President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has invited Sri Lankan Expatriates to contribute their expertise and talent to the development of the nation’s private, public and non-profit sectors.
Presenting the Budget 2025 in Parliament today, President Dissanayake said he sees a chance for a united Sri Lanka, for a clean Sri Lanka, for a prosperous Sri Lanka, to surpass everyone’s expectations.
“Never has Sri Lanka had a chance like this to catch up with the modern world. To the Sri Lankan Expatriates, those with Sri Lankan roots, whether you were born in Sri Lanka or heard of your motherland from your parents, know that to us, you are all Sri Lankans.
“Your country is proud of your success. We understand why you may have lost faith in our motherland. Know that I am grateful for every effort that any of you take, even from afar, to help our country,” he said.
Inviting the Sri Lankan Expats to visit Sri Lanka, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said “We invite you, one and all, to come back and see for yourself how much Sri Lanka has changed.”
“We invite you to contribute your expertise, your talent and your perspective to our island nation, whether in the private, public or non-profit sectors. Join us, and work with us to accomplish a level of success that we can only all achieve together,” he added.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also noted that Sri Lanka’s migrant workers play an important role in the country’s development, both in terms of foreign exchange remittances and skills they bring back to the homeland, following their work overseas.
Stating that the government is exploring ways of encouraging and rewarding this important community of Sri Lankans, he said as a first step, they propose to enable a more generous duty-free allowance for Sri Lanka’s migrant workers as they return to the country.
The President further said the criteria and basis for the allowance will be determined and publicized following a detailed study of options. (Newswire)