In the recent past, a significant number of Sri Lankans were queuing for passports, focusing on relocation for employment, further education, or quality of life considerations. That growing trend of migration forced us to investigate the patterns and drivers for graduate migration in Sri Lanka.
As Sri Lanka struggles with economic uncertainty and rising youth frustration, a silent migration is gaining momentum not through airports just yet, but through aspirations. A growing number of recent graduates are setting their sights on foreign shores, driven by dreams of world-class education, international careers, and more stable futures.
A new nationwide study attempts to examine the reasons behind this increasingly common sentiment among Sri Lankan educated youth. The findings paint a complex picture, where global ambitions collide with local disappointments, and where gender, social ties, and career dreams play pivotal roles in shaping migration intentions. What’s clear from the research is this: migration is no longer merely a last resort; it’s becoming a planned strategy for professional growth and personal development.
Methodology
To capture the mood of the country’s fresh graduates, researchers conducted a nationwide online survey targeting alumni from both public and private universities. A total of 405 responses were analysed, offering a robust snapshot of how young Sri Lankans feel about their future at home and abroad.
The study drew on several theoretical models, combining elements from human capital theory (which frames migration as an investment in future returns), social capital theory (which emphasises the role of personal networks), and gender theory, which interrogates how men and women face different realities when considering migration.
Respondents were asked about their economic outlook, career and educational ambitions, perceptions of the political climate, family expectations, and existing connections abroad. A series of logistic regression models helped determine which factors played the biggest role in shaping whether or not someone planned to migrate.
Findings
What stood out most in the findings was that nearly 68 percent of respondents showed clear intentions to migrate. This isn’t just idle chatter; it’s a strong indicator of the desire among Sri Lankan youth to chart a future outside the national border. Unsurprisingly, economic conditions were the most powerful driver. Those who viewed the Sri Lankan job market and the cost of living negatively were over twice as likely to plan migration. For many, the hope of earning a stable income and escaping inflation outweighed the pull of home comforts.
A close second was the ambition to pursue an international career. Many young professionals feel they can’t fulfil their potential in the often limited and underpaying job market. For them, migration is a stepping stone to better prospects and career mobility. Education also featured prominently.
Graduates with aspirations to study at top-ranked international universities were twice as likely to plan migration. The prestige of a foreign degree, combined with its perceived value in global job markets, remains a powerful motivator.
But it’s not all push factors. The study found that social capital’s close ties with family and community worked as a brake on migration. Those with stronger support systems at home were significantly less likely to want to leave. Emotional and logistical support provided by local networks appears to cushion the dissatisfaction many feel toward the economy or politics.
Interestingly, political dissatisfaction, though widespread, did not significantly drive migration intentions. Many graduates expressed disappointment with governance, but it wasn’t a tipping point in their decision to stay or go. For some, it seems, political instability has become a normalised background noise rather than an active motivator for emigration.
Gender added another layer of complexity. Female graduates were significantly more likely to express migration intentions than males. For women, economic hardship and limited career advancement opportunities at home appear to weigh more heavily, leading to stronger aspirations for global careers and educational experiences. For male graduates, political perceptions and community ties played a more prominent role.
And what about family? Despite traditional assumptions, family influence did not significantly sway migration intentions.
While families may provide encouragement or financial backing, the data suggests that career and economic considerations ultimately carry more weight in these personal decisions.
Practical Implications
These insights offer both a wake-up call and a roadmap for policymakers, educators, and employers. If Sri Lanka is to stem the tide of brain drain, it must act decisively and quickly.
First and foremost, the country needs to fix its economic fundamentals. Young graduates aren’t asking for luxury; they’re asking for stability, opportunity, and dignity in employment. Addressing youth unemployment, aligning university curricula with market demand, and offering career development pathways could make staying a more attractive option.
Second, there’s an urgent need to upgrade the Sri Lankan higher education system. This includes building global partnerships, improving research facilities, and boosting the international reputation of local institutions. If students feel they can receive a world-class education at home, the urge to go abroad might weaken.
Third, social capital must be leveraged as a retention tool. Programs that connect graduates with mentors, alumni networks, and professional communities can create a sense of belonging and opportunity without the need to migrate. These networks not only offer emotional support but can help open doors within the domestic job market.
Gender-responsive strategies are also critical. Women are leading the migration curve, driven by unmet professional aspirations. Policies that promote inclusive work environments, equal pay, flexible working conditions, and leadership opportunities for women could help reverse this trend.
Finally, the conversation around migration must shift. Instead of viewing it purely as a loss, Sri Lanka could adopt a more pragmatic stance by encouraging temporary migration, knowledge exchange, and return pathways. Encouraging graduates to build global competencies and return to investing those skills at home could turn a potential crisis into a long-term national asset.
Conclusion
Sri Lankan young graduates are ambitious, capable, and globally aware. They’re not running away, they’re reaching for better. But unless local conditions improve economically, professionally, and institutionally, the country risks losing a generation of talent to global labour markets. This study is more than an academic exercise. It’s a mirror held up to a nation at a crossroads. The choices made today will determine whether the brightest minds of tomorrow build their futures in Sri Lankier build futures elsewhere, while their homeland watches from afar.
This article was developed based on our research entitled “Global Ambitions, Local Challenges: The Complex Dynamics of Graduate Migration Intentions in an Emerging Economy”, published in the International Journal of Educational Development, indexed in both Scopus and Web of Science and a Q1 (Scimago) journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2025.103285.
By
Buddhini Amarathunga
Senior Lecturer,
Department of Business Management,
Faculty of Business Studies and Finance,
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
Kithsiri Samarakoon
Lecturer,
Department of Accountancy,
Faculty of Business Studies and Finance,
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
Naveen N. Sarathkumara
Assistant Lecturer,
Department of Accountancy and Finance,
Faculty of Management Studies,
Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
