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Public webinar on helping children to ‘navigate’ during the lockdown

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/25

‘Children in Lockdown’ was a public webinar organized by the Colombo Branch of the Trinity College Kandy OBA.

The topic of discussion was ‘remote learning, the arts and the importance of looking after the mental and physical well-being of children in lockdown’.

The discussion was moderated by Shehan Gunawardene and was viewed by more than 200 people through Zoom and the Facebook Livestream. A recording of the webinar is also available on the Trinity College Kandy Youtube page.

The first speaker, Dr Miyuru Chandradasa, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist of the Ragama Teaching Hospital and Senior Lecturer at the University of Kelaniya, spoke about children, school and their psychological well-being and how it has changed drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He explained that a child’s development encompasses cognitive intelligence, emotional intelligence, character and personality. Mood regulation is a fundamental characteristic of emotional intelligence and relates to how an individual reacts to certain events and situations.

An improved emotional awareness is helpful in stabilizing and reducing the extremes of mood regulation, especially in children.

Dr. Chandradasa further said that due to the virtualisation of education, students are experiencing even higher levels of stress. He explained the importance of having the right amount of stress in order to ensure sufficient levels of productivity and performance in any activity. Excess stress levels often lead to physical and emotional symptoms such as neuroticism, perfectionism, teeth grinding, skin irritation and stomach problems. Mental side effects also include the development of depression, anxiety and other such mental illnesses.

Former tennis champion, Renouk Wijemanne highlighted the importance of exposing children to athletic skills as it increases versatility, prevents burnout and reduces the chances of injury

He spoke about the importance of relaxation activities such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation among others.

The second panelist was Ruwanthie de Chickera, a playwright, screenwriter and theatre director. She is also the founder and artistic director of Stages Theatre Group, the co-curator of ‘Children in Lockdown’; a commissioning project supporting artists to work with the challenges of the pandemic, or helping adults understand what children are going through. Additionally, she is an Eisenhower Fellow.

She creatively analogized the education systems of the world to different types of vehicles travelling on a road, with that of Sri Lanka being a bus heading in the wrong direction, wheezing and on the brink of falling apart. In this analogy, the pandemic took the form of a massive car crash which affected all ‘vehicles’ on the road and caused the bus to be blindsided.

As a result of the accident, the bus was rendered helpless with the children it was carrying suffering shell-shock and injuries. Despite the extent of harm suffered by the children, the authorities were more focused on the derelict, forcing the disoriented children to push it along the road.

Ruwanthie also noted that schools had been stripped of its elements such as playtime and socializing. Thus, children were forced to sit in front of a screen for hours on end as teachers conducted the tasks of continuing classes, completing syllabi and preparing the students for examinations just as they had done before the coronavirus.

She highlighted the fact that authority figures such as teachers and government officials had prioritized old fashioned views of how the education system should be run instead of directing their attention and efforts towards the negatively affected children and how they might actually support them through a national crisis.

The virtualisation of education has negatively affected a majority of the children resulting in increased mental illness and a lack of purpose and entrapment as they are constantly called to engage in a situation towards which they are unable to respond, she said.

Ruwanthie articulated that the first rule in a crisis is to ‘do no harm’, suggesting that authority figures should have helped students through the many negative effects of the pandemic, instead of adhering to the current system of education.

Renouk Wijemanne, former National Tennis Champion, with a Double Major in Math and Economics who discussed the importance of sports and physical activity, especially when everyone was stuck at home with very little to do. He divided children into three different age groups with specific needs.

The first group consisting of three to seven year olds, also known as the adventurers, was instrumental in the development and acquisition of motor skills such as walking and jumping. The skills acquired at this age can be categorized into coordination, rhythm, balance, orientation and differentiation.

Wijemanne explained that such skills should be taught through a game-based approach, emphasizing that adults should be aware of differences in the chronological and developmental ages of children in this group.

