Sri Lanka initiates steps to reduce brain drain

Sri Lanka is aiming to turn back the brain drain tide and attract foreign workers back to the country by encouraging technologically advanced industries, an official said here Tuesday. Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana told media that the government was conscious of the need to improve employment opportunities in the country and widen the scope of technologically advanced industries so that professionals would return to the country. "We have already decided to only allow investments exceeding 300 million U.S. dollars to encourage industries using advanced technology into the country. We hope this will create job opportunities and attract educated foreign workers back into the country," he said. Abeywardana added that over 7500 vacancies exist in the Katunayake Export Zone, one of the country's oldest factories catering mostly to garment, as people shift to more professional jobs. Sri Lanka is focusing on attracting its migrant scientists to return and help develop the country after the end of a brutal three-decade conflict in 2009. Sri Lanka has a large Tamil diaspora community and the government introduced attractive tax incentives for them in its 2012 budget.