Sri Lanka Targets 5,000 Japan-Ready Workers Through Expanded Language Training in 2026

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) plans to build a pool of 5,000 Sri Lankans with Japanese language training by 2026, according to Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe.

He outlined the initiative during a meeting on the 19th between SLBFE leadership and senior representatives of Japanese companies currently employing Sri Lankan workers. The visiting Japanese delegation explored ways to broaden recruitment and strengthen employment pathways for Sri Lankans in Japan.

Wickramasinghe said the SLBFE will also introduce a new program aiming to send around 1,000 workers to Japan under IM Japan next year. With growing interest among Sri Lankans to work in Japan, the bureau plans to expand district-level training to build a skilled workforce with strong language abilities and technical competencies.