While delivering the government’s policy statement in Parliament this afternoon (01 September), President Maithripala Sirisena made a request from intellectuals who had left Sri Lanka for greener pastures to return to the island and serve their motherland.

He added that a red carpet welcome awaits those who thus return to Sri Lanka.

Apart from this, the President added that a separate secretariat would be set up to coordinate the return of these intellectuals from overseas.

While brain drain has been a significant feature affecting Sri Lanka, a large number of intellectuals are now overseas working in various sectors.