Features

Science and Technology and national development

Published

11 months ago

2025/01/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Image courtesy UN Department Economic and Social Affairs

Science and Technology in human civilization and industrial revolution

by Emeritus Professor Ranjith Senaratne
Former Chairman, National Science Foundation

Homo erectus, which originated about two million years ago, discovered fire about one million years after their origin. However, it came into habitual use only about 400,000 years ago, which provided warmth, lighting and protection against wild animals and enabled the making of more advanced hunting tools and the preparation of healthy and nutritious food. The resulting improved nutrition promoted rapid brain development and Homo erectus gradually evolved into Homo sapiens around 200,000 to 300,000 years ago. Hence, fire was a critical and decisive technology which enabled human evolution from the Stone Age (around 2.6 million years to around 3300 BC) to the Bronze Age (around 3300 BC to 1200 BC) and then to the Iron Age (around 1200 BC to 550 BC).

Humans have gone through four ages of civilization, namely the Hunter and Gatherer Age, Agriculture Age, Industrial Age and the present Information Age or Knowledge Worker Age. Technological advances have contributed to those transformations and there has been a phenomenal increase of efficiency and productivity when transforming from one Age to another. A new set of skills and new knowledge were required as earlier ones became obsolete with the progression from one Age to another. Different countries, different sectors within a country, different industries within a sector and different enterprises within an industry, could be at different levels on the continuum, depending on the type of technology used. When we look at the industrial revolution (IR), it has progressed from the 1st IR in the 18th century to the 4th IR in the 21st century. This shows the rapidity of technological advances and pace of innovation. Each IR brought significant changes to society, including workforce transformations, economic growth, and societal restructuring

The 1st IR marked the transition from a handicraft economy to a manufacturing economy characterized by mechanized production through the utilization of energy sources, such as coal and steam-power, and the emergence of factories, such as weaving mills and ironworks for mass production. The 2nd IR occurred in the late 19th and early 20th century and was marked by the use of electricity and the invention of the assembly line, both of which resulted in a significant increase in mass production. Henry Ford, for example, successfully used the assembly line in producing his automobile assembly facility. In addition, gas and oil also became important sources of energy during this era. In the 3rd IR, the emergence of electronics and automation technologies significantly impacted manufacturing and information processing, thereby paving the way for the development of computers and transistors. In addition, nuclear power also became an important source of energy. The 4th IR is the integration of cyber-physical systems, the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), block chain, virtual reality and advanced robotics, blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres. Now some are even talking about the Fifth Industrial Revolution which incorporates concepts such as “sustainability”, “human-centeredness”, and “concern for the environment”, thereby striking a right balance between robotization and humans and blending the power of smart, precise and accurate machinery with human creativity and ingenuity. However, some argue that it is a mere extension of the 4th IR.

However, we have to recognize that some of the problems we face today are due to unintended consequences of S&T. For example, the Green Revolution that was aimed at increasing food production in the world has unintentionally caused serious environmental issues and health hazards. Similarly, industrial developments in the 19th century have contributed to climate change which is now wreaking havoc in the world. Thus, when we apply science to address one problem, it can create a number of unintended consequences and complicated problems. This should be born in mind and sustainability science should be used when addressing real-world issues.

Technology and economic development: Lessons from other countries

According to the UNDP (1983), one quarter of humankind – some 1.1 billion people inhabiting two-fifths of the land area of the Earth controlled 80% of the world’s resources while 3.6 billion people inhabiting three-fifths of the globe controlled only 20% of the global resources. Therefore, Abdus Salam, founding President of The Third World Academy of Sciences, Trieste, Italy, in 1988, said that the globe is inhabited by two distinct types of economies, called developed and developing, which basically stemmed from their differing mastery and utilization of present-day science and technology

