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Canada has been a top choice for Sri Lankan immigrants from the very beginning. Sri Lankans immigrating to Canada started in the 1950s, just a few years after Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain.
Today, there are over 150,000 people of Sri Lankan origin in Canada, and many Sri Lankans still dream of immigrating from the island country to Canada.
But what exactly are the benefits of immigrating to Canada? Read on to find out!
Living in Canada Vs Living in Sri Lanka – Why Canada Wins
Canada is politically stable and has one of the world’s most stable economies. As a result of this, there are many benefits of living in Canada instead of Sri Lanka. These include:
- High employment opportunities
- Safer and more secure environment
- Better health services
- Better education system
- High standard of living
Let’s have a look at these factors in a little more detail.
1. High Employment Opportunities
An offshoot of a stable economy is employment opportunities through rising economic growth and productivity.
In fact, it is the main reason the government of Canada actively seeks immigrants is to fill labor needs. If it was not for immigrants, Canadian employers would have trouble finding enough qualified workers to fill available jobs.
Note that the unemployment rate in Sri Lanka is lower than in Canada (Sri Lanka’s unemployment rate in 2021 is 5.40%, while Canada’s is 7.51%). Thus, it can be argued that it is easier to find employment in Sri Lanka than in Canada.
However, the poverty rate in Sri Lanka is far higher than in Canada meaning that Sri Lanka’s employment rate is beefed up by cases of underemployment. This means there are many high-skilled persons in low-skill or low-paying jobs, or part-time workers who’d rather be in full-time jobs.
While poverty is spiking in Sri Lanka because of the country’s economic woes, the demand for workers is increasing the wage rate in Canada. To put this in perspective 11.7% of Sri Lankans earn less than $3.2 per day, while the average hourly wage in Canada is $31.12.
Immigrating from Sri Lanka to Canada gives you a better chance of getting quality employment for taking care of your needs.
2. Safer and More Secure Environment
Canada is a safe haven while Sri Lanka is currently anything but.
The economic situation of Sri Lanka has caused several demonstrations which have led to violent clashes between protestors and security forces. Petty crimes (like pickpocketing and theft) and violent crimes (including harassment) are common occurrences. There is also the threat of terrorism, as there have been past attacks that resulted in fatalities.
For this reason, the Global Peace Index (GPI) does not rate Sri Lanka as a safe and secure environment to live in.
The GPI measures peacefulness using 23 factors, including the number of internal and external violent conflicts, number of homicides, the potential for terrorist acts, political instability, etc. Of the 163 countries evaluated in 2022, Sri Lanka is 90th, meaning it is not a very peaceful place to live in.
Canada is one of the most peaceful places in the world to settle as it is ranked 12th on the Global Peace Index. Canada posts low figures for displaced persons, violent crimes, and other key factors.
3. Better Health Services
Canada is number 14 on the World Health Care Index while Sri Lanka ranks 84. The healthcare system in Canada is far better than Sri Lanka’s.
Healthcare describes the various systems we rely upon to maintain our personal health, including healthcare infrastructure, healthcare professionals, medicine availability, government support, and cost of care.
Canada leads Sri Lanka in every aspect of healthcare service. The Great White North has better hospitals and professionals, offers easier access to healthcare, and more.
As a result, Canada has better health outcomes like higher life expectancy, lower infant mortality, etc. For example:
- In Sri Lanka, the average life expectancy is 78 years, but in Canada, it is 83 years. So, you will live about 6 years longer when in Canada instead of Sri Lanka
- In Sri Lanka, 35 women die in every 100,000 births, but in Canada, it is only 10 deaths per 100,000 births. A woman in Canada is 72.2% less likely to die during childbirth.
- In Sri Lanka, 7.8 children (per 1,000) die before they reach the age of one, but in Canada it is only 4.3 children. Thus, a baby in Canada is 44.9% less likely to die during infancy than in Sri Lanka.
4. Better Education System
Canada has an enviable education system, all the way from the primary to the tertiary levels. Conversely, Sri Lanka’s post-secondary education is grossly inadequate.
Just as in Canada, primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka is mandatory and free. Tertiary education is also free in Sri Lanka, but there are only a few state universities. As a result, many students cannot access higher education in Sri Lanka.
However, Canada has a plethora of tertiary institutions. While tertiary education is not free in Canada, students can get different types of financial assistance from the government to achieve their tertiary education goals.
Also, most courses in Sri Lankan universities are stagnating but Canada universities offer well-designed and updated courses that target the current job market. Therefore, Canadian universities and degrees rank higher.
5. High Standard of Living
The standard of living in Sri Lanka is low compared to that in Canada.
Living standards are the level of income, comforts, and services available. Factors affecting the standard of living include the quality of employment, housing, healthcare, education, public transportation, infrastructures, and more.
Interestingly, Sri Lanka does not compare well to Canada in any of these factors. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has led to shortages of basic necessities, including food, medicine, housing, and electricity.
The standard of living contributes to the quality of life. Undoubtedly, the standard of living in Canada is higher than in Sri Lanka, so you will have a better quality of life in Canada than in Sri Lanka.
Final Thoughts
Immigrating to Canada from Sri Lanka opens the door to quality employment opportunities, a safer environment, better health services, better education (especially at the tertiary level), and better living standards.
Canada is immigration-friendly as it has over 80 immigration programs. So, if you are in Sri Lanka, but wish to immigrate to the other part of the world, specifically Canada, you’ll find a suitable program to make your dream a reality.
Take the assessment test on our website Assessment Forms to find out what immigration program will be best for you and one of our specialists will call you shortly to further discuss your options.
