Country Profile: Sri Lanka

Capital City: Kotte

Population, 2010: 20.4 million

Languages: Sinhala and Tamil

Monetary Unit: Sri Lankan Rupee

1. Overview

Sri Lanka began economic liberalisation and a move away from socialism in 1977. Sri Lanka’s export-oriented policies have also seen a shift from a reliance on agricultural exports to an increasing emphasis on the services and manufacturing sectors. Manufacturing, the fastest growing sector is dominated by the garment industry. The agricultural sector, though decreasing in importance to the economy, accounts for around 18 per cent of national output and employs more than one third of the workforce. The public sector remains large, with the state continuing to dominate in the financial, utilities, health and education sectors.

Sri Lankans started coming to Australia in large numbers in the mid-1980s, largely because of the country’s escalating ethnic conflicts. Since then the number of Sri Lankans choosing to live in Australia has continued to grow – with over 5800 new migrants in 2009-10 compared to just over 1600 migrants a decade ago. Internationally, around 800 000 Sri Lankans work abroad and of those migrating to Australia almost 7 in 10 come via the Skill Stream. Sri Lanka has benefited from this diaspora, with remittances accounting for around 7 per cent of Sri Lanka’s annual GDP. Economic prospects and better quality of life is another reason for migration, on a purchasing-power-parity basis, Australia’s GDP per capita is over 7 times more than Sri Lanka’s.

A summary measure of well being is the Human Development Index (HDI), produced by the United Nations. The HDI is a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: health, education and income. Australia ranks very high on this measure, with a 2010 score of 0.94, second only to Norway.

Table 1

Sri Lanka rates well relative to the rest of South East Asia with an HDI of 0.66 compared to the regional average of 0.52. Internationally, Sri Lanka currently ranks 91 out of 169 countries.

2. Community in Australia

At the end of June 2009 there were 87 410 Sri Lankan born people living in Australia, 40.3 per cent more than was reported in the August 2006 Census of Population and Housing. It is the sixteenth largest migrant community in Australia – equivalent to 1.5 percent of Australia’s overseas born population and 0.4 per cent of Australia’s total population.

For Australia’s Sri Lankan born migrants:

The median age of 41.4 years was almost 5 years above that of the general population.
Males slightly outnumbered females 51.6 per cent compared with 48.4 per cent.
At June the labour force participation rate of 73 per cent was high compared to the national average of 65 per cent.
At September 2010 there were 50 500 Sri Lankan nationals working in Australia, of those workers 35 per cent were professionals, and 15 per cent were clerical and administrative workers.
The unemployment rate of 8.2 per cent in June 2010 was considerably higher than the national rate of 5.2 per cent*.

3. Permanent Migration and Temporary Entry

Summary, 2009-10

Permanent Additions to the Australian Population*

There were 5849 Sri Lanka born permanent additions to the Australian resident population. Among these new additions:

The Skill Stream accounted for 68 per cent of all permanent additions and comprised 1632 skilled migrants and 2340 accompanying family members.
The Family Stream comprised 984 family migrants and accounted for 17 per cent of all permanent additions.
Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program accounted for 12 per cent of all permanent additions.
Non-program migration of Sri Lankan born New Zealand citizens accounted for the bulk of the remaining 2.4 per cent of permanent additions.

Permanent Visas Granted, 2009-10*

Table 2

There were 5085 Sri Lankan nationals that were granted a permanent visa. Among the new permanent visa holders:

The Skill Stream accounted for 80 per cent (4049 persons) of the permanent visas granted, with almost 9 in every 10 skilled visas granted under the points tested General Skilled Migration* program.
The Family Stream accounted for 20 per cent (1003 persons) of the permanent visas granted, with partners of Australian residents accounting for 6 in every 10 family migration grants.*

Temporary Entry Visas Granted, 2009-10
Table 3 & 4

Of the main temporary entry program visas granted to Sri Lankan nationals:

2774 Student visas were granted, of which 61 per cent were to those enrolling in an undergraduate and postgraduate course in Australia.
600 Sri Lankan workers were granted a Business Long Stay (subclass 457) visa, with General Medical Practitioners and Medical Practitioners in Training among the main sponsored occupations.
12 096 Visitor visas were granted.

