In a concerning trend for Sri Lanka’s higher education sector, approximately 900 university lecturers left the country in 2023, with expectations of more departures in 2024, as reported by the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA). This brain drain poses a significant challenge for Sri Lankan universities, which currently face a staggering 50% vacancy rate among lecturers.
The shortage is particularly acute as Sri Lankan universities require around 13,000 academics to operate optimally, considering the student population of approximately 155,000. However, with only 6,500 lecturers currently employed in public universities, the education system is grappling with a severe deficit.
Multiple factors contribute to this exodus, with the country undergoing its worst economic crisis and deepest recession since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. The economic downturn is reflected in a Central Bank of Sri Lanka report, indicating negative growth of -7.4% in 2022 and -3.8% in 2023.