Features
Blaming Bandaranaike
By Uditha Devapriya
In a recent interview with Faraz Shauketaly, Sunethra Bandaranaike criticised her father’s Sinhala Only legislation, admitting that it had been a mistake. It was a remarkably frank mea culpa moment, but it provoked much debate on social media. There were those who agreed with her and those who did not, and there were those who dismissed her remarks as too little, too late. I find myself in neither of these categories, but if I have to categorise myself, I would locate myself somewhere in-between Type 1 and Type 2. There is no point dismissing her remarks: that is a cop-out, and cop-outs just will not do, particularly with respect to issues which affect and afflict this country today, like Sinhala Only.
There is a critique to be made of many of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike’s policies. My point is not that we should stop invoking such critique, but that we should be mindful of the policies that were in place before his premiership. My point is that while “Sinhala Only” may have been a mistake – and there are good reasons to say it was and equally good reasons to say it wasn’t – the pre-Sinhala Only climate was hardly better. In fact, the status quo prior to 1956 wasn’t just flawed. It was also fundamentally unsustainable. Being unsustainable, it had to be reworked, reconfigured, and opened to reform. If the leadership of the day did none of these things and provided an opening to populist politics of the most divisive form, who should we blame: the populist who found that opening, or those who gave him one?
Sinhala Only, in fact, amounted to the contortion of a progressive ideal: the replacement of English with Sinhala and Tamil at the highest levels, including the police and the courts. This had been originally proposed by the LSSP, but as is typical of such proposals, it had been hijacked for less than progressive ends by the Sinhala bourgeoisie and their petty bourgeois fellow travellers.
I rather prefer Hector Abhayavardhana’s description of the bourgeoisie here: he saw them as “small men with narrow vision.” By contrast, Dayan Jayatilleka views that bourgeoisie, which formed the upper crust of the Ceylon National Congress, as having possessed a progressive potential. My argument incorporates both these perspectives: the fact of the matter is that the colonial bourgeoisie were not farsighted or progressive enough to advocate the policies pushed by the far more cosmopolitan Left. I always return to Dayan Jayatilleka’s diagnosis: Sri Lanka, he once noted, “never had a Nehru.”
The same can be said of Bandaranaike’s decision to leave the UNP and form the SLFP. At its inception, the SLFP drew its strength from the ostensibly “anti-imperialist” chapter of the Sinhala petty bourgeoisie. The latter were hardly sympathetic to Marxist ideals, such as the Left’s advocacy of a secular State, its commitment to religious neutrality, and its perceived hostility to culture, religion, and tradition. Yet Bandaranaike fashioned the SLFP as a middle-way between the high-strung but inarticulate nationalism of the Sinhala petty bourgeoisie and the Old Left. Here, he failed to see a contradiction between the two. Animated by liberal ideals, Bandaranaike thus, eventually. spawned the antithesis of those ideals.
Yet, while granting and conceding all this, I find most criticisms of Bandaranaike’s policies – including those by his family – to be misplaced if not inadequate. The fact of the matter was that no party vying for power could avoid the language question. The latter had, by 1956, formed a crucial part of the National Question. The only viable solution at the time was to enthrone Sinhala and Tamil. Two developments, in fact, made this not just possible but also inevitable: the right to vote, granted in 1931, and the enactment of Free Education 14 years later. The more reactionary sections of the elite saw these as antithetical to their interests and opposed both. Not surprisingly, they would later attribute the excesses of Sinhala Only, and of 1956 as a whole, to the failures of such reforms.
This is why claims that we would all have been communicating in English well had laws such as Sinhala Only not been enacted amuse me. What they reveal is a crass ignorance of the situation that prevailed before 1956, specifically before 1945, when Free Education finally saw the light of day – despite, I must add, the opposition of individuals now celebrated and adulated as national heroes.
1956, in this sense, enabled not so much a deterioration as an efflorescence. In politics it led to two outcomes. On the debit side, it made people much less subservient to the political class, particularly through reforms like the abolition of the village headman’s post: reforms which had been rigorously advocated by the Marxist Left. On the credit side, it enabled that class to resort to false channels, such as race, to divert attention from more important issues. What we must do now is to address the latter limitation while building on the former strength, without uncritically condemning 1956.
