The year 2023 has seen the qualitative and quantitative increase of employment opportunities of Sri Lankans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . Of the 224, 000 employment generated from Sri Lanka in gulf countries, during the year 2023 so far the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become number one country generating 63000 employment for Sri Lankans in that year. We also see the increase of professional, skilled and semi-skilled workers during the year 2023 thanks to the growing employment opportunities in the construction and hospitality sectors.
The signing of the Agreement on Skill Verification Program ( SVP) between the two countries has also contributed to this increase of skill and professional categories of employment which stood as nearly 12000 during the 2023.
It is also important to recognize the significant contribution made by the Sri Lankans to our economy. Of the annual remittances amounting to $ 7 to 8 billion a year a sizable portion has been generated from the Kingdom which is in the region of 15 to 20 percent of the total remittances. Unfortunately such contributions failed to meet the attention which is due .
P M Amza
Ambassador of Sri Lankan embassy in Riyadh
