Pix by Kushan Pathiraja 

“There’s no hope left in this country.” This is a sentiment that’s frequently echoed in almost every conversation you have, be it with a youth, adult or the elderly generation. Even though many did expect the incumbent government to set things straight, the COVID-19 pandemic stood in the way. Delayed decisions, removal of experts from key positions, inability to work with team spirit, shortsighted decisions eventually led the country to chaos. 

Today, not only are people struggling to make ends meet but they also have to ensure that they have stocked up on essential items due to regular shortages. Apart from the soaring cost of living, people have started feeling insecure in a heavily politicized environment infested with corruption and nepotism and a weakened judiciary that would take long years to ensure justice to the innocent. Recently, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the government should take immediate measures to stop the youth from migrating. The very youth who initially set a trend of painting walls around the country to celebrate the election of the incumbent government. But whether it is already too late is the question. 

"Today, not only are people struggling to make ends meet but they also have to ensure that they have stocked up on essential items due to regular shortages. Apart from the soaring cost of living, people have started feeling insecure in a heavily politicized environment infested with corruption and nepotism and a weakened judiciary that would take long years to ensure justice to the innocent"

   Voice of the people    

The Daily Mirror paid a visit to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to speak to the public that have queued up to obtain passports. Many of them have come from afar and have been waiting for long hours to get their passports. While some were reluctant to face the camera or share their thoughts on why they want to leave the country, a few obliged however. Here’s what they had to say: 

I can no longer reap any harvest – Arafath

Arafath Mohamed from Kekirawa has been engaged in paddy farming which has been a primary source of income for generations. “There’s no fertilizer for the Maha season. In order to feed our families, we have to do farming and that also for three long months. I had around two and-a-half acres and have paddy as well as vegetables. But because of the lack of fertilizer, I can no longer reap any harvest. We have to work day and night in our paddy fields, but we only earn around Rs. 1,500. Compost fertilizer won’t work because we know what the soil has got used to. Urea is essential to get a good harvest. Potassium and nitrogen too are important source of nutrients. We have to keep the elephants away as well. I am fed up of everything and therefore I decided to leave for Qatar. Many other youth in the area too are planning to leave the country.”

How can we raise a family? – Ajmil 

Mohamed Ajmil from Batticaloa has a similar story. High cost of living is one of the reasons for his decision to seek foreign employment in Saudi Arabia. “We can’t do a business here. There are no profits. So how can we raise a family?”
Responding to a query on the reasons for migrating the country, several social media users shared their views on our social media platforms. Some of the reasons why they contemplate on leaving the country included corruption, nepotism, unstable economy, racism and high cost of living. 

No hope for minorities – Nandeswary Nagarajah

“We are suffering to earn money and we pay half of it as tax. Politicians are collecting our taxes and enjoying in every possible way they can. They have bought houses, vehicles and spend for their children’s overseas education. On the other hand, there is racism, which is the main reason. No hope for the minorities, now and in the future. Therefore the best option is to leave the country. My children have already left and got PR in Australia.” 

Scared to live in this country – Sue Kirthisinghe 

“Law and order has gone to the dogs! The common man cannot get any justice from the judiciary today. It’s terrible and shocking how every single criminal case is won by the present regime as a result of the AG disregarding the law of the land to help those in power. This is very dangerous and makes me feel helpless since we don’t have anyone to turn to. If I can, I will leave this country even today. But sadly I am old and no other country would want me. But I urge every right thinking youngster who has a future to look forward to leave this cursed country as soon as possible. I love my country but now I am scared to live in it.” 

Different laws for different people – Shanaka Rabel

“Not leaving, but not happy either. Different laws for different people. There’s no vision for the future whatsoever, no growth in per capita income and there is corruption everywhere. But everybody lives in denial.” 

Lankans incapable of learning from their mistakes – Suren Nimalan

“There are several reasons why I want to leave Sri Lanka. The most important is that Sri Lankans are incapable of learning from their mistakes. The Sri Lankan system will not change regardless of which government is in power. The second is that I want to live in a country where I am treated as a human being rather than a dog simply because I speak a different language. Finally, I would like to live in a country that places a high value on education and educated people.” 

