By Dr. N. G. Kularatna and Dr. Godwin Kodituwakku –
National Education Policies and Value Education
Over the past three decades, leading global education reports have consistently highlighted value education as a central pillar of human development and social progress. Collectively, these reports affirm that value education is not peripheral, but integral to creating well-rounded individuals and developing peaceful, sustainable societies. All policy statements issued in Sri Lanka over the last three decades from 1992-2022 have recognized the need for, and explicitly stated the need to produce citizens who are ethical, law-abiding, caring, and socially responsible. The 1992 National Education Commission Report places value education at the centre of the purposes of education. Rather than prescribing a single new standalone subject, the Report recommended that value education be integrated throughout the whole school program by embedding it in the curricula of several other subjects, co-curricular activities, and the everyday life of the school.
In 2022, the National Education Commission presented the National Education Framework, which recommended eight National Education Goals to be achieved during the period 2020–2030. The Report points out that the curriculum should be designed to develop individuals with balanced personalities.
Of the eight goals, the following four directly and primarily represent human values:
1. Promote physical, mental, spiritual, socio-emotional, and environmental well-being of individuals necessary for a healthy and happy way of life, based on respect for human values.
2. Promote respect for human rights and laws of the country, while fulfilling duties and obligations in keeping with the norms of social justice and a democratic way of life.
3. Uphold the nation’s cultural and ecological heritage while responding to local and global challenges.
4. Develop a patriotic Sri Lankan citizen fostering national cohesion, national integrity, and national unity while respecting cultural diversity.
The policy considered to be in effect currently and the reality of its implementation
In the past, the curriculum approach used to promote values was believed to be based on the 1992 Commission Report, which was integrating values into subjects such as Language, Literature, History, Citizenship Education, Social Studies, Environmental Studies, and Religion during the compulsory stage of schooling. It is uncertain whether the National Institute of Education has conducted any studies to determine whether the recommended approach was implemented in practice and how effective it has been in helping children internalize the intended values. The only reported study, conducted during the early stages of implementing this approach revealed several drawbacks. The absence of a comprehensive value education curriculum framework with explicitly and clearly stated content, structured according to grades and subjects into which values were believed to have been integrated was the major drawback. In addition, teachers have failed to make a dedicated and deliberate effort to inculcate values, due to lack of knowledge and skill, in appropriate teaching techniques. Another major finding of the study was the complete neglect of formative and summative assessment of value learning. The education system’s emphasis on imparting and testing only cognitive learning led teachers to neglect the teaching of values.[1]
Although education policy statements and reports published since 1992 have consistently emphasized the need for value education at the compulsory stage, value education, which remained largely confined to policy rhetoric, had virtually disappeared from practice by 2026. If the value education approach, which until then had existed only nominally, had been successful and effective, the current government would likely not have introduced a subject called ‘Religion and Value Education’ in 2026.
Views and statements of the Hon. President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Education on Value Education and the Educational Process
The following statements made over the past period by the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Education demonstrate their deep concern regarding the decline in human values in contemporary Sri Lanka society and highlight the critical role and responsibility of the education system in fostering and strengthening such values.
“President Anura Kumara Dissanayake highlighted the need for ‘a new value system’ in the country while addressing the 75th birth felicitation ceremony for Rev. Omalpe Sobhita. Another point he mentioned was that the society and its institutions have deteriorated to such an extent that it is not possible to move forward as a nation and country without reforming these.”[2]
Addressing the same ceremony, the President also emphasized “the need for a new value system in building a civilized society, recalling that this was why he declared that, on the journey towards civilization, ‘one must throw away old clothes and put on new ones’ ” [3]
“We are facing a profound crisis as a society. Our education system and social structures have, to a great extent, transformed our younger generation into machines. What kind of future can we expect from such a generation? A society is emerging in which children grow up without sympathy, love, affection, concern for others, or compassion. Genuine human relationships have deteriorated. Today, social values are increasingly measured by material possessions such as luxury vehicles, large houses, and accumulated wealth. Our society urgently needs a new value system.
We must strive to raise a generation of children who are compassionate, caring, loving, and empathetic towards others. In the past we experienced a society marked by hatred and suspicion. What did such a society leave behind? It left us with suffering, misfortune and tragedy. Therefore, we must build a society founded on brotherhood, peace, and unity among all communities–Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers. We need a society that respects not only its own culture but also the cultures of others. Every citizen must develop a sense of belonging and feel that this is their shared homeland. Without such a spirit, genuine national unity cannot be achieved. Education, literature, the arts, and sports all have an important role in fulfilling this vital task.”[4]
“The Government’s vision of creating a prosperous country and a better life for its people requires a series of transformative changes across the country. The economic, political and social challenges currently confronting the nation are deeply intertwined with the lives of its citizens. As a result they cannot be resolved through legislation alone. It requires a fundamental shift in public attitudes and values.
