Sri Lanka, Feb. 9 -- Dr Bilesha Weeraratne, Research Fellow and Head of Migration and Urbanisation Policy Research, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS)
Worker remittances to Sri Lanka have set a new all-time high record with USD 8.076 billion in 2025. This 22.8% growth, compared to the USD 6.6 billion received in 2024, is shaped by the high number of worker departures experienced in recent years.
While migrant workers' contribution to easing pressure on the country's balance of payments is widely appreciated, the hardships and sacrifices they endure are often overlooked. This blog highlights the challenges faced by migrant workers, drawing evidence from two recent studies by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS).
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