The Future is an Open Society

The average Sri Lankan struggles with the day to day but somehow or the other manages to survive. No matter how hard life becomes, Sri Lankans generally have a great appetite for the news. National media is a major source of information as it is in some places the only source available. This makes state media a very powerful source and governments have not underestimated it. Unfortunately this has resulted in state media portraying what is advantageous for the state and very rarely presenting a balanced depiction of the news. This has been the case over the years no matter what the ruling party has been.

However, times have changed and news writers are constantly challenged to provide an accurate depiction of the news. The latest studies indicate Sri Lanka is a promising model for the use of mobile phones with internet. Mobile handsets equipped with both Sinhala and Tamil fonts are being introduced. It is said in the next five years everyone in Sri Lanka will have access to a smart phone. Reality is that language or prices are no longer a barrier for information.

 The internet has already become a popular source of information for Sri Lankans and continues to grow.  It poses an undeniable challenge to those who would attempt to control the flow of information. Mobile phones and 3G seem to be able to reach places far and wide, places that TV channels and landline telephones are still struggling to reach. Access to social media networks are growing with more and more Sri Lankans joining every day. In the past year alone a large number of Sinhala and Tamil bloggers have joined the once mostly English only blogosphere judging by the feeds on popular Sri Lankan blog aggregators. With so much integration in to the day to day, the question arises, does it really make sense to report biased accounts if most people are aware of the truth from other sources? News travels a lot faster than it used to.  Blatantly obvious inaccurate depictions of the news can only lead to skepticism and distrust in state media. It may even result in ridicule and disenchantment in government.

There have been reports of certain websites and blogs being banned.  Surely these are dangerous waters to tread on. While concern over controversial items on websites may be valid, surely banning access to these sites may be going one step too far in infringing upon basic rights of an individual. Now that we are in a post-war Sri Lanka, surely people should be able to say what they want and debate on different viewpoints openly without having to hide behind anonymity. Journalists should not have to feel fear because of what they say under their byline.

 There will always be those who have extreme opinions. But the beauty of open information is that people should be able to decide after having weighed different viewpoints. After all, the existence of an opposition can only be healthy for a country, demonstrating free thought and open society. If the flow of information is controlled and websites are banned, where exactly does one draw the line and at what point are people allowed to think freely?

We read of countries that attempt to control the flow of information and the internet. This only seems to encourage dissent and unsatisfied citizens. After all, those who do no wrong have nothing to fear.

The New York Times reported Russian state media openly reported the recent demonstrations protesting election results and calling for new elections. This shift in media coverage was said to have surprised everyone. The change was mostly attributed to the futility of hiding information with the widespread use of social networks and people knowing the truth in any case.  Then bias of state media is not something unique to only Sri Lanka. But there is always room for improvement. The future is an open society and no one can stand in the way. Not even government. 

Published - 22nd Dec 2011

www.dailymirror.lk 

Efficiency, a luxury in our Education System?

Being a ‘developing’ nation with a literacy rate we can boast of, it is no surprise that more and more Sri Lankans are interested in gaining higher education experience and foreign exposure. In such a world, it is imperative that our education system maintains a higher standard not only in the quality of education but also the quality of administration. It is time these standards are examined closely so they are on par with the rest of the world.

For many Sri Lankan students, when applying for foreign universities or jobs, presenting a complete application can be a challenge.  From the stage of getting a recommendation  from a teacher or faculty member to any other official document, for example requesting a copy of the A/L or O/L transcript means many hours of ‘rasthiyadu’ (waste of time) on the part of the applicant. Recommendations from a faculty member are usually considered a normal part of the job description in many other parts of the world. To add to the stress of the application process, a Sri Lankan student must deal with inefficiencies of the administrative officials they have no choice but to deal with.

