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Academic says there’s a ‘silver lining’ in brain drain

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Dr. Janaka Fernando
  • SL diaspora is privy to most updated technologies in advanced economies

  • Govt can take a cue from India and introduce a special visa category for them

  • Diaspora entrepreneurs’ linkage with global networks should be harnessed

by Sanath Nanayakkare

Policymakers can encourage the Sri Lankan talent pool which is spread across the developed countries to shift their base back home if they pull the right policy levers, said the head of department of a leading university in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Janaka Fernando, Head of Department of Business Economics, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura said so in the backdrop of widely spreading fear that skilled migration will have overwhelmingly negative effects on Sri Lanka.

Exclusively speaking to The Island, he said,” The Sri Lankan talent pool which has found stable doing business and improved living conditions in developed countries can be lured to shift or relocate their operations in Sri Lanka if the policymakers correctly identify their capacities, interests and their patriotism.”

“A fair share of this Sri Lankan talent pool in those countries would come back home to start new businesses in their motherland if the authorities make the domestic environment conducive to professionalism, startups, incubator nest hubs, industrial parks etc.,” he said.

The following are some excerpts from the interview with Dr. Fernando.

“Brain drain isn’t a new phenomenon in Sri Lanka. It has been in existence for more than six decades and it occurred in different ways at different stages of our history. The diaspora includes all communities of the country, not only Tamils as erroneously interpreted very often. With the gaining of Independence from the colonial masters in 1948 and with the advent of the Sinhala Only Act in 1956, economically and administratively active European descendants who had made Sri Lanka their second home left the country for good.

Subsequently, in the first few years of 1970s when the features of a closed-economy were dominant in the country, many professionals including doctors, engineers and lawyers left Sri Lanka to live and work the in the West. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the legacy of what came to be known as Black July in 1983 where Tamil separatists had stepped up militant attacks in the North killing 13 soldiers, and over the next few days, some members of the Sinhalese majority took revenge causing havoc around the country. This unfortunate turn of events led to a mass exodus of educated members of the Tamil community to other countries.

And in the 1990s-2000s when bomb blasts were taking place and the country engaged in a war to crush terrorism, another wave of Tamil professionals departed from Sri Lanka. Around this time, universities had been closed for three consecutive years from 1986 to 1989 due to political unrest and many students from affluent families left the country to pursue their higher education in foreign countries. So, this is a brief overview of how migration happened in the past. And today, we are witnessing the largest-ever exodus of qualified professionals as a result of the deeper implications and consequences of the current economic crisis.”

“You see, this time the brain drain is starkly different from the past scenarios and you cannot really blame the people going out because who does not want to improve standard of life? However, I think this situation has a silver lining too. If the policymakers take advantage of the often-overlooked aspects, the brain drain could be turned into a win-win situation for the country as well as the skilled migrants in the medium to long term.”

“Not only in Sri Lanka, the migration of skilled workers is a persistent trend in many developing countries, and therefore, as a country we need to look at how we can strategically attract skilled migrants to come back after some time and make Sri Lanka more attractive to international capital investment as well as an oasis for knowledge industries which are based on intensive use of technology and human capital.”

“We need to understand that migration takes place because of push factors in Sri Lanka and pull factors in the receiving countries. So, the authorities must avoid measures to limit or tax skilled migrants’ decisions to leave the country because it goes against the democratic norms of the country and the fundamental freedom of choice. Instead, the authorities should facilitate them to migrate because these skilled professionals are privy to most updated technologies and best work practices in those countries.”

“Let’s not forget that many of our professionals abroad have built purposeful connections and networks in these advanced economies, therefore, Sri Lanka can leverage this ‘brain circulation’ for its rapid development and economic growth. If we harness it properly, it can trigger a flow back of knowledge, new technologies and foreign direct investments (FDI) to the country.

