News
Engineer brain drain not second to other professionals leaving the country
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Association of Public Service Engineers (APSE) revealed that government departments, ministries, and local government bodies currently have only 1,000 engineers in their employ. This number represents only 66 percent of the approved cadre, according to Eng. L.S. Sooriyabandara.
Eng. Sooriyabandara, a representative of the Association of Public Service Engineers (APSE), noted that the organization comprises engineers affiliated to various departments, ministries, and local government bodies.
Explaining the current trends, he said that “while the approved cadre is 1530, the current count stands at approximately 1000 engineers. A significant portion of them has either already left the country in search of greener pastures, or are on the verge of leaving.
Sooriyabandara highlighted that the process of producing a chartered engineer requires a span of eight years. During the period, from 2000 to 2020, Sri Lanka witnessed the implementation of numerous infrastructure projects, including the construction of approximately 20 large tanks, several highways, and thousands of buildings, he noted.
“We need to maintain such constructions. For example, there are over 10,000 schools and we need to maintain the buildings to ensure that our children are safe. Now engineers are not recruited because those in power believe there are no new projects. Meanwhile one third of engineers attached to the state have left,” he said.
Sooriyabandara, who serves in the Irrigation Department, emphasized their responsibility for overseeing the consistent water supply to 800,000 acres and maintaining more than 360 major tanks. He highlighted the gravity of such a responsibility and expressed concern about the challenges posed by severe staff shortages. Furthermore, he noted that a significant number of engineers are receiving inadequate compensation for their work.
Former Assistant secretary of APSE Damith Dissanayake reported a staggering 300 percent increase in the brain drain among engineers compared to 2019. He revealed that in 2023 alone, more than 5,000 engineers overall have left Sri Lanka. Among all the professionals who departed the country in 2023, approximately 40 percent were engineers, highlighting a significant trend of skilled professionals relocating.
Dissanayake said there is the high international recognition of Sri Lankan engineering degrees, noting that engineers can relocate to 123 countries without undergoing country-specific examinations. He highlighted that the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) has entered into the Washington Accord. Consequently, engineering degree programmes accredited by the IESL are recognized as equivalent to four-year engineering degree programmes by other signatories to the Washington Accord.
“If a doctor wants to migrate to Australia, he or she has to sit for two exams by the Australian Medical Council. The second exam is very difficult and about 70 percent of applicants fail. But a Sri Lankan engineer does not have to sit for such an exam. It’s easier to migrate and there are always opportunities for engineers,” he said.
Dissanayake stressed the need for the government to raise the initial salary for engineers to 300,000 rupees, a significant increase from the current 79,000 rupees. While acknowledging that this might appear as an unrealistic raise, he emphasized that the repercussions of not providing a substantial salary increment to engineers could have devastating consequences.
“Even the private sector faces a shortage of engineers. At this rate, the government will have to seek the services of foreign engineers to maintain our infrastructure,” he said.
Dissanayake said the engineers also want the government to fill the large number of vacancies that exist in the system.
“Brain drain is a big problem in Sri Lanka. I am not talking about engineers alone. You look at any sector and the best professionals are leaving. No country has developed by depleting its professionals. The government must provide a living wage to workers, give them professional dignity and in the case of the government sector, it must fill the large number of vacancies that exist. Most professionals attached to the government sector are stressed because he or she now does the work of two or three people,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