The second group was that of eight to 12 year olds, or the explorers for whom the focus is on flexibility and athletic skills. It is important to expose these children to athletic skill as it increases versatility, prevents burnout and reduces the chances of injury.

The third group comprised children between the ages of 13 and 18 who can be categorised into competitive and recreational athletes. Competitive athletes, also known as achievers, mainly focus on strength training and sports specific skills.

Reverend Fr. Araliya Jayasundara, OSB, the Principal of Trinity College, Kandy, was the final panelist to address the participants of the webinar. He is an Allumnus of Trinity College and has more than 15 years of experience as an educator. He also holds a Masters in Philosophy, Degrees in Theology, a Master of Science Degree in HR Management. He is a Senior Fulbright Scholar of the University of California.

He addressed the chaos caused to the local education system, comparing it to a cacophony, and stressed the importance of the role parents play in their children’s lives where they are now both the primary and secondary source of socialisation.

He also identified how they were even more vulnerable being stuck at home and may suffer domestic abuse from which they have no escape.

Rev Jayasundara pointed out that education is currently curricular based, conformist, linear and relies on standardization. Like pouring new wine into an old skin, those in authority were attempting to solve a novel problem with outdated methodology which resulted in a ruptured system, exposing its many weaknesses.

He emphasized the importance of parental involvement in the education system and urged the listeners to move away from the fallacy that online education is the virtual equivalent of attending classes at school, and to keep in mind that each child is different, with different levels of imagination and creativity.

This webinar was an insightful discussion into the many drawbacks of the Sri Lankan education system and just how greatly it has suffered since the onset of the pandemic. The importance of education needs no explanation, and the panelists effectively highlighted the need for immediate changes to the current system of education so that children receive a holistic schooling experience which better prepares them for life and the challenges that may lay ahead of them.

Kiyara de Silva

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Senior citizens above 70 years to receive March allowances on Thursday (26)

Published

17 hours ago

2026/03/25

Priyan

The Welfare Benefits Board has announced that the March allowance for senior citizens over 70 years of age will be credited to each beneficiaries account on Thursday (26th).

693,801 senior citizens over the age of 70 years are set to benifit under this welfare scheme

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CEB Engineers warn public to be prepared for power cuts after New Year

Published

18 hours ago

2026/03/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

A looming power crisis is casting an ominous shadow over the country, with engineers warning that the current “no power cut” situation may not last beyond the Sinhala and Tamil New Year due to worsening diesel shortages and ongoing coal-related disruptions.

A senior electrical engineer, attached to the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union, cautioned that while authorities appear to be managing the system for now, the underlying fuel constraints are reaching a critical point.

He told The Island: “At the moment, there are no scheduled power cuts across the country. But this is being maintained under significant strain. With the diesel shortage and unresolved coal issues, sustaining uninterrupted supply, beyond the New Year period, will be extremely challenging.”

The engineer noted that thermal power generation — particularly diesel-based plants — has become increasingly difficult to sustain due to limited fuel stocks and logistical bottlenecks. At the same time, the substandard quality coal supply issues that have plagued recent shipments continue to undermine the efficiency of base-load generation.

“We are stretching available resources to avoid immediate outages. owever, unless there is a rapid improvement in fuel availability, the system will be forced into load shedding soon after the New Year,” he warned.

According to him, authorities are likely to delay any scheduled outages until after the festive season to avoid public backlash and economic disruption during a traditionally sensitive period.

“Most probably, they will try to continue like this until the New Year. But after that, daytime or peak-time load shedding becomes almost inevitable if the situation remains unchanged,” he added.

Energy analysts say the warning reflects a deeper structural vulnerability within the power sector, where over-reliance on imported fossil fuels — particularly diesel and coal — continues to expose the system to external shocks and procurement failures.