Ultimately, my critique of 1956, and Sinhala Only, is the same as my critique of the Ceylon National Congress: that it did not produce a modernising class. In the case of the Ceylon National Congress, we ended up with the most conservative, bigoted, and opportunistic elite in South Asia, possibly Asia. In the case of Sinhala Only, we ended up with a woolly-headed and utterly prejudiced petty bourgeoisie, who supplanted the conservative bourgeoisie but did not really replace it. This petty bourgeoisie, in fact, is today at the forefront of critiquing the very reforms which empowered them: an irony that should not be lost on anyone. I think Kumari Jayawardena has provided us with the best critique of this class.
“The petty bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka has… been a class with contradictory aspirations. It has defended tradition and promoted revivalism, while advocating modernity and scientific progress; it has advanced religion as part of culture, and denounced religion as superstition; it has been both parochial and cosmopolitan.”
In Sri Lanka, it is this petty bourgeoisie, in toto, which benefited from 1956. Given their numerical preponderance, it is the Sinhala petty bourgeoisie which benefited from Sinhala Only. One is forced to evaluate the political literacy of this class, and to question whether the political project of 1956 achieved its aim of transforming it into a modernising force. That it has not, so far – the petty bourgeoisie remain incapable of such a task – should tell us that something has gone wrong with 1956. This is my critique of Sinhala Only: not that it took us away from the “good old days” prior to 1956 – which never existed – but that it contorted a progressive ideal and hijacked a project which could have emancipated us. Today we remain shackled and enslaved. For that, we have only ourselves to blame.
The writer is an international relations analyst, researcher, and columnist who can be reached at udakdev1@gmail.com.
There is an unending debate about the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) of the global sport of tennis. The debate is on, as to which one is the GOAT of the players of the “Big Three” era. Those three are Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. All three were very prominent figures in that period. Their intense rivalries pushed the sport to new heights and captivated millions of people in a global audience, thereby significantly increasing tennis’s popularity. However, of the three, Roger Federer was a rather central figure.
Federer’s list of tennis accolades is staggering, and his greatness is often reduced to headlines and statistics: 20 Grand Slam titles, including a record eight Wimbledon singles crowns, 103 Association of Tennis Professionals Tour Singles titles, and 237 consecutive weeks atop the world rankings. He is well-known for his fabulous all-court game, and he is one of only four players to have won a career Grand Slam on three different surfaces: hard, grass, and clay.
His career is marked by remarkable consistency, including reaching 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals and 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals. Federer’s game was often described as graceful, effortless, and artistic. His fluid movement, powerful forehand, and elegant one-handed backhand made him a joy to watch for fans worldwide. He redefined modern tennis with his blend of power and finesse. Yet for all that, beneath the elegance of his backhand and the sheen of trophies lies a deeper heritage; one that elevates him from tennis legend to a true Great Of All Time.
Federer views these achievements as milestones, not the destination. He has always emphasised relationships, gratitude, and giving back, values instilled by his South African mother, Lynette, and nurtured over a lifetime of turning success into service. His effortless finesse and mental fortitude created ballet on grass and clay; moments etched forever in sporting memory. But narrowing Federer’s story to courts and scores does him a disservice.
Federer’s South African heritage cultivated a profound connection to the continent. He holds dual Swiss and South African citizenship and has frequently returned to support earlychildhood education via the Roger Federer Foundation, impacting over two million children across Southern Africa. More than just funding, Federer has rolled up his sleeves, visiting rural schools, launching coaching clinics, and advocating for play-based learning. Philanthropy is woven into Federer’s identity just as deeply as tennis. As he once said, “greatness is not confined to silverware; it lives through the lives we touch“.
Among his lesser-known acts of compassion is one of the most profound. It was in 2005 when Federer was fast turning into a tennis sensation, that he found twin infant girls abandoned outside a health clinic during a charity trip to a remote village in South Africa. The man did not walk away. Moved by their vulnerability, he quietly ensured their care and education, funding their essentials through a foundation partner. He did this without fanfare or media attention, and no publicity followed.
Fast forward to July 11, 2025. At a gala event in Geneva celebrating Federer’s stellar career, two young women took to the stage. It was the same pair of South African twins, now in their early 20s, returning to honour the man who saved them.
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
The sisters spoke with composed gratitude: “We do not remember being abandoned as infants. But we remember being saved. And the man who saved us is sitting right here tonight.”
Then came their own act of generosity. They said, launching a scholarship fund under Roger Federer’s name, to support rural children, “It is dedicated to helping underprivileged children in rural areas gain access to sports and education, the very things Roger had given us. It is our turn to give back, just as Roger gave to us, without expecting anything in return.” A visibly emotional Federer was left speechless before he gathered himself and said in a shaky voice, “I thought I was just helping two lives.
