Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra to visit Qatar for labour and foreign employment talks

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra will undertake an official visit to the State of Qatar from 20 to 23 September 2026, leading the Sri Lankan delegation to the Sri Lanka–Qatar Joint Committee Meeting on labour and foreign employment cooperation.

The Joint Committee is being reconvened after a lapse of more than five years to provide a platform for both countries to review existing cooperation and identify areas for further advancement. Discussions during the sessions will focus on expanding employment opportunities for Sri Lankan workers, promoting safe, transparent, and responsible recruitment, strengthening worker welfare and protection, enhancing skills development, and improving institutional coordination between Sri Lanka and Qatar.

During the official visit, Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra is scheduled to meet Qatari Minister of Labour Dr. Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman bin Nasser Al-Thani to discuss further strengthening bilateral cooperation in labour and foreign employment.

The Deputy Minister will also engage with members and representatives of the Sri Lankan community in Qatar to listen to their concerns and address issues affecting Sri Lankans living and working in the country, particularly regarding employment and worker welfare.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism in Colombo, the visit is expected to reinforce the longstanding bilateral partnership between the two nations while advancing Sri Lanka’s efforts to expand safe and dignified overseas employment opportunities and enhance protection for migrant workers.