We Ordinaries of this wonderful island are living in anticipation and hope. Is it for a good time in the festive season; some merrymaking; and perchance a visit from ‘Ho Ho Man’. No, our hope lives not on these ephemeral benefits. Rather are we winning our hopes for an improvement the way the country is run and the deal we get as citizens. It is wonderful to hope after so very many years of despair with government mismanagement and rife corruption. We have confidence in our new government, entirely opposite to those which preceded it.

Need for outside carers in hospitals

Cass had been mulling over the allocation of jobs in hospital wards since a person she knows is having immense problems organising carers – day and night – for his mother-in-law in a Colombo suburban hospital. Family members are hard pressed to be with the patient and to hire an attendant means Rs. 4,000 per session.

This is what pertains in government hospitals. Cass cannot generalise but she knows this is the practice: carers brought in by the patient’s family to see to all the patient’s needs –washing, toileting et al. About 15 years ago Cass was in the Castle Street Hospital for Women. Doctors were excellent but the nurses and the few scattered attendants spent most of their time chatting and munching and watching TV. This is first hand reporting of how things stood so long ago too. On the day of surgery, the nursing sister in charge announced that each patient undergoing surgery had to have a carer for the night. Mercifully, cell phones were available. That night Cass’ niece who stayed with her, attended to seven other patients, their carers were fast asleep!

Why can’t nurses and attendants do their work of nursing and attending to patients? Why have outsiders to be brought in to care for patients when the hospital pays so many nurses in each ward and attendants to care for the sick?

Nurses in our government hospitals will never touch a bedpan whereas in Britain they do all patient related work from the most menial to the administration of injections, etc. They rarely have time for even short breaks.

Patients are hospitalised because caring for them is not possible in homes. Thus, hospitals must take full charge of patients and have them cared for by trained staff. We do hope the Health Minister will direct his attention to this severe lapse on the part of hospital staff.

Gautam Adani exposed

It has been reported that the US prosecutors have charged Indian billionaire Adani and seven others in an alleged bribery and fraud scheme related to a renewable energy project in India. In the indictment, prosecutors alleged the tycoon and other senior executives had agreed to the payments to Indian officials to win contracts for his renewable energy company, expected to yield more than $2 bn in profits over 20 years. The authorities have said Adani and the other defendants agreed to pay about $265 m in bribes to Indian officials to obtain contracts.

Cass cannot expand on that. What she pounced on was that this Indian company allegedly bribed officials to accept his proposals for installing renewable energy systems. Cass had, like so many others, got suspicious bristling ever since Adani appeared on the local scene with proposals for port development and particularly the Mannar Wind Power Project, phase two. Why the insistence on this project and Adani as supplier in the face of mass protests by local environmentalists against the installation of wind turbines in Mannar posing a hazard to migratory birds and the prized eco-system in that area. The certainty of bribes, corruption and selling of Sri Lanka’s assets for personal gain of some, was firm in mind then. Have Sri Lankans also been bribed? We also realise we Ordinaries were not mistaken in our suspicion of this entrepreneur. We will, eventually, get to know which political VIPs in the two previous governments willingly sold our land with assists for a mere green back pottage slipped into their capacious pockets.

Employment in Korea

After a while, placard-bearing protestors were seen this week near the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). They were protesting the SLBFE’s move against E-8 visas for employment in South Korea. The SLBFE Chairperson announced the E-8 visa agreement was signed unlawfully by the former subject Minister, without obtaining Cabinet approval or proper government authorisation. The Bureau facilitates the issuance of of E-9 visas, which guarantee employment in South Korea for four years 10 months while the E-8 visa is for much shorter periods of employment. No private employment agencies are permitted to send workers to South Korea under the E-8 visa system, nor to collect any associated fees.

So what rears its Medusa head?

Corruption – so rampant in the recent past, so very vile. People know the name of a VIP who gained from this business of employment in Korea, where each person sent to Korea had to remit a good amount to the collectors of illicit lucre here. If that isn’t selling and living luxuriously on the blood, sweat and tears of the desperate, what is? But now we need not shake our heads and say resigned – What to do, Aney? We no long need to ask that rhetorical question. It is going to be literal. Something will be done. The day of retribution will come to these blood suckers; they will have to pay for their crimes against humanity.

P. S.

Bigger hauls of hidden drugs have been made in the very recent past than during the much touted Yukthiya programme duration of the last government. Whispered among us was the question –was it another ruse to collect bribes? Cass sure felt sprats were caught while the drug sharks were not apprehended. Did they line insatiable pockets – pockets which even ordinary Cassandra knew were in the scheme – advertised to rid the country of the drug menace. Was even a dent made by the Yukthiya Programme?

Our nation stands at a pivotal moment. Despite meaningful strides in governance and efforts to curb corruption and inefficiency, we face significant economic challenges that demand collective action. By coming together, we can forge a path toward recovery and resilience, especially as we approach the looming peak of debt repayments in 2028. This is not just a challenge but an opportunity to unite our skills, expertise, and ideas to drive sustainable economic growth. Together, we can secure a future that is greener and more prosperous for generations to come. This is your chance to contribute ideas and be part of a transformative movement toward increased national productivity.

