Dr. Murali Vallipuranathan
In Sri Lanka, astrology isn’t merely a cultural tradition—it’s a pervasive force that intertwines with politics, governance, and daily life. The recent Sinhala New Year celebrations exposed how much the state resources and masses can be exploited and wasted by the astrological beliefs. The aim of this article is to critically analyze the astrological beliefs and to minimize the wastage of public funds when the government came to power claiming to change the system and minimize corruption and wastage.
Adulteration of Buddhism
Before independence in 1947, April 14th was considered only as Hindu New Year (depicted). Tisaranee Gunasekara [1] stated “The Buddha in Samaññaphala Sutta categorized astrology, demonology et al as ‘animal arts’[ii] (The extensive list mentioned in the Sutta includes palmistry, reading omens and signs, interpreting celestial events and dreams, making predictions for state officials, chasing demons, casting auspicious times, predicting life spans, forecasting political or natural events and casting horoscopes).” However, over the years especially after the independence, the Mahanayaka Theros the highest ranking Buddhist monks forgot the teachings of Buddha and adopted astrological rituals in Buddhist temples which resulted in calling the April 14th as Sinhala, Tamil New Year though it is not recognized by Sinhalese non-Buddhists and Tamil non-Hindus. Further the oil anointing ceremony solely based on astrology, has become a mega ceremony conducted with state patronage by the Mahanayakas and other priests including Hindu priests to multiply their income and power.
Astrology influencing political leaders
Astrology in Sri Lanka is not just a personal belief but a public practice that influences significant political decisions. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for instance, consulted astrologer Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena before calling early elections, believing that the timing would ensure his victory. However, contrary to the astrological predictions, Rajapaksa lost the election to Maithripala Sirisena, highlighting the unpredictable nature of relying on such practices for political decisions.
This reliance on astrology isn’t isolated. Political advisor Bradman Weerakoon noted that even heads of state, including Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Ranasinghe Premadasa, were influenced by astrological predictions, often timing their actions to align with favorable celestial alignments. President GR was reported to follow an astrologer Gnanakka and decided to conduct Kandy Perahera festival during the COVID 19 pandemic against the advice of medical and public health specialists [2].
Media conniving with Astrologers and Publication Bias
Leaving aside the horoscope columns appearing in daily newspapers, several television stations were inviting astrologers for talk shows in the mornings. Most of the time these astrologers who do not have even a basic degree were using fake credentials using the title of Dr (doctorate) or even calling them as professors etc. In one of the leading private TV stations in Tamil medium the so called astrologer with the fake doctorate was advising to serve milk to the cobra dwelling in the termite hill when more than 1/6 of the population has been suffering from poverty and malnutrition. It is a well-known secret that astrologers and TV channels work together to promote each other
To quote from my personal experience, in the late eighties in a very small sample study conducted by a medical student among Rh negative blood group families it was reported to have an association between blood group and Mars affliction in horoscopes. That news appeared in headlines in the local Tamil newspapers at that time. However, when I selected a larger sample of more than 400 students consisting of all the medical students in the Jaffna University at that time, I found no association between Mars affliction and blood group. However, the newspapers refused to publish my findings saying it was not news for them.
Impact on Women
One of the most concerning aspects of astrology’s influence is its role in reinforcing gender discrimination. In many communities, women’s horoscopes are scrutinized for signs of “malefic influence,” often resulting in marriage delays, rejection, or social stigma. I have seen several Tamil women remain unmarried forever due to the affliction in birth charts and failure to match horoscopes for a suitable groom. In addition there are communities in Sri Lanka that believe in astrological predictions of the time of menarche and discriminate against girls.
Medical treatment and Astrology
In a study conducted in 2018 in Sri Lanka, it was found depressed persons sought significantly more astrological remedies [3]. Further there have been several instances of ethical dilemmas encountered by medical practitioners as the patients refused critical treatment such as cancer treatment or vital surgeries because of the advice of astrologers and then the delayed treatment finally resulted in avoidable deaths. Unfortunately there is no mechanism available to punish the astrologer who gave the wrong advice.
