Daily Mirror - Print Edition

Low propensity to save leads to migrations of professionals: Parliament committee

20 Dec 2023 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

By Yohan Perera   

Low propensity to save migrations had made most Sri Lankan professionals to migrate, A probe carried out by the Ways and Means Committee had revealed.   


It was revealed at the committee that some 1,500 doctors, 3,000 professionals in the banking sector and 100 engineers attached to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have migrated as at September 30 this year.   


It has been anticipated that the number of migrations will rise by the end of this year.


Around 20 hospitals around the country has been closed down due to lack of staff while 400 hospitals are facing a danger of closing down because of the dearth of doctors.   
It has been found out that 15 percent of professionals could save only Rs 20,000 from their monthly salary while 20 percent could save only Rs 40,000 out of their monthly salaries.   
Security reasons and bleak future of children have also been reasons for migration of professionals.   


Also the Ways and Means Committee questioned Samurdhi officers whether they are ready to prepare a register of poor in the country. In response, the officers have said they are ready to execute Aswesuma. They have also requested the committee that they be cleared of the allegations that they had to face such as working on false information. They have told the committee that they had to face punishments for the offences they alleged to have committed.