The 5th Ambassadorial-Level Meeting of the Geneva-based Colombo Process representatives took place on 15 March 2016 at IOM Headquarters, and was pleased to have IOM’s Director General participate as well. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss amendments to the Operating Modalities as mandated by the 3rd Colombo Process SOM on 4-5 November 2015 to be worked on at the Geneva level....

The 3rd Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Colombo Process (CP SOM) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on the 04th and 05th of November 2015, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Employment, Sri Lanka with technical and financial assistance from IOM.This was the first SOM where both the Capital-based and Geneva-based senior officials’ from the CP Member States participated and engaged inactive discussions regarding the CP thematic priorities ...

Colombo, Sri Lanka – A two-day Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Colombo Process (CP) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 4-5 November 2015 has resulted in far reaching concrete decisions and recommendations aimed at advancing collective efforts for safe and skilled labour migration management by sending countries in Asia. These include the setting up of a Colombo Process Technical Support Unit (CP TSU) in Colombo, to provide support to all the CP countries in pursuing ...

It is my pleasure to address the third Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Colombo Process, which is a regional grouping of 11 countries in Asia, that have substantial numbers of their nationals working abroad, and managing contractual labour. There is an estimated overseas worker population of 45 million of Asian origin which is growing in numbers and diversity in terms of destination and source countries. Their contributions to the economies and development are...

Initiatives for migrants from the Asian region taken under Sri Lanka's Chairmanship of the Colombo Process (CP) was commended at the Fifth Global Meeting of Chairs and Secretaries of Regional Consultative Processes on Migration (RCPs), held in Cairo, Egypt, 21-22 October 2015.

Sri Lanka ishonoured to host this important event, “Third Senior Official Meeting of the Colombo Process” from 4th November to 5thNovember 2015.As we know, over 2.5 million Asian workers leave their countries annually to work abroad. They contribute to the economic development of the countries of destinations and also contribute to the socio-economic development of their home countries through their remittances and newly acquired skills on returning home.

A series of initiatives aimed at boosting protection and improving conditions of employment for millions of foreign workers in the Gulf have been agreed upon at the Third Ministerial Consultative Meeting of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD) comprising Asian countries sending and receiving labour, which concluded in Kuwait last week. The 'Kuwait Declaration' noted that "recognizing that individual government's efforts may fall short, we resolve to work together to prevent ...

Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha, has said Sri Lanka which took over the chair of the Colombo Process (CP) one year ago was of the view that if it were to make a difference and ensure that some real benefits would accrue to the people of the member countries, it was important that they address the tough issues, including 'Ethical Labour Recruitment Practices'. He noted that in ongoing deliberations the CP is seeking...

Colombo Process is a Regional Consultative Process on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin in Asia. Sri Lanka as the current Chair of Colombo Process, invited the Member States namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam for the 2nd Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Colombo Process which was held on 14th October, 2014 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This was the 6th round of the...

The first Senior Officials' Meeting of the Colombo Process under Sri Lanka's chairmanship reached a successful conclusion on Wednesday 7 May in Colombo with discussion and agreement on key labour migration principles, including the promotion of cheaper, faster and safer transfer of remittances, standard employment contracts, ethical labour recruitment, and cooperation and dialogue with the Abu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD). Established in 2003 in Colombo, the Colombo ...