Expatriates and their role
"As we have been victorious in the battle to
defeat terrorism, we should also take to the required successful end the
struggle to build our land. It is necessary for us to take the required
clear decisions for this. We must now be ready to direct our Motherland
to that new era of national revival. Dear Doctors, Engineers, Scientists
and other eminent professionals of Sri Lankan origin, your Motherland
needs your experience, capabilities, professionalism and expertise in
its national revival?" - President
Contribution and the role played by Sri Lankan expatriates to save
the good name and help their mother country goes back two to three
decades. Brotherhood of the expatriate community started to disintegrate
with the emergence of a faction of Tamils who elected themselves as 'Prabakaran
Tamil Diaspora'. After the elimination of the LTTE completely too, 'a
post Prabhakaran Tamil Diaspora' which started to come to life seems to
be breaking up into fragments in the United Kingdom.
In the meanwhile, open invitations are sent to Diaspora in general to
return to a totally free country and work for a national revival. An
objective overview of the topic needs to leave a broad margin for
adjustment during transition from a uniform set of rules in a
disciplined society to an indiscipline and chaotic civilization.
Equating Sri Lanka into this format, no matter in which form one
attempts to evaluate it, one cannot avoid the magic word 'frustration'
coming to the forefront.
Brain drain
Originally a massive brain drain commenced with professionals leaving
for postgraduate studies. Diplomatic staff who went on tour of duty have
stayed back sacrificing their careers and pensions for the sake of their
children's university education abroad; students after qualifying abroad
have boosted foreign economies due to lack of opportunities at home and
others have departed seeking greener pastures due to flawed government
policies and political interferences.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike gave the first sledgehammer blow on the
Diaspora by introducing a fiscal demand of five percent per month out of
their earned income, which made many to abandon their national identity.
The dual nationality which was aimed to woo expatriates had a
negative impact when the registration fee of Rs 5,000 was raised to Rs
100,000 by President Premadasa. The then Foreign Minister Lalith
Athulathmudali called it as 'killing the goose that laid the golden
egg'! Rubbing salt to injury, Chandrika Kumaratunga increased the fee to
Rs 200,000. The gulf between expatriates and the government deepened
with the State harbouring the view that expatriates were wealthy and
selfish as opposed to Diaspora's view of the mother country alienating
them purposely.
When terrorism spread from the South at first and then to East and
North of the country, it fashioned a migratory element, encompassing
Tamil intellectuals and sympathizers, thus creating a division within
the Diaspora - Sinhala and Tamil. To achieve aims and goals of a 'pro
LTTE Diaspora', a well coordinated strategy took shape to brainwash
fellow expatriate Tamils and International Community whilst raising
funds by smuggling drugs, arms, illegal immigrant rackets, credit card
fraud, etc., to 'bribe Western Parliamentarians and journalists'. Apathy
among some of the Sri Lankan Missions abroad to counter false propaganda
during this era made such fabrications flourish.
Tamil Diaspora
At the hour of need when anti-Sri Lanka propaganda widespread
internationally, aided and abetted by the pro-Prabahakaran Tamil
Diaspora, in collaboration with a variety of INGOs, a section of Sri
Lankan patriotic Diaspora reacted and responded spontaneously in an
admirable fashion, minus any financial aid from the State.
Diaspora from Australia (Spur Australia) and UK groups (among many)
gave a jump-start others to emulate.
No one can deny the fact of the role played by patriotic expatriates,
both individually and collectively and faced up to the challenges thrown
at them on live TV debates and interviews conducted by skilled foreign
TV and Radio journalists during this era; simultaneously they applied
counter pressure on misguided British MPs, the Metropolitan Police and
staged open protests and marches.
Those who were 'on the ball', blessed with financial resources,
travelled to Western destinations to meet up with LTTE challenges, at
their own expense, unlike the well-funded NGO mafia who were well
rewarded for running down Sri Lanka.
Expatriates have a cause to be proud of being children of Sri Lanka
who have stood up to the occasion by commitment and activity.
They have been forceful and effective in combating adverse propaganda
internationally on par with bullets used in the battlefield by the
gallant Security Forces in crushing the terrorist element.
It would be farfetched to expect everyone who has left the country to
return back with lock stock and barrel uprooting themselves overnight to
accept the challenges and problems at home.
Yet, the cardinal point that needs to set in motion would be to make
the Sri Lankan Diaspora actively engage, involve, partake and assist the
mother country.
People's circumstances differ, yet there are expatriates who want to
come back and 'be part of the solution' now that the country is free.
Towards this end the State needs to understand their problems and
compromise rather than extending 'sugar coated' verbal welcome requests
alone.
Expatriate professionals
Introduction of special welcome programs to integrate the returning
expatriate professionals would be the foundation.
Understanding their broader outlook and experience in developed
counties becomes a vital factor. Discarding pre-conceived prejudices and
harbouring conflicting mind-sets would only have a negative effect. Once
they are assimilated into the foray special programs to monitor their
welfare too become compulsory. Nelson Mandela's brainchild of offering
South African expatriates (about six years ago) has benefitted South
Africa immensely, and it would be a good role model for Sri Lanka to
emulate.
In order to accomplish fruits of Mahinda Chintana Vision for the
future, expatriates of all races should now be encouraged by the State
by deed and action.
' Come Home' invitation should be integrated with the dual
nationality fee reduced even further, rather than enforcing investments
of US $25,000 or $50,000 in fixed deposits for three years to qualify
for free dual nationality status. Granting them perks such as duty free
car permits against foreign earned income would be a welcome note;
persuading them to visit regularly with families and spend foreign
currency will boost government coffers.
Inspiring them on investment programs and stimulating them to buy
property will open new avenues of foreign exchange intake. Relaxing visa
restrictions on foreign wives would be another stimulant.
Encouraging pensioners to return to their roots with their retirement
funds in foreign currency will make everyone happy. After all, they are
all children of Mother Lanka and just because some of them hold a piece
of paper indicating they are of a 'different breed', they too were born
and bred and (most of them) educated here and still have lingering
memories of their childhood with their hearts, minds and souls buried in
their toots.
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