Feature - Middle East Conflict: The Impact on Migration and Remittances in Sri LankaNewsDr. Bilesha WeeraratneBy Dr. Bilesha Weeraratne, Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri LankaWith the ongoing conflict in the Middle East (ME), Sri Lanka finds itself at a particularly vulnerable juncture as it carefully navigates a fragile economic recovery. Cancelled Flights and Migrant DeparturesSri Lankan migrant departures to Iran have been negligible in recent years. However, a far larger number of Sri Lankan workers in other Gulf destinations have been affected by the conflict. 311 per USD, the decrease in monthly income in affected households in Sri Lanka is over Rs. Moreover, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) can increase awareness of available unilateral social protection mechanisms in Sri Lanka, such as insurance schemes, to help migrants weather any immediate income gap.

Source: Sunday Times March 24, 2026 08:59 UTC