Govt. failed to look after the people – Sulakshana Dilhara

“The government hasn’t taken any actions to look after the people during the pandemic. This will be the same for next two years as well. So the better option is to leave the country rather than live in this in economical mess.” 

Standard of living is worse – Sanjuka Karunathilaka

“Educated people have no value here and the job market doesn’t value education. No economic / social / scientific growth. Standard of living is worse. Unless you are engaged in politics or related to a politician’s family, it is absurd staying here.” 

There won’t be anything left in years to come – Thumithhri Kariyakarawana

Standards of living going backwards, cost of living does not match income, disappointing government and opposition, no strong judiciary, disregard for animals, forests and natural heritage. So it looks like there won’t be anything left in years to come. 

No future for coming generations – Shaza Doray

People who are smart and capable enough to take over the country are not being given the chance to do so. There is so much potential in this country, but sadly there is no future for the upcoming generations. 

Best option is to migrate – Cheranga Danansuriya

“This country is filled with corruption and the economy is unstable. Every single item in the market is exorbitantly expensive. The politicians have almost ruined everything in this beautiful country and there is nothing left for future generations. If you love your children and want a happy and comfortable lifestyle, then the best option would be to migrate.” 

"Earlier, parents would ask their children to come back after studies, but now parents are encouraging their children to leave the country - Prof. Mallika Pinnawala"

Job insecurity, politicization, corruption are main reasons: Sociologist 

In 2019 as many as 200,000 Sri Lankans have left the country seeking foreign employment as per the statistics at the Foreign Employment Bureau. But this number has drastically reduced to 53,000 in 2020 especially due to the pandemic situation that prevailed in the country as well as overseas. But the trend to leave the country has emerged and one of the reasons identified by sociologists is the lack of job security. 

“People are trying to go as soon as possible,” opined Mallika Pinnawala, Professor in Sociology at the Sociology Department, University of Peradeniya. “Some people came from Europe because of the pandemic situation in those countries. They didn’t receive much care to begin with. As such they were in a hurry to come back, but now the situation is so different that they feel that the country they were living was way better than this. Initially they even said that they would never go back. But now they are in a position where they can’t even secure a job and as a result they are going back to their previous jobs.”

Prof. Pinnawala also observes new trends in the global job market. “The global job market is now open for Asians. There are new industries such as the production of vaccines, sanitary products and so on and these industries need labour. As such there’s a growing demand and people are ready to apply for these jobs as they can earn reasonable salaries.”

“On the other hand the Sri Lankan government is not in a position to pay EPF and other allowances and as a result the retirement age has been increased,” Prof. Pinnawala continued. “As a result, the unemployment rate will also increase.”

Sri Lanka has been a nation that depended on its agriculture but the ban on chemical fertilizer has taken a heavy toll on the farmer community. “Farmers were already facing challenges due to manmade and natural disasters and issues such as the human-elephant conflict. Added to that is the fertilizer ban making them a vulnerable community in the country. As a result they fear that they will not be able to reap the harvest as expected. Farmers are now compelled to grow food to ensure their own survival,” she added.

Heavy politicization and corruption are two other factors that have compelled Sri Lankans to leave the country. “This has affected the youth as well. Earlier, parents would ask their children to come back after studies but now parents are encouraging their children to leave the country. Another reason to send children abroad is due to the poor education system in the country. The government is unable to provide facilities, widening the education gap between children in the suburbs and rural areas. Apart from that the curricula haven’t been updated for decades. As a result there will be a huge brain drain which will be a huge loss to the country,” Prof. Pinnawala underscored. 

Many leaving the country, reasons unknown: Immigration Dept.

When contacted, Media Spokesperson at the Department of Immigration and Emigration Gayan Milinda said that there is an increase in the number of people leaving the country. But he said that the reasons are unknown as they do not obtain such information from visitors.