Colombo (LNW): About 120 specialist doctors who have left the country have been blacklisted, setting the event yet another example to the growing brain drain crisis in Sri Lanka. These medical specialists have left Sri Lanka and reportedly have not returned to work. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said 363 doctors had left for overseas training and returned to the island during the time period from January 09, 2022 to August 18, 2023. The blacklisted group is believed to be of specialist doctors who had earlier returned to the island upon the completion of their foreign training. Earlier, it was reported that six out of the only 11 paediatric cardiologists available in Sri Lanka had migrated, and 12 out of the only 29 anesthesiologists had done the same. In a statement the Health Ministry emphasised that those blacklisted can return to Sri Lanka, but will have to submit an appeal to the Public Service Commission to resume local practice.