 It is time we go beyond a culture of knowing someone for a ‘favour’ to a point where anyone, regardless of social background or ‘contacts’ can efficiently get the job done. Because the system is a hierarchy of inefficiency, those of the lower levels have no incentive to do any better. After all, why should they if the ‘boss’ doesn’t care either? It is generally accepted for officers to not know who is in charge of what and pass on the task to another ‘department.’ Sadly, this has long been the standard.

It is important to keep in mind that students have to compete with other graduates from around the world and delays or inefficiencies on the part of our institutions are a waste of time. For foreign employers or admission offices, Sri Lanka is just another country with a different education system. To prove the quality of that education, students need transcripts, letters from faculty and a proper certificate which includes the necessary information.

Attempting to transfer credits from courses taken in Sri Lanka produce similar challenges for students. In order to transfer credits taken from the Computer Science Department of the University of Colombo, a Sri Lankan undergraduate student had to struggle with their foreign counselor trying to explain the Sri Lankan education system.  The concerns they had were that the University of Colombo website did not include the word ‘accreditation’ or an explanation of how the University was recognized in Sri Lanka and the university department did not respond to countless emails sent by the admissions counsellor nor did it return or answer phone calls.

Sri Lanka graduates travel all over the world and it is important the documents produced by our universities are up to par with world standards so our graduates do not have to answer questions or have to explain our education system. Today the common practice is to refer to the official website of the institution in question. It is important that our educational institutions take the quality and content of their official websites seriously. Spelling and grammatical errors on the Ministry of Higher Education website for instance, are unacceptable. Unfortunately, this is all too common.

It is time these factors are taken in to consideration by those in charge. Administrative inefficiency and lack of concern for higher standards need to change, it should after all be considered a moral and ethical obligation to society. This culture of inefficiency could be a factor that contributes to the many higher educational issues in our university system. Efficiency, at the end of the day, should not be considered a luxury that is awarded to our people.

Published - FRIDAY, 01 APRIL 2011 00:00

http://print.dailymirror.lk/opinion1/39894.html

Time to eradicate the stigma of mental disease.

 Stigma associated with mental disease is known to be a factor that greatly hampers the treatment and recovery of individuals that suffer from depression and other mental diseases. Sri Lanka previously had one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Recent reports state these numbers have been decreasing over the years. Some reports cite as much as 25% of Sri Lankans are mentally ill. While the accuracy and sources of these data are difficult to verify, the fact that it exists should be enough to take a deeper look at the issue. Reports cite most Sri Lankans who commit suicide are suffering from a mental illness. This suggests then, if mental disease was effectively addressed perhaps suicides could be prevented. 

For any other illness, the symptoms are obvious and the patient is promptly given the necessary treatment. Friends and family contribute to this recovery in every way they can. Recognizing the early signs of depression is obviously difficult due to its very nature. That is why it is up to the people closest to the individuals to notice changes in a person’s behavior and to take these signs seriously.  If we think about it, no other illness is made as much fun of and ridiculed as much as a person suffering from mental illness. Once diagnosed, patients are labeled forever and scarred in the eyes of society.

Mental disease should be no different than any other sickness. Left unattended however, the consequences are horrifying. Because of the stigma attached to the disease, people hesitate from seeking proper treatment. Depending on individual cases treatment must be determined by a trained professional and the sooner it is diagnosed, a better chance the patient has of recovery.

Perhaps the ignorant and prejudiced attitudes of the very people who play a key role in the recovery of people who suffer from mental disease are a cause for concern. A study on Sri Lankan doctors’ and medical undergraduates’ attitudes towards mental illness* concluded that “Sri Lankan doctors and undergraduates endorse stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illnesses and are especially prone to see patients as blameworthy.” This paper suggested that medical students should have increased contact with recovered patients as a way of decreasing these attitudes.

When an attempted suicide victim is brought in to the hospital, instead of considering it a “waste of time” perhaps Doctors and those health care professionals might consider this as an aggravated and unfortunate result of a mental disease. Patients instead of being sent back to the same environment that compelled an individual to try and kill themselves should be evaluated and perhaps referred to a Doctor better able to deal with the mental health of a patient. If the environment remains the same, the ’victim’ might not fail next time and this only reiterates a vicious cycle.