Balancing Tradition and Progress
We all are affected by astrological beliefs or superstitions to some extent in our life. However, that should be confined to ourselves and any remedial measures should be at our own expense. But when it begins to influence governance, public health, expenditure of public money and social norms, the stakes are no longer symbolic.
The challenge ahead is to strike a balance—preserving cultural practices while drawing a clear boundary between belief and policy, tradition and truth.
As Sri Lanka faces mounting economic, political, and environmental challenges, the country must decide whether to continue looking to the stars—or to the future. Definitely applying the oil to animals from elephants to tortoises during the new year season using the public money, and the health minister (a western medical practitioner) and a present day parliamentarian (a former chief epidemiologist) standing in queues to get the oil applied are not progressive signs for a government promised to change the system. On the other hand, it is time for the Buddhists to examine the New Year rituals in the light of the teachings of Buddha and ensure they are not deviated from it.
All these practices are becoming significant with the finding that in the 2025 World Happiness Report, Sri Lanka is ranked 133rd out of 147 countries. This represents a decline from its position of 128th in the 2024 report.
*Author Dr. Murali Vallipuranathan is a visiting lecturer at the Universities of Jaffna, Peradeniya and Colombo, a Senior Medical Specialist of the Ministry of Health and a Council Member of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. He claims the opinion expressed in this article with social responsibility aims to improve the public awareness, promote good governance, reconciliation and in no way reflects his official positions.
References:
[1] https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/avoiding-superstitious-cures-defeating-dictatorial-solutions/
[2] https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/gotas-lockdown-decision-hinges-on-gnanakka-soothsayer-says-covid-19-deaths-are-sacrifices-to-kali/
[3] https://www.sundaytimes.lk/180225/plus/mental-illness-blaming-it-all-on-the-stars-283273.html
deepthi silva / April 22, 2025
Intelligent article .
Did you see the lines at Kandy ?
What is the average IQ in Sri Lanka ?
One of the lowest in Asia
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old codger / April 22, 2025
Deepthi,
For once, I agree with you, though the IQ may not be as low as you think.
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old codger / April 23, 2025
“He (the author) claims the opinion expressed in this article with social responsibility aims to improve the public awareness, promote good governance, reconciliation and in no way reflects his official positions.”
A curious statement. He is a senior Medical specialist etc, so there is no way that in his official positions, he would be required to promote this fake “science” of astrology. Or is he required to?
Be that as it may, it is disgraceful that even this government continues to pander to astrologers and the clergy, two of the most regressive social forces in the country. The state doesn’t have to employ official astrologers. Doing so indicates that it takes their mumbo-jumbo seriously. It might as well go the whole hog and appoint astrologers to man all ministries.
This country is said to be 99% literate, but it doesn’t show, I am afraid.
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leelagemalli / April 24, 2025
OC,
Why did Deepthi, who claimed to have a high IQ, wind up in the sex industry? Is her genetic makeup the basis for that? Or a mutation?Thambuththegama Buramphi has now turned this nation into a Chicago-style setting where murderous rampages are commonplace. Even the NPP’s architect and pundit, Prof. Nirmal Dewasiri, has acknowledged that the current leadership is insufficient to prioritize national security in the modern era. Given his hatreds, AKD may be skilled at “sowing blatant lies,” but it appears that he lacks the capacity to govern.
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They now spread “blatant lies” on a daily basis, though. That controversal Kottachchi, the outspoken young woman lawyer, has the gall to tell more falsehoods about the expenses of the SMS messages that former President MARA sent to the public. In actuality, lying would be acceptable if there were boundaries, but as of right now, the idiots have gone to extreme lengths. The reason has been that AKD, the country’s leader, is the greatest liar in history.