If we can entice at least a small percentage of the Sri Lankan diaspora to come back and operate from Sri Lanka, they will have the capacity to form the back bone of a new economic order especially by innovating lucrative products for the global ICT marketplace. So the government must work towards the goal of providing them with amenities similar to what they would get in the foreign lands they go to. If we can do this, we will be able to attract back at least a few of them who have the true transformative capacity to help Sri Lanka in its growth journey.”

“Already without any government intervention, a few individuals of Sri Lanka’s patriotic diaspora have shifted their base back home because they identified the favourable opportunities in Sri Lanka. Virtusa Corporation founded by Kris Canekeratne, WSO2 founded by Dr.Sanjiva Weerawarana, CodeGen founded by Dr. Harsha Subasinghe, Orion City founded by Jeevan Gnanam, for example, have earned a lot of name and fame for what they are specialized in and have become foreign currency revenue earners to reckon with, in their respective fields.

They interconnected their operations to Sri Lanka driven by their own passion and passed the benefit to the county regardless of little support from the policymaking side. But such passionate volunteering by the Sri Lankan diaspora needs to be spurred by the government without much delay. The government can take a cue from India in this regard and introduce a special visa category for the diaspora members, and create tech hubs and science parks to facilitate them to bring their operations to Sri Lanka. When such visionary entrepreneurs come, other professionals also will see that the country is doing all the right things to achieve its full growth potential, and they will also jump on the growth bandwagon,” Dr. Janaka Fernando said.



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SriLankan Airlines records revenue increase with AI and ML-powered Revenue Management System

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SriLankan Airlines recorded a revenue increase following the implementation of its AI- and ML-powered Revenue Management System, a project that earned the Growth Catalyst Award at the Outperformer Customer Awards 2025 by PROS and the Silver Award in the AI and Data Science category at the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2025 by the Project Management Institute Sri Lanka Chapter.

SriLankan Airlines has recorded a revenue increase following the implementation of a next-generation, AI and Machine-Learning (ML) powered Origin and Destination (O&D) revenue management platform. The system enables dynamic pricing and smarter inventory optimisation, while delivering a superior passenger experience across all sales channels through real-time seat availability and predictive analytics.

Kshanaka Saparamadu, Head of Revenue Management at SriLankan Airlines, remarked, “Embracing the latest revenue management technology is a testament to our commitment to continuous innovation and digital transformation. With the introduction of PROS Revenue Management Advantage and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation, we are not only refining our current processes but also positioning ourselves for long-term success in modern airline retailing, ensuring we stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.”

Chamara Perera, Group Head of IT at SriLankan Airlines, added, “This transition to a dynamic, integrated revenue management system reflects our strategic focus on remaining agile in an increasingly competitive and fast-evolving airline industry. As the aviation sector undergoes rapid digital transformation, SriLankan Airlines is enhancing its ability to respond swiftly to market fluctuations and meet the evolving demands of today’s travelers.”

Powered by PROS’ AI-driven Revenue Management Advantage (RMA) and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation (RAAV), the platform leverages AI algorithms and ML models to improve alignment of capacity and demand, optimise premium seat allocation and respond swiftly to market shifts. These capabilities deliver unmatched agility and scalability, boost yield and position SriLankan Airlines at the forefront of digital transformation in aviation.

Industry benchmarks show that O&D-based revenue optimisation models typically deliver a 3%-5% increase in passenger revenue, underscoring the new revenue management system as a key driver, among other strategic factors, to the 13% growth recorded by SriLankan Airlines during the first three quarters of the 2025-2026 financial year.

This initiative has not only enhanced SriLankan Airlines’ agility, scalability, and competitiveness in a dynamic global aviation market, but also strengthened collaboration between pricing, demand and flight analyst teams, earning two awards in the process. It was recognised with the Growth Catalyst Award at the Outperformer Customer Awards 2025 in Las Vegas by PROS, as well as the Silver Award in the AI and Data Science category at the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2025 in Colombo by the Project Management Institute Sri Lanka Chapter.

