SRI LANKANS OVERSEAS | LMD

BEYOND THE COMFORT ZONE

Dr. Dushani Palliyaguru

It’s time for Sri Lankans to step outdoors their consolation zones

 Q: So far as perceptions go, do you suppose Sri Lanka is able to regaining its composure within the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Completely! The entire world has been coping with COVID-19 and Sri Lanka is not any exception. Since there are numerous unknowns in regards to the true results of the pandemic nevertheless, we should be vigilant, versatile and resilient.

Q: How do you understand Sri Lanka right this moment?
A: Sri Lanka has huge potential. However ineffective management, corruption, over-subscription to state providers and a demographic that’s altering too quickly for one to maintain tempo with proceed to be among the many best challenges.

Nonetheless, I do imagine that Sri Lankans are actually good at discovering modern options to issues if introduced with the right instruments.

Q: And the way do compatriots in your nation of domicile view Sri Lanka?
A: The People I encounter in tutorial circles are sometimes very enthusiastic about Sri Lanka. They’re conscious of our tea, spices, sandy seashores and colonial historical past.

A proud second was when a Japanese-American colleague spoke about how academic textbooks in Japan point out Ranatunge Karunananda, who competed in Tokyo’s 1964 Summer season Olympics – he’s a poster youngster for dedication and resilience. That’s the true essence of being Sri Lankan on this world.

Q: Likewise, how do different Sri Lankans residing in america view their motherland?
A: Whereas immigrant Sri Lankans are very adaptable and extremely profitable at creating their very own communities within the US, I typically hear in regards to the circumstances that led them emigrate within the first place – comparable to an absence of alternative, the civil struggle or uncertainties related to the financial way forward for Sri Lanka.

Q: What had been your impressions of Sri Lanka on the final go to – and the way a lot has it modified from the previous?
A: I lived in Sri Lanka for an prolonged interval final yr. Despite the financial and political local weather being extraordinarily unstable, I encountered numerous hardworking, clever and patriotic Sri Lankans who had been dedicated to creating a distinction.

It was fascinating to find out about how know-how is being leveraged by Sri Lankans to develop options for a lot of issues that vary from transportation and meals providers to healthcare.

Q: From afar, how do you understand information about Sri Lanka – and what media channels do you depend on to remain linked particularly throughout instances of disaster?
A: You run the chance of stories anyplace on this planet being extremely politicised and that is the case in Sri Lanka too.

So listening to or studying information from a number of sources together with social media is crucial to realize an entire image of what’s actually happening.

Q: How do you view the mind drain – and why is there nonetheless no reversal of it, in your opinion?
A: The mind drain has been taking place internationally for hundreds of years. Sri Lanka has all the time had the expertise and there are sufficient issues that want specialised native options.

Nonetheless, an absence of funding and the absence of a long-term imaginative and prescient on the a part of these in energy feeds into the continued mind drain.

Q: What ought to Sri Lanka concentrate on most within the coming decade?
A: Expertise and the info revolution – tips on how to leverage and adapt it to Sri Lanka. And naturally, cutting-edge scientific analysis with out which a rustic can’t transfer ahead. There’s a variety of house for innovation in my very own subject of biomedical analysis.

As well as, we should do a greater job of understanding our residents and their distinctive well being points, and try to finish the passive consumption of therapeutics and know-how developed by different international locations.

Q: And what are your hopes for the nation within the subsequent decade or so?
A: I hope Sri Lanka recovers from the fast financial and political turmoil it’s presently going through. And I want that clever younger visionaries emerge and make choices which can be good for the nation.

Sri Lankans ought to problem themselves to do much more, suppose a little bit deeper and step outdoors their consolation zones to shake issues up. It’s simpler mentioned than accomplished… but when these key parts are in place, the remaining will possible observe.

– LMD