The arts can play a vital role in shaping culturally enriched individuals with positive attitudes, that these transformative changes seek to nurture. Equally important is the transformation of the education system, with a focus on developing creative, imaginative, and well-rounded citizens who possess compassion, critical thinking skills, and strong leadership qualities, the kind of individuals essential to our society.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the diverse learning experiences provided in schools form the foundation for the developing attitudinally mature and civilized citizens. She further noted that, to ensure students acquire these experiences, the government has guaranteed 13 years of school education for all students.”[5]
A detailed account of the views expressed by educated citizens on the need for value education, since the commencement of public discourse on the government’s national education reform initiative, was presented in a previously published article by us. We have already submitted this publication to the Minister of Education for consideration. [6]
Government’s Proposed Reforms on Value Education
The proposed education reforms introduce a new compulsory subject, titled ‘Religion and Value Education’, for students from Grade 1 to Grade 11. This change suggests a shift away from the previous approach, in which values were believed to have been integrated with several subjects within the common curriculum. Instead, the reforms appear to position Religion and Value Education as a stand-alone subject, implicitly encompassing the human values that were supposedly addressed through the previous approach.
While religions promote many human values, they may not explicitly address the full range of values and competencies required for participation in contemporary national and global societies. Therefore, Religion and Value Education should be taught as independent stand-alone subjects that complement and reinforce one another.
We emphasize that Religion is not a substitute for Value Education, just as Value Education is not a substitute for Religious Education. Each serves a distinct and important purpose in the holistic development of individuals and society. In this context, it is pertinent to consider the following views expressed by a writer on Religious Education and Value Education.
“It is urgent that education focus on ethics to be taught without specific religious labels. When religious teachings are largely disregarded in practical matters, it may be useful to incorporate ethics into the school curriculum. This would enable young learners to discuss, question, and understand them, so that it will enhance their thinking rather than making them narrowly focused on familiar religious codifications. Teaching ethics as a separate subject would also help them to be more impartial toward their own religions and more tolerant of other religions.”[7]
Towards a Meaningful and Effective Value Education Policy
Educational theory and contemporary research increasingly support the inclusion of value education as a distinct curricular area rather than relying solely on religious education. A stand-alone value education curriculum enables a more comprehensive, inclusive and developmentally appropriate approach to nurturing human values. Its relevance and educational quality are reflected in the following features.
* Possibility of implementing a balanced and holistic curriculum that is aligned with both national priorities and global contexts, with clearly defined aims and objectives and content systematically organized according to grade levels.[8]
* Facilitating the implementation of well-planned and structured environmental and community-based programmes aligned with the formal curriculum, along with a school culture–including rules, conventions, traditions, ceremonies and other practices–that provides opportunities for students to practice and reinforce the values learned within the school environment.[9]
* Enabling an effective system of formative and summative assessment to measure and evaluate learning outcomes, as the subject’s aims, objectives, and curricular content are clearly defined and aligned.[10]
* Making the subject more appropriate for a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society by providing a common curriculum through which children from all communities and faiths can learn together, thereby promoting mutual understanding, respect and social cohesion.
* Recognizing that teachers’ knowledge, pedagogical competence, and ability to apply appropriate teaching and assessment strategies are critical to students’ successful internalization of values, and acknowledging that these competencies can be developed within a limited time-frame–Value Education pedagogy can be made a compulsory component of all pre-service teacher education programmes. This would enable the country to develop a large pool of well-prepared teachers capable of effectively delivering Value Education.
We respectfully and earnestly request the Prime Minister and Minister of Education to give due consideration to the views we’ve presented when formulating policy on Value Education. We also urge the Ministry to draw upon the knowledge and expertise of experienced, creative, and professionally accomplished educationists in developing comprehensive plans for the effective implementation of that policy. Furthermore, we submit that a sound policy framework should incorporate continuous monitoring and evaluation of both the implementation process and its outcomes, along with timely revisions informed by emerging evidence and experience.
We conclude this message with two reflections: one attributed to the Greek Philosopher Aristotle, whose writings have profoundly influenced our understanding of virtue and moral character, and the other by Theodore Roosevelt, the distinguished American President and the first statesman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” ~ Aristotle
“To educate a man in mind and not in morals, is to educate a menace to society.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
*Dr. N. G. Kularatna – Retired: Director Educational Research – National Institute of Education. Senior Lecturer in Education – Faculty of Education, Open University of Sri Lanka
*Dr. Godwin Kodituwakku – Associate Professor – International Buddhist University, Kundasale. Retired:Assistant Director General-Research and Development, National Institute of Education
[1] Growing up in a Sri Lankan School : Development of Attitudes and Values in Children – Gunawardena G.I.C., Kularatna N.G., Kariyawasam C. – 1995
[2] The Need for a new Ethical and Value system – Dr.Siri Gamage, Colombo Telegraph – 29.05.2025
[3] Sinhala Lanka News Web – 29.05.2025
[4] Excerpt from the speech delivered by the Hon.President at the Annual Literature Day ceremony of the Sri Lanka Kamban Kalahgam Association, YouTube – 02.05.2026
[5] Excerpt from a speech delivered by the Hon. Prime Minister, participating as the Chief Guest of the Awards Ceremony of the National Drama Competition (2024-2025), organized by the Tower Hall Foundation, held at Savsiripaya on 15.05.2026 – Lankadeepa – 16.05.2026
[6] Reimagining Value Education In The Context Of Education Reforms – N.G.Kularatna, Colombo Telegraph – 27.11.2025
[7] Importance of Including Ethics as a School Subject – Susantha Hewa – Ground Views – 19.05.2026
[8],[9],[10] සාරධර්ම අධ්යාපනයට ප්රවේශයක් – එන්.ජී. කුලරත්න, ගොඩ්වින් කොඩිතුවක්කු, ප්රේමා හේමචන්ද්ර – 2025
Nathan / July 2, 2026
There are people who could contribute to the discussion. I am not one of them.