If we look at the export portfolio of Sri Lanka, garments (45%), tea (20%) and rubber (15%) collectively account for about 80% of the total exports of which the high-tech exports accounts for only about 1.5% as against 15% in India, 26% in Thailand, 36% in Korea, 43% in Vietnam and 56% in Singapore. Similarly, the digital economy of Sri Lanka contributes less than 5% to the national GDP as opposed to 13% in Thailand, 20% in India and over 20% in Malaysia. This shows the abysmally low level of adoption of technology in the manufacturing process in Sri Lanka, which is not hard to understand given the low level of funding for R&D; it is only around 0.1% of the GDP as against around 0.15% in Myanmar, 0.3% in Nepal, 0.8% in India, 1.2% in Thailand, 4% in Korea and 4.2% in Israel. Consequently, many local industries in Sri Lanka still operate at very low level, i.e. 2nd IR, thus lagging behind many countries even in Asia. This issue has already been highlighted by Dr. W.A. Wijewardena, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, through the print media.

Japan was devastated in 1945 during the 2nd World War, but emerged as the second largest technological powerhouse in the world by 1965. Today Japan with only 0.25% land area and 1.5% of the population in the world has become the fourth strongest economy on this planet and is second only to the USA, China and Germany. Israel, with an annual precipitation of about 400 mm, produces the highest milk yield in the world, i.e. over 30 litres/cow/day whereas Sri Lanka, blessed with an annual rainfall ranging from 1750 to over 2500 mm, still produces only 2-4 litres/cow/day. Another such example is the Netherlands, which is only about 60% of the size of Sri Lanka, but is the third largest exporter of agricultural produce in the world, whereas Sri Lanka, with a year-round favourable climate for agriculture, imports food commodities to the value of about $ 2 billion annually. Needless to add that the countries referred to above have a strong S&T base. While several factors, including incoherent and inconsistent national policies, adhocism and short-termism in Sri Lanka, have contributed to it, low investment in R&D in the past has been a major contributory factor.

Against this background, it is heartening to see that the new government has recognized the overriding importance of S&T for national development and has formulated a comprehensive Science and Technology Policy Framework, titled “Quantum Leap,” including several strategic interventions for public consultation. Moreover, the government has reestablished the Ministry of Science and Technology and has pledged to substantially increase the allocation for R&D in the 2025 Budget. If the interventions proposed in the policy framework are successfully implemented, it would afford a huge boost to the national economy, enabling it to come out of the present economic morass and move along an upward trajectory of economic growth. As public comments are sought on the proposed policy framework and strategies identified, I wish to share some of my thoughts in the hope that they may prove useful in formulating policies with actionable interventions as per the framework developed.

Prioritization of the strategic sectors and high-impact interventions

Here, it will be useful briefly to present how some countries set about in formulating such a policy document. South Korea, in its strategic plan for science and technology from 2025 to 2030, identified 12 national strategic technologies and established a strategy road map for each technology. This ambitious initiative involves a significant investment, i.e. over $19 billion aimed at fostering those 12 strategic technologies essential for economic security and competitiveness of the country. (https://www.msit.go.kr/eng/bbs/view.do?sCode=eng&mId=4&mPid=2&pageIndex=&bbsSeqNo=42&nttSeqNo=746&searchOpt=ALL&searchTxt=). The UK government recently unveiled its Science and Technology Framework, aiming to position the country as a global leader in science and technology by 2030. This framework is a key initiative of the newly formed Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and outlines 10 strategic actions to foster innovation, enhance public and private R&D investments, and leverage the UK’s existing strengths in critical technologies (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-science-and-technology-framework).

The Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), coming under the Department of Science & Technology in India, having taken into account the economic situation, geo-politics and technological advances in the world, has formulated Technology Vision 2035, presenting a fresh perspective on technology imperatives for India. It is a consultative document meant to inspire all the stakeholders and capture the collective aspirations and expectations of the people and the ambitions of the youth of India. A blend of bottom-up and top-down approach was used in the design of this visionary exercise. In addition, people across the spectrum were consulted in multiple ways to anchor the vision, notably through regional brainstorming meetings, thematic interactive sessions with students, faculty and technocrats, open online surveys, etc. Moreover, a large number of experts were consulted to get deeper technology insights and perspectives, at different stages of exercise and the feedback and inputs from those interventions were studied in detail and synthesized to evolve the technology vision for the country. Based on in-depth analyses and discussions during the scoping phase of the exercise, 12 strategic sectors, namely Education, Medical Sciences and Healthcare, Food and Agriculture, Water, Energy, Environment, Habitat, Transportation, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Materials and Information & Communication Technology (ICT) were identified (https://www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in/sites/default/files/file-uploads/roadmaps/1527503991_Technology_vision%202035.pdf).

