Nov 01, Colombo: Sri Lanka Ministry of Skills Development and the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion signed a Memorandum of Understanding on skills development of migrant workers to comply with the needs of the foreign labor market.

The MOU was signed with the participation of the Minister of Skills Development Dullas Alahapperuma and the Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion Dilan Perera. The secretaries of the two ministries were also present at the ceremonial signing of the MOU.

The prospective migrant workers are provided with skills development training under the MOU. The government aims to guarantee their job security and better salary through skills development.

The MOU proposes a number of measures to be implemented in regard of skills development to cater the foreign job market.

In 2011, 266,445 persons left country for foreign employment and brought US$ 750 million remittances. The majority of the Sri Lankan migrant workers belong to the unskilled category.