Am I a misfit?
I had my education at our schools.
Education needs to provide the base and the capacity to think intuitively and intelligently.
The rest will fall into their right fit.
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Pandukabaya / July 2, 2026
No action, all talk (NATO)
What a complete, utter and total disappointment this Prime Minister has become!
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Pandukabaya / July 3, 2026
Entirely true. Slipping with a vengeance!
AKD bluster in Parliament is rarely seen in the Gvt’s performance. That is one disaster to the next, the farmers’ anger about not given a fair price for paddy and the exorbitant price of fertiliser is just one example.
Then Nalinda, the arrogant Cabinet man says Robert KNOX’s famous quote about any farmer being fit to be a king once the mud was washed off, was said only in ref to Udunuwara and Yatinuwara farmers!!
Have these NPP Ministers gone quite mad ? With power? They are paving the way for a Rajapaksa comeback.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2026
Pandukabaya
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“What a complete, utter and total disappointment this Prime Minister has become!”
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What are you talking about?
How could she possibly roll back a system that has been festering for the past 75 years, especially when the old guard is watching her every move, the opposition is full of dumbasses, and the saffronistas are fuming, determined either to get rid of her or to tame her into dancing to their tune?
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Can you possibly provide any advice she could implement what she indented carry out in the first place. Can you abolish the Karaka council.
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Pandukabaya / July 4, 2026
Nope. Not asking her to roll back the rotten tide. Merely – and only – speaking to the ridiculous education reforms that were rolled out under her watch. The least that was expected of her was that capable educationalists would have been appointed to handle and supervise the process. No one is asking or expecting her to personally vet the modules.
But what happened ? Some party hacks were appointed and unsuitable material including sexually explicit material was included in the modules. Thar was then rolled back when apolitical educationists went public. The modules had bad content in many other ways.
Then, one of those academics who spoke out publicly – Dr Arjuna Parakrama – got rejected by the CC and from all accounts, due to direct objections by Harini – when he was nominated as member for a vacancy in the RTI Commission. Instead, someone known to her and who had supported the NPP in 2024 was appointed. Is this behaviour that you approve if? I do not.
Appointment of party hacks/loyalists to public positions who are not suitable for those responsibilities has been taken to the highest level by the NPP, this is why even remaining systems are collapsing, from incompetence in handling Cyclone Ditwah to the theft of 2.5 million USD in the name of ‘debt payments’ by incompetent/rogue Treasury officials etc.
Time we recognised this fact. Gvt must correct itself.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2026
Pandukabaya
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“What a complete, utter and total disappointment this Prime Minister has become!”
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What are you talking about?
How could she possibly roll back a system that has been festering for the past 75 years, especially when the old guard is watching her every move, the opposition is full of dumbasses, and the saffronistas are fuming, determined either to get rid of her or to tame her into dancing to their tune?
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Can you possibly provide any advice she could implement what she indented carry out in the first place. Can you abolish the Karaka council.
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Pandukabaya / July 4, 2026
Replied earlier, see previous comment
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leelagemalli / July 4, 2026
Hello Pandu@
Many people, including myself, hoped that the current Prime Minister would bring meaningful change once entrusted with power. Those expectations were shaped by her earlier public positions, particularly her strong advocacy for allocating 6% of GDP to education; a commitment that was presented as a national priority but has since faded from public discourse. More recently, her remarks suggesting that she does not fully rely on official reports have raised further concerns about consistency in governance. Questions surrounding the reported use of funds originally allocated for Provincial Council elections to address the aftermath of the Ditwah flood disaster have also fueled public debate, with critics arguing that such reallocations should strictly comply with constitutional and legal requirements.
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At the same time, there is growing criticism that the Prime Minister and several members of her cabinet appear insufficiently supported by experienced advisers, particularly during international engagements and major public appearances. Observers have pointed to factual inaccuracies in speeches, communication errors, and other public missteps that have affected confidence in the government’s professionalism. While every administration faces a learning curve, repeated inaccuracies and contradictory public statements can undermine public trust and create unnecessary confusion.
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At a time when Sri Lanka faces significant economic and political challenges, transparent communication, careful preparation, and fact-based policymaking are essential to maintaining credibility and public confidence.
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Pandukabaya / July 5, 2026
@leelagemalli,
Do agree with you fully. All these are valid – and highly worrying – points.
The thing is, this tendency to perceive legitimate criticism as something bad. An army of propagandists are then employed to attack the critics. This is very evudent on Sinhala YouTube. Over defensiveness by the NPP and being tone deaf to correct the mistakes they make has become pronounced.
Does not bode well for the future.
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leelagemalli / July 5, 2026
Hello Pandu@Many of us started our university education at a state university. We were forced to witness how the JVP and Peratugami, along with their attitudes and methods, carried out the so-called barbaric “Nawakawadaya sessions.”
