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GL: Brain drain worst manifestation of SL’s economic crisis
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Brain drain is the worst manifestation of the country’s economic crisis, Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) member and MP, Prof. G.L Peiris, said on Thursday.Prof. Peiris said that a large number of academics had left state universities. In recent years, the number of students enrolled at the state universities had risen significantly, he added.
“I was at state universities for 33 years. There are a large number of academics who can secure jobs abroad. I am not saying everyone can get foreign jobs, but there are many who can. And, most of them are leaving. Brain drain is the worst manifestation of the country’s economic crisis,” he said.
The MP said that most of the other outcomes of the economic crisis can be addressed in a short time by a compassionate and competent government. However, brain drain had long term implications. Sri Lanka had been able to overcome many crises it has faced, from the 30-year war to COVID-19, because of its highly skilled human resources, he said.
“This was our main asset, and we are losing skilled people now. Not only universities but other professionals, from doctors to IT people, are leaving. This is a reflection of the disillusionment of professionals. Especially those with children think that there is no future for their kids in Sri Lanka,” he said.
The government has no intention of stopping the brain drain. Some elements of the government are happy about people leaving because they believe those who leave will remit their earnings.
“This is a foolish assumption. When a professional migrates, they invest the money they make in making a life for themselves. The overwhelming majority won’t remit money here. The government doesn’t even care about the collapse of the health sector. Look what is happening to the Aswesuma welfare scheme. We have not given any welfare benefits to two million poor people since June,” he said.
The government must openly discuss various free trade agreements Sri Lanka is pursuing with various chambers of commerce, professional associations, trade unions, and in Parliament, before they are signed, he said.
“It is not ethical or legal for a government, especially one that has no popular mandate, to enter into these agreements that have long term impacts on Sri Lanka,” he said.
The government was also attempting to weaken 12 Acts in place to protect the workers. These include the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act and the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration)Act.
“These specify the working hours, minimum wages, and other important things. These are privileges workers have earned after years of struggle. Look at the domestic debt restructuring resolution. The government is not touching the investments made by billionaires. The burden of debt restructuring is borne by pension funds, like the EPF and the ETF,” he said.
Prof. Peiris said that professionals were willing to pay higher taxes, but they want to make sure that the taxes are used well.
“When professionals met the President, the Treasury Secretary, etc., and presented their proposals, they were told that their ideas were good, but the government had to work according to the agreements with the IMF. There are countries that have negotiated well with the IMF and signed favourable agreements. But we were too scared to argue our case. We were worried that we would have to return empty handed. So, we signed an agreement that was inimical to Sri Lanka’s interests,” 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
