Lankan migrant workers remit Rs. 52 b in 12 months

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal on Thursday paid tribute to the 1.7 million Sri Lankan labour force in foreign countries for remitting a record Rs. 5,200 million in foreign exchange to Sri Lankan coffers during the twelve- month period last year.

He said although Sri Lanka receives a huge amount of foreign exchange from agricultural and industrial products, garment, tourism, gem and jewellery industries, the foreign exchange that are directly received from Sri Lankan migrant workers is the highest among all.

He was speaking at the `Excellence Awards - 2012' Ceremony, held in Colombo under the patronage of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera. Of the 800 foreign employment Agencies in the country, 303 agencies were awarded for over-all performances in the field of foreign employment in 2009 and 2010.

The Governor said the service rendered by Sri Lankan migrant workers could be placed on top among others and therefore they could be called Sri Lanka's number- one foreign exchange earner.

He also endorsed Minister Dilan Perera's statement that Sri Lankan migrant workers should be called Rata Viruvo , since they came second only to 'Ranaviruvo' who protected the country from terrorism.