Emigration Facts &figures b. a. person whoseCitizenshipofSriLanka islikely to cease. applicable to: Aperson whose citizenshipofSriLanka hasceased undersection 19, No18of1948ora 20 or21oftheCitizenship Act, 1 http://www.immigration.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=299&Itemid=59&lang=en. Dualcitizenship is % ofemigrants in total population country, whileintends to thecitizenshipofSriLanka. retain Retention of the saidactmakes –Section provisions 19(3) ofpersonto obtain in respect whois havingadesire citizenshipinanother thestatus to after ofacitizenSriLanka. resume desires andwhothere Or obtaining ofcitizenship inanothercountry ofthesaidAct makesResumption provisions –Section ofaperson 19(2) inrespect whosecitizenshipofSriLanka hasceased due to “Overseas refer isusedto SriLankans” officially totheSri Lankan . identifiedtheimportance the of term constructively engaging(LLRC) withthediaspora.result, As a public perceptionsaboutthediaspora. In2009, the“Lessons Learnt andReconciliation Commission” whichplayed acrucialrole inchanging government labelledthisgroup as“enemies ofthecountry” overseascommunity thatwas perceivedasathreat towards theGovernment ofSriLanka. The During thecivilwar (1983-2009), theterm “diaspora” was usedto labelasegmentoftheSriLankan Remittances inflow(USD million): Remittances asashareofGDP: Sri Lankadoesnothaveadiaspora engagementpolicy. Diaspora engagementmapping % ofwhich in theEU

9.1 % 7,681 Top countries ofdestination Political rights Dual citizenship for citizensresidingabroad Right tovote innationalelections 140,579 152,536 155,825 161,334 516,256 1

SRI LANKA aims includes measures to help create an environment an environment help create to includes measures ensures that labour migration is integrated and is integrated ensures that labour migration examined the workforce skills gap across the four industrial the four across skills gap examined the workforce seeks to improve services offered by the reintegration unit of the services by the improve to reintegration seeks offered 2

migrant workers with the appropriate skill levels to fill labour shortages in key sectors. key in shortages fill labour to skill levels with the appropriate workers migrant labour migration, the policy - adopted nearly a decade ago - is now undergoing revisions to better revisions to - is now undergoing a decade ago the policy nearly - adopted labour migration, region and destination country, supply and demand within the in labour market reflect changes study in 2015 An ILO countries. This and light engineering. construction and hospitality, tourism ICT, grow: to projected sectors in collaboration address this, the ILO, of a skills mismatch. To challenge the prevailing revealed services job placement for returned (EFC), offers of Ceylon Federation with the Employers’ Achievements: Migrant of Returning Policy Policy and its Sub on Reintegration Migration Labour Sri Lanka’s Given the highly dynamic nature other countries. of is recognised as a model by several Workers The government of Sri Lanka is increasingly viewing the dividends of successful engagement engagement viewing the dividends of successful is increasingly of Sri Lanka The government relations the country between improved communities, as useful for for diaspora with Sri Lanka’s and a more image. a result, positive international As national unity and stability, increased future as well growth, community for its overseas engage to is now exploring ways Sri Lanka restoring livelihoods, include housing, engagement of diaspora sectors as reconciliation. Key tourism sector. and the diversification economic psychosocial wellbeing, Trends:

Sri Lanka National Labour Migration Policy, Policy, Migration Labour National Lanka Sri within the country for returned migrants. within the country returned migrants. for mobilisation and empowerment of migrant returnees and the effective management of the return management returnees and the effective migrant mobilisation and empowerment of also set up at the Unit was Coordination In line with this, a Reintegration process. and reintegration Employment (SLBFE). of Foreign Bureau Sri Lanka Country Programme, Work Decent options SLBFE and public employment services ensure employment or self-employment to better skilled jobs. The policy also mentions establishment of bilateral agreements with labour receivingskilled jobs. The policy of bilateral mentions establishment also workers. the labour rights of migrant safeguard, and respect for, promote to countries Workers, of Migrant and Reintegration Sub-policy Plan on Return Action and National economic social reintegration, It covers workers. of migrant supportto return and reintegration members, physical and psychological wellbeing of returnees and their family reintegration, National Human Resources and Employment Policy, Policy, Employment and Resources Human National in activities where local expertise the participation of diaspora and skills arethat promotes in short example, For a national science, technology to established cadre research was and innovation supply. qualified which suitably resident highly skilled jobs for for or foreigners employ expatriate Sri Lankans private plans were encourage made to sector, were the construction not available. For Sri Lankans countryto the individuals back on higher- qualified diaspora take to attract to contractors sector mainstreamed in national development.mainstreamed the of The policy governance three has main components: and linking families, and their workers of migrant empowerment and protection process, migration between effort The policy recommends a coordinated process. the development and migration is incorporated ensureand departments to labour migration that agencies and international national policy relevant all frameworks. into