The policy framework recently developed in Sri Lanka has identified six broad areas which encompass over 25 sectors involving over 100 wide ranging interventions. As their implementation exerts a formidable strain on the available limited resources, including financial and technical, it is of the utmost importance to reflect and deliberate deeply on them with the participation of all the key stakeholders (including S&T and R&D institutions, industry and community) and conduct the necessary surveys and investigations where applicable. These will prove important in order to identify a few high-impact strategic interventions (low hanging fruits) that could yield tangible results in the near term without losing sight of the medium- and long-term national interests and needs.

Allocation of funds for the strategic high-impact technologies and interventions identified

A vision by itself would not serve any purpose unless appropriate actions are outlined and acted upon to realize the large objectives. In this connection, construction of a road map and allocation of the requisite funds, particularly on a short- and medium-term basis, and ensuring their availability are of prime importance. This will develop confidence and credibility among the stakeholders including the private sector and scientific community and motivate them to commit themselves to the high-priority concerns as per the road map. As S&T interventions demand a wide range of inputs from home and abroad, building and maintaining a robust and resilient supply chain is also of crucial importance. Many plans in the past have failed as commitment has been only in word, but not in deed. In our country, according to past experience, R&D became the first casualty in the event of a crisis since governments were generally more concerned with populist measures and vote-grabbing interventions. However, in many developed economies, R&D rarely becomes a casualty and on the contrary, they even provide enhanced funding for R&D in order, for example, to tackle such crises as the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, unwavering commitment to strategic R&D with firm conviction is a prerequisite to drive economic growth and competitiveness of the country.

Providing tax incentives to the private sector for investment in R&D and innovation

Global spending on R&D has now reached a record high of almost US$ 3 trillion in 2023. Asian countries (including China, Japan, India and South Korea) now account for more than 40% of all global R&D investments, with the US and European investment accounting for less than 30% and slightly more than 20%, respectively. Governments worldwide increasingly rely on tax incentives to promote private R&D and innovation investment. In the early 1980s, the contribution of the public sector to R&D in the USA was comparable to that of the private sector. However, in the 2020s, the private sector has contributed 75% of the R&D investment while the public sector only 25%. For instance, the total funding on R&D in the USA in 2021was US$ 806 billion of which US$ 602 billion was from the private sector. France has implemented the Research Tax Credit which is one of the most generous R&D tax relief schemes in Europe, making it attractive for businesses to invest in innovation. Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands have also introduced similar schemes to promote private investment on R&D.

(To be continued)

All News Advertisement

Features

Race hate and the need to re-visit the ‘Clash of Civilizations’

Published

10 hours ago

2025/12/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: ‘No to race hate’

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done very well to speak-up against and outlaw race hate in the immediate aftermath of the recent cold-blooded gunning down of several civilians on Australia’s Bondi Beach. The perpetrators of the violence are believed to be ardent practitioners of religious and race hate and it is commendable that the Australian authorities have lost no time in clearly and unambiguously stating their opposition to the dastardly crimes in question.

The Australian Prime Minister is on record as stating in this connection: ‘ New laws will target those who spread hate, division and radicalization. The Home Affairs Minister will also be given new powers to cancel or refuse visas for those who spread hate and a new taskforce will be set up to ensure the education system prevents, tackles and properly responds to antisemitism.’

It is this promptness and single-mindedness to defeat race hate and other forms identity-based animosities that are expected of democratic governments in particular world wide. For example, is Sri Lanka’s NPP government willing to follow the Australian example? To put the record straight, no past governments of Sri Lanka initiated concrete measures to stamp out the evil of race hate as well but the present Sri Lankan government which has pledged to end ethnic animosities needs to think and act vastly differently. Democratic and progressive opinion in Sri Lanka is waiting expectantly for the NPP government’ s positive response; ideally based on the Australian precedent to end race hate.

