The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has announced the continuation of its welfare and reintegration program are aimed at providing school equipment to the children of migrant workers registered with the Bureau.
The initiative, which will provide school equipment worth Rs. 132 million in 2024, is designed to support the children of Sri Lankans engaged in foreign employment by easing their educational needs in light of the economic challenges these families often face.
The program, implemented by SLBFE’s Welfare Division and Reintegration Division, specifically targets children of migrant workers who are currently employed abroad or who have returned to Sri Lanka within the last five years. The school equipment is provided under two categories:
Children whose parents are currently abroad: These children, enrolled in government schools from Grades 1 to 13, are eligible for school supplies worth up to Rs. 10,000.Children whose parents have returned to Sri Lanka: Those whose parents have returned from abroad and have been back in the country for less than five years are also eligible for school supplies. This extends to children attending government, private, preschools, pirivenas, and religious schools.
Each child receives a set of school supplies worth around Rs. 10,000, and this benefit is issued only once per child. To apply for the program, parents need to obtain the necessary forms from the Foreign Employment Development Officer at the Divisional Secretariat of their residence.
To qualify for the school supplies, the following documents must be submitted to the Development Officer of the Divisional Secretariat. Certified photocopies of the children’s birth certificates.A list of required school supplies, endorsed by the class teacher and principal, with a maximum value of Rs. 10,000.Proof of residence, certified by the GramaNiladhari.Documents confirming that the mother or father is a registered SLBFE worker and is/was employed abroad, such as a photocopy of the passport.
In the year 2024, SLBFE distributed school supplies worth Rs. 11.33 million to 1,185 children of migrant workers who had returned from foreign employment. Additionally, the Welfare Division provided school supplies worth Rs. 121 million to 12,781 children of workers currently employed abroad.
SLBFE has also addressed false information being spread on social media regarding the provision of school equipment. Many individuals have been misled by incorrect propaganda, leading to confusion about the eligibility and process of obtaining these supplies. The Bureau urges the public to follow the correct system and apply through the proper channels to avoid such misinformation.
Additionally, the Bureau has reported that some application forms for school supplies are being sold in bookstores, which is illegal. SLBFE clarifies that these forms should not be sold and are available for free from the relevant government offices.
The Bureau advises all migrant workers to ensure that their children benefit from this opportunity by submitting the correct documentation and applying through the official system