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deepthi silva / April 25, 2025
Leela I like you as an opponent,
I don’t have to argue with you .
On your own you prove how low you are . Even by breathing the European air you foul it !
Don’t the Germans complain about your BO ? Use deodorant three times a day. Don’t be stingy. A stick will cost about Euros .
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SJ / April 25, 2025
“On your own you prove how low you are”: Don’t you ds?
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deepthi silva / April 26, 2025
Professor SJ, you know like Leela I am intimidated by Professors especially when even their wives call them DR !
So Dr.SJ are you a typical Sri Lankan professor , full of your own self importance but no achievements after qualifying ?
Maybe small made and insignificant looking too – a real Sri Lankan pundit !
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leelagemalli / April 24, 2025
OC,
Why did Deepthi, who claimed to have a high IQ, wind up in the sex industry? Is her genetic makeup the basis for that? Or a mutation?Thambuththegama Buramphi has now turned this nation into a Chicago-style setting where murderous rampages are commonplace. Even the NPP’s architect and pundit, Prof. Nirmal Dewasiri, has acknowledged that the current leadership is insufficient to prioritize national security in the modern era. Given his hatreds, AKD may be skilled at “sowing blatant lies,” but it appears that he lacks the capacity to govern.
–
They now spread “blatant lies” on a daily basis, though. That controversal Kottachchi, the outspoken young woman lawyer, has the gall to tell more falsehoods about the expenses of the SMS messages that former President MARA sent to the public. In actuality, lying would be acceptable if there were boundaries, but as of right now, the idiots have gone to extreme lengths. The reason has been that AKD, the country’s leader, is the greatest liar in history. xxx
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SJ / April 25, 2025
oc
With the person concerned out of the island, it may have crept up a fraction of a point.
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LankaScot / April 22, 2025
Hello Deepthi,
Check for yourself https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-iq-by-country
I don’t put much store in IQ Results. However Sri Lanka comes out above India on Average IQ and Lynn Becker Score.
Best regards
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Jit / April 25, 2025
LS, There is absolutely no correlation between a person’s IQ and their religious convictions. Most educated people I know are astonishingly attached to their religions and cultures. The famous Physics professor in our time was the first to be at the Sunday service in the Chaplaincy. I couldn’t and still cannot believe how a Physics professor madly believed that a hallucinatory figure called god ‘created this world’! Most people in this world are fallaciously attached to religions. They stubbornly and unreasonably refuse to accept other beliefs and opinions, often showing prejudice or hostility towards other communities of different race, religion, or ideology.
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Most religious people do not have heck of an idea about the difference between fundamentals and veneration. They so blindly believe that revering is the only way to be a religious person. Just have a look at those endless lines in Kandy. People spend days punishing their bodies only to see the outer structure of what is supposed to be deep inside seven layers, just for 10 seconds!! How many bachelors, master’s or even doctoral graduates and how many Diploma, AL qualified people must have been on those lines let alone uneducated people?? What can we say of their IQ level other than calling them stupid, blind bigots?
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LankaScot / April 25, 2025
Hello Jit,
I have often tried to understand why some Countries are very Religious. I have also seen the decline and near disappearance of The Church of Scotland in my Home Country. Cultural” Group Think” is a force to be reckoned with. My Indian friends were of the Opinion that the Hindu Religion was maintained more because of Culture than Religion.
My Generation (and to some extent our Parent’s Generation) told our Parents and Grandparents to shove their Religion where the Sun doesn’t shine. They had lost the Power to enforce it; you could see the frustrated anger in their faces when we questioned their long held beliefs. We stopped the Schools from promulgating Christianity, which was probably the most effective Act leading to the withering away of Religion’s hold over the Youth.
Even as a Teenager I was “asked” to leave the Religious Classes for questioning the Bible. That stopped simply because mandatory attendance of Religious Classes ceased in our School.
Can Sri Lanka do this, I doubt it (maybe after another 2300 years😢).