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Please kindly watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga5OtpGCQZE
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While studying in Germany, I lived in a student hostel with people from many different countries and all continents of the world. During my stay there in the mid-1990s, I met Ethiopian students, and we often shared our university experiences. They told me about the ragging practices at their university, which they were protesting against. What they described was remarkably similar to the brutal ragging and untold experiences we had suffered as first-year students at our local universities.
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At the time, I thought, “My God, this is completely against all ethics and morals.” I also knew that supporters of the JVP ideology were behind the severe ragging, which denied us the freedom to enjoy our rights on campus.
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I later completed my degrees in Germany, but I still cannot believe that our people chose to appoint them as the country’s rulers. Period !
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Pandukabaya / July 6, 2026
I share your disappointment @leekagemalli…but it was the NPP which gave the innocent colouring to the JVP that led to victory at the elections. Without that, the JVP would have always remained a 3% party. That was a clever trick, hats off to the trick masters!!
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leelagemalli / July 6, 2026
Hello Pandu@
Please be mindful of the “green thumbs” (likes/upvotes) given to comments that may not be relevant or make sense in today’s context.
It may be worth reflecting on why such comments receive support in the first place, as this can reveal more about engagement dynamics and group thinking in online discussions.
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old codger / July 2, 2026
Nathan,
“President Anura Kumara Dissanayake highlighted the need for ‘a new value system’ in the country while addressing the 75th birth felicitation ceremony for Rev. Omalpe Sobhita.”
Is AKD suggesting that children should be taught the obscurantist chauvinist views of Omalpe Sobhita ?
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SJ / July 2, 2026
AKD’s mask is slipping, would you say?
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leelagemalli / July 3, 2026
Mr SJ,
.
Some in Sri Lanka say that AKD’s mask is slipping, but I have yet to see convincing evidence of that. From my perspective, he continues to make statements that I believe are misleading, even today. I also think he uses his presidential speeches to defend others rather than focusing solely on matters of national importance.
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People are not as naive as they may sometimes appear. At the same time, many face limitations in access to information, education, or opportunities, which can affect how political messages are received. In the end, reality is often more complex than it first seems, and things are not always what they are made out to be.
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For example, he has claimed that the current economic growth rate is 5%. I believe that claim is misleading. My understanding is that economic growth has not exceeded 3% under his administration. When he assumed the presidency, the economy was already growing at around 5%, and the previous president’s economic projections anticipated growth reaching around 8% by the end of 2026. In my view, presenting the current growth rate as his government’s achievement gives a misleading impression of the economic situation.
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old codger / July 3, 2026
SJ,
Has Gnanasara hit 75 yet?
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SJ / July 3, 2026
oc
Senility has no strict age criterion.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2026
“AKD’s mask is slipping, would you say?”
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Oh no, … its too late.
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A few days ago as usual with all other politicians/past presidents he told a contingent of armed forces :
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GOVERNMENT DUTY BOUND TO PROTECT ARMED FORCES, POLICE – PRESIDENT, Over 1,100 Army, STF personnel leave for Haiti in August
dailynews.lk/2026/06/27/
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It sounded as though he was saying that the government would protect them no matter what they did. Did he wish them to have fun?
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Citing unpunished sex abuse, rights groups urge halt to Sri Lankan troops Haiti deployment By Jacqueline Charles Updated June 28, 2026
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article316286122.html#storylink=cpy
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nimal fernando are you there?
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old codger / July 3, 2026
Native
Admiral of the Fleet (whatever that is) Karannagoda was arrested and bailed out today. Is he being protected?
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2026
old codger
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” Is he being protected?”
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Only our mate nimal would know.
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nimal fernando / July 4, 2026
1/2,
–
“AKD’s mask is slipping, would you say?”
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“Life has not been devised by morality: it wants deception, it lives on deception.”
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“This profound premise directly references a core concept of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who wrote in his work Untimely Meditations that “Life has not been devised by morality: it wants deception, it lives on deception.” By shaking off the assumption that nature operates under a framework of human goodness, this philosophy challenges us to view existence as a raw, amoral force driven by survival, instinct, and creative illusions.”
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We all wear masks …… some are better at it than others. Depends on one’s intellect. :)))
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How come, some school in some godforsaken place, produced such great Lankan intellect ….. and renowned Royal only produced and was an assembly line for pathetic intellectual mini midgets like Ranil?
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Burn down schools and let the young self-learn.
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2026
nimal
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“How come, some school in some godforsaken place, produced such great Lankan intellect ….. “
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Don’t you know?
This land stopped producing intellectuals a long time ago—perhaps from the day schools began producing crooks for political parties instead.
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2026
nimal
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“Burn down schools and let the young self-learn.”
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Another Brick in the Wall
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We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher, leave them kids alone
Hey! Teacher, leave them kids alone
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall
….
….
https://www.tiktok.com/@rockmind_/video/7247243835657538821?lang=en-GB
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LankaScot / July 4, 2026
Hello Native,
Even as a young Adult I found the song highly accurate about the state of Education in the UK. I well remember some of our School Teacher’s “dark sarcasm in the classroom”. The Tory Party was hell-bent on reforming Education; Margaret Thatcher had previously stolen the Daily School Milk for Primary Children.
