Across the globe, countries are reimagining the role of their diaspora, not just as remitters, but as investors, innovators, and ambassadors of national growth. From high-tech startups in Tel Aviv to healthcare ventures in Bengaluru and impact funds in Kigali, the story is the same: when governments treat their diaspora as strategic partners rather than distant contributors, the results can transform entire sectors. Sri Lanka, with a global diaspora exceeding two million, has yet to fully unlock this potential.
Israel’s success is rooted in its ability to integrate its global Jewish community into national innovation. Organizations like the Jewish Agency and venture networks such as OurCrowd connect diaspora capital directly with startups, academic institutions, and defense technologies. Immigrants returning to Israel are offered tax breaks, business incentives, and housing support. More than finance, it is a culture of belonging that turns the diaspora into a cornerstone of national resilience.
India’s strategy has evolved from remittance dependence to diaspora-driven innovation. The Ministry of External Affairs runs structured programs to connect Indian professionals abroad with government and private sector initiatives. Indian states court diaspora investment in real estate, education, and tourism. The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) framework offers a
quasi-dual citizenship that allows for easier engagement without full political integration. Indian entrepreneurs abroad, from Silicon Valley to Singapore, routinely reinvest in the domestic ecosystem through angel networks and academic partnerships.
Rwanda offers a powerful example from the Global South. Following the 1994 genocide, it actively engaged Rwandans abroad in the country’s recovery and modernization. The government created a dedicated diaspora affairs directorate, offered investment facilitation, and allowed dual nationality. Diaspora funds have contributed to infrastructure, healthcare, and fintech, and the Rwandan diaspora has been instrumental in branding the country as a
model for African innovation.
Sri Lanka’s diaspora is diverse and dispersed, from professionals in North America and the UK to entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia and labor migrants in the Middle East. Remittances form a vital part of the economy, but beyond cash flows, there is untapped strategic capital.
Professionals in tech, law, academia, and media hold influence in global networks.
Entrepreneurs and second-generation Sri Lankans are building cross-border ventures. Yet engagement remains piecemeal, lacking coordination and continuity.
To move forward, Sri Lanka must build institutional bridges. This could include a national diaspora council, investment facilitation offices in embassies, streamlined dual citizenship options, and targeted startup incentives. Public–private partnerships can help diaspora founders invest in education, heritage conservation, clean energy, or AI development. A dedicated digital platform for diaspora engagement, combining project matchmaking, regulatory guidance, and knowledge exchange, can turn goodwill into action.
The diaspora is more than a revenue stream. It is a global extension of the country’s talent, reputation, and ambition. Sri Lanka has the people. What it now needs is the policy.