Why This Matters:

Promoting productivity is a shared responsibility—whether we live within our borders or abroad. Each of us has a role to play, whether by driving reforms, supporting policy changes, or advocating for strategies that channel our collective efforts in the right direction.

Here are just a few powerful steps we can take:

1. Transforming Higher Education

Equip graduates with employable skills through university programs tailored to meet local and global market demands. While free programmes may not be feasible, a deferred repayment loan system can empower students without burdening them upfront. Universities must also have the autonomy to modernise their curricula, enabling quicker adaptation to market needs while adhering to national ethics.

Moreover, allocating 25% of university admissions to international students would generate revenue and elevate our institutions on the global stage. Private universities should contribute by clearly advertising their admission capacities. To ensure accountability, universities—both public and private—must retrain graduates free of charge if they remain unemployed for more than six months post-graduation.

2. Building Iconic National Brands

Our nation boasts globally prized products like tea, cinnamon, pepper, and herbs. Let’s elevate these into world-class brands through rigorous quality standards and producer education. Strict measures—such as banning inferior imports for blending—must be enforced to protect our brand integrity. By safeguarding our exports, we ensure long-term success on the global stage.

3. Job Training & Employment Initiatives

Imagine a network of job centres registering unemployed youth and equipping them with short-term training programmes alongside stipends. These centres can follow an apprenticeship model, where industries take on social responsibility by providing hands-on training. This approach addresses unemployment and creates a workforce ready to meet market demands.

4. Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Innovation is the key to producing globally competitive products. Establishing a non-profit research institution dedicated to supporting innovators would be a game-changer. Self-funded by taking a small share (e.g., 30%) of profits from patented products, this institution could mentor entrepreneurs while minimising personal financial burdens. Strictly merit-based management and expert mentorship would ensure its effectiveness.

5. Championing Sustainable Energy

Affordable, sustainable energy solutions—hydro, solar, wind, and wave—can make our nation more attractive to investors while preserving the environment. Through national and private partnerships, we can advance such projects with clear policies: no tax holidays and a mandate that 90% of staff in these initiatives must be locals. Sustainable energy boosts income and positions us as a leader in environmental responsibility.

6. National English Proficiency Programmes

To compete globally, English-language proficiency is essential. Building on existing voluntary programmes like the Solar Villages SDG Community initiative, the government can scale this into a nationwide effort. Volunteer teachers and minimal public expenditure could make this achievable in schools and community centres, unlocking new opportunities for our citizens.

These examples are just the beginning. The efficiency of public services and government institutions must also improve—an area requiring further exploration and debate.

Your Voice Matters

Together, we have the strength, knowledge, and determination of the top ranks of global expertise and leadership. Let us unite to achieve a brighter, more prosperous tomorrow.

Your participation is our strength. Let’s lead the way forward.

Chula Goonasekera
, on behalf of LEADS forum
admin@srilankaleads.com

As an educational consultant, I was happy to read your editorial of 28 Nov., 2024 titled, “Shadow Education in Spotlight”. I wrote an article in The Island a few years ago, which dealt with some of the same problems you have mentioned in this editorial with regard to private tuition. As a retired teacher and teacher trainer, I agree wholeheartedly with your statement,

“At this early juncture, the new administration may not be able to reveal how it will handle issues concerning private tuition, but it will have to treat them as a high-priority policy concern and act accordingly.”

To quote from my “Open Letter to Educators in Sri Lanka”, published in your newspaper of Monday, May 27, 2019, I brought up some similar important factors:

* We need to reform the culture of “tuition” and find ways of addressing the needs of children who may need some extra guidance. This must be incorporated into the school day without attaching a stigma to it. Retired individuals of many disciplines could be utilized to help children with their academic skills and a broader outlook on life. Inter- generational projects for coaching children within the school day could be of much value to children, teachers and the school community.

*Educators should be open to discussion and improvement of their own skills. Self-reflection is a great tool for all teachers. Are we doing all we can to make sure our children are fully prepared for the 21^st century and all its complex problems? Do we provide an education that goes beyond the three R s in a constantly shrinking world? Is education only for individuals? Or are we preparing students to be world citizens who care for their whole nation and beyond.

* Finally, education should be about the social structure of humanity. What do students learn about the interconnectedness of people and their stewardship of the environment? How do we as adults encourage and implement programs that include community service?

I am encouraged by the appointment of the new Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education. We also need the services of

other educators and volunteers to support her work.

Finally, I agree with your statement:

“The President can render a bigger service by giving the public education sector a radical shake-up and ensuring that schools provide a better education so that students will be less dependent on unregulated private supplementary coaching, which takes a heavy toll on their physical and mental wellbeing and aggravates their parents’ pecuniary woes.”

Again, thank you for a timely and excellent editorial!

Chandra Fernando
Educational Consultant