I met the Education Secretary Kenneth Baker in a Shrewsbury Bookshop around the time of the 1988 Education Act, but he refused to discuss it with me. But I got my revenge “by the late 1980s he had come to be portrayed by the satirical programme Spitting Image as a slimy slug”.
I was very critical of the introduction of NVQ’s (National Vocational Qualifications) in the late 1980s. In the mid-1990s I completed my PGCE which at that time was Competence Based. One of our Senior Tutors (a PhD) shared my dislike of the Competence Ideology. Many of my Engineering Colleagues used the term “Not Very Qualified” when referring to NVQs.
The line “All in all you’re just another brick in the wall” sums it up well. I used to describe NVQs as Tony Blair’s Industrial Robot Policy.
Best regards
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old codger / July 5, 2026
LS,
https://youtu.be/ODfWZzGdeYI?si=lV2ICu6FrpqGvKUg
That’s a movie about Thatcher’s early days. Do you think Edward Heath was gay like Lester?
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LankaScot / July 6, 2026
Hello OC,
I had never seen this Film, however it brilliantly captures the Hubris of the Conservative Party Grandees at that time. I never liked Thatcher, but this film does give an insight into her motivations and absolute convictions that Free Market Capitalism was the way forward. Yes Heath was Gay, as were many other Politicians. At that time it was still “haram” to be Gay. The Jeremy Thorpe Trial was ridiculed by many. One Comedian of the time (Peter Cook) summed up the Judge’s characterisation of Thorpe’s Lover as “a player of the pink oboe, a man who bites pillows” etc.
But nowadays what people do in their homes is their business as long as it’s consensual and legal.
Best regards
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LankaScot / July 4, 2026
Hello Native and Nimal,
In Native’s Link did you notice the allusion to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis? The opening scenes of Metropolis shows the Industrial Might of Capitalism and the Institutionalised/Downtrodden Workers. The scenes accompanying “Another Brick in the Wall” show the Schoolchildren mimicking the Metropolis Workers Shift Change Trudge. Brilliant!
The huge building shown in the opening scenes of Blade Runner 1982 are also reminiscent of the Metropolis opening scene. Here is the Colourised Version of Metropolis – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRzbks9Orhg
Best regards
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Native Vedda / July 5, 2026
LankaScot
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I sometimes wonder how Sri Lankan government services recruit their employees.
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For a possible explanation, see “PHIL SILVERS & ZIPPY THE CHIMP – 1956” – “Harry Speakup”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr2171o39HM
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Harry Speakup seems cleverer than some of our own functionaries, teachers, police, prosecuters, …. .
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Many believe the fault lies in our educational and recruitment policies. What else can one expect when the Saffron Sangha’s Karaka Council is allowed to have the final say?
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LankaScot / July 6, 2026
Hello Native,
I remember watching Sgt Bilko at my Auntie’s House in the 1950s. Even as Children we thought it was hilarious.
On another note I just came back from Peradeniya Hospital visiting my 73 year old Brother in Law who is seriously ill after a Heart Attack and possible Stroke. It is 3 years since I last visited and it is in a much worse condition. The Sri Lankan Health Service is broken. There are dozens of patients in beds outside of the Wards (maybe Dengue). Dogs are everywhere; it’s a Hospital not a Kennel. You can’t find a staff member to give you any information. All you get is “wait for the Doctor’ with no mention of when or if he/she will be available.
One Family Member (only males allowed) stays with him 24 hours and hands over to another. 3 times a day someone visits with food/drinks. He is fed through Nasal Tubes and probably doesn’t have much time left.
Is the rest of Sri Lanka as bad?
Best regards
/
nimal fernando / July 6, 2026
LS,
–
I have watched it a long time ago ….. didn’t make the connection.
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This is one of my all time favourite movies from the past …… don’t ask me what it’s about …… damned if I know! ….. That’s the allure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalker_(1979_film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079944/
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Britain was always a hard trudge …… now more than ever …… the recent visits were dour. ……. In the past at least there was some fun and laughter and fleeting moments of joy. Now all hope seems lost ……
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Sorta ….. regimented for existence ……. a hard existence. :)))
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LankaScot / July 7, 2026
Hello Nimal,
I watched Burrough’s Naked Lunch, long after I had read the book, to see if it made more sense. I was about 16 when I read the book and I watched the Film in the 1990s. At about the same time that I read Naked Lunch I also read Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay. One of my more Literate Schoolmates explained his ideas about the history of surrealism.
But back to the Stalker Movie- you like your entertainment “Dark”.
Two of my Sisters keep me informed about the situation in the UK. Things are really dark there. There is almost a breakdown in social relations. Anti-Muslim Sentiment and Racial Intolerance are high, exacerbated by the Mass Media and Social Websites. Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage will be in control soon.
The Deaths in Negombo Prison don’t bode well for Sri Lanka either.
Best regards
/
nimal fernando / July 4, 2026
2/2,
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Subservience to Buddhism, support of the Armed Forces, destruction of the Economy, …….. these are all attack fronts opened against AKD by pols – it was destruction of Buddhism during the election campaign :))) – who did the same while they were in power!
