Nearly 3,000 Sri Lankan youth selected for construction sector employment in Israel are preparing to take their grievances to the streets, demanding answers over what they describe as prolonged delays, uncertainty, and a lack of transparency in the Government-to-Government (G2G) recruitment programme initiated under the previous Ranil Wickremesinghe administration.
The selected candidates are scheduled to hold a peaceful protest on 6 August 2026 from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at the Parliament Roundabout in Battaramulla, seeking the intervention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to resolve issues surrounding their long-awaited employment opportunities.
The controversy centres on thousands of applicants who completed professional examinations, interviews, and other required selection procedures before being chosen through a lottery process conducted by Israeli authorities. According to the candidates’ representatives, despite successfully completing every stage of recruitment, many have been waiting for more than a year without receiving employment agreements or a clear timeline for departure.
For many young Sri Lankans, the Israel employment programme represented a pathway to economic stability. Applicants invested significant amounts of time, money, and personal effort to qualify for the overseas opportunities, with many families making financial decisions based on expectations of employment abroad.
However, the prolonged uncertainty has created growing frustration among selected candidates. They question why individuals who completed the official G2G selection process remain without contracts while private recruitment agencies appear to be receiving a larger number of job agreements for similar employment opportunities.
The concerns have placed the spotlight on the role of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), with candidates calling for greater clarity regarding the management of the programme. They are demanding explanations on how employment agreements are being allocated and whether all selected candidates are receiving equal treatment.
The issue also raises wider questions about government-managed foreign employment programmes and the responsibilities of authorities towards workers seeking opportunities overseas. For migrant workers and their families, delays in recruitment are not merely administrative setbacks but decisions that directly affect livelihoods and financial planning.
The protesting candidates have emphasised that their action is not aimed at confrontation. Instead, they say they want a fair review of the recruitment process, transparency in decision-making, and a practical solution for those already selected.
As thousands of young Sri Lankans await clarity, the Israel G2G recruitment programme has become a test of whether state-managed overseas employment schemes can maintain public trust and deliver promised opportunities without unnecessary delays.