Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka is confronting a growing challenge: a significant proportion of its top university graduates are leaving the country after completing degrees funded by taxpayers. According to an ongoing study conducted at the University of Peradeniya by Prof. Wasantha Athukorala and researcher Laksman Kumara, in some departments, as many as 80 to 90 students migrate abroad, often never returning to contribute to the local economy.
“This is a grave concern given the resources invested in free higher education,” Prof. Athukorala told the Daily Mirror. “Most who migrate are among the best graduates, those who achieve the highest performance at the university level.”
The Cost of Free Education and Its Implications
Sri Lanka’s state universities currently enroll around 142,000 undergraduates, spanning disciplines such as Arts (25%), Management and Commerce (20%), Engineering (13%), Medicine and Allied Health (10%), and Agriculture and Computer Science (11%). In 2023 alone, 33,306 students earned bachelor’s degrees from state universities.
The government’s expenditure on university education in 2023 amounted to approximately Rs. 87 billion, including Rs. 69.9 billion in recurrent costs and Rs. 16.7 billion in capital investment. Depending on the degree program, the annual cost per student ranges from Rs. 400,000 to Rs. 1.4 million. For graduates in science, agriculture, and engineering fields, this represents an investment of roughly USD 13,500 per student, funded by taxpayers.
Prof. Athukorala and Kumara’s research indicates that a large fraction of these graduates do not return, raising concerns about lost human capital and unrealized public investment.
Historical Context: Migration Trends and Brain Drain
Sri Lanka has long grappled with the emigration of skilled professionals. In the 1980s and 1990s, civil unrest and limited economic opportunities drove doctors, engineers, and academics abroad. While the end of the civil war in 2009 stabilized some sectors, structural issues—low salaries, limited career growth, and underfunded research—have continued to drive talent abroad.
The phenomenon is particularly pronounced in science, engineering, and agriculture, where the skills gained in Sri Lankan universities are in high demand internationally. Historical data suggest that every major economic downturn, combined with limited public sector salaries, amplifies this migration trend.
Policy Responses and Recommendations
Acknowledging that it is impractical to force graduates to remain in Sri Lanka due to low wages and unemployment, the study proposes a repayment system for students who permanently settle abroad. Graduates would reimburse the state an estimated USD 10,000–15,000, a fraction of the public investment in their education.
Prof. Athukorala highlighted a complementary approach: fostering entrepreneurship among graduates to create local economic opportunities, reducing the incentive to migrate. Additionally, families supporting their children to move abroad play a key role in the decision-making process, reflecting broader socioeconomic realities.
Economic and Social Implications
The study’s findings underline a crucial challenge for Sri Lanka’s development trajectory: brain drain can undermine long-term economic growth by depriving the country of skilled professionals needed to drive innovation, industry, and public services. Without effective mechanisms to recapture or compensate for lost talent, taxpayers bear the full burden of funding education that benefits foreign economies.
Implementing repayment schemes or encouraging temporary return through incentivized contracts could recover some of the public investment and signal that high-quality education carries both privileges and responsibilities.
Looking Ahead
The research team plans to finalize the study by the end of the year, producing a comprehensive report on migration patterns, public investment, and policy solutions. Policymakers face critical decisions: whether to introduce financial recovery mechanisms, strengthen domestic career pathways, or balance education funding with retention strategies.
As Prof. Athukorala concludes, “If we do not find sustainable solutions, the best minds trained at our universities will continue to enrich other countries, leaving Sri Lanka to shoulder the cost.”
Expenditure Per Student at Sri Lankan State Universities
2023 (Current Data)
- Total undergraduate students: 142,000
- Arts: 25%
- Management & Commerce: 20%
- Engineering: 13%
- Medicine, Dental, Veterinary, Allied Health: 10%
- Agriculture & Computer Science: 11%
- Annual expenditure per student: Rs. 400,000 – 1,400,000
- Average estimate: ~Rs. 500,000 (~USD 6,750)
- Total government spend on university education: Rs. 87 billion
- Recurrent: Rs. 69.9 billion
- Capital: Rs. 16.7 billion
2023 Observations
- High migration trends: In some departments, 80–90 students leave the country after graduation.
- Most migrating students are top performers, especially in Science, Agriculture, and Engineering.
- Migration reduces the country’s return on taxpayer investment in education.
Policy Proposal (Ongoing Study)
- Graduates who permanently settle abroad should reimburse the state USD 10,000 – 15,000 to recoup part of the investment.
- Proposal considers total government expenditure per student (~USD 13,500) but only seeks partial repayment.
- Could be tied to family remittances or direct payments to the government.
Future Considerations
- Encourage entrepreneurship and domestic employment to retain graduates.
- Evaluate cost-effectiveness of investment in specific faculties with high migration rates.
- Final report expected by end of the year for comprehensive policy recommendations.
Leave a comment