A total of 211,666 Sri Lankan migrant workers departed for foreign employment during the first nine months of this year, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) stated.

Of them, 141,916 departed through their own means, while 69,750 travelled through foreign employment agencies.

The workers comprised 134,761 males and 76,905 females, while 108,343 were skilled professionals.

September recorded the highest number of departures, with 29,752 workers.