almost 200,000 people emigrated from the country in 2022

Most of the passports issued this year were delivered on the same day. Citizens say that with an inflation of 67% it is impossible to live. Young and not so young seek work abroad, especially in the Middle East.

Colombo () – So far in 2022, almost 200,000 Sri Lankans have left the country due to the economic crisis. Immigration Department data reveals: “Most went to the Middle East,” explained DDP Senanayake, director general of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Overseas Employment (Slbfe). “We are currently promoting work abroad through job fairs,” he added.

Since January, Sri Lanka has issued 560,292 travel documents and the list of destinations includes every country in the world. Thanks to a new service, those who already have Slbfe documents certifying employment abroad can obtain a passport in a single day at a cost of 15 thousand rupees (42 euros). According to government figures, most passports were issued under this new emergency procedure. This shows that citizens want to leave the country in a hurry.

Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948. In recent days, inflation has climbed to 66.7%.

“No matter how much you earn, it will never be enough. From a cup of tea to a packet of rice, all food has an incredible cost. Who can live like this?” Maxi Ranasinghe, from the town of Wattala. He plans to move to the Middle East with his family. “It’s better to go abroad and live comfortably doing a salaried job,” he said.

“To the boys and girls who have studied, I say: no matter in which country you have the opportunity to get a job, don’t think twice, and take advantage of the opportunity,” added Vincent Kularatne, a retired government official. “It’s sad to have to talk about our country like that, but this is the reality.”

“Leaving here is the only solution, at least until the politicians decide to leave the country and hand it over to the next generation,” Kularatne stressed. “Continuing to live in Sri Lanka is becoming more and more difficult for us and for our children.”