The exodus of Sri Lankans of all walks of life over the last several decades has led to the formation of many Sri Lankan diaspora communities across the world. While some of these people left the country looking for greener pastures elsewhere, others migrated due to direct and indirect impacts on them of various social and political conflicts in the country. Many of the Sri Lankan migrants overseas, particularly in western countries are organized into many closely knit socio-cultural or political communities, irrespective of their social and economic background. As is well known, some of the politically organized groups have taken a keen interest in domestic political affairs of Sri Lanka. This was quite clear during periods of violent conflict when different diaspora groups openly identified with different political factions in the country. These divisions were also evident in countries where sizable numbers of Sri Lankans were concentrated. Engagement of diaspora communities in domestic politics of Sri Lanka at times became highly contentious leading to much heated debates in both Sri Lanka and overseas. Ethno-nationalist political groups in Sri Lanka often looked at diaspora groups either as a resource or a liability depending on their respective ethno-political loyalties.
But what is often overlooked is the fact that many people of Sri Lankan origin living in overseas countries have a genuine interest in contributing to national development in Sri Lanka. Yet, successive governments have done precious little over the years to systematically harness resourceful diaspora communities for the benefit of the general population in the country. There have of course been exceptions. It is only fair to note that there have been many isolated projects initiated by diaspora groups in diverse sectors such as health, education, rural development and social welfare. But, there have not been any concerted effort by any government so far to develop a national policy framework that can facilitate the mobilization of human and material resources of large diaspora communities in several countries in Europe, North America and elsewhere. Constructive engagement of such communities by state and non-state organizations can not only bring material benefits to the country but also help defuse tensions and potential conflicts both at home and abroad.
"While some of these people left the country looking for greener pastures elsewhere, others migrated due to direct and indirect impacts on them of various social and political conflicts in the country"
Relatively more open and liberal political environment in the country today provides a window of opportunity to mobilize a significant part of Sri Lankan diaspora in a number of developed countries like Australia, UK, Canada and the United States. Given the heterogeneous nature of the diaspora in terms of ethno-religious background, professional skills, age, gender and class, many people of Sri Lankan origin living overseas can bring a wealth of experience and resources to help Sri Lanka to address a whole range of economic and social issues.
Despite the recognition by many of the potential of diaspora engagement in facilitating social and economic development in the country, we are yet to develop a comprehensive national plan of action to make diaspora engagement a reality. As a result, much of what is happening in this area is confined to sporadic and isolated initiatives on the part of civil society groups with little support or 
facilitation by the government. On the other hand, a concerted collaborative program involving the government, civil society organizations and others, developed and implemented over a number of years could make a significant difference in the way many Sri Lankans look at diaspora communities overseas. This is important for a country that remains largely divided on ethno-religious lines. Given the fact that many people of Sri Lankan origin living abroad display a keen interest in maintaining an enduring relationship with the country, they could be effectively mobilized to engage in diverse activities that can be mutually beneficial. The nature of their engagement can vary widely depending on their socio-economic background, skills, resources, interests and possibilities but an effective scheme of mobilization can provide for many different ways of engagement. For instance, some could engage in programs in Sri Lanka even without staying in the country, while others may come to Sri Lanka for an extended period of time. Some may even divide their time between Sri Lanka and overseas.
As mentioned above, there are sporadic and isolated efforts to engage Sri Lankan diaspora, particularly by civil society groups and informal groups of individuals. These naturally have a limited scope and do not have a countrywide impact. The challenge today is to mainstream diaspora engagement on the basis of a clear and well articulated national policy. Such a policy can provide the framework within which modalities of diaspora engagement can be worked out including the determination of the respective roles of diverse stakeholders.
Given the diverse possibilities that exist for diaspora engagement, it would be futile to make an effort to identify an exhaustive list of areas of such engagement. Yet, it is possible to identify a few broad areas on a priority basis given their direct relevance for national development. These are Research and Development, higher education, reconciliation, industrial and agricultural development , organisational innovation, social and community development and human resource development.
The exodus of Sri Lankans, both voluntary and involuntary has been going on for over half a century. The process was accelerated in the early 1980’s. The thirty year war compelled large numbers of Sri Lankans to leave the country for good. The war came to an end in 2009, about seven years ago. Many of those who left the country and settled down in other countries have shown an interest to establish and maintain mutually beneficial links to the country of their origin. A few have taken the trouble to do so on their own. What is urgently needed is for the government to take the lead and take whatever measures necessary to facilitate the process. It is necessary to send a clear signal to the members of the Sri Lankan diaspora in the above regard. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can play a catalytic role, other relevant Ministries and institutions should work in concert to identify areas of diaspora engagement in their own institutional settings.
"The exodus of Sri Lankans, both voluntary and involuntary has been going on for over half a century. The process was accelerated in the early 1980’s."
As is well known, Sri Lanka is faced with a number of serious challenges today. It is urgent to overcome these challenges to make way for sustainable development, national reconciliation and socio-political stability. Constructive engagement of the diaspora in the above processes in innovative ways can go a long way in facilitating development and change. But serious diaspora engagement is highly unlikely to happen unless a concerted national effort is made. It is hoped that the relevant authorities would take the necessary measures to establish an effective national mechanism and a wide ranging dialogue to facilitate the process. As is well known, many countries of East Asia that have done well economically, significantly benefited from a reverse flow of diaspora resources in the initial stages of their economic development. Given the serious problems we face in the areas of human resource development and institutional development diverse sectors, the country can ill afford to treat diaspora engagement in a lackadaisical manner. Sooner we realise this, the better it is.
