10,000 overseas workers needed to ease construction sector's skilled labour shortage

The Sri Lankan construction industry is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers making the industry unable to meet the demands of the rapid development projects currently underway, Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath said.

He noted that it will be required to bring in more than 10,000 workers from foreign countries by next year to fill the gap.

The Deputy Minister pointed out that it has already become difficult to find skilled workers such as welders and electricians for the development projects scheduled to be implemented by the end of the year and the beginning of next year.

He further mentioned that Sri Lanka is facing these impact as it has now reached the level of the fastest-developing country in South Asia, surpassing even regional countries like India and Pakistan.