Detailed Analysis

Visas Granted through Australia’s Migration Program

Table 2 & 4

Skilled Migration

Skilled migration is focused on facilitating the permanent entry of those who can make a positive contribution to Australia through their skills, qualifications, entrepreneurial spirit and future employment potential.

In 2009-10, 107 868 skilled visas were granted, with Sri Lankan nationals accounting for 4 per cent (4049 grants) of total grants.
Despite a fall of 6 per cent in skilled grants through the Migration Program in 2009-10, grants to Sri Lankan nationals were up 15 per cent on 2008-09, and 55 per cent higher than 2006-07. Most of this growth was driven by the rise in state sponsorship.
Skilled migration remains the main route for Sri Lankan nationals seeking permanent residency in Australia. In 2009-10, the Skilled Program accounted for 8 in every 10 permanent visas granted through the Migration Program.
Grants to applicants in the General Skilled Migration Program* accounted for 87 per cent of all skilled visas granted to Sri Lankan nationals, while the demand-driven employer sponsored route has grown from 114 grants in 2006-07 to 454 grants in 2009-10.
Accountants, Computing Professionals and Civil Engineers were the main occupations among the new General Skilled Migration visa holders.
The 11 per cent increase of permanent visas granted to Sri Lankan nationals in 2009-10 was driven by skilled migration which offset the slight fall in family visas granted.

Family Migration

Family migration facilitates the entry of close family members of Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens. The program is currently dominated by fiancÃ©s, partners and dependent children, but also provides options for other family members such as parents, aged dependent relatives, carers and remaining relatives to join family in Australia.

In 2009-10, 60 254 family visas were granted, with grants to Sri Lankan nationals accounting for 1.7 per cent (1003 grants) of the total. This was marginally down on the number granted the previous year (1020 grants).
Sustained growth is evident in both the partner and parent totals, with partners accounting for 59 per cent of all family visas granted (595 persons) and parents accounting for 21 per cent of all family visas granted (211 persons) in 2009-10.

Temporary Entry Visas Granted

Table 3 & 4

An increasing number of Sri Lankan nationals enter Australia as visitors or temporary residents each year.

International Students

The Student Visa Program consists of a range of visa categories that broadly correspond to education sectors. Students must study with an accredited education provider and in a course registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.

In 2009-10 there was a reduction in both the number of student visa applications received and the number of visas granted. Reasons included increased competition from overseas markets compounded by the strengthening of the Australian dollar, the introduction of robust student visa integrity measures and changes made to the General Skilled Migration program. While student visa grants fell by over 15 per cent, the total stock of international students in Australia remained relatively unaffected, only decreasing 1.1 per cent in 2009-10.

Australia is the most popular tertiary study destination for international students originating from Sri Lanka. In 2008, 24 per cent of all Sri Lankan international tertiary students chose Australia.
As at June 2010, there were 6860 Sri Lankan Student visa holders in Australia, representing 1.8 per cent of all international students in Australia.
2009-10 saw a significant fall in Sri Lankan students coming to Australia, 2774 Sri Lankan nationals were granted a Student visa – representing a decrease of 26 per cent on the number granted the previous year.
Around 6 in every 10 Student visas granted in the last year were to those enrolling in an undergraduate or postgraduate course in Australia.

Business Long Stay (subclass 457) Workers

The subclass 457 visa program allows Australian employers to sponsor foreign workers for employment in management, professional, technical and skilled trades’ positions. The program is demand-driven and highly responsive to Australian labour market conditions. Statistics shows that the demand for subclass 457 visas increases in line with increased skilled vacancies.

The demand for foreign workers under this program declined following the economic downturn, but application rates steadily increased over the second half of 2009-10. In recent months business conditions have begun to improve and the number of applications lodged has increased.

In 2009-10, 67 980 visas were granted globally, a reduction of 33 per cent on the previous year.

In 2009-10, there were 600 subclass 457 visas granted to Sri Lankan nationals – 42 per cent fewer than the previous year.
In terms of percentage share, Sri Lankan nationals represent 0.8 per cent of all subclass 457 visas granted for 2009-10.
Among the Sri Lankan workers sponsored under this program, General Medical Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers were the main occupations for which Australian employers recruited from abroad.

