PR hambenne naththan ai ban digatama ohe indan time waste karanne?
It’s not as easy as just booking a flight ticket and coming back. Coming from a middle-class family, there aren’t really any savings to fall back on. And since I’ve been out of the industry for some time, getting back into the industry in Sri Lanka is also difficult.
There are a whole lot of things attached to this situation. I’m giving my best every day and doing everything I can to secure something before my visa runs out.
Yes. If I were in that position, I would probably go to Dubai, earn some money while working, gain more industry experience, and then try for skilled migration. At least that way, I would have some kind of safety net, both financially and in terms of experience. Most of my peers have now settled down in Sri Lanka. They’re building houses and buying cars. I know most of it is through loans, but still, they’ve started their journey and are moving forward. Most of them are now in TL or ATL positions as well.
Once you move into academia, especially in IT, it can be difficult to move back into the industry. If you return to Sri Lanka and stay in academia, the salary is honestly quite low. But if you try to go back into the industry, you can sometimes be seen as overqualified academically while also having a gap in recent industry experience. That’s why this decision isn’t as simple as just coming back. There are a lot of things tied to it, and I have to think carefully about my career, finances, stability, and future.
Also, if you can, I think doing a PhD in Europe would be a better option. In many European countries, PhD candidates are considered full-time employees, so those PhD years can also count as work experience. In Australia, you are mainly considered a student. Completing a PhD can give you an additional 5 points, bringing the total to 20 points compared with an MRes or MPhil, but apart from that, the benefits are more limited.
There are also some specific PR pathways for PhD graduates, especially if you complete your PhD in places like Canberra or Tasmania. However, because there are only a few universities in those states, getting a PhD offer can be highly competitive. So choose wisely. Time is one of the most important factors here, and you need to think carefully about which option gives you the best long-term outcome.