By Natasha Gunaratne
The perfect job for Sri Lankans in an exotic overseas destination might be just a computer click away.
According to the website of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, job opportunities are available in far flung locations for factory workers in the Czech Republic, a production supervisor or a machine operator in Latvia, an electrical or mechanical engineer in Turkey, a clerk in Greece, an internal auditor in Fiji, a chef in Romania and a chief accountant in Zambia. Even Mongolia, the 19th largest country in terms of land mass but the most sparsely populated in the world bordering China and Russia, has vacancies for trailer drivers, hydro equipment mechanics and plant operators.

Other locations listed on the website include jobs for engineers and accountants in Botswana, computer technicians and land surveyors in Algeria, a fibre glass technician in Yemen and 43 openings for chefs in Ireland. A quick Internet search of popular Irish cuisine includes Colcannon, a dish made of potato, garlic and cabbage, Boxty, a type of potato pancake and of course, the world renowned Irish stew, a combination of meat and vegetables simmered in a thick broth. Even Nigeria is looking out for 20 pastry chefs.

As Sri Lankans has been aware for decades, job openings in the Middle East are abundant with the highest number of listings for Kuwait at close to 400,000 ranging from housemaids, drivers, accountants, butlers, carpenters, engineers and technicians. Saudi Arabia which used to lead with the most number of jobs available to Sri Lankans in the Middle East has close to 60,000 listings, a significant disparity from the number of openings in Kuwait. The United Arab Emirates, Doha and Qatar all surpass Saudi Arabia in the number of jobs available.

Closer to home, India has 39 openings for factory managers, hair dressers and merchandisers among other positions while Pakistan has two listings for a master cutter and an assistant cutter. (NG)