NPP promises and brain drain

In the NPP’s election manifesto, “A thriving nation, a beautiful life,” what was promised was a renaissance era which obviously many voters bought into but given the continuing brain-drain from the country it’s unlikely even those who voted for the Government really believe in a renaissance. Since taking office, the Government has done little to retain the country’s valuable human resources and the brain drain that started during the 2022 economic crisis and continues with more and more Sri Lankan looking for green pastures overseas.

This week the Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni told Parliament that around 280 medical officers have applied for foreign no-pay leave so far this year while 1,429 medical officers and 140 Specialist Medical Officers are overseas on no-pay leave from 2020 until 19 June 2026.

Added to that a large number of state university lectures too have left and are continuing to leave the country. The parliamentary Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) was informed recently that nearly one hundred million rupees was due to the state from university lecturers who have gone abroad on leave and have not returned to the country.

It is estimated that around 700 of the lecturers who have gone abroad have failed to  return at the end of their approved leave period and are residing in countries such as the USA,  Canada, New Zealand, Norway, etc. There are also many other professionals in various fields who have left the country or are planning to do so.

But it is not only professionals who are leaving the country but others who are seeking menial work overseas.

Recently Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath announced that 10,000 Lankans would have left for employment to Israel for 2026 alone. This is in addition to thousands more who are already employed there. Many of the Lankans will be employed in the construction sector as well as caregivers. This is in addition to many thousands who also go to Gulf states for employment while there is almost desperation among many to migrate to more developed  nations.

For a country that foreign tourists rave about and which has been bestowed with the best that nature can offer a land, the lack of opportunities and equality mean there are many particularly in the middle classes who see no future in the country. The desperation for parents to send their children overseas for higher education hoping they can get a foothold in a developed nation is a clear indication that despite promises of the political  leaders of economic benefits for all, these are nothing beyond empty words.

Since the NPP came to power, the cost of living has continued to rise, and the costs of essential goods and services have increased sharply. The public have been burdened with taxes like never before and even the meagre salaries they earn  are being taxed. No one will envy the Government given the economic woes that it has inherited from its predecessor but if it has really stopped waste, corruption and mismanagement in the affairs of the state, then there should be billions of rupees saved and these should be used to give relief to the public.

Sadly the ‘thriving nation and beautiful life’ promised is only for a handful of Sri Lankans. For others, it is the usual rigmarole which is pushing more and more Lankans to want to look for opportunities in foreign lands which in turn is leaving the country poor in more senses  than one.