High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Singapore Senarath Dissanayake met the Minister of Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore Dr. Tan See Leng, on 18 July 2024, and discussed strengthening collaboration in labour-related matters and exploring avenues for expanding job opportunities for Sri Lankan nationals in Singapore.
The discussion primarily focused on emerging employment opportunities for Sri Lankans and issues related to diversifying the employment landscape, particularly on the recruitment of Sri Lankan workers for sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing.
During the meeting, Minister Dr. Tan See Leng expressed Singapore’s strong desire to collaborate closely with Sri Lanka and stated that Singapore is constantly on the lookout for skilled and competent workers to support its diverse sectors.
High Commissioner Dissanayake underscored the high level of skill and dedication of Sri Lankan workers and expressed confidence in their ability to meet Singapore's employment standards. He also highlighted the competitive environment Sri Lankan employees face in the Singapore job market as a Non-Traditional Source (NTS) country.
The High Commissioner invited the Singaporean authorities to consider opening up new sectors for Sri Lankan workers, particularly in the work permit visa category. He proposed exploring potential collaborations in areas where Sri Lankan expertise could be beneficial to Singapore’s industry, particularly in emerging sectors.
Special Assistant to Minister Caroline Lin and Principal Manager, International Relations Jeanine Chi joined the Minister at the meeting while the High Commissioner was accompanied by the Minister and Head of Chancery of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore, Ahamed Razee, Minister (Commercial), Yasantha Yadehi, and Counsellor (Employment & Labour Welfare), Nipuna Thibbutumunuwa.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
Singapore
26 July 2024