As SriLankan Airlines continues its modernisation journey, the new integrated revenue management platform will significantly improve SriLankan Airlines’ global market position, its ability to attract and retain high value connecting passengers, and competitiveness in the global aviation landscape.(SriLankan Airlines)

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CCC delegation completes prestigious International Trade Facilitation Programme

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A delegation of 30 professionals from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently completed a specialised residential training programme on International Trade Facilitation at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in New Delhi.

Hosted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, a premier institution established under India’s Ministry of Commerce and widely regarded as a leading centre of excellence in international trade education and research, the programme also included engagements with several of India’s most prominent trade and diplomacy institutions. These included the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the government authority responsible for shaping and implementing India’s foreign trade policy; the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, the country’s premier training institution for diplomats; the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), the apex body representing India’s exporting community; and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), one of India’s most influential industry associations. Together, these engagements offered participants valuable insights into how policy, diplomacy, and industry interact in a robust manner to facilitate trade and economic progress.

Over nine days, participants explored key aspects of global commerce, including the international trading system, trade negotiations, economic intelligence, trade finance, and emerging issues such as AI, cyber risk, and digital transformation.

The programme offered valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of international trade and the systems that support it, while highlighting ways in which chambers of commerce can further leverage their existing role in supporting businesses navigate global markets, contributing to policy discussions, and strengthen the broader trade ecosystem.

The programme was designed and overseen by Dr. Rohit Mehtani, Dean at IIFT and a widely respected expert in international trade diplomacy and negotiations, whose academic work and advisory experience have contributed to international trade discourse.

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LOLC Life Assurance hosts MDRT Summit & Recognition Night 2026 honouring top performers

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Chandana L. Aluthgama Executive Director/Principal Officer LOLC Life Assurance Ltd // Jayantha Kalinga Chief Operating Officer LOLC Life Assurance Ltd.

LOLC Life Assurance recently hosted its MDRT Summit & Recognition Night 2026 at the Hilton Colombo Residences, celebrating its 2025 MDRT qualifiers while aspiring the team to achieve even greater milestones in the year ahead. The event brought together senior leadership and top performing advisors in a distinguished forum focused on recognising performance excellence, sharing industry insights, and setting the strategic direction for continued success.

In 2025, the Company produced 89 MDRT qualifiers, including six Court of the Table (COT) and two Top of the Table (TOT) achievers, along with one Lifetime MDRT member. Representing Agency and Bancassurance channels, these professionals demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering responsible financial guidance and long-term protection solutions to individuals and families across Sri Lanka.

The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is globally recognised as the benchmark of excellence in the life insurance and financial services profession. Membership is reserved for individuals who meet rigorous production targets and uphold strict ethical standards. Achieving MDRT status is widely regarded as a mark of credibility, trust, and advisory distinction.

Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Chandana L. Aluthgama, Executive Director and Principal Officer of LOLC Life Assurance stated, “It is with great pride that we recognise our MDRT qualifiers for their dedication, discipline, and integrity, which set a benchmark of excellence for our advisory force and reflect the customer-first values that define LOLC Life Assurance. These achievers deserve recognition not only for meeting targets or selling policies, but also for safeguarding families, empowering individuals to build their legacies, and supporting financial independence, providing certainty and confidence in an unpredictable world. In acknowledging their exceptional contributions, I congratulate all our MDRT qualifiers and am confident they will continue to deliver meaningful financial protection while creating lasting value for our clients and communities.”

Further echoing this sentiment, Mr. Jayantha Kalinga, Chief Operating Officer of LOLC Life Assurance added, “This Summit not only celebrates the outstanding performance of our MDRT achievers in 2025 but also acknowledges the resilience, consistency, and customer dedication demonstrated by our teams throughout the year. As we move forward, we will continue to strengthen capabilities through structured development initiatives, advanced training tools, and robust operational support, empowering our advisors to serve clients with confidence and professionalism while further expanding our MDRT presence in the years ahead.”

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