SL expats doubtful on stable government and sustainable policies
Sri Lanka’s one-year old government is working on enticing local professionals resident abroad to return to the country and share their skills and expertise.However most expatriates (expats) have reservations about returning flagging issues like the need for sustainable policies and a stable government.Recently the Business Times attended the 3rd annual ‘Work In Sri Lanka’ conference held at the Kingsbury in Colombo. It was organised to promote Sri Lanka as an attractive destination for individuals contemplating relocation and providing expats, recent returnees and corporates seeking highly skilled individuals with a platform to network and exchange views on career prospects in Sri Lanka.
At the conference, it was revealed that while on the one hand the government is urging expats with knowledge and skills to return to Sri Lanka, expats are doubtful whether there would be a stable government and the policies implemented will be constant for them to settle back in the country. Deputy Minister of State Enterprise Development Eran Wickramaratne, speaking at the meeting, said that 300,000 Sri Lankans leave the country annually seeking greater pastures. Of this 7.5 per cent are professionals, one-third are semi-skilled individuals while 55-60 per cent are unskilled. “Ideally the country needs them all, we need the professionals and the educated to steer Sri Lanka in the way forward.
We also need capital and technology, but most of all strong management,” he added. As an incentive for bringing back the expats, the government has introduced the dual citizenship model, eliminated most of the taxes and have reduced corporate tax rates to increase investments, he noted. On public transport facilities, the government has a long term plan, he said. Sri Lanka has a good education system for primary and secondary schools while the standards of international and private schools have improved. Healthcare has improved in many private hospitals. Middle class housing has also improved where people can purchase houses at affordable prices.
With regard to the public sector vision for 2020, the Minister said that the government should reduce political interference in commercial enterprises while noting that the public sector is bloated due to political interference. “The country needs strong management which is internationally exposed and transparency in going forward. We most importantly need the expats who have the skills and knowledge to come back and resettle in Sri Lanka.” Urban Development Authority Chairman, Ranjit Fernando noted that there was frustration amongst the people during the time of the previous regime. Many corruption-related activities took place such as Rs. 500 million being spent on the Fort Floating Market where only 16 vendors are doing business there today. Also Rs. 26 million was spent just for the opening ceremony of the Arcade Independence Square, he noted.