2 Decent Work Country Programme 2018-22, International Labour Organisation, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/--- Organisation, Labour International 2018-22, Country Programme Work 2 Decent ro-bangkok/---ilo-colombo/documents/genericdocument/wcms_632743.pdf •

• • Overview policy of the framework and legislative •

2012 2015 2018

2022 2008

SRI LANKA INVESTMENT IDENTITY • • • Obstacles small in scale, thefactsmall inscale, thatdiaspora Tamils ofColombo investinginthispart are were was encouraging. Tamils nowviewtheplace asconnecting themto alarger community. Despite theseinvestmentsbeing very diasporahas seensmall-scaleinvestmentsbyreturning Tamils incondominiums inWellawatte. Diaspora Wellawatte whichwas place, knownas‘LittleJaffna’. hasbeenahistorically multi-ethnic recent In years, it Condominiums inWellawatte, 2018 and thatcanbeusedasaplatform for finding commonalities leading impactfulengagement. to amore oneidentity, concludes thatthediaspora Thereport engagement. doesnotcarry butmultiple identities, thediasporathe negotiation ofaidbetween andlocalcommunities andtherole ofwomenindiaspora the SinhalaandMuslimdiaspora communities. It alsopointsto gaps suchas thatneedto be addressed, which isusuallydominated byresearch onTamil diaspora communities –bybringingincasestudiesof and socialcohesion. Theconference focus brings arefreshing outcome report ondiaspora literature – of skills,ideas andcapital ofthediaspora beyond thepoliticalanddiaspora reconciliation activisminjustice, diaspora ofdiaspora anddefinitions,the complexities identity post-war development initiatives, theflow Organised by the Centre for Analysis (CEPA), Poverty the themes of the conference included the politics of Reconciliation andSustainable Peace, 2018 Conference onDiaspora Engagement inSriLanka’s Post-war Development, SPOTLIGHT: • • • sea fishinginorder to attract investment to thesector. However, oradesignated thelackofpublicity investing inSriLanka. foreign For for thegovernment investment restrictions instance, relaxed deep framework inothersectors Overseas prevent sectors andlimited regulatory SriLankans from and foreign, hasgone into real estate sectors. andrelated inpromoting Thelackofdirection specific and investing in the requisite sectorand investingintherequisite to bring in investments from the diaspora them prevents fromministry knowing about the policy Lack of policy framework to support diaspora investment: framework tosupport Lack ofpolicy information collected byembassiesandhighcommissions. Data: rather thannationallevel. Consequently, diaspora engagement ismostlyinformal, targeting term short andad-hoc, thelocal Lankans left the country, the diaspora is a lack of trust there between and the national authorities. Trust: There isnocomprehensive mappingofOverseasThere SriLankans. Data ismainlybasedon Given the history ofthecivilwar inSriLankaGiven thehistory andthecircumstances inwhichmanySri effective practices

Much private investment, bothlocal Much private investment,

SRI LANKA

https://www.iom.int/countries/sri-lanka https://www.ilo.org/colombo/lang--en/index.htm http://www.mfe.gov.lk/index.php?lg=EN http://www.mfe.gov.lk/index.php?lg=EN https://www.international-alert.org/sri-lanka https://www.colomboprocess.org/ At ministerial level ministerial At { National Institutions { At regional level At • • and expatriate Sri Lankans, regulate and supervise on career guidance and expatriate provide Sri Lankans, employment agencies, employment, Employment (SLBFE)foreign of Foreign and supervise Bureau and Sri Lanka the Sri Lanka (SLFEA). Employment Agency Foreign Ministry Employment, of Foreign workers migrant to employment, of the ministryThe main function welfare foreign provide promote is to • skills and employability, social security and workers and employer organisations. It is also instrumental in the It is also instrumental organisations. and employer social security and workers skills and employability, where with the government it works in Sri Lanka, Country Programme Work of the Decent implementation all. work for decent to on outlining policy work that will contribute of direction, and prioritising areas Sri Lanka became a member of the ILO in 1948. Its areas of work in Sri Lanka includes child labour, labour, child includes Lanka Sri in work of areas Its 1948. in ILO the of member a became Lanka Sri labour international economy, equality and discrimination, greenemployment promotion, jobs, informal at work, and health safety labour migration, and working conditions, governance labour market standards, International Labour Organisation, organisations and the donor community, to address emerging issues, needs and priorities of the Sri Lankan issues, needs and priorities of the Sri Lankan address to emerging and the donor community, organisations government, and member states. partners migrants, Sri Lanka became a member state of IOM in 1990 and IOM established its presence in the country and IOM established of IOM in 1990 became a member state in Sri Lanka the across goals development sustainable addressing long-term of work is towards focus IOM’s 2002. institutions, NGOs, community with national and local government work in close partnership They country. International Organisation for Migration, Migration, International Organisation for to the impact that their funding has on the complex context of Sri Lanka and promotes the positive role the positive role and promotes funding has on the complex the impact that their of Sri Lanka context to as a whole. Sri Lanka and in both in their own communities can play in reconciliation, that the diaspora It has been working in Sri Lanka since 1989 and opened its country office in 2003. It engages with civil its country and opened It engages 1989 2003. since in office It has been working in Sri Lanka helps young The organisation build inclusive peace. to the government and donors local businesses, society, are sensitive ensures organizations in supporting peace, that development politicians play a positive role International Alert, informal forum to facilitate dialogue and cooperation on issues of common interest and concern relating relating concern interest and common of issues on cooperation and dialogue facilitate to forum informal labour mobility. to The Colombo Process is a regional consultative process on the management of overseas employment employment overseas of management the on process a regional is consultative Process Colombo The state-driven, It is a member in Asia. of origins and non-binding countries labour for and contractual • Process, Colombo Diaspora related institutions related Diaspora Annex: Actors List of

