Brain drain refers to the migration of highly skilled professionals from developing to developed countries in search of better opportunities. This phenomenon sees large numbers of intellectuals leaving their native lands for countries like the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Causes of brain drain include inadequate salaries and lack of opportunities in home countries as well as desires for further education and better living conditions. Sri Lanka has experienced significant brain drain since the 1960s as skilled workers migrate abroad, shortaging fields and hurting development; however, the end of the ethnic war has raised hopes some migrant professionals may return to help with economic recovery.

1. Brain Drain

2. • Brain drain refers to ‘Migration of the highly skilled
professionals to the foreign countries in search of better
opportunities’
• significant feature which can be seen in developing countries.
• important pattern of international human migration.
• large number of intellectuals leave their native lands and
settle in the developed countries.
Brain Drain

3. • Brain drain can occur
1. individuals who study abroad do not return to their home
country
2. when individuals are educated in their home country
emigrate (drains more resources from the home country)

4. Causes
• inadequate salaries in home country - inspired to migrate
overseas to earn more money.
• lack of job opportunities in the relevant fields
• Further education,
• Acquiring better living conditions
• Prevailing political instability and ethnic conflict

5. Situation in Sri Lanka
• Store of intelligence among third world countries, comprise of educated
people with high level of knowledge and competencies.
• Started in 1960s and the rate has been increased from considerable
percentage at present.
• Migrate to the countries like United States, Australia ,Canada, United
Kingdom, New Zealand.
• Shortage of skilled people in many fields .
• The high skilled categories with high outflow are doctors and accountants
• Migration of skilled professionals increased because of the ethnic war
which intensified in the early 1980s.
• But government ending the 30-year conflict, raised hopes of an economic
revival which attract Sri Lankan migrant professionals to either return or
invest back in their country of birth to help with the recovery.

6. Impacts
• Negative effects on developing countries.
• Resources of the developing countries drain to developed countries
through the brain drain. 9 e.g.-governments’ investment on
education)
• Migration of intellectuals such as doctors ,engineers, scientists and
experts
• affects the fields of health, education and development.
Examples-
Health - shortages of doctors in Sri Lanka, specially in rural areas
Development - Lack of trained scientists and experts has affected
Science and scientific research and technology developments.