Melting pot of cultures
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Just earlier this week, a rally was held in Geneva, Switzerland, where Tamil groups, openly displaying LTTE flags, demanded social justice and accountability for Sri Lankan Tamils at a time when the UN Human Rights sessions were in progress there. In some other countries Sri Lankans have organised street marches, at various times, displaying the country’s lion flag during these celebrations often to mark Sri Lanka’s Independence Day.Sri Lankan communities often organise musical shows in Australia, UK, US, Canada and across West Asia with Sri Lankan bands flying there for these occasions. Cultural festivals are also the norm. But with migration policies tightening in many of these countries and local communities perturbed by the influx of foreigners, will these shows of cultural unity clash with local sentiments?
Far-right and nationalist groups are gradually rising in many societies and countries which attract migrants from other countries. So far, they have not made a dent in Europe for instance, which is attracting a large number of migrant workers with Germany being an example. But it is only a matter of time before the melting of cultures causes clashes within, as the number of foreigners rises in comparison to the local population.
According to informed observers, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party continues to be isolated in the German political scene, similar populist parties are gaining momentum in other EU countries. Foreign media reported that last month, tens of thousands of Australians marched against “mass immigration”.
In the US, Trump’s anti-immigration policies have forced many foreign students to look for placements in other countries, while the US also turned down new applications from foreign students. More than 300 workers at a South Korean battery plant in the US were detained in a raid by US immigration authorities and forced to return to South Korea, as the US tightened the screws on what it called ‘illegal migration’.
Jayantha Jayaweera, a Sri Lankan migrant living in Australia with his family, in an article (in this section) says that recent anti-immigrant protests in Australia and the UK have sparked intense debate about migration policies and their impact on society. He wrote: “In Australia, thousands rallied in major cities, calling for stricter immigration controls, while some groups often linked to far-right ideologies used the protests to voice more extreme views. Similarly, in the UK, over 150,000 people marched in London, with far-right activist Tommy Robinson leading the charge.
“The concerns voiced by many Australians, including fears over housing affordability, wages and the strain on infrastructure, reflect deep anxieties about the effects of large-scale immigration. Some worry that their cultural values and community ties are being undermined, especially as the influence of immigrant communities grows. The presence of neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups at these protests has also raised alarm, further complicating the conversation about immigration and national identity.”
“Reflecting on the broader conversation around immigration, I wonder if some aspects of our cultural expressions might be seen as disrupting the local way of life,” asked Jayaweera, stating that for example, large-scale cultural events like the Sinhala Buddhist street procession in Canberra or the Sinhala New Year celebration in Melbourne, which drew 12,000 people, might be perceived as challenging the mainstream culture in Australia.
He stated: “How can we, as migrants, preserve our cultural heritage while integrating into Australian society? Cultural expressions, such as the lively cricket celebrations we enjoy in Sri Lanka, may clash with the more reserved approach of Australian or English fans. In Sri Lanka, limited overs matches often feature vibrant celebrations, with fans dancing to the Pappare Band sometimes more focused on the music than the game itself.”
“While this is a cherished part of our culture, I recognise that bringing such exuberance to iconic cricket grounds like Lord’s or the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) could disrupt the traditional fan experience,” he says, adding that “finding the right balance between cultural preservation and integration is essential. Our children are learning about Australian culture and adopting new customs, but it’s important that we also find ways to share our own culture in ways that are respectful to the local community”.
According to UN estimates, there are more than 3 million Sri Lankans living and working across the globe with large groups in Europe, West Asia, East Asia, Australia and North America. While most are migrants living and working for many years, Sri Lankans in West Asia are there for shorter, 2-to-4 year work periods before returning home but some return to those countries on renewed work contracts.
Sri Lankan workers in West Asia would number around 1-1.5 million, while the annual outflow to those countries is over 200,000. In Europe and elsewhere, there is a sizable number of Sri Lankans. Denmark has over 12,000; France nearly 75,000, Germany about 35,000, Italy about 110,000, Netherlands about 15,000, Norway about 14,000, the UK around 300,000, Australia around 80,000 (including students) and the US around 85,000 people, according to UN estimates.
During the economic crisis in 2021-22, thousands of Sri Lankan left its shores for greener pastures. A total of almost 900,000 passports were issued in 2022 – an all-time high, compared to the previous high of just over 650,000 in 2016.
Phew, migration concerns certainly take their toll on the brain! Pausing for a while from writing this column, I walked into the kitchen to fetch my second mug of tea and happened to overhear the trio at their weekly ‘gossip’ session under the margosa tree.
“Mata aranchi vidihata, godak baala kattiya pita rata yanna balan inney (I hear that a lot of young people want to go abroad),” said Kussi Amma Sera. “Eh, lankawe rassawal hoyaganna amaru hindada (Is that because finding jobs in Sri Lanka is difficult)?” asked Serapina. “Meda peradiga keti kaalina sevaka conthraththu prashnayak nethi wunata, mata aranchi wena ratawal-wala rassawal karanna lesi nae kiyala (While short work contracts in the Middle East are okay, I am told that working in other countries is not easy),” said Mabel Rasthiyadu.
Ultimately, the best place is home but do we have the political will to ensure young Sri Lankans are provided decent jobs, a livable salary, better living standards, better schools, etc to discourage them from going abroad?
The country is losing out in the race to transform to a digital economy with good prospects for its young talent pool: Only time will tell whether the country succeeds in its endeavour to become a better society with a trained workforce and an abundance of job opportunities. As it gathers steam towards the goal of being developed, Sri Lanka is endowed, fortunately (unlike many other countries like Singapore for instance), with some of the best resources on the planet but sadly lacks leadership to cross the line towards a dignified and wealthy nation.
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