Arrest brain drain

Rasika Somarathna

Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne Saturday said Sri Lanka is facing a huge brain drain of highly skilled professionals to well paid jobs in other country’s and emphasised the need to arrest the problem.

He said such highly skilled/educated professionals migration was an impediment to the country’s development drive.

While noting that the migration of such professionals for better salaries/perks as unfortunate, the Premier added that the Government efforts to encourage others to return too had not met with desired results.

However, the Premier pointed out that it was the duty of all Sri Lankan’s to make their talents/resources available to their motherland when needed, specially at a time the Government was making plans to make it one of the most prominent nations of the world.

He made these observations addressing a gathering at the ‘Mahapola’ Scholarship awarding ceremony held at the Prime Ministers Office.

Premier Jayaratne stressed that the Government was investing enormous amounts of money to supplement the free education and added that as beneficiaries of the system all Sri Lankans had a duty towards their motherland to offer services when needed. Commenting on the formation of Private Universities, the Premier noted that 98 percent of eligible students for higher education could benefit from the move as in Sri Lanka only two percent of such students get opportunity to enter a university.

According to sources this year 11,590 students are eligible for ‘Mahapola’ scholarship scheme. A recipient is provided with Rs. 2,500 monthly financial assistance for educational purposes. Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake, Cooperative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando along with several other senior Government officials too were present.