KELUM BANDARA 
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Sri Lanka’s university system still remains crippled with a dearth of teachers, and the authorities concerned are struggling hard to find qualified persons to some of the positions fallen vacant at the moment, a minister said yesterday.
In response to a question about the impact of brain drain on the university system, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Chandana Abayarathna told Daily Mirror that as many as 1000 university teachers left the country due to reasons such as the recent economic crisis and subsequent policy decisions by the previous government on taxation on their salary earnings .
He said the increased taxation had a bearing on university academics compelling them to leave the country in search of greener pastures abroad.
“For some positions, we cannot find qualified people. We conduct interviews but qualified people are not forthcoming because they are paid better outside the university system. For example, we have a shortage of professors at some of the medical faculties. University teachers were affected because of high taxation by the last government. Young lecturers left the country as a result,” he said.
He said revision of taxation would be a step to attract people to the university system as teachers.
“We believe those who left the country will also return once we create a conducive atmosphere for them. Salary hike is not the sole option to attract them. Pay hike will not serve the purpose if the cost of living remains high. High taxes also prevent qualified people from joining the universities. We need to make an overall approach in responding to the current crisis,” he said.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) controls 18 universities and institutions including the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, a top official of the Higher Education Ministry said the dearth is as acute as roughly 50 percent of the total requirement. The approved cadre is around 10,000. According to the official, the shortage is mostly found for natural science- related subjects.
He said the government had given approval now to recruit staff.
