By Nisal Rukshan
A state’s economy can significantly influence its population. The economic stability of a country relies on salient factors including, labour, taxation, human resources, income distribution, political status, policies & strategies of the government, education system, usage of technology, the contribution of the state sector and private sector, the trade balance (the difference in country’s imports and exports of goods and services), unemployment, infrastructure, wages, inflation etc.
However, in times of economic upheaval or political instability, a country’s development growth can be hindered and such a situation can lead to unrest among citizens.
Waves of the depressed population will strive to seek remedies or ask for solutions from authorities to overcome financial difficulties. When such efforts have become futile, the road to struggle will automatically open up. That results in a high rate of brain drain aka substantial emigration among any population.
Marshlaw’s hierarchy of needs explains, that a person can accomplish their need for self-actualization by working out their creativity and increasing their skill of problem-solving. Simply, Brain drain refers the skilled professionals leave from their native country to another, seeking enhanced opportunities or advantages followed by a better quality of life. (Brain drain can be geographical, organizational or industrial.)
According to the data of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), 311,056 individuals have migrated for employment in 2022. It is a 153% increase when compared with 2021. The actual figure may be higher due to the unavailability of more recent data.
Sri Lanka, a country blessed with natural resources, is well known as a ‘treasure’. Why does this island nation face an acute brain drain issue? There may be multiple factors in the answer. Still, the most significant reason would be the political monopoly, which paves the way to economic instability, corruption followed by inefficiency, poor quality of life, high rates of taxation without adequate benefits to taxpayers, and a scarcity of financial opportunities.
In the long run, the brain drain affects almost every sector in the country. Sri Lanka has already experienced this phenomenon; insufficient experienced medical specialists, engineers, educational experts and accountants, hinder the effectiveness and efficiency of the existing mechanism. There will be a significant decrease in the quality of the products and services and sometimes certain sectors need to get down experts from another country.
To overcome this challenge, many countries are revising their existing strategies in order to make more firm policies focusing political stability. In the Sri Lankan context, increasing the foreign reserve is of utmost importance and encouraging economically effective investments, implementing new technology, restructures wages in alignment with the cost of living, enhancing the quality of life, rewards tax benefits to the citizens, establishing mechanisms to prevent corruption and minimum government intervention in economic activities are certain strategic actions which can be well applied to solve this problem.
Finally, as a nation, Sri Lanka needs to have a collective effort without political rivalries. An Opposition which provides constructive criticism and supports proper policy decisions without being stereotyped and free from discrimination is essential to overcome a country in pain.
It’s still not too late; implementing effective strategies under committed and visionary leadership and with the togetherness of the citizens, prevailing unhealthy circumstances and converting into a positive transformation is not impossible. This is for you to decide.
Nisal Rukshan, MHRM, B.A. (Defence), BSc (Hons.) Counselling Psychology, DCPsy
Email: [email protected]