Meanwhile, it is apt to remember that inasmuch as those forces of terrorism that target white communities world wide need to be put down their counterpart forces among extremist whites need to be defeated as well. There could be no double standards on this divisive question of quashing race and religious hate, among democratic governments.

The question is invariably bound up with the matter of expeditiously and swiftly advancing democratic development in divided societies. To the extent to which a body politic is genuinely democratized, to the same degree would identity based animosities be effectively managed and even resolved once and for all. To the extent to which a society is deprived of democratic governance, correctly understood, to the same extent would it experience unmanageable identity-bred violence.

This has been Sri Lanka’s situation and generally it could be stated that it is to the degree to which Sri Lankan citizens are genuinely constitutionally empowered that the issue of race hate in their midst would prove manageable. Accordingly, democratic development is the pressing need.

While the dramatic blood-letting on Bondi Beach ought to have driven home to observers and commentators of world politics that the international community is yet to make any concrete progress in the direction of laying the basis for an end to identity-based extremism, the event should also impress on all concerned quarters that continued failure to address the matters at hand could prove fatal. The fact of the matter is that identity-based extremism is very much alive and well and that it could strike devastatingly at a time and place of its choosing.

It is yet premature for the commentator to agree with US political scientist Samuel P. Huntingdon that a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ is upon the world but events such as the Bondi Beach terror and the continuing abduction of scores of school girls by IS-related outfits, for instance, in Northern Africa are concrete evidence of the continuing pervasive presence of identity-based extremism in the global South.

As a matter of great interest it needs mentioning that the crumbling of the Cold War in the West in the early nineties of the last century and the explosive emergence of identity-based violence world wide around that time essentially impelled Huntingdon to propound the hypothesis that the world was seeing the emergence of a ‘Clash of Civilizations’. Basically, the latter phrase implied that the Cold War was replaced by a West versus militant religious fundamentalism division or polarity world wide. Instead of the USSR and its satellites, the West, led by the US, had to now do battle with religion and race-based militant extremism, particularly ‘Islamic fundamentalist violence’ .

Things, of course, came to a head in this regard when the 9/11 calamity centred in New York occurred. The event seemed to be startling proof that the world was indeed faced with a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ that was not easily resolvable. It was a case of ‘Islamic militant fundamentalism’ facing the great bulwark, so to speak, of ‘ Western Civilization’ epitomized by the US and leaving it almost helpless.

However, it was too early to write off the US’ capability to respond, although it did not do so by the best means. Instead, it replied with military interventions, for example, in Iraq and Afghanistan, which moves have only earned for the religious fundamentalists more and more recruits.

Yet, it is too early to speak in terms of a ‘Clash of Civilizations’. Such a phenomenon could be spoken of if only the entirety of the Islamic world took up arms against the West. Clearly, this is not so because the majority of the adherents of Islam are peaceably inclined and want to coexist harmoniously with the rest of the world.

However, it is not too late for the US to stop religious fundamentalism in its tracks. It, for instance, could implement concrete measures to end the blood-letting in the Middle East. Of the first importance is to end the suffering of the Palestinians by keeping a tight leash on the Israeli Right and by making good its boast of rebuilding the Gaza swiftly.

Besides, the US needs to make it a priority aim to foster democratic development worldwide in collaboration with the rest of the West. Military expenditure and the arms race should be considered of secondary importance and the process of distributing development assistance in the South brought to the forefront of its global development agenda, if there is one.

If the fire-breathing religious demagogue’s influence is to be blunted worldwide, then, it is development, understood to mean equitable growth, that needs to be fostered and consolidated by the democratic world. In other words, the priority ought to be the empowerment of individuals and communities. Nothing short of the latter measures would help in ushering a more peaceful world.

