Govt. plans to send 10,000 individuals to Japan for employment: State Minister

• Overall goal of 100,000 additional foreign jobs for Sri Lankans in 2024

State Minister of Social Empowerment, Mr. Anupa Pasqual said yesterday that the government plans to send 10,000 individuals proficient in Japanese to secure jobs in Japan while aiming to provide 100,000 additional foreign jobs for Sri Lankan citizens this year.

During a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on the theme ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ focused on empowering vulnerable populations, creating foreign employment opportunities and enhancing skills development, he highlighted the government’s dedication to building a more stable and prosperous future for Sri Lanka by empowering its people. Our mission for 2024 is to uplift Sri Lanka through Aswasuma, offering social security to two million beneficiaries and empowering 300,000 vulnerable families, laying the foundation for a prosperous “New village, New country, Entrepreneurial state,” he stated.

He added that in addition to equipping beneficiaries with vital professional skills through targeted training programmes, the government proposed fostering the cultivation of high-value crops like tea, cinnamon, and pepper for export. “This dual approach, combining skill development and export-oriented agriculture, promises a sustainable path towards economic empowerment” the State Minister observed.

He said that a significant step has been taken to bolster youth vocational training, with three agreements signed with China.