Sri Lanka, Aug. 19 -- A parliamentary probe into unpaid study bonds has triggered a sharp debate over state-funded brain drain. The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) flagged Rs. 3.5 billion in outstanding dues from university academics who breached service agreements after completing overseas postgraduate studies, warning the figure could soon reach Rs. 5 billion. However, the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA) rejected claims of an outright financial loss, maintaining that up to 80% remains legally recoverable through sureties and called for stronger enforcement rather than villainizing the academic community.

The claim that Sri Lanka has suffered a Rs. 3.5 billion financial loss from university academics who ...