Financial Times

Last week, a top professional apologised and turned down an invitation to speak at the monthly meeting of a local club for professionals on a current topic saying he would be overseas during that period.

“I’m sorry, I would have liked to but I have to go abroad on an important mission,” he said, adding that he was in the process of working out his migration papers.

“I don’t think I’ll migrate with the family, as yet, but I want to keep this option open,” he said. Many others too in the private sector, particularly young people, are migrating, the professional said due to the deteriorating situation here.

Last week’s terrible massacre of civilians at Kebbittigollawa off Medawachchiya must be adding to the pressure on, on-the-fence professionals who like the individual quoted earlier are wondering what’s happening to this country and whether they should leave or not.

Could this be the second or third phase of Sri Lankans migrating after Australia, the UK and the US drew our professionals in the 1960-80s and followed in 1983 by Tamils and other professionals leaving the country for both security and economic reasons? Everywhere you go: whatever meeting – the frequently discussed topic during a conversation is the state of the country and whether there is any hope left for young people.

We are aware of many younger persons seeking positions overseas and middle-aged professionals looking for opportunities. There are others who have got migration rights but are not using them; instead travelling to these countries – Australia, New Zealand, the UK or the US – regularly to keep that resident visa valid so that they could use it in case a decision is made to migrate.

A journalist who recently returned from an overseas visit to developed countries said he was often drained after such a visit – not due to a hectic schedule but because it was so disappointing to see what happens at home.

“Many countries have much less to offer than Sri Lanka (in terms of resources, take Singapore for example) but have developed much faster than us for obvious reasons; here apart from the conflict, we are also fighting each other over many issues,” he said adding that the news never changes whether you are away for a few days or months – it’s all bad news and a worsening situation.

For example take the state of the tourism industry. Last week we commented on the crisis in the country and appealed to all sides in the tourism industry to come together for the sake of the industry. This week, the pot has been boiling once again with the private sector industry and the government over the controversial Tourism Act.

It’s not going to end there. The battle will go on at a time when all heads are needed for a fresh strategy to attract tourists in a conflict-affected market. The Tourism Minister and the Tourist Board chairman have been carrying on this issue for too long and need to discuss ways and means of a compromise with the industry, which is the one that sustains the Tourist Board through the cess and other levies.

More and more middle and upper middle class youngsters are studying abroad in schools and universities – in some cases their parents scraping the barrel to provide them a good education that would lead to a decent job – and it’s most likely that they would choose to remain abroad and try their luck in jobs; even less that what their qualifications would require rather than returning to Sri Lanka.

The way the recent peace talks were handled is also not an encouraging sign. While the LTTE doesn’t deserve any credit for the way they have often stalled the talks; in this case it was foolish for the government to send a team of officials (who don’t have the power of politicians to take decisions) even though it was led by the powerful head of the Peace Secretariat. The LTTE – as expected by many – objected to having to deal with a low-level delegation and as usual used the trip to do some PR work and promotion of their cause.

LTTE officials of the level of its political chief have dealt with ministers and top foreign dignitaries in the past and having to negotiate with a team of officials (when it has been ministers before) would have annoyed the group, whatever the government’s objections would be. Another chance to make the peace process work thus went a-begging.

It’s issues like this that give little hope to parents of young people, and professionals with migrant worker status overseas ready to be acquired at any time; that things will improve in this country. Blame it on the LTTE; Karuna, whoever – the fact remains that Sri Lanka is not the best place to live in right now. And who can blame younger people or older professionals for trying their luck abroad when their hopes of living in a violence-free environment are rapidly diminishing by the day.