The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is yet to estimate the loss in foreign remittances due to the return of expatriate workers upon termination from their employment, but expects there to be a significant decrease. Ministry of Foreign Employment Additional Secretary S. Haputhanthri told The Sunday Morning that the loss in remittance is yet to be assessed. “We expect there to be a significant loss in foreign remittance but we have not yet calculated it. Maybe after another month, things will settle down and we can calculate the impact on the economy,” he said. Noting that 10,000-odd Sri Lankan expatriates had returned, Haputhanthri pointed out that not all were registered with the SLBFE. “While many are those who have officially gone on work, there are others who may not be registered with the Bureau of Foreign Employment as expatriate workers, while others may have gone on personal matters,” he observed. Haputhanthri said that another month will be needed to determine how many more returnees there will be before ascertaining the loss in foreign remittances. “Not all those who have returned lost their jobs. Some have retained them but had to return. There may be others who will return who have lost their jobs. We must wait and see in order to properly assess the impact on the country’s economy,” he added. By Skandha Gunasekara