Visitors

In 2009-10, 12 096 Visitor visas were granted to Sri Lankan nationals – with numbers up by 5 per cent on the previous year and 16 per cent higher than the number granted in 2006-07. Tourists accounted for 86 per cent of all Sri Lankan visitors.

4. Emigration*

Table 5

In 2009-10, 215 Sri Lanka born permanent residents indicated at departure that they were leaving Australia permanently, with around 16 per cent indicating that they intend on returning to Sri Lanka.

Around a third (35 per cent) of these emigrants were Professionals, with Managers and Administrators accounting for a further 13 per cent.
The largest proportion were emigrating from Victoria and New South Wales, accounting for 40 percent and 37 per cent of Sri Lanka born residents respectively.

5. State and Territory summary

Victoria was the most popular state of residence for Sri Lankans in Australia. Over half of Sri Lanka born residents in Australia at the time of the last Census lived in Victoria, and the State was also the intended residential location for 54 per cent of new family migrants, and 46 per cent of new skilled migrants in 2009-10. Sri Lankan students also showed a preference for Victoria, with 68 per cent enrolling in an academic institution in this state in 2009-10. New South Wales was favoured by 29 per cent of subclass 457 workers, followed by Victoria and Queensland – each attracting 20 per cent of these 457 workers.

Explanatory notes

Unemployment rates for individual migrant countries are calculated from the monthly ABS labour force survey (using published and unpublished data) and have been averaged across six months to account for monthly fluctuations and a small sample size. The national unemployment rate is the seasonally adjusted figure for December 2010.
Permanent Additions are the sum of those granted a permanent residency visa while in Australia, and those granted a visa through an Australian mission abroad, that have entered Australia during the respective reporting period.
Visa grants are the sum of all permanent migration and temporary entry visa applications granted in Australia, through the Australian Government’s online visa portal, and visa grants made at an Australian mission abroad.
Australian residents are Australian citizens residents in Australia and other permanent residents.
General Skilled Migration (GSM) is the sum of total Skilled Family Sponsored, Skilled Independent and State/Territory Sponsored visas.
Emigration is the number of persons who reported on their overseas departure card that they were leaving Australia permanently.

Statistical tables – Sri Lanka

Table 1: Economic and Human Development Indicators, 2010

	Australia	Sri Lanka
Adult Literacy (%)*	99.0	90.7
Fertility Rates (children per female)	1.9	2.2
GDP per capita, PPP (current international $)	36 692	5 103
Life Expectancy at birth (years)	81.9	74.4
Mean years of schooling	12	8.2
Human Development Index	0.94	0.66
Median Age (years)	37.8	30.6
Population (millions)	22.3	20.4
Population growth, 2010 (%)	1.7	0.7

* All data (with the exception of adult literacy rates) were sourced from the UNDP Human Development Report 2010. Data on adult literacy was sourced from the CIA World Factbook, due to incomplete country information in the UNDP Report. Data on GDP per capita from Intentional Monetary Fund, World Economics Outlook Database Oct 2010.
Table 2: Number of persons granted a permanent Australian visa (by nationality), 2006-07 to 2009-10

Sri Lanka	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
Skilled Migration
Business Skills	30	36	37	52
Distinguished Talent	1	8	13	18
Employer Sponsored	114	181	354	454
General Skilled Migration
Skilled Family Sponsored	802	1 160	788	295
Skilled Independent	1 421	1 821	1 621	1 932
State/Territory Sponsored	238	352	718	1 298
Total number of skilled visa grants	2 606	3 558	3 531	4 049
Skilled visas as a proportion of all permanent visas (%)	75	82	77	80

Family Migration
Child	64	59	56	62
Prospective Marriage (fiancÃ©)	32	23	37	28
Partners	551	452	594	595
Parent	89	197	231	211
Preferential/Other Family	127	72	102	107
Total – Family visa grants	863	803	1 020	1 003
Family visas as a proportion of all permanent visas (%)	49	18	22	20