SRI LANKA maintains a register of persons who are non-citizens of Sri Lanka at entry and departure points. anddeparture ofSriLankamaintains ofpersons non-citizens aregister whoare atentry Italsokeeps ofpersonsand andprovides andexit citizenshipservices. theentry regulates The department http://www.immigration.gov.lk/web/index.php?lang=en ofImmigration andEmigration SriLanka, Department East , West Asian andEuropean countries. skilled and semi-skilled workers It recruits of the SLBFE. forThe agency is a subsidiary various clients in Sri LankaForeign (SLFEA), EmploymentAgency agencies, complaint management mechanismsandthepublishingofannualstatistics. The bureau’s key intraining functionsare andregistration ofmigrant workers, licensing ofrecruitment Sri LankaBureauofForeign Employment(SLBFE), and facilitate international engagement for theTamil from politicalrepresentatives Sri Lanka. Itseeks thelivesofTamilsEurope. to rebuild post-conflict, justice ensure for innocent victimsofthe conflict It isthelargest organisation with members from drawn across five continents, including Global Tamil Forum (GTF) Tamils inSriLanka andhelpTamil theirlivesafter thewar. peoplerebuild for theTamil people’s collective rightto self-determination inSriLanka, alleviate thesufferings ofthe It aimsto the British be theTamilbridge between Community and theTamil people in SriLanka, campaign Forum (BTF) each other, includingproviding continuing educationandinteraction withprofessional bodies. others associated withinthelegal whoare fieldcaninteractexchange andideas withaview to assisting common forum barristers, in the UK, where solicitors, academics and students in thelegal field,as well as ofSriLankanIt bringstogether lawyers origin(bothSriLankan andBritishborn)aimsto provide a intheUK(ASSLUK)Association ofSriLankaLawyers Diaspora organisationsinEurope focusing andlabourlaw. onindustrialrelations it istheprincipalorganisation ofemployers, promoting employer atthenationallevel, interests especially It was established asanorganisation ofemployers dealing withlabourandsocialissuesinSriLanka, today The Employers’ Federation 1929, ofCeylon (EFC), Development activities { { { { At level sub-ministerial At Local Level 2006 UK 2009 Global

https://www.britishtamilsforum.org

http://www.globaltamilforum.org http://www.slfea.lk/index.html http://www.slfea.lk/index.html http://www.employers.lk/index.php http://www.slbfe.lk/ http://www.slbfe.lk/ 2003 UK

http://aslluk.org.uk/

SRI LANKA http://srilankans-berlin.de/index.php www.diasporadevelopment.eu 1984 Norway1984 Find out more at 1978 Germany 1978 Dr Ronojoy Sen Dr Ronojoy EUDiF Development activities Development Written by: Written Edited by: February 2020 undertaken humanitarian work, such as disaster relief, in Sri Lanka, initiated arrangements to strengthen to arrangements initiated in Sri Lanka, relief, work, such as disaster humanitarian undertaken work in between as well as support diversity Norwegians and integration the cooperation and Sri Lankans . across present, from members 200 At the association has approximately Norway. The association’s primary purpose is to provide a common ground for the diaspora to gather, share, gather, to the diaspora primary for ground a common provide purpose is to The association’s culture, language, sports, etc. Sri Lankan use, and promote has In addition, the association cultivate Sri Lankan Association of NorwaySri Lankan Association https://www.facebook.com/pg/SLANpage/about/?ref=page_internal between Sri Lanka and Germany. Supporting the homeland, especially in emergency situations, as well as in emergency the homeland, especially and Germany. Supporting between Sri Lanka of young people remain priority of the SLA. tasks integration and the training education, promoting It is a non-profit association to give Sri Lankans the opportunity to get to know each other better, to create create to better, other each know to get opportunitythe to Lankans Sri give to association non-profit a is It better Lanka Sri of heritage cultural the everyday make to and solutions, and for problems platform a the citizens of the host countryknown to and social relations the cultural and deepen as well as promote Sri Lanka Association Berlin e.V. e.V. Association Berlin Sri Lanka

SRI LANKA