Features

The perennial challenge of peace-keeping and reconciliation

Published

10 hours ago

2025/12/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

Christmas

Peace on Earth to all people of good-will is the perennial and the pristine song of Joy and hope aired in every nook and corner during every Christmas season commemorating the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. In his own day, Jesus of Nazareth was himself a wonderful instrument of peace and reconciliation in his own homeland of Palestine. He was open to all classes of people, whatever their ethnicity, race, language or social class with preference particularly to the sectors of the poor among these social strata. He would freely crisscross the various regions of Palestine which at that time was tri-partite: Galilee in the north with its fishing villages, lakes graced with wonderful beaches and imposing ranges of hills and valleys; Samaria in the middle and Judea in the deep south which located the religious centers of Judaism with its magnificent temple and also housed the State buildings of the Roman prefectures.

Liberation from Oppression

Entire Palestine was colonized with Caesar sitting in Rome his capital and having his legates governing the local provinces. People too were living in the expectation of a Messiah who would fight the colonial power and thus bring liberation to their oppressed motherland. There was a strongly prevalent messianic current of hope circulating and the longing for the day and the appearance of the Messiah, the liberator. Though inundated by Roman paganism and constantly under the threat of foreign invasion, the people kept to their traditional religious beliefs with their festivals, pilgrimages, rituals and rites and laws.

Unfortunately, there was a historic breach with the breakaway of the Samaritans from the Jews, both claiming to be authentic descendants of their earliest patriarchs. They had different holy centers of worship. Jews considered the Samaritans a hybrid race enabled by the inter-marriages encouraged by the invading Assyrian foreigners (721 BC) with the local population that were not deported by the invaders. It was a historic schism that had very sad socio-cultural, religious and political repercussions. As time went by, this enmity had created many tensions and had percolated into many other serious issues that caused estrangement within the country. The story of the Good Samaritan who came to the rescue of the Jew fallen among the robbers along the road to Jericho and the sole leper who returned to thank Jesus following his healing and who happened to be a Samaritan are gospel incidents that strived to heal this division and bring reconciliation among the two dissenting groups. Creating confusion among the general public was also the fact of the misunderstanding of the mission of the Messiah wholly thought of as a purely political liberation which was only a partial truth.

The homeland of Jesus was desperately in need of a profound spiritual and religious revolution. There had to be a more humane understanding of the Law of Moses, the great code of the national ethic and putting relationships in their correct perspective despite the fact that the land was surrounded on all sides with kingdoms and ruling monarchs who were pagan and the worship of idols was rampant. People treasured their religious and cultural traditions and were in great fear of them being lost when invading foreigners threatened their sovereignty and even territorial integrity. Their very land was sacred for it was the land of their God and therefore defended against any foreign pagan aggression. In fact, there had been often and on many insurrectionist movements rebelling against the Roman colonial rule that were summarily crushed.

Religion at the service of Freedom & Liberation

Jesus Christ saw the need of introducing a new spirituality based on a new ethic to restore the religious sensibilities of Israel. From the mountain he taught the classical sermon on the Beatitudes which declared the poor as blessed and those who suffered persecution for the sake of justice and righteousness as blessed too. It would be the meek who will inherit the earth and those who are merciful would be the true children of God. Pharisaical spirit of religion that is subservient to the letter of the Law that kills and false religiosity limited purely to rites and rituals were to be empty of meaning. Love of God to be total had to be matched with the love for the neighbor. Even enemies were to be loved without conditions. Self-righteousness had no place in the spirituality he propounded. People have to be fed both with spiritual food of truth as well as material nourishment to feed their hunger as he multiplied fish and loaves in the Galilean mountains to cater to the thousands who had flocked to hear him and sought blessings of healing and solace. Many were stunned wondering how the son of a carpenter could have such wisdom and powers even over demons who rattled at his presence. Simple jealousy, unfounded fear and a great amount of misunderstanding and suspicion finally caved in from his enemies, the religious authorities of Jerusalem and the Roman governor that led to that shamefully blatant and unjust condemnation ever recorded in legal history: the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

