Irregular Migration and Transnational Family Insecurities
(2026) SIMZ11 20261Master of Science in Global Studies
- Abstract
- This thesis explores how men’s irregular migration from the coastal community of Munnakkara in Negombo, Sri Lanka, to Europe reshapes the everyday lives of families left behind. The study is situated within the social and economic context of post-2022 Sri Lanka. It focuses on household insecurities among families where men initially migrated legally to Eastern European countries but later moved through irregular routes to Western and Southern Europe due to changing conditions. The study is guided by interdisciplinary perspectives drawn from Global Studies, Migration Studies, Sociology, and Gender Studies. Using a qualitative research design based on nine semi-structured in-depth interviews, a focus group discussion, and ethnographic... (More)
- This thesis explores how men’s irregular migration from the coastal community of Munnakkara in Negombo, Sri Lanka, to Europe reshapes the everyday lives of families left behind. The study is situated within the social and economic context of post-2022 Sri Lanka. It focuses on household insecurities among families where men initially migrated legally to Eastern European countries but later moved through irregular routes to Western and Southern Europe due to changing conditions. The study is guided by interdisciplinary perspectives drawn from Global Studies, Migration Studies, Sociology, and Gender Studies. Using a qualitative research design based on nine semi-structured in-depth interviews, a focus group discussion, and ethnographic observation, the research explores how irregular migration affects migrant-sending households. Through reflexive thematic analysis, the findings reveal a central paradox of irregular migration. Although migration is pursued as a strategy for economic stability, it often reproduces and intensifies financial insecurity, emotional distress, and gendered burdens within transnational households during the initial years. Women assume increased caregiving and financial responsibilities, while children experience the effects of prolonged paternal absence in different ways. By focusing on the lived experiences of migrant-sending households, the study highlights the hidden social and emotional costs of irregular migration beyond dominant economic narratives. The study underlines the importance of policy interventions that strengthen psychosocial support, social protection, and institutional assistance for migrant-sending households in Sri Lanka. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Many families viewed migration as a pathway to a better life. In Sri Lanka, especially after the economic crisis of 2022 and the COVID-19 pandemic, migration became one of the few available options to overcome financial hardship and achieve a better future. This thesis examines how irregular migration to Europe affects the families left behind. The study focuses on the coastal community of Munnakkara in Negombo, where men first migrated legally to Eastern European countries, but later moved through irregular routes to Western and Southern Europe due to changing political, legal, and economic conditions. Migration is often discussed mainly in terms of economic benefits and remittances. This research examines the hidden social and emotional... (More)
- Many families viewed migration as a pathway to a better life. In Sri Lanka, especially after the economic crisis of 2022 and the COVID-19 pandemic, migration became one of the few available options to overcome financial hardship and achieve a better future. This thesis examines how irregular migration to Europe affects the families left behind. The study focuses on the coastal community of Munnakkara in Negombo, where men first migrated legally to Eastern European countries, but later moved through irregular routes to Western and Southern Europe due to changing political, legal, and economic conditions. Migration is often discussed mainly in terms of economic benefits and remittances. This research examines the hidden social and emotional outcomes of irregular migration experienced by migrant-sending households. The experiences of left-behind families, their uncertainty, emotional struggle, and family separation are rarely discussed in migration research in Sri Lanka.
The research is based on qualitative fieldwork using semi-structured interviews, a focus group discussion, and ethnographic observation. The findings reveal a central contradiction of irregular migration: although migration is considered a strategy for economic stability, it often creates new forms of insecurity during the initial years of migration. Women frequently carry a huge burden in the absence of men. They take on childcare, household management, financial pressures, and emotional support within the family. Children also experience the prolonged absence of fathers in different ways, including emotional, psychological, and educational challenges. At the same time, families continue to maintain hope that migration will eventually lead to a better future.
The study argues that irregular migration should not only be understood as an economic process. It creates social and emotional insecurities that affect family relationships, care responsibilities, and the everyday life of the migrant households. By discussing the lived experiences and realities of migrant-sending households, this thesis highlights the hidden human costs of migration that are not discussed widely in public and policy discussions in Sri Lanka. The findings also underline the importance of stronger psychosocial support, social protection, and institutional assistance for families affected by migration. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9235306
- author
- Perera, Jayasooriya Kuranage Hesha Supun Lucknie LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- A Case Study of a Coastal Community in Negombo, Sri Lanka
- course
- SIMZ11 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Sri Lanka, irregular migration, transnational families, gendered labour, left-behind children, emotional distress, debt
- language
- English
- id
- 9235306
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-25 15:45:27
- date last changed
- 2026-06-25 15:45:27
@misc{9235306,
abstract = {{This thesis explores how men’s irregular migration from the coastal community of Munnakkara in Negombo, Sri Lanka, to Europe reshapes the everyday lives of families left behind. The study is situated within the social and economic context of post-2022 Sri Lanka. It focuses on household insecurities among families where men initially migrated legally to Eastern European countries but later moved through irregular routes to Western and Southern Europe due to changing conditions. The study is guided by interdisciplinary perspectives drawn from Global Studies, Migration Studies, Sociology, and Gender Studies. Using a qualitative research design based on nine semi-structured in-depth interviews, a focus group discussion, and ethnographic observation, the research explores how irregular migration affects migrant-sending households. Through reflexive thematic analysis, the findings reveal a central paradox of irregular migration. Although migration is pursued as a strategy for economic stability, it often reproduces and intensifies financial insecurity, emotional distress, and gendered burdens within transnational households during the initial years. Women assume increased caregiving and financial responsibilities, while children experience the effects of prolonged paternal absence in different ways. By focusing on the lived experiences of migrant-sending households, the study highlights the hidden social and emotional costs of irregular migration beyond dominant economic narratives. The study underlines the importance of policy interventions that strengthen psychosocial support, social protection, and institutional assistance for migrant-sending households in Sri Lanka.}},
author = {{Perera, Jayasooriya Kuranage Hesha Supun Lucknie}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Irregular Migration and Transnational Family Insecurities}},
year = {{2026}},
}