The first steps to finding a cure are understanding and acceptance; recognition that mental disease is just another type of illness. While understanding the very perplexing issue of suicide is difficult, there is no reason why mental disease cannot be understood better. Information on different types of mental disease is freely available. No longer can we hide behind the excuse of ‘ignorance.’ Human compassion, understanding and common sense are required for the stakes are too high to waste any more lives.  

*Fernando, S., 2009. Sri Lankan doctors’ and medical undergraduates’ attitudes towards mental illness, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, [online] Available at;< http://www.springerlink.com/content/v11x76r12088l524/abstract/> [Accessed 18 November 2010].

Published - TUESDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2010 00:00

http://print.dailymirror.lk/features/139-feature/28570.html

Diagnosis Needed

"...I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick..." 

                                                                                                                                    – Extracted from the Hippocratic Oath.

A story about a father who assaulted a Doctor at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital after his infant child died was reported in the news. While specific details of the individual case were not given, it was stated that the father claimed the Doctor was negligent. While resorting to violence should never be an option, it is important to consider whether this is a symptom of a larger problem.

The state of the Health service in Sri Lanka and the relationship between caregivers and receivers needs to be examined. Have we heard of doctors being attacked in other countries where western medicine is practiced or is this a phenomenon only in Sri Lanka? People should not have to resort to physical violence and doctors should be able to practice without fear.

Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world that provide free health care to its people. While this is admirable, it is unfortunate that both the people who provide it and those who receive it sometimes take it for granted.

It is because of the very nature of their work and the immense pressure and sleepless nights a doctor goes through they are respected and held in such high esteem. Unfortunately, this has led to a culture where the Doctor has greater power and the patient is not treated with the same kindness and respect they deserve. It has also led to a power hierarchy in the hospital, where the nurse is ‘Boss’ when the Doctor is not around and the attendants require an ‘incentive’ to simply do their jobs.

The patient should not have to pay for union issues or politics involved. For instance, when the incident involving one doctor and the estranged father occurred it was reported that “the doctors at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital walked out …and they resumed work at noon.”

While organizations like the Bus Drivers unions occasionally go on strike for their grievances, compared to the many years of medical school education and training a doctor goes through, one cannot help but wonder if their actions resembling those of public transport workers is appropriate. After all, the public transport on strike and a sick patient waiting hours on end for the Doctor to do his or her ward rounds cannot really be the same. Holding sick patients for ransom seem unethical no matter how the case is argued.  It is not an exaggeration to say that there are times when family members of patients who do not make it through surgery go home with the feeling that the doctor “killed” their loved one. While this might not always be an accurate perception, it is quality of the treatment patients receive throughout their ordeal and the lack of understanding of the procedures that leads to this conclusion. Not all Doctors are able to effectively communicate to the patient and there are times when some feel threatened if a patient asks too many questions. Doctors could try to do a better job of communicating with patients and their families or this will continue to be a perpetuating problem.

A culture of zero accountability is making our health system sick. Doctors should be held responsible where negligence is involved. The authorities can create channels where patients are able to voice their grievances. No one should be above the law, even Doctors, after all they all begin their careers with a noble aspiration; to save lives and provide the best care possible to those in need.

Published - TUESDAY, 09 NOVEMBER 2010 00:00
http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/opinion1/26625.html

Is it time to consider empowering our children?

Some crimes are so horrific we are reluctant to discuss them even among ourselves. Unfortunately, when issues are discreetly swept under the rug, human beings who commit such acts are able to take advantage of the ‘shame’ that society shies away from. It is important to consider whether our reluctance to discuss these issues indirectly facilitates abusers.

The media recently reported “at least three children a day are raped daily in Sri Lanka.” The report cited statistics from the Police Headquarters and was horrific given the fact that it acknowledged that most cases are not reported.

