The process of making payments for registration at the Katunayake International Airport by persons travelling for employment overseas for the first time will be suspended from January 1, 2014.

Subject Minister Dilan Perera says that the payment can be made at any branch of the Bureau of Foreign Employment. A media briefing was convened in Colombo on Thursday to highlight the progress made by the Ministry of Foreign Employment and Promotion for the year 2013.

Speaking at the media briefing Minister Dilan Perera said that over quarter of a million Sri Lankans travel abroad for employment annually.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare , Minister Dilan Perera said that from January  1, next year, the registration of persons travelling abroad for the first time will be suspend at the airport.

He added; “When we visit the airport we see the state of mind of those who travel overseas for employment. They are forced to wait in line to make payments. From next year, one can visit any of our branches and make the payments, and if they fail to make the payment before the due date they can do it at the Sahana Piyasa Office established in close proximity to the airport.”

• Motion against President loses in Parliament
• CID to record statements from 7 MPs regarding 9th May violence
• Ajith Rajapaksa : Elected as Deputy Speaker of Parliament via Secret Ballot
• Parliament split over the vote on Deputy Speaker; SLFP threatened to cast invalid votes
• O/L Admission now ONLINE