I had no idea they would come back and inspire the world.” That moment, a twin act of kindness born and returned, was described as “grander than all the 20 Grand Slam titles… one of the most powerful moments in tennis history“. That evening rippled globally, it flew virally across social media, confirming that character can outrank championship counts.
Off the court, Federer’s family life is rich and intentional. Married since 2009 to former player Mirka Vavrinec, they have four children: twin daughters Myla Rose and Charlene Riva (born in 2009) and twin sons Leo and Lenny (born in 2014). Their household, brimming with two sets of twins, reflects unity, resilience, and love, values the Father and Mother Federer’s cherish.
If tennis is art, then Federer’s philanthropy is impact. His “Match for Africa” series: exhibition matches featuring Nadal, Murray, and Gates, has generated over 12 million US dollars to support education in Africa. Beyond big events, his foundation has supported earlychildhood programmes in six countries, deployed digital teaching tools and training tablets for educators, and engaged communities and governments to bolster preschool readiness. These are not just token gestures; they are sustained efforts that aim to change systems, not just headlines. He privately supports coaching and education in African villages: a lyrical service that mirrors his gameplay: smooth, reliable, and deeply invested.
In his understated way, Federer has consistently reinforced kindness and integrity. He funds an elderly couple every Australian Open; the parents of his first coach, late Peter Carter, covering flights, hospitality, and box seats, every year, since 2005. Federer has never forgotten the Carter family’s role in his life and career.
These gestures resonate because they are personal, respectful, and ongoing. They speak of a man who remembers where he came from, on and off the court, and who sees grand gestures in the small, consistent acts of humanity.
When discussing Federer as the GOAT, numbers will take you so far. But greatness also measures intangible things: compassion, humility, and legacy. What Federer did for those abandoned twins, and how they returned that grace, reveals more about his character than any gold trophy could. It is easy to point to “trophies won” as the final verdict. But Federer’s life story adds nuance: identity, empathy, and generosity, which truly elevate his accomplishments to a celestial level. His Wimbledon stamps, Swiss coins, and honorary degrees are symbols. The real trophy is the networks of lives he has touched: the rescued twins, African children on new educational pathways, and the families of those who supported him along the way.
Roger Federer’s journey from a junior champion to a record-breaking legend serves as a benchmark for aspiring tennis players and inspires millions around the world to aim for greatness while remaining grounded. In essence, his legacy celebrates not just a phenomenal tennis player but a true sporting icon who left an indelible mark on the game through his achievements, style, character, and humanitarian efforts.
In the court of moral measure, Federer is undisputed. His twin daughters and twin sons will grow up knowing that their father is more than a record-holder. He is a man defined by action. The twins in South Africa, now embroidering his legacy with their own generosity, complete a cycle: champions saved, and champions paid forward.
Yes, Roger Federer is the tennis GOAT. But he’s also the GOAT of genuine kindness, empathy, and impact. That, ultimately, is why the story of greatness cannot, and should not, be limited to statistics alone.
Role models are remembered, not just for what they win… but for the gratitude they inspire, the opportunities they create, and the kindness they live out.
The story of the South African abandoned twins was garnered from the News Arena Network – Geneva through News Arena India on 14th July 2025.
by Dr B. J. C. Perera ✍️
(Tennis Player)
Lakdasa Wikkramasinha
(1941-1978) has been acknowledged as one of the finest Sri Lankan poets writing in English. The Sri Lankan born Booker Prize winner Michael Ondaatje says Wikkramasinha has written “some of the most permanent and iconic poems of this country”.
In a period spanning only thirteen years before his untimely death, Wikkramasinha published six collections of his English poems (and two collections of Sinhala poems as well).
Rage and Heartbreak fulfills the pressing need for a collection of critical writings on Wikkramasinha’s poetry. Essays authored by Gamini Haththotuwegama, Lilani Jayatilaka, Annemari de Silva, Nihal Fernando, Vihanga Perera, Madri Kalugala, Chandana Dissanayake, Nipuni Ranaweera, and George Braine are followed by Indrakanthi Perera’s brief memorial.
Most authors are practicing or retired academics, mainly in English literature. Some are published poets.
Rage and Heartbreak is published by Tambapanni Academic Press and priced at Rs. 3000/.
Vihanga Perera (Ph.D., Australian National University) is an academic and researcher working at the Department of English, University of Sri Jayawardenapura. He is also a poet and novelist, an arts critic, and editor of creative work. He is a recipient of the Gratiaen Prize and the State Literary Award.
