Sri Lanka, Sept. 30 -- Employment departures as a share of total departures from Sri Lanka dropped to 7.2% in 2025, moving down from 8.1% in the previous year and a peak of 27.6% in 2022, according to central bank figures.

Total departures for work reached 311,223 during 2025, reflecting a slight decrease from 314,670 in 2024, which maintains a high level over an eight-year stretch.

Daily migrant traveller averages for employment stood at 853 people through 2025, compared with 862 during 2024 and 852 in 2022.

Male worker departures grew to 190,881 in 2025 from 186,658 in 2024, whereas female departures declined to 120,342 from 128,012.

This pattern follows a trend established after 2022 when female departures reached a peak of 124,006...