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AKD is too intelligent for most of ye …….. too calm and super cool for ye who can’t control ye anger – see what you guys write. :)))
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ye anger and vitriol are inversely proportional to ye intellect.
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See how deftly and adroitly he climbed to the top and sailing smoothly through the stormy seas …… walking skilfully like a trapeze-artist on eggshells laid on a tightrope.
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The smart watch and learn.
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The dumb resort to vitriol.
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That’s life. Isn’t it? ……… Look around.
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nimal fernando / July 4, 2026
Now that the schools that pathetically failed ye are only a distant memory ……. let AI help ye to self-learn even at this late stage!
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“ye anger and vitriol is inversely proportional to ye intellect”
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You have essentially hit the nail on the head. When anger and vitriol dominate a conversation, they generally signal a breakdown in rational discourse.
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Psychologically and socially, this holds true for a few clear reasons:
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Logic vs. Emotion: Highly complex concepts are best unravelled through calm logic. When frustration or rage takes over, the brain’s executive functioning is suppressed, making it harder to articulate nuanced, fact-based arguments.
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The Substitute Effect: Vitriol often masks a weak foundation. Resorting to insults, hyperbole, or aggressive tone is a common defence mechanism used to compensate for a lack of substantive evidence.
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Diminished Persuasiveness: A highly charged, emotional delivery causes most people to immediately tune out the substance of the message
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Would you like to:
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Explore the psychology behind anger and how to engage in more productive debates?
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Discuss techniques to de-escalate hostile conversations?
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Analyze a specific debate or topic where this dynamic is playing out?
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Let me know how you’d like to proceed!
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Nathan / July 3, 2026
old codger,
What do you expect from someone who bowed to the Sangha as the the very act when he took office.
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LankaScot / July 3, 2026
Hello Nathan,
I would agree with your sentiment “Education needs to provide the base and the capacity to think intuitively and intelligently”.
I am very sceptical of “Values Education”.
“Skeptics argue that teaching specific values risks slipping into indoctrination, prioritizing blind obedience or conformity over developing a student’s own ethical reasoning”.
There is also a good possibility that Religion is slipped in the Back Door as “Good Values”. Imagine teaching Biblical Values using 1st Samuel 15 on the Genocide of the Amalekites “3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
Best regards
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Nathan / July 4, 2026
Thank you, LankaScot. You make my day!
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leelagemalli / July 4, 2026
Hello LankaScot /Nathan,
The 2022 Aragalaya movement inspired many Sri Lankans to believe that a new political culture was possible ; one that would move beyond the identity-based politics and patronage associated with traditional parties.
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The National People’s Power (NPP), led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), campaigned on promises of clean governance, accountability, and a decisive break from the political practices that had long dominated the country. While these promises generated widespread public support, critics argue that the government’s performance in office has fallen well short of those expectations. They contend that the contrast between the party’s campaign rhetoric and its subsequent conduct has led many former supporters to question whether the promised political transformation has materialized.
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leelagemalli / July 4, 2026
cont.
According to these critics, the gap between the NPP’s rhetoric and its political conduct has become increasingly apparent. They point to actions such as the President’s visits to prominent Buddhist temples, participation in religious ceremonies, and public engagement with institutions associated with the Sinhala Buddhist majority as evidence that the government has adopted electoral strategies similar to those of previous administrations. From this perspective, despite previously criticizing traditional politicians for relying on symbolic religious and identity-based politics, the NPP appears to have embraced many of the same political practices it once condemned.
*
Whether these developments reflect political pragmatism, electoral necessity, or a departure from the party’s original principles remains a matter of public debate. What is clear is that expectations for the NPP were exceptionally high, and its record in office is now being judged against the standards it set for itself before the election.
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For both supporters and critics, that comparison has become an important part of Sri Lanka’s ongoing political conversation.
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nimal fernando / July 3, 2026
Yesterday there was news from Lanka ….. a lady known to some people ……. was called to the bribery commission and questioned for over 5 hours. She was a career legal-officer/lawyer for the lotteries board. She was questioned about the misdeeds of that Ranil/Ravi appointed lady chairman of the lotteries board who got arrested.
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I’m sure all ye illustrious moral gents ……. agree ……. that AKD should end up in gaol for not arresting the real culprits Ranil and Ravi!
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Always knew ye was made of stern moral fibre!
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The Truth / July 3, 2026
SJ, Interesting that you talk of a mask ( slipping ?) on a forum where all are using pseudonyms, SJ,OC etc.
What do you think of their masks ?
What is the psychology here ?
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SJ / July 3, 2026
Masks less insincere than yours.
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The Truth / July 4, 2026
(Professor) SJ !
Professors, lawyers, doctors less insincere ! More worthy !
That is the sub-continent attitude .
What a peculiar culture !
Do you like it ?
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LankaScot / July 3, 2026
Hello Deepthi (The Truth),
Given the Psychological Profiles of some of the CT Contributors, the “pseudonyms” provide a degree of protection from harm. A determined individual would be able to find any or all of our email addresses, however that would not give them access to our emails. You should only give the minimum information in any online website. Of course if you are a publicly known figure and use your real name, that is a risk that you take. Look at how many times Donald J Trump has been shot at (allegedly), however he has Secret Service Personnel in constant attendance to protect him.
