Abstract

Sri Lankan migration provides a mini-laboratory for migration
scholars because of its rich diversity. The “Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora,”
the “Sri Lankan maid,” the “Sri Lankan refugee,” and the “Sri Lankan
boat migration to Australia” are some examples of the diversity and
complexity of the phenomenon. At present, Sri Lanka has a total of
three million emigrants of which one million have permanently settled
outside Sri Lanka. This permanently settled community constitutes
a one to twenty diaspora to population ratio, a significantly unique
ratio for any sending country. Nonetheless, a holistic understanding
of Sri Lankan migration is lacking, even though selective aspects of
the phenomenon have received some academic attention. This article
intends to fill this gap by providing a broader overview of Sri Lankan
migration since its Independence. Through a thorough review of
related academic articles and fifty-one semi-structured interviews with
Sri Lankan emigrants, this article summarizes the key elements of Sri
Lankan migration in five main waves from Independence until today.
By revealing the diversity of the Sri Lankan immigrant community and
its complexity, the article suggests the importance of understanding
any immigrant community holistically not only for a better scholarly
understanding but also effective policy making.