Govt. to halt further rot in public sector by stopping state-sponsored brain drain
The government is likely to review the decision that permits public sector employees to work abroad for five-years as most capable people are leaving the country under the scheme, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment told a joint press conference organised by the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) and Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni Association (PIMA) in Colombo recently.
Since the best officers were leaving the public service had weakened significantly, he said.
Dr. Jasinghe said over 2,000 public sector employees had obtained approval for going overseas.
“They are often the best we had. Those who performed well and those with skills that the country needs,” he said.
He said the previous government, due to the foreign exchange crisis, had allowed public sector employees to obtain no-pay leave for a five-year period while guaranteeing their seniority and pension rights upon their return.
This decision was taken as a means to reduce government expenditure and increase foreign exchange inflows.