SLBFE under COPE scrutiny over huge expenditure on unplanned programmes

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has come under intense scrutiny after the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) revealed that more than Rs. 1 billion had been spent on two unplanned programmes in 2024, which were not included in the Bureau's annual action plan.

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At a recent COPE meeting held under the chairmanship of Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, it was disclosed that over Rs. 1.3 billion had been allocated to the 'Glocal Fair' and 'Vigamanika Harasara' initiatives—both executed without proper planning or prior Cabinet approval, the parliament media division said.

The 'Vigamanika Harasara' programme, launched by the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment to engage with migrant worker associations across three provinces, cost Rs. 63 million. The significantly more expensive 'Glocal Fair' programme, which aimed to bring services of the Foreign Employment Ministry directly to rural communities, incurred a staggering cost of Rs. 1.259 billion. Notably, this programme was launched before receiving Cabinet approval, with the relevant memorandum only being submitted during its execution.