Best regards
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old codger / April 25, 2025
Jit,
Asians are particularly prone to this sort of religious hysteria. There is the Kumbh Mela in India, where many Hindus die in stampedes. There are occasional stampedes in Mecca during Haj. Is Sri Lanka devising its own version?, and that too, as you say, only to view the outer covering of the relic?
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Jit / April 25, 2025
If so called Buddhists, the powerful bureaucrats and those bigwigs at Maligawa, including high level monks are all breaking the law by arranging and participating in illegal worship queues, then what is the very purpose of being a Buddhist? Isn’t it against the very teachings of Buddha? 99% of Sri Lankan Buddhists are like this – don’t know what the heck is true Buddhist teachings but always break the law, want to be the blind followers of fake rituals and revering of Bo trees and useless hundreds of ‘other’ things! The very reason why millions of idiots were hoodwinked by the Rajapaksha gang for over a decade! The reason why they voted Gota blindly in 2019 after watching fake snake Kelani river drama produced by Rajapaksha gang with rogue Dilith was aired just before the election!!
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SJ / April 25, 2025
J
What we have here are closet Hindus who pay lip service to the Buddha.
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leelagemalli / April 23, 2025
Prof. Depserate DS;
I believe that South Asians have been manipulated by sorcery, witchery and astrology since the beginning. Their only mental space is to be preyed upon by the beliefs that their elders instilled in them.
This was thoroughly examined by Professor Kovoor, an Indian sociopsychologist who lived in Sri Lanka approximately 60 years ago.
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https://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/keralaspora/2020/07/05/sri-lanka-rationalism-malayali-prof-abraham-kovoor.html
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In the end, Sri Lankans only believe what their elders have taught them, regardless of the level of education they have earned. Despite the fact that 6.8 million voters are illiterate, it is evident that they have not exercised their intelligence and have instead chosen a fool whose tirades are full of exaggerated remarks about other politicians. And as a result, entire populations are currently suffering.
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whywhy / April 23, 2025
L M ,
” In the end , Sri Lankans only believe what their elders have taught
them , regardless of the level of education they have earned.” L M ,
Spanish ‘Zapato’ is what is ‘ Sapattu’ in Sinhala , Spanish ‘ Casada’ is
what is ‘Kasada’ in Sinhala , French ‘Dieu’ is ‘Deyyo’ in Sinhala and the
list is endless . You strip them from language and Food to Clothes ,
just imagine where and how they stand . It is a one hundred percent
imitation society that loves to enter into others’ shoes to be proud of itself .
They are literate and educated but without an I D .
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leelagemalli / April 24, 2025
WW,
.
The question “why” they should do something is not covered in their education. Even university students are like injected mice in laboratories. I spent 18 wasteful months at Peradeniya, and there was no direct interaction between lecturers and students. The reason for this could be that leturers are given a higher priority than in Europe.
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#in Europe, lecturers frequently give their full support in teaching their subject without reservation; however, what I noticed in SL is that even a senior undergrad is expected to be overated at the time I studied there. This type of attitude keeps everyone somewhere lagged. Why can’t graduates seek jobs in the private sector if they really want to make a living?
It appears that they are unaware that time is money. They haven’t learned that from their parents or elders. They aren’t considering it either.
Our young people are diving into their ego pools and not attempting to gather their own work experience, while the astute ones will find their way by any means necessary. Recently, I’ve met some young people who graduated from nearby universities. The majority of them have a mindset unique to Sri Lanka. Even though they only have their first degree and no work experience, they are very hazy about jobs. They never stop griping about the working conditions in the PVT sector.
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whywhy / April 24, 2025
L M ,
Thanks for the reply . Coming to the point , people in every corner of
the country , generally since very long , had something to complain
about their frustrations . Basically it is politics that is coming out of
them . Main reason being , it is a heavily politicised society. Why is it ?