In some ways the celebration of Christmas, which is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ is being caricatured with commercialism and mere external fanfare with décor and illuminations. The deeper truth is that we are celebrating a spiritual event that was decisive in history: God entering the world in the real physical and bodily appearance of a human being. He made humanity make its peace with God and brought enlightenment about the mystery of life and death declaring the importance of love and respect of others in neighborly love and forgiveness. Like an industrious fisherman he cast his net into the deep and distant waters for an abundance of harvest that would bring civilization itself a mighty haul of blessings. Christianity is very much alive in its two millennia history cutting across cultures and civilizations witnessing to the belief in God and the dignity of man who has an eternal destiny. This religion is pro-life in all dimensions: safety of the unborn, the sacredness and inviolability of every life, the sanctity of marriage, life-beyond death, no violence of any kind, no wars, no nuclear weapons, no arms race or unwarranted ethnic or racial superiority, no danger to sovereignty of nations and their territorial integrity and safe haven for refugees and migrants of every hue.

It is in some of these very difficult issues that peace-keeping and work of reconciliation are becoming global priorities. Science and technology alone are no saviors of humanity embattled as it is in problems that appear to be very dramatic and far extensive. In no way should human beings become victims of their own creations however impressive they may be. Humanity must be the center of our global concerns and innovations with everything serving it towards a better quality of life. A Human being must never be instrumentalized in dehumanizing experiments. On the contrary, he must be served in all things so that his unique place in creation may not be displaced and continue to be the final point of reference in all world’s undertakings and ventures. To this must all regional and international bodies commit themselves in earnest. Christianity considers Jesus Christ the Lord to be the goal of human history, the focal point of the longings of history and of civilization, the center of the human race, the joy of every heart and the answer to all its yearnings as the great Vatican II Council document put it (Gaudium et Spes 45) while the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts (Gaud. et Spes 1).

Christianity & Secularity

It is this spirit of Jesus Christ that impels Christianity to be closely involved in the world society’s journey which registers the triumphs and failures of history. Wherever it has gone, it has opened hospitals for healing the sick, schools for education and other charitable institutions thus playing the role of the Good Samaritan in keeping the fires of charity and compassion alive in a society always prone to various kinds of natural disasters and human conflicts that bring misery and suffering. Christianity favors an economic system that is neither radically socialist nor downright capitalistic and holds primacy of labor over capital, thus taking a clear anti-Marxist stand in this ever important socio-political issue. The dignity and working conditions of the worker with the issue of a living wage, pension benefits, sharing of profits, private enterprise are considered important human issues to be dealt with within the parameters of social justice and labour rights. Democratic principles are preeminently Christian in outlook empowering people to make the needed political options in constructing a system of governance and rule that benefits the common and the greater good. Christianity wishes its voice to be heard in international fora and in contexts in which important decisions affecting people globally are made.

If the spirit of Christmas is to endure beyond its usual annual celebration, the challenges of the Christmas event must be faced and due response to its newer questions met with courage and hope. In the concrete, they are the peace among nations, inter-religious harmony, war against terror and fundamentalisms, economies without disparities and respect for human rights as well as basic freedoms. These are all elements for reconciliation and building-blocks for peace-keeping. Military superiority and economic imperialism are the most satanic forms of modern paganism that plague our world creating so much suspicion, instability and tensions. More spirit of listening, dialogue and understanding are in demand for a stable world and a new form of warm humanism. In emulation of Jesus Christ the eminent peace-maker and reconciler, it behoves that all those who claim to be peace-makers and agents of reconciliation pursue the same mission. Thus, the spirit of Christmas is preserved ever alive.

by Rev. Fr. Leopold Ratnasekera OMI
Ph.D., Th.D.

Features

So this is Christmas …

Published

10 hours ago

2025/12/25

Sahan Weerasooriya

The world over, Christmas is being celebrated today. However, in our part of the world, Christmas, and the lead up to the New Year, will be observed on a sombre note.

With this in mind, I wish my readers a Blessed Christmas and let’s hope 2026 will be a good one … without any fear.

Several known personalities also send their greetings and best wishes to The Island readers:

* Noshin De Silva (Actress):

Happy Holidays to everyone across our beautiful island! As we move toward the end of the year, my heart goes out to all communities affected by the recent floods and severe weather. In these challenging weeks, we have also witnessed the true spirit of Sri Lanka through the humility, compassion, and unity of people coming together to support one another. May this season bring comfort to those rebuilding, gratitude to those giving, and hope to us all. Wishing everyone Peace, Healing, Great Health, and a very Happy New Year!

