Proper research and remedial solution needed to avert continuing brain drain

Having lived quite five decades among academics at the University of Peradeniya and also being a doctor and interacted with the medical profession these past many years I thought I should say something on the drain of human talent we have invested in, to centres abroad.

We take the “creme de la creme” of the school leavers, train them at a formidable expense to the government, amounting to millions of rupees. When they want to come back from their training centres abroad and serve their beloved motherland, we put up barriers for their return. I have seen and heard of young trained post graduates usually around their 30s with young families with children not coming back or returning to centres abroad. The reason being either due to their children who need to go to school, or are in their early grades, not being able to find a school in keeping with their expectations when they return to Sri Lanka. Many of them are not in the income bracket at this stage of their careers to consider private schools for their children.

I too believe in socialism and see reasons for the Government policy regarding ‘the area rule’. These however, are special needs , a question of ‘return on investment’, they are our best, we need them. But like any parent they too would like the best for their child.

It’s time to think outside the box. Innovate. See how other countries in our region have handled the issue.

Another reality is that they have to run two houses if they are on a transferable service, as often Government servants are. To add yet another inconvenient truth, though condominiums are coming up in Colombo and in Kandy, only the rich can afford these apartments.

As far as I am aware there has been no substantial study of this brain drain , it is an inconvenient reality and unless addressed by the Govt, the quantum jump envisaged to a developed economy is but a pipe dream.

Dr. Channa Ratnatunga Via email