EXODUS OF SKILLS AND TALENT

Fazmina Imamudeen examines the reasons why people are opting to migrate

Sri Lanka has seen its peace and stability shattered through the decades… but not quite as drastic as the economic catastrophe that has engulfed the island like a gigantic tsunami in the past two years.

This is a disaster with a rate of inflation that rises relentlessly, much like a fatal disease.

Queues have become the norm in Sri Lanka and this calamity spares not a single town or city; and what we’re witnessing isn’t encouraging to say the least. These lengthy lines are the result of mismanagement and corruption on the part of successive governments.

The queues for gas and fuel that are kilometres long are exhausting to see. Consider the hours spent waiting for something as basic as fuel. And this is only a taste of a far more significant issue. The harsh reality has now given rise to long lines at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo, and other regional offices across the island, as people flock to obtain a passport to cross borders.

Although one cohort of youth has been at the helm of the aragalaya from the beginning, a large proportion of young educated Sri Lankans appear to have lost trust and hope in the country’s future, and are migrating in search of greener pastures elsewhere.

Some question whether it is ethical to flee a country amid an economic crisis when the nation desperately needs its human capital. Is it better for them to stay and help rebuild the country?

Well, there is a section of the population that believes there’s no reason to sacrifice their future – and there’s nothing to gain by serving a country that has little possibility of redemption when its politicians are self-serving.

On 7 June, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara tweeted: “Employees in the public sector seeking work overseas can now register on the Foreign Employment Bureau’s website. I have asked foreign recruitment agencies to send appropriate job opportunities from their overseas clients as soon as possible.”

This move seeks to encourage the export of human capital so that they can remit much needed dollars to their homeland.

Sri Lanka is no stranger to migration and it has seen its people pursue success in foreign lands since the 1960s. Immigration statistics of other countries bear witness to the narrative of the Sri Lankan exodus.

However, what we see today is staggering. The brain drain as a result of rapidly rising inflation, an unstable education system and dwindling healthcare services is more concerning than ever before… and reversing it will be an uphill task.

It may seem trivial to some – especially our politicians and policy makers – but the exodus of skilled workers, professionals and investors will result in the loss of a large number of invaluable working people.

Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world that provides free education. When it has spent extensively to educate its people (from primary school through university) and many decide to serve foreign nations with no return to their motherland, the brain drain constitutes a substantial loss to the island.

It’s impossible to argue with the fact that there are many advantages to migrating: migrant workers are important contributors of foreign exchange to the economy through their remittances, which represent a sizeable share of Sri Lanka’s GDP; and they contribute to the growth of the economy particularly during a crisis.

Returning trained individuals to their countries of origin is an example of brain circulation, which is one way that migration has the potential to be a force for good. With their skills, financial resources and expertise, they can better serve their country given the state of economic and political instability it is in at this time.

Human capital becomes increasingly difficult to source when people are lost to the allure of greener pastures. Not only do we forgo skilled labour but we also lose valuable young innovators whose minds and ideas could bring much needed change to our crisis ridden nation.

The times ahead will challenge the grit of Sri Lankans. People can take flight but the country cannot be abandoned. The aragalaya is demanding systemic changes and fighting for them requires Sri Lankans to make choices – to leave the country or battle it out at home.

“It was the best of times,
it was the worst of times;
it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age of foolishness;
it was the epoch of belief,
it was the epoch of incredulity…” From A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.