RIYADH : Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE), which is the regulatory body of foreign employment in Sri Lanka, organized a successful visit by a high level Sri Lankan manpower sector delegation led by Mr. Kosala Wickramasinghe, Chairman of the SLBFE, comprising top fifteen (15) Sri Lankan manpower supplying agencies to Riyadh from 11 – 13 May 2025 with a view to promoting Sri Lankan skilled manpower in Saudi Arabia.
An exclusive Sri Lankan manpower roadshow was hosted after 8 years of hiatus on 11 May 2025 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center in collaboration with the Riyadh Chamber. A B2B networking session between the visiting Sri Lanka manpower sector delegation and their Saudi counterparts and other stakeholders was inaugurated jointly by Sri Lanka Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad, Chairman of the SLBFE Kosala Wickramasinghe and the Director International Cooperation of Riyadh Chamber Mansour Al-Ajmi by lighting traditional oil lamp. Around 50 Saudi manpower recruitment agencies and companies that are directly recruiting manpower participated during the session.
Inaugurating the roadshow, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad highlighted that the key objective of the roadshow was to promote Sri Lankan skilled, semi-skilled and professional categories of manpower in the wake of Saudi Arabia’s numerous mega and giga development projects under the framework of 2030 Vision. Speaking during the occasion, the Chairman of SLBFE Kosala Wickramasinghe stated that Sri Lankan skilled manpower sector is well poised to cater to the Saudi manpower market in particular for the most demanding sectors such as construction, health care, hospitality, tourism, agriculture and IT, etc.
Sri Lanka delegation also held productive discussions with the high ranking officials of the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) and Takamol Holding which is the key driver of labour market innovation in the Kingdom.
The Embassy also arranged a field visit for the entire delegation to Almarai, a leading dairy company in Saudi Arabia where a large number of Sri Lankans are employed.
Ambassador Ameer Ajwad hosted a dinner in honour of the Chairman of SLBFE and the accompanying delegation at the Hotel Intercontinental, Riyadh with the participation of stakeholders including high ranking officials of the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), Takamol Holding, Saudi Manpower Recruitment Agencies, Saudi Human Resources Companies as well as Sri Lankan community members. An exclusive discussion between the Chairman of SLBFE along with the visiting Sri Lankan manpower delegation and Sri Lankan professionals employed in Riyadh was also held separately with a view to exploring ways and means to promote Sri Lankan skilled labour in Saudi Arabia.
The Chairman of the SLBFE together with Ambassador also visited Sri Lanka International School Riyadh (SLISR) where more than one thousand children of the Sri Lanka migrant workers studying, and had a fruitful discussion with the Principal, deputy principals and senior teachers of the school.
The Sri Lanka manpower delegation comprised of SLBFE Deputy General Manager (Business Promotion), Mr. H.W. Samantha, Members of the Director Board, Mr. Arshad, Mr. Hemantha Sapumohotti and and Mr. M.F. Mohammed Fanoor as well as Members of Director Board of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency, Mr. H.D.P.M. Hettiarachchie, Mr. H.M. Aminda Lakmal and heads/licensees of Emerald Isle Manpower & Travel Service, Ibrahim Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Trans Asian, Trans Gulf Pvt Ltd, Myown Trade Exchange Pvt Ltd, Ceylon Experts International Pvt Ltd, JC International Foreign Employment Agency, Ourown International Pvt Ltd, Direct Lines Pvt ltd, Gulf Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Al-Akeem Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Dewan Consultants Pvt Ltd, Al Khowalid Manpower Services Pvt Ltd.
Mr. Mohammed Anas, HoC/ Minister and Mr. Mangala Randeniya, Counsellor/Employment & Welfare section of the Embassy participated during the visit.