Special Eligibility (%)	7	2	12	33
Total – Permanent Migrants	3 476	4 363	4 563	5 085

Sourced from internal data collected by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Table 3: Number of persons granted a temporary Australian visa (by nationality), 2006-07 to 2009-10

Sri Lanka	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
International Students
English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students	9	1	8	0
Schools	13	23	15	10
Vocational and Education Sector (VET)	352	397	702	711
Higher Education	2 852	3 366	2 760	1 684
Postgraduate	177	171	206	255
Non-Award	13	11	32	64
AusAID or Defence	46	45	40	80
Total number of international student visa grants	3 462	4 014	3 763	2 774
Business Long Stay (subclass 457)	930	1 240	1 040	600
Visitors
Tourist	8 777	9 186	9 808	10 433
Business Visitor	1 265	1 307	1 087	1 048
Sponsored Family Visitor	374	437	602	615
Total number of visitor visa grants	10 416	10 930	11 497	12 096

Sourced from internal data collected by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Table 4: Main occupations among those granted a permanent (GSM) or temporary (subclass 457) visa, 2008-09 and 2009-10

Sri Lanka	Business Long Stay (subclass 457)		General Skilled Migration
Sri Lanka	Temporary Entry (employer sponsored)		Permanent Entry (unsponsored)
2009-10	General Medical Practitioner	60	Accountant	410
	Resident Medical Officer	40	Computing Professional *	300
	Registered Nurse	10	Civil Engineer	100
	Psychiatrist	10	Mechanical Engineer	60
	Chef	10	Electronics Engineer	50
	Surgeon (General)	<5	Electrical Engineer	40
	University Lecturer	<5	Quantity Surveyor	40
	Cook	<5	General Medical Practitioner	30
	Ship’s Engineer	<5	Hairdresser	30
	Civil Engineer	<5	Production Manager (Manufacturing)	20
2008-09	General Medical Practitioner	110	Accountant	280
	Medical Practitioner in Training	50	Computing Professional (*)	150
	Chef	30	Hairdresser	80
	Psychiatrist	20	Civil Engineer	60
	Cook	20	Motor Mechanic	40
	Computing Professionals NEC	10	Cook	40
	Civil Engineer	10	Production Manager (Manufacturing)	40
	Registered Nurse	10	Electrical Engineer	40
	Welder (First Class)	10	Mechanical Engineer	30
	University Lecturer	10	General Medical Practitioner	20

Sourced from internal data collected by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

* Within the broad professionals field, where no actual classification exists for the specific occupation.
Table 5: National Geographical Distribution, by country of birth and nationality

Sri Lanka	NSW	VIC	QLD	SA	WA	TAS	NT	ACT
Sri Lanka	%
Proportion of all persons counted in the Census, 2006	33	25	20	8	10	2	1	2
Proportion of all Sri Lanka born counted in the Census, 2006	31	51	8	2	5	0	0	3
Geographical Distribution, Permanent Additions 2009-10
Skill Stream	18	46	9	11	12	1	1	2
Family Stream	29	54	7	2	6	0	1	2
Geographical Distribution, Temporary Entrants 2009-10
International Students	14	68	8	4	5	0	0	2
Business Long Stay (subclass 457) visa	29	20	20	6	16	4	3	1
Most recent State or Territory of Residents, Emigration
Emigration by Sri Lanka born permanent residents (and citizens) in Australia	37	40	11	2	7	0	0	2

Information on migrants was sourced from internal data collected by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Information on the geographical distribution of the total population was sourced from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing.
Table 6: Sri Lanka’s migration ranking relative to other countries

Sri Lanka	2008-09	2009-10
Sri Lankan born Population in Australia	15	16
General Skilled Migration	5	5
Employer sponsored	12	12
Total Skilled Stream	17	14
Total Family Stream	8	7
International Students	20	24
Business Long Stay (subclass 457) visa	16	15
Visitors	31	31

All information refers to the number of visas granted that year and was sourced from internal data collected by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, except for Population in Australia which is sourced from the ABS and refers to the stock of overseas born persons in Australia at the time.

Study, Work and
Live in Australia