The State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification Piyankara Jayaratne undertook an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 19 to 24 March 2022.

During his visit, State Minister Jayaratne held a bilateral discussion with the Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labour of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain. The discussions centered on the increase of the skill labour categories to the Kingdom and enhance the ongoing collaboration between the labour related agencies between the two countries.

State Minister Jayaratne also joined the State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya, when the latter met the Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al Jubeir.

The visiting State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification also participated at a meeting with members of the Human Resources and Labour Market Committee of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce led by the Chairman of the Human Resources and Labour Market Committee, Eng. Mansour A. Alshathry.

State Minister Jayaratne’s engagements also included a visit to the Women’s Welfare Center in Riyadh, meeting with the Coordination Council for Recruitment Companies in the Kingdom, meeting with the CEO of Al Ajeer Recruitment Company Dr. Faisal bin M. Walan and a visit to the safe house for stranded Sri Lankan domestic workers maintained by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh.

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, P. M. Amza,, Additional Secretary, State Ministry of Employment Promotion and Market Diversification, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Chairman, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe and Embassy officials were associated with the State Minister during these engagements.