It is always the most vulnerable and most innocent who must silently suffer. Consider the pervert on the public transport system, groping a child or woman. How many speak up in defense and how many look away? Any Sri Lankan who regularly travels on the bus will not deny this fact. Yet, it continues today. If such people roam freely in public one can only imagine what happens behind closed doors.

Times when parents told their children to be wary of strangers have long gone. It is not like a purse being stolen; the victim cannot walk up to a police station. Sadly, the very people whom children are taught to trust and confide in are also the very people who hurt them. Statistics show that the majority of people who commit these crimes are not strangers. They are either family members or ‘friends,’ someone known to the victim.

Organizations dedicated to protecting children are in place. However there is always more that can be done and it is not an easy task.  The lack of current data available is troubling since this is an area that should be given more attention and understood better. Discarding preconceived notions is an area that needs to be taken seriously while getting rid of the gravemisunderstandings of the real issues. For example, notions such as a Police Officer declaring “sex is becoming common practice among schoolchildren in Colombo, who said easy access to pornography on the Internet was a contributing factor” clearly demonstrate the misguided assumptions and attitudes prevalent among law enforcement officials themselves. What’s more, these accusations with no data, blaming ‘pornography’ and ‘school children having sex’ as a contributing factor for child abuse is reckless and dangerous. It is also ignorant.

Awareness only on the part of adults no longer seems to be adequate. It is time empowering children is given serious thought. At least those in the high risk group must be made aware of the dangers posed to them and what actions need to be taken to avoid/ report such incidents. By making such topics difficult for children to discuss, we unknowingly make it easier for predators to prey on innocent victims using the ‘shame’ factor to their advantage.

The misguided notion that keeping children ignorant of sexual education somehow helps keep them ‘innocent’ only contributes to putting them at greater risk. The home and school are places where children inhabit the most. It is time the school system educates children on sexual abuse. Teachers should be trained to recognize signs of abuse and openly talk about the issues faced in society instead of shying away from talking about them. The same applies to the home environment, where parents should encourage an “open society” within their own walls. If the school and home were to act as ‘check points’ for each other and together create effective channels of communication with the children, perhaps child abusers would not have such easy access to molesting children. The children themselves can be on guard. Mostly however, children must be given the chance to protect themselves. Empowering the victims themselves is possibly the only effective way to ensure incidents are reported and abusers do not go free. 

Then, why shouldn’t we empower our children?

Published - 

THURSDAY, 04 NOVEMBER 2010 00:00

http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/opinion1/26185.html

The Asylum Seeker - Misunderstood?

"There is no reason why anybody should leave Sri Lanka out of any fear. They have the freedom to live anywhere"  - Gotabhaya Rajapakse.

Much has been written about Asylum seekers and the unsafe conditions in which they attempt to cross over to foreign lands at great personal risk. According to Article 1 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country…" and an asylum seeker is a person waiting on their application to be recognized as a refugee.

It would seem the matter rests upon the situation of the individual who must ‘flee’ and the data the immigration officials possess to evaluate an application. History is full of instances in the world when people have been forced to seek refuge. International Law supersedes the constitutions of governing states to ensure the rights of the individual are protected at all times. The act of granting asylum by a nation state to a foreign national should not be considered lightly. It should on the contrary be considered one of the greatest acts of kindness humanity has bestowed upon each other. It has offered protection and hope to those survivors who ultimately lived to tell their horrific stories to the world.

Daily Mirror recently carried a story where the Defence Secretary was quoted saying, "When people come to know that countries are sympathetic and give them asylum, it is very difficult to stop….The Australian government has to be very strict on anybody to whom they are considering granting asylum. If they just stopped giving asylum, it would be much easier to stop this process." The article went on to state that the military had successfully restricted such boats from leaving Sri Lankan shores. People instead travel to other countries and attempt to seek asylum from there. So it would seem that some Sri Lankans are desperately trying to get out.

