The acute shortage of skilled personnel that has resulted due to the brain drain means that the electricity system could undoubtedly fail even if there is coal, water, or fuel in the future, says Nihal Weeraratne, President of the Electrical Engineers Association.
He points out that due to the short-sighted policies of the government, including the tax policy that discourages professionals, almost 100 of the 700 electrical engineers in the CEB have left the country, and almost all the electrical engineers under 45 have applied for citizenship elsewhere in other countries.
Also, the chairman said that the opportunity to hire any new engineers coming out of the universities has also been limited, since the new engineers also have attractive job opportunities in countries such as Australia.
Nihal Weeraratne also said:
“Not only the engineers but also the employees working in the technical department, have resigned.” “More than a hundred engineers have already left the country.”
“There are several reasons for this. Firstly, it is due to the economic collapse of the country; secondly, the government gave the professionals a five-year holiday to find dollars. After that, the process of leaving the country accelerated due to this arbitrary tax policy.
“The country came to such a situation. We need young engineers for the future of the country. They are needed for power plant operations, maintenance, and planning.
“To the places where people prepare the system, to information technology… “But all the people who leave this country are young engineers.”
“People who can get a good job overseas stay back.” This was the situation in Sri Lanka before 1998. In 1998, wage disparities were eliminated, and engineers and other professionals were employed at a substantial salary. This is a place that provides 24-hour mandatory service to the country.
“Because of this, a good salary structure was implemented in 1998.” “The brain drain of doctors and other professionals stopped when private practice was allowed.”
“It is now back again with more severity,” he said.