Best regards
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Lester / July 4, 2026
” You should only give the minimum information in any online website.”
Not true at all. Look at Facebook. Everyone uses their real name. This website consists largely of broke losers who are obsessed with personal info. Even if they had this personal info, they would still be broke. Your (Scot) IQ was probably 75 before ChatGPT, it’s still 75 (excluding damage to neurons caused from alcoholism).
The problem is many adult S Asian people lack basic etiquette. India is the worst case.
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Lester / July 3, 2026
Truth,
What do you expect from people with Rs.40 in their HNB account?
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leelagemalli / July 5, 2026
Why can’t you properly utilise “italics”. Is this related to your “self-proclaimed interllect” or “nutlessness”?
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leelagemalli / July 5, 2026
Lester the HIGH IQ joker,
.
Grand mother used to say this ..The tiny drops of ant urine look like a big reservoir to him…”
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Lester / July 5, 2026
Leela the Loser,
You said elsewhere that when you were young, you were “touched” by various individuals. Those are your own words.
So it seems that your unhealthy obsession with genitalia has to do with some past traumatic experience. Why don’t you seek professional help, or better yet, find a tall building and do the needful?
Why are you obsessed with genitalia, do you come from a family of pimps? Genitals are full of bacteria and viruses, have you not figured out why your mother took unexpected days off “work”?
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/infection-prevalence-prevention-among-sex-workers-information-health-care-workers
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leelagemalli / July 5, 2026
Let us look at the facts. Not just myself, but many other children my age were abused by Buddhist monks while attending school.
Btw, we fully understand that your wound site is the permanent loss of your genitals, which has made you a lifelong batchlor. We also note your “attention seeking” efforts, which may enable you get away with your inner conflict about your fall. Masks don’t stay forever, as my grandmother used to say.
Anyway, don’t try to use the “Thumb machine” to make your and your favourite commenters’ posts stand out in this CT-forum. You may continue to do so, but it is so childish in the long run. Why should we pretend to represent the public perception in this Rajapakse-controlled island nation?
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Lester / July 6, 2026
So you admit you are a physically abused mental retard. Though it was probably your father who did it. Don’t try to fool readers by trying to blame monks
My physical condition is fine. That’s why I don’t need to talk about genitals and urine. Based on your writing, we can say you are a worthless piece of garbage, with a low IQ. Low impulse control = low IQ. No doubt, you inherited these characteristics from your mother, the street worker.
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Lester / July 6, 2026
Men who obsess over other men’s anatomy are obviously gay . There is no other explanation. So we can conclude Leela is a GAY f–got.
The CT mod should ban this rodent Leela from the forum. As Sarath said, the spam and disgusting language, in addition to Old Pervert’s fake ID’s, give a bad reputation. Then again, it’s not my website.
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leelagemalli / July 4, 2026
Omg, TT girl (aka Deepthi or Lester),
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“What is the psychology here ?”
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Looking back at your own conduct over the years in this forum, can anyone honestly avoid asking the same question of you?
It is the classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. You accuse others of hiding behind pseudonyms while many believe you yourself appear under multiple avatars (TT, Deepthi and Lester) to mislead genuine contributors.
The reality is that some people have valid reasons for protecting their identities, especially when expressing their views can put their personal safety at risk. I remember how the late Sinhala_Man and I were targeted and stalked during the Gotabaya election campaign simply for voicing our opinions. Knowing this, your attempt to lecture others about anonymity is not only hypocritical but deeply questionable. From where I stand, it seems you have been using different identities to repeatedly attack OC, me, SJ, NV, LS, and others, making your accusations against everyone else ring hollow.
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The Truth / July 4, 2026
Leela boy my old friend, Imagine a world created in your own image ! How boring and one sided that will be !
Pro Ranil, pro OC !,pro Wijedasa, pro Mahenedra !
I provide excitement and a hope of wisdom !
But they you must be able to grasp it !
Are you going to settle in Germany and make it like Tamil Nadu ?
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leelagemalli / July 5, 2026
TT girl (Deepthi),
The truth is, we have never been friends, and we never will be.
Why don’t you and your mirror image, Lester the Nutless, see things the same way? Are the Rajapaksa propaganda machines feeding you talking points such as, “Why are you always criticizing former President RW, our dear OC, NV, and everyone else? Can’t you see anything they do right?”
Instead, why not tell us about Namal Baby’s rise? Too many people have been brainwashed by Rajapaksa propaganda, and that problem seems more widespread now than ever before.
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How far will he go to keep his “Satakaya” wrapped tightly around his stiff neck?
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What is the point of wearing “Saaree,” “Satakaya,” and “Wettiya” if not to deceive others? People are being compelled to catch another ride….. how many more times will they be caught before the country is plunged deeper?
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The Truth / July 5, 2026
Leela you are bad, You don’t want to be friends with common folks like me !
You are just like our Third World leader Ranil, so arrogant ! After 70 years of their elite rule what a joke that country is !
I can understand you looking down on people like us who have been brain washed by the Rajapaksa media.
Leela how do you avoid being brain washed by propaganda.