* Melloney Dassanayaka (Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2024):

As we celebrate the blessings of Christmas and step with hope into a brand-new year, I am reminded of the strength, resilience, and spirit that define us as Sri Lankans. This festive season invites us to reflect, to appreciate what we have, and to look ahead with courage.

Be positive and embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Be smart, be brave, and work hard for yourself, because your future is shaped by the determination you carry within.

May this Christmas fill your hearts with peace and joy, and may the New Year bring you endless possibilities, renewed strength, and the confidence to pursue every dream.

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas and a Bright, Prosperous New Year!

With love and warm wishes.

* Raffealla Fernando (Photographer/Designer):

Wishing you a beautiful, light-filled Christmas and a New Year overflowing with inspiration.

As a photographer and designer, I’m constantly searching for the moments, colours, and stories. that make life extraordinary and this season always reminds me how much beauty there is in the simple things: warm laughter, shared memories, and the quiet magic of togetherness.

Thank you for being part of my creative journey this year.

May your holidays be filled with genuine joy, and may 2026 bring you new adventures, brighter light, and endless reasons to smile.

This season, I’m also wishing for something close to my heart: for Sri Lanka to rise up bigger, better, and stronger. Nothing more to ask for than peace in these turbulent hearts, peace of mind for every soul, and the strength to rebuild our country in the coming year.

Merry Christmas, and a Vibrant, Inspiring New Year.

* Andrea Marr (Singer – Australia):

Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas and a Joyful New Year. May the message of Christmas remain in your hearts and give you peace.

* AROH (Music group):

We thank you for sharing your year with us, for every lyric sung, every rhythm embraced, and every stage shared. Your incredible support fuels our passion and continues to inspire the music we create.

Although the past few weeks have seen heaps of problems cropping up, may your Christmas be filled with Joy, Peace, and the beautiful harmony of family and friends.

Also, may the New Year bring you prosperity, health, and a score of exciting new possibilities.

We look forward to connecting with you through music in the coming year, as well.

* Melantha Perera (Singer):

Music heals the soul, and sharing its gift this season fills our hearts with joy.

May our melodies spread love to every soul, making our Creator smile as we celebrate His birth.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a New Year in perfect harmony!

* Natasha Rathnayake (Singer):

As we close another year and step into a new one, may this season remind us of what truly matters — kindness, connection, and love for all living beings.

Let’s carry forward the lessons, the healing, and the gratitude we’ve gathered, and step into 2026 with open hearts, courage, and compassion.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Christmas filled with blessings and joy, and a New Year that inspires clarity, creativity, and love in all that you do.

With love, and abundance of blessings!

God bless.

AROH

* Sohan Weerasinghe (Singer):

Yes, Christmas is back and 2026 is around the corner. It’s time once again to convey my good wishes and also to remind myself to be careful of my waistline as I have a weakness for goodies, especially Christmas cake!

Have a fabulous Christmas and New Year and you also must do your utmost to help the needy people around you, especially those affected by the disaster that took us all by surprise; give till it hurts!

* JJ Twins (Duo):

As the magic of Christmas fills the air and a brand-new year approaches, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful community for your continued support. May this festive season bring you joy, peace, and time spent with those you cherish.

We also take this moment to warmly wish Ivan Alvis a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year filled with success and happiness.

Jesus bless you all, and may you have a Christ-filled Christmas and New Year!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Bright, Successful New Year!

* SEVEN NOTES (Music group – Dubai):

SEVEN NOTES

As we celebrate the joy of Christmas and welcome the dawn of a brand-new year, we extend our heartfelt wishes to the readers and the dedicated team of The Island newspaper.

May this festive season bring peace, love, and harmony into your homes, and may the New Year 2026 be filled with success, good health, and new opportunities.

Thank you for inspiring communities across the globe with trusted journalism and unwavering service.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2026.