Docs, accountants top brain drain

April 5, 2012, 10:27 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe, The Island.

Health Minister Maithreepala Sirirsena yesterday said that departure of doctors in search of greener pastures abroad was a massive problem to Sri Lanka as most of them left the country before completing the post intern period.

He said that in the latest batch 20 doctors had left the country after completing pre – intern appointment period. According to ministry statistics, over 70 medical graduates had left the country before completing at least the pre internship.

They had given appointments to 750 medical graduates as pre intern doctors two months ago, but 72 of them left the country without accepting their appointment letters, the minister said.

"This time we plan to give post - internship appointments to 228 doctors, but only 218 doctors who completed the pre – internship period came to accept the appointment letters," Sirisena said adding that the rest of them left the country just after completing the pre internship.

A study conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka has revealed that doctors and accountants top the outflow of skilled professionals from Sri Lanka, seeking better opportunities in developed countries.

The study revealed that each year around 60 doctors leave for the UK, Australia, Canada and other nations in the developed world to complete a year’s compulsory training, but only half of them actually return.

The study said that Sri Lanka had the highest expatriation or migration rate of doctors.

The IPS study said that because of the brain drain, in the health sector, there were only 800 specialist doctors in Sri Lanka to serve a population of 18 million.

University dons claim new circular violates academic freedom

April 5, 2012, 10:22 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe, The Island.

University teachers yesterday accused the government of violating their academic freedom through a new circular prohibiting State sector officials from attending additional meetings, seminars and lectures without prior approval from the relevant ministry.

President of the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri told The Island that they received a circular from Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne in this regard.

He said that the Higher Education Secretary issued the circular according to a recent Cabinet decision.

According to the circular, which was copied to the University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake, the university academics would have to obtain prior approval of the Higher Education Ministry when they attend an additional seminar, lecture or a meeting, he said.

The senior academic said that the process of obtaining prior approval for such a purpose from the ministry would take at least two weeks.

"It is not practical as we already attend such activities at short notice," Dr. Devasiri said.

He said that the FUTA Executive Committee would meet on April 09 (Monday) and decide on a future course of actions in this regard.

Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne was not available for comment as he is abroad.