As the economic and political crisis hit nation of Sri Lanka battles to get back on track following the election of a new President, many people in the country are still uncertain about the future.
Amid this uncertainty, Sri Lankans from across the country are lining up at the passport office in Colombo to get a new passport or get their old one renewed, as a desperate step to get out of the crisis hit island country, as per ANI report.
According to the Sri Lanka administration, 27,900 people went outside in search of jobs in the month of June this year.
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Promotion (SLBFEP) informed that 9,854 people have gone abroad for jobs through the licensed foreign employment agency.?
It also details out how more than 1.5 lakh people have left the country since January this year.
¡°The total amount of 1,56,179 (people) who have gone abroad for jobs from January to the first week of July this year. 100,767 self-route and 55,411 people have also gone abroad through the licensed foreign employment agency,¡± the bureau said, as per ANI report.
SLBFEP further added that most Sri Lankans prefer to go to Gulf countries. Others move to countries like South Korea and Japan.
¡°Kuwait has the highest number of people who have gone abroad for jobs since January, that amount is 39,216. 36229 for Qatar, 26,098 for Saudi Arabia, 3,219 for South Korea, 2,576 for Japan have departed for jobs,¡± the foreign employment bureau mentioned.
Since January 2022, 46,992 have gone for professional jobs and 49,923 people have gone abroad for jobs, while 38,871 have gone for domestic jobs abroad, the bureau¡¯s data read.
The island nation of around 22 million people has been in the grip of unprecedented economic turmoil. It has left millions of people struggling to buy food, medicine, fuel and other essential items in the country.
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¡°There is no food, no fuel and no money in the country. What will we do and how we will survive? I¡¯m here to get my passport and go to Qatar for a job. People are here for this only,¡± a person who was waiting in the queue, told ANI.
Another person who was there to renew his passport said: ¡°I came here for my passport renewal so I can seek a job abroad. I have family and I do not have a source of earning here in my country.¡±
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