The recent use of substandard coal has already resulted in reduced generation capacity at the country’s sole coal power plant at Norochcholai, compounding the pressure on thermal plants to bridge the shortfall. Engineers say this has forced operators to depend more heavily on costly diesel generation — an option now constrained by supply shortages.

Industry sources indicate that demand is also on the rise, particularly during night peak hours, possibly driven by increased reliance on electricity for cooking, amid gas shortages, further tightening the supply-demand balance.

Despite the absence of official announcements, insiders suggest contingency planning for load shedding is already underway.

“If the fuel situation does not improve within the next few weeks, controlled power cuts will be the only viable option to protect the grid from a total system failure,” the engineer stressed.

The warning comes at a time when the country is attempting to maintain economic stability following successive crises, with uninterrupted power supply considered critical for industry, commerce, and daily life.

However, unless urgent corrective measures are taken to secure reliable fuel supplies and stabilise generation capacity, the return of power cuts — including during daytime hours — appears increasingly unavoidable, an expert said.

By Ifham Nizam

News

Japanese boost to Sri J’pura Hospital, an outright gift from Tokyo during JRJ rule

Published

18 hours ago

2026/03/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Japanese Ambassador to Colombo, Akio Isomata, on 24 March, handed over the newly established dental unit and 4D Angio CT suite at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital. Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and other senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the hospital attended the event.

Highlighting the strong partnership between Japan and Sri Lanka in the health sector, the Embassy issued the following press release yesterday: “This handover marks the second phase of the project, following the initial provision of ophthalmic equipment in December 2023. The current phase represents a significant milestone, featuring the introduction of a state-of-the-art CT Angiography system – the first of its kind in South Asia – as well as dental units. These contributions are expected to enhance Sri Lanka’s capacity to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, stroke, and diabetes, thereby saving lives, reducing long-term complications, and improving the quality of life of patients.

The CT Angiography system integrates CT scanning and angiography functions, enabling highly accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment. It is expected to further strengthen the hospital’s role as a key medical hub in Sri Lanka and the wider region.

In addition, the provision of 10 dental units will support the establishment and enhancement of dental services at the hospital. In Japan, oral health is considered closely linked to overall health and plays an important role in extending healthy life expectancy. This support is, therefore, also expected to contribute to the promotion of preventive healthcare in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital was constructed in 1984 with grant assistance from the Government of Japan. The well-known “1001-bed” story—originating from former President J.R. Jayewardene’s remark to add one more bed to the originally planned 1,000—remains a memorable episode reflecting the history of this cooperation.

Japan has consistently supported Sri Lanka’s health sector over the decades, including the development of medical facilities, strengthening of blood supply systems, and support during the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccine delivery assistance. Furthermore, during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis, Japan provided fuel essential for maintaining healthcare services, and in times of natural disasters, dispatched emergency medical teams to deliver urgent care. These efforts demonstrate Japan’s continued commitment to standing by Sri Lanka, especially in times of need. These efforts reflect Japan’s commitment to “investment in people” and “human security,” supporting a healthcare system in which all individuals can live healthy and dignified lives.

Japanese Ambassador Isomata with Minister Dr Jayatissa and officials (pic courtesy Japanese Embassy)

Ambassador Isomata remarked, “This support is not merely for the provision of equipment, but also for the consolidation of the foundation for safeguarding lives and livelihoods. Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, built with the support of Japan, stands as a symbol of the longstanding friendship between our two countries. We sincerely hope that this project will contribute to building a sustainable healthcare system that benefits future generations in the field of medicine and further strengthen our partnership.”

Minister Jayatissa highlighted,” This is not just a donation of machines. It is an investment in the lives and futures of our patients. By establishing this modern dental unit, we are addressing a critical need in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases for our population. I wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for this generous assistance. These are acts of true friendship, and the people of Sri Lanka will always remember them with gratitude.”

Japan will continue to work closely with Sri Lanka to further strengthen the healthcare sector and deepen the longstanding friendship between the two countries.”