The question is however, why these governments remain ‘sympathetic’ to asylum seekers of Sri Lankan origin and whether the measures being taken to “stop this process” are addressing the right issues. Unfortunately it seems we have come to confuse the reasons as to why people leave and attempt to group asylum seekers together with those who leave voluntarily.

Are we really to believe given the choice most would not exploit the situation? The system always has to deal with those who will seek to take advantage of it. Does that mean the process of granting asylum should stop? The fact so many are granted asylum has to mean something. Perhaps the current ‘image’ of Sri Lanka does not help. However, the significance of the ‘asylum seeker’ should not be ridiculed or confused with others who simply seek ‘greener pastures.’

So what are we missing?

There are of course those who choose to leave simply because they can. Those who have the means and connections secure residence by way of education or employment.  Some choose to return, others prefer to stay. But it is important to realize that people can and do have the freedom to choose. Whether those reasons are out of fear or circumstance or simply because they want a better life is between the individual and the immigration officials. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) categorizes an Economic Migrant as a person who “makes a conscious choice to leave their country of origin and can return there without a problem.” It would seem most Sri Lankans would fall in to this category if they are indeed attempting to find better economic conditions. But the case of the asylum seeker is real and we should not make the mistake of confusing the two.

The International Crisis Group, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International recently declined the invitation of Sri Lanka's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to testify. It is important to consider why they declined, clearly explained in their joint statement. If we don’t care about human rights records and continue to scorn standards set by the ‘international community’ and point out the imperfections of those questioning our ‘record’ then we must also be willing to accept the consequences.

We simply cannot have it both ways.

It will take a while before Sri Lanka recovers from the scars of a decade long war. Should the people have to watch their lives go by and wait for generations after them to live comfortable lives? What options do the people who are going back to resettle have? What can be said of those who were born in to a conflict, out of no choice of their own? Can we continue to blame it on their karma? With no hope of job training and no real educational qualifications, what can Sri Lanka offer to them that that is more attractive compared to living in a developed nation?

Ultimately, those who are successful in crossing over to developed nations will live better lives than they would have otherwise. Is that so terrible? Their children will have hope and a shot at life with no remnants of prejudice and hate. And yes, they will visit Sri Lanka sometimes. But maybe we should be proud they can. In time we can only hope Sri Lanka ceases to be a destination from where people must flee and all Sri Lankans can feel safe.

Perhaps the issue of granting asylum should be left to the immigration officials of those respective countries. Let them figure out the implications or the consequences. It cannot be easy, to wish to leave one’s homeland. It is even worse when an individual is forced to flee as a refugee out of fear for their lives. Simply because people go in search of greener pastures does not mean that the asylum seeker flees for the same reason. The fact that so many do should mean that there is still much work to be done from within.

As the country continues to develop and Sri Lanka recovers, people may choose to stay. Maybe in time, they can and will. For those who must flee, and numbers speak for themselves, let us hope laws are strengthened and there is better protection. For the Economic Migrants, there is no reason why they shouldn’t. President Rajapakse stated in his speech to the United Nations, “Let me be clear, no nation on earth can wish Sri Lanka’s Tamil community more good fortune than Sri Lanka itself.” Then let us welcome back all Sri Lankans when they do return and hope someday, they will all want to stay. 

Published - TUESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2010 00:00

http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/opinion1/25255.html

Can we ever be an "Open Society"

“In this globally inter-dependent world, we must work together where we can and constructively counsel each other where appropriate.” – President Mahinda Rajapakse.


In an Open Society, government is constantly evolving and is open to criticism and change; a society that is able to tolerate new ideas and different modes of thought and action. The concept of “open society” was originally developed by the early philosophers. An advocate of the concept, George Soros who is one of the wealthiest people in the world recently donated $100 million to an organization called The Human Rights Watch. He states that “Human rights underpin our greatest aspirations: they’re at the heart of open societies.”
A billionaire investor and philanthropist, he is also the founder and chairman of the