George Braine (Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin) taught English in four countries before retiring from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He was acquainted with Lakdasa Wikkramasinha in the 1970s.
Eight babies have been born in the UK using genetic material from three people to prevent devastating and often fatal conditions, doctors say.
The method, pioneered by UK scientists, combines the egg and sperm from a mum and dad with a second egg from a donor woman.
The technique has been legal here for a decade but we now have the first proof it is leading to children born free of incurable mitochondrial disease.
These conditions are normally passed from mother to child, starving the body of energy.
This can cause severe disability and some babies die within days of being born. Couples know they are at risk if previous children, family members or the mother has been affected.
Children born through the three-person technique inherit most of their DNA, their genetic blueprint, from their parents, but also get a tiny amount, about 0.1%, from the second woman. This is a change that is passed down the generations.
None of the families who have been through the process are speaking publicly to protect their privacy, but have issued anonymous statements through the Newcastle Fertility Centre where the procedures took place.
“After years of uncertainty this treatment gave us hope – and then it gave us our baby,” said the mother of a baby girl. “We look at them now, full of life and possibility, and we’re overwhelmed with gratitude.”
The mother of a baby boy added: “Thanks to this incredible advancement and the support we received, our little family is complete. “The emotional burden of mitochondrial disease has been lifted, and in its place is hope, joy, and deep gratitude.”
Mitochondria are tiny structures inside nearly every one of our cells. They are the reason we breathe as they use oxygen to convert food into the form of energy our bodies use as fuel.
Defective mitochondria can leave the body with insufficient energy to keep the heart beating as well as causing brain damage, seizures, blindness, muscle weakness and organ failure.
About one in 5,000 babies are born with mitochondrial disease. The team in Newcastle anticipate there is demand for 20 to 30 babies born through the three-person method each year.
Some parents have faced the agony of having multiple children die from these diseases.
Mitochondria are passed down only from mother to child. So this pioneering fertility technique uses both parents and a woman who donates her healthy mitochondria.
The science was developed more than a decade ago at Newcastle University and the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a specialist service opened within the NHS in 2017.
There was a case of epilepsy, which cleared up by itself and one child has an abnormal heart rhythm which is being successfully treated.
These are not thought to be connected to defective mitochondria. It is not known whether this is part of the known risks of IVF, something specific to the three-person method or something that has been detected only because the health of all babies born through this technique is monitored intensely.
Another key question hanging over the approach has been whether defective mitochondria would be transferred into the healthy embryo and what the consequences could be.
The results show that in five cases the diseased mitochondria were undetectable. In the other three, between 5% and 20% of mitochondria were defective in blood and urine samples.
This is below the 80% level thought to cause disease. It will take further work to understand why this occurred and if it can be prevented.
Prof Mary Herbert, from Newcastle University and Monash University, said: “The findings give grounds for optimism. However, research to better understand the limitations of mitochondrial donation technologies, will be essential to further improve treatment outcomes.”
The breakthrough gives hope to the Kitto family.
Kat’s youngest daughter Poppy, 14, has the disease. Her eldest Lily, 16, may pass it onto her children.
Poppy is in a wheelchair, is non-verbal and is fed through a tube.
“It’s impacted a huge part of her life,” says Kat, “we have a lovely time as she is, but there are the moments where you realize how devastating mitochondrial disease is”.
Despite decades of work there is still no cure for mitochondrial disease, but the chance to prevent it being passed on gives hope to Lily.
“It’s the future generations like myself, or my children, or my cousins, who can have that outlook of a normal life,” she says.
The UK not only developed the science of three-person babies, but it also became the first country in the world to introduce laws to allow their creation after a vote in Parliament in 2015.
There was controversy as mitochondria have DNA of their own, which controls how they function.
It means the children have inherited DNA from their parents and around 0.1% from the donor woman.
Any girls born through this technique would pass this onto their own children, so it is a permanent alteration of human genetic inheritance.
This was a step too far for some when the technology was debated, raising fears it would open the doors to genetically-modified “designer” babies.
Prof Sir Doug Turnbull, from Newcastle University, told me: “I think this is the only place in the world this could have happened, there’s been first class science to get us to where we are, there been legislation to allow it to move into clinical treatment, the NHS to help support it and now we’ve got eight children that seem to free of mitochondrial disease, what a wonderful result.”
Liz Curtis, the founder of the Lily Foundation charity said: “After years of waiting, we now know that eight babies have been born using this technique, all showing no signs of mito.
“For many affected families, it’s the first real hope of breaking the cycle of this inherited condition.”
[BBC]
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