taxation Abstract:
Migration has become a significant concern among Sri Lankans, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has faced multiple crises, including economic instability that has led to inflation, shortages of essential goods and services, political upheaval and widespread civil unrest. These challenges have driven an increase in migration across various skill levels. While skilled migration has the potential to bring in remittances that could support Sri Lanka’s economic development, it also poses challenges, such as brain drain and talent retention, which are not adequately addressed in the existing literature. Therefore, this study aims to explore perceived migration trends within Sri Lanka’s education sector in the post-COVID-19 economic crisis. Using a concurrent triangulation design, data were collected from 310 professionals in the education sector through semi-structured, self-administered online questionnaires between June and August 2023. In addition, one-on-one interviews with six participants were conducted to gain deeper insights. The findings reveal that young professionals are more likely to migrate, contributing to a potential shrinking of the workforce. The main factors driving migration in the sample population include economic instability, threats to social well-being, personal aspirations, personal frustrations and external influences.
Published in: Sage Journals - Migration and Development
Date of Journal: July 6, 2025
DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2503.20079.
Publisher: Sage Journals