By a special correspondent
Beneath Sri Lanka’s improving literacy rates and expanding digital access lies a deeper, more troubling contradiction: a generation increasingly connected, yet insufficiently skilled to drive economic recovery. As the country grapples with demographic ageing, the growing disengagement of its youth from productive skill development could amplify long-term economic risks.
The latest census highlights a nation in transition. While literacy stands impressively at 97.4% and digital literacy has reached 67.6%, these gains have not translated into strong labour force participation. More than half the population remains economically inactive, revealing a disconnect between education and employability.
A critical part of this gap lies in shifting behavioural patterns. Young people are spending unprecedented amounts of time on mobile devices and social media platforms, often at the expense of acquiring technical or vocational skills.
While digital familiarity is often mistaken for competence, the reality is that many lack the specialised expertise required in modern industries from engineering and IT to advanced manufacturing.
At the same time, the country is losing a significant portion of its working-age population to migration. Hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans are employed abroad, drawn by better opportunities. This outward flow tightens the domestic labour pool, leaving industries struggling to find adequately trained workers.
Against this backdrop, the rise in the elderly population adds another layer of complexity. With nearly one in five citizens over 60, Sri Lanka faces increasing healthcare costs, social protection demands, and dependency pressures. But focusing solely on these burdens risks overlooking a valuable resource.
The elderly population represents a vast reservoir of knowledge and experience. Many have spent decades mastering trades, professions, and public administration systems. However, in the absence of structured engagement, this expertise remains largely dormant.
Here again, lessons can be drawn from Japan, where demographic ageing has not prevented economic resilience. Instead, Japan has institutionalised the involvement of senior professionals in advisory councils, policy planning, and corporate mentorship. Retired experts contribute to decision-making processes, ensuring continuity and stability across sectors.
Sri Lanka could replicate this approach by formalising “elder advisory networks” across industries and government bodies. Retired professionals could mentor young entrepreneurs, guide vocational training programmes, and support regional development initiatives. This would directly address the country’s skill deficit while fostering intergenerational collaboration.
Equally important is reshaping youth engagement. Education systems and policymakers must move beyond basic literacy and focus on employable skills technical training, critical thinking, and innovation. Encouraging apprenticeships, digital entrepreneurship with real economic value, and industry-linked education can redirect the energy of a digitally immersed generation toward productivity.
The intersection of an ageing population and an under-skilled youth cohort is not merely a demographic issue it is an economic fault line. If left unaddressed, it could stall recovery and limit growth for decades.
But with deliberate policy shifts, Sri Lanka has the chance to turn this challenge into a strategic advantage pairing the wisdom of experience with the potential of youth to rebuild a more resilient and inclusive economy.