I suppose reading “OC thoughts” help.
Is German Beer good to keep away brain washing ?
What are you going to do with that 3 Million US dollars you have ?
Eat tons of Murunga shoddy ?
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leelagemalli / July 5, 2026
TT girl (Deepthi),
I believe it is time for you to tell us anything else than the terms listed below!
– Gaslighting attempts to make us forget Rajapakshe-political games (Satakaya-polishing and sceneries involving temples and Sadu-Saud-soothers)
– Moringa Shodi
– Tamil Nadu
– Poor Indians’ defecating habits and how they remind Lester of his early days in his shack in Bambalapitiya.
– Share market and talk about personal earning streams.
– Net value in millions of dollars
– All responsible comments (SJ, NV, OC and few others) on the CT-forum be insuted.-
– London anecdotes, how you got along with the cleaning work in Backingham Lavatries
– And targeting our Scot for no good cause.
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Native Vedda / July 5, 2026
The Truthless
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“Are you going to settle in Germany and make it like Tamil Nadu ?”
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Now that an actor has been elected Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I hope he doesn’t ruin the state like Mahinda Rajapaksa did in Sri Lanka.
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If Vijay needs any help, I’m sure you’ll be ready to give him all the support you gave your master, Mahinda.
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“…… Imagine a world created in your own image ! How boring and one sided that will be !”
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I’m sure it was quite an experience living in the “Gota Go Home” village, preventing Gota from leaving the island through Katunayake.
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He couldn’t stay in the Maldives. He couldn’t stay in Singapore either.
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In the end, we saw Gota returning home from Singapore simply because there was no reason to expect Singapore to provide him with 100% security—or the number of bootlickers needed to satisfy his ego.
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At last, he returned to Sri Lanka once Ranil had settled comfortably on the throne. Look, Sri Lankan politics is all about the professional cooperation of gangs of thieves and crooks. –
I doubt you can fit in now with NPP.
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leelagemalli / July 6, 2026
Hello NV,
Please view the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07q6tQ5RaHY
That would help us grasp the “real system change” that the JVP-led government has implemented.
Even if this is the case, there is enough evidence to support those who claim that AKD is the best president our country has had. That’s hilarious!
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leelagemalli / July 6, 2026
NV,
.
People today seem immune to the second-hand embarrassment caused by NPP politicians.
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Lester / July 5, 2026
The late and great HLD had written extensively about the Vellalar mask.
” Vellahlaism, on the contrary, turned Saivite casteism into a fascist cult in which human beings were religiously deprived of their right to be a human being with even a modicum of dignity. The Vellahlas dehumanised the oppressed Tamils by reducing them into invisible zeroes that did not count in any respect, except to serve them as obedient servants. They despised their fellow-human beings to the point of denying them even the right to walk in daylight. They were kept out of sight to protect the purity of the Vellahla eyes. “
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/violent-vellahlas-despised-oppressed-the-tamils/
This is why the Tamils were able to produce suicide bombers with ease. Yessir! taken to exponential levels.
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Jay Chambers / July 6, 2026
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/police-tortured-and-threaten-to-sodomize-businessman-insulting-him-about-his-wahumpura-caste-origin/
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Mr. Lester,
Yes indeed. So true. According to this article in CT, there are Vellahla policemen even in Karandeniya. How awful!
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Ajith / July 3, 2026
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
It is not easy to educate the mind of the Sri Lankans which was corrupted by the political institutions and religious institutions for past 78 years. Today, the country is weakened to its low in terms of attitude towards human rights, human values, equality etc. But the government spend lots of time on dealing with past crimes but no effort made to change the attitude of the opposition. The country need a very strong opposition to challenge this government but the opposition is also fail to understand what is good for the country but still continue with failed system based on racism and religious extremism.
It is good to start now but it is very challenging and need the firm support o the people.
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Lester / July 5, 2026
China just passed an “ethnic unity law”, very similar to “Sinhala-Only.” According to this “ethnic unity law”, the official language of instruction/business in all K-12 schools and government institutions is Mandarin .
What do the resident CT experts have to say about this? Should the minorities in China start blowing things up until they get a separate homeland? Make up a fake homeland theory about Mongols being the original descendants of China.
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Lester / July 5, 2026
*original people
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CChampa / July 6, 2026
Dr.N.G. Kularatna
Dr. Godwin Kodituwakku
As obvious in this article and similar articles before, Buddhism is the main target of the proposed education reforms.
The only reason to introduce a new secular subject called “Religion and Value Education” in the school curricula replacing Buddhism is to brainwash Buddhist children and alter their belief that Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country. This is clearly an underhand attempt to promote Christianity and forced conversion at school level!
You talk about the need of teaching human rights to children. Well, it seems that you need to learn the subject before teaching children. You should be aware that depriving children of learning their own religion is a violation of human rights as stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children. Similarly, promoting indoctrination and proselytization in school education systems are also illegal, and therefore, under International Law, States are prohibited from doing so.
It may be news to you, but unlike traditional education in other countries, value education is deeply embedded in the traditional Sinhala Buddhist education which promotes compassion, empathy, caring, generosity, ethics, values and environmentalism in children at an early age. Next time, learn to do your homework before promoting political agendas.
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