We Sri Lankans not only boast of our cultural and religious heritage but also brag about it to the rest of the world. Most leaders want to make this resplendent island the home of Sinhalese Buddhists, forgetting that there are other ethnic communitieswhose members have done much more than most of Sinahlese, Buddhists or otherwise, to bring this country to a respectable standard, being only second to Japan in Asia during the early part of the last century.

But, unfortunately this beautiful island has been transformed into a sort of a beggars’ land, lacking foreign exchange to import even the essential items for day to day living, and Ministers have to go begging to other countries in Asia which were way behind us earlier. This has been due to the mismanagement of affairs of governance and corruption which has become the trade mark of Sri Lanka.

In addition to corruption, the other trade mark of Sri Lankans is jealousy. This trait prevails right across the board whatever the social standing of the persons concerned. There have been murders committed because of rivalry and professional jealousy. This trait of jealousy is more prevalent amongst the Sinhalese than other ethnic communities. The Burgher community was one that never had jealousy amongst them and, unfortunately, all the Burghers who could have done a lot towards the development of this island left to seek greener pastures outside due to the language policy of the then government, and all of us who knew them felt the loss.

It is strange how this dirty trait has engulfed such a large number of people during the period from the early twentieth century to date and it is prevalent from schoolchildren to elders which we, of the earlier generation, never thought of. During our school days when a classmate, or schoolmate of ours, did well, we were very happy and never envious or jealous of such a person. We would go for practices of the sports that we liked and when the team was chosen those of us who were not selected were not jealous of the ones who had been selected as we knew the master-in-charge(we did not have paid coaches as it is the fashion in schools now) would have done the selection on merit and not favouritism. At present there are some parents who influence the coaches to get their offspring into the teams. And, sad to say, this happens in well- known big schools.

Even with regard to the academic work, the teachers had no favourites and all were treated equally. The best students would do well in the term tests and win class prizes, with the others having no jealousy towards them. Now it is an entirely different story with the teachers, too,, having their favourites and they try to see how they could be favoured. In the selection of positions, like the school prefects and captains of sports, there was absolutely no favouritism and the best and deserving students were selected. Now even in the so called big schools, positions, such as the Senior Prefect of the school may be a student who does not deserve to hold that position but has got it by doing things to please the Principal and some of the teachers. A student who resorts to this type of practices is always supported by the parents who have been currying favour with class teachers to see their offspring is favoured.

There are instances where students, or their parents, could influence the Principal and teachers to get prizes where the teachers have a say. They could influence the Principal to get a student to share a prize which has been quite distinctly won by another student purely on merit. These two are examples, I am aware of, which happened in a leading boys’ school.

In Sri Lanka when a child does well in anything there will be those who will envy and be jealous. Achievers are usually the targets of such traits. When a child gets all distinction passes in the General Ordinary Level and Advance Level examinations, such child will be the target of jealousy and envy. This will be very much so with relatives and neighbours. But not so with real friends who will be very happy of this type of achievement and they would openly indicate their happiness. As a result of these jealous and envious traits of people, most parents do not divulge results and achievements of their offspring to others. They keep these achievements a secret until an appropriate time comes to divulge at which point all those who come to know the achievements are surprised that a boy or girl had achieved so much.

Jealousy amongst professionals in Sri Lanka is rampant. There have been instances of doctors getting other doctors killed as a result of private practice. There have been instances of DMOs who have not treated the young doctors who come to their hospital because of jealousy as the young doctors are more competent in IT and English. This trait prevails among the members of other professions as well. Lawyers, musicians, teachers, businessmen and politicians, too, fall into this category. We find that jealousy amongst some personnel in the armed forces and the police too. Sometimes people resort to methods like huniams, manthras and smashing of coconuts against people they feel are doing well.

Come election time, and one sees the jealousy and envy amongst the politicians, both before and after such election. Jealousy moves from the political arena to the underworld, too, where the gang leaders kill each other to have the whole share of the lucre from drug trafficking, etc.

Most unbelievable and strange thing is that jealousy prevails amongst the persons who should do their best to get rid of this bad trait, namely the Buddhist priests. Some of them have gone to the extreme of getting their rivals eliminated. There have been instances of Buddhist priests resorting to unscrupulous things against other priests because of political positions.

This jealousy amongst Sri Lankans is a very bad and sad trait. I wonder when all citizens of Sri Lanka can live without jealousy and envy. Most of us will not be amongst the living to enjoy such a day if it happens at all.

HM Nissanka Warakaulle