HOME AND LEAVING THE COUNTRY

The Silent Competition Between Staying

- By Demi Dodhani

It is rarely spoken about directly, yet it exists in almost every conversation among young people in Sri Lanka today. It lingers in family gatherings, friendly catch ups and casual questions that seem harmless on the surface. A quiet comparison. A silent question that hangs in the air. Are you staying, or are you leaving the country.

This is not a competition anyone consciously agreed to take part in. There are no rules, no finish line and no clear reward. Yet many people feel trapped inside it, constantly measuring their lives against those of others. On one side is home. Familiar streets, shared meals, childhood memories, parents growing older and a sense of belonging that feels instinctive and deep. On the other side is the promise of something more stable. Better opportunities, higher salaries, global exposure and the hope of a future that feels less fragile than the one currently available. Both choices hold hope. Both choices carry fear. What makes the decision so heavy is that neither option comes with certainty.

For some, leaving the country is not driven by ambition or a desire for adventure. It feels more like survival. The decision is shaped by economic instability, limited career prospects and the constant anxiety of not knowing what tomorrow might bring. For these individuals, leaving becomes a way to regain control over their lives. It is about wanting consistency, security and the mental space to plan a future without fear. Yet this decision is never simple. It comes with the pain of leaving behind parents, siblings and the comfort of home. Achievements abroad are often accompanied by guilt. Each milestone reached is shadowed by the knowledge that the people who matter most are far away and unable to share those moments in person.