Sri Lanka, Nov. 8 -- Nearly half of young Sri Lankans would leave the country if given the opportunity, despite most identifying strongly with the nation, according to a nationwide survey examining the views and concerns of Gen Z and younger Millennials.

The My Sri Lanka | Next study, conducted by Global Unites South Asia in partnership with the Centenary Movement, surveyed 2,418 people across all 25 districts and held 22 provincial consultations.

The findings show that 80% of respondents identify primarily as Sri Lankan, while 73.7% reported a strong sense of national belonging. However, 49.1% said they would leave Sri Lanka if given the chance. Among Gen Z respondents, that figure rose to 52.7%.

Even among those who reported a strong...