Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni revealed that 3,791 specialist doctors left Sri Lanka between 2020 and 2025, with overseas education and employment cited as primary reasons for the exodus.
Sri Lanka has experienced significant outflow of medical professionals over the past five years, according to statements made in Parliament this week. Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni disclosed that 3,791 specialist doctors departed the country between 2020 and 2025. The reasons for departure varied, with many pursuing postgraduate qualifications abroad, while others sought employment opportunities overseas, accompanied family members, or pursued additional medical training and treatment.
The scale of the ongoing trend is evident in current year figures, with 280 doctors having already applied for overseas travel permission so far in 2026. Beyond permanent departures, the Health Ministry has also granted no-pay leave to 1,429 doctors seeking to work or study abroad between 2020 and June 2026, alongside 140 specialist doctors granted similar leave arrangements during the same period.
However, the full scope of medical professional migration may be underestimated. Wijemuni acknowledged that the Health Ministry does not systematically track doctors who resign from service before relocating overseas, meaning the actual number of those leaving the country could be higher than official figures suggest.
In response to the medical brain drain, the government has implemented measures aimed at retaining healthcare professionals within Sri Lanka. These initiatives focus on improving working conditions through enhanced allowances, better transport and accommodation provisions, and other workplace improvements. The Deputy Minister indicated that additional proposals to address the issue remain under government review.