In my view , they have nothing better in life to be busy with . This is
one reason among many others in queue . Religion and Schools are two
major institutes that are not made to lead a society into a new era. Govts
use them for politics . People are being held captives of politics by our
system of bad governance . All governments are coming to power mainly
to play in the country’s kitchens . Interfering with supply of food and
other necessary household items are their main task which keeps the
general public all their life biting the nails . The country needs to be
depoliticised and for this to happen , it needs a good amount of wealth to
turn it into a meaningful life . Latest report says one man died in the queue
waiting to visit Dalada exhibition and about 400,000. are in the line where
only about 95000 have the time to finish watching it . Doesn’t this give us a
glimpse of never changing govts and its people ?
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leelagemalli / April 24, 2025
Mr. WW, thank you again.
WORSHIP Dalada, in my opinion, should not arrive when people are already stressed out as a result of financial difficulties. As a result, the NPP would have benefited from the timing of the worship, but I get the impression that they followed the RAJPAKSHE-ISM by prioritizing such events.
As a result, it is unacceptable for someone who has publicly stated that they want to see genuine change in this country to go to such lengths as to imitate the former Thakakadiyas.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2amvLv1J80o
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Ironically, AKD himself stated that religion is Thakkadiya’s final salvation. How can the same person appear in front of a mirror today?
In my opinion, the AKD should not be excused for deceiving the public in this way. Popularism will not move us forward unless people raise their own awareness of the country’s problems.
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leelagemalli / April 24, 2025
WW,
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJnQ3Mdew4k
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This is Kandy’s current hygiene status. I believe our people are even less civilized than they appeared to be.
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leelagemalli / April 24, 2025
Kandy News.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnMAoNGvyL8
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NPP and its Dalada Worship – this is unique to NPP govt. …
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LankaScot / April 25, 2025
Hello whywhy,
Just goes to show the Common Roots of the Indo-European Languages. Look at the similarities between Hindi, Sinhala, Sanskrit, Latin and even Greek. Just look at the Numbers from 1 to 10 in all these Languages and you will see the similarities immediately.
Best regards
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whywhy / April 23, 2025
” and the health minister (a Western medical practitioner) and a present day
parliamentarian ( a former chief epidemiologist ) standing in queues to get
the oil applied are not progressive signs for a government promised to change
the system . ” The advocates of system change learned from Marxism that
religion is opium . All their life they learned from Marxist theory . But they know
that Marx can not settle what we owe to the agencies that funded the system .
J R J was the magic man who made it irreversible by any mother’s son . That is
why the System Change Health Man is seeking help from Mythology . The lady
Teacher who organised a Police escort to her private party is another clear sample
how The System Change Gurus are being taken for a role model by the fellow
citizens and their children . Charlie Chaplin is rolling over in his grave .
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leelagemalli / April 24, 2025
WW,
.
I also know diligent young people who have worked tirelessly and quickly accomplished their goals..
Hello WW,
The health minister, who also serves as the incumbent government’s media spokesperson, frequently gives “malle pol” responses. People have lost their respect to the men today.
Yesterday, this became even more apparent in the media when he was asked why the president had promised to name an MAHAMOLAKARU of the disaster by April 21, 2025.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTPtKiV430M
The response was that the ongoing investigations shouldn’t worry anyone. He claims that even though the public is unaware of everything, a strong team is still working on the Easter disaster investigation (though it is hoped that Scotland Yard is not called in to do the job).
People say that “they have lorry talk” for this reason, but even after seven months, nothing has happened to fulfill their promises.
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Recalling how the PM, President, and Health Minister promised to bring a clear statement regarding the former Speaker’s doctorate soon, five months have gone by since the dismissal was completed, and nothing has been clarified as of yet. In what way can their statements or promises then be given credibility?
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The media spokesman was provocatively attacked by some journalists yesterday, who claimed that none of his responses made sense. They also disclosed that the entire country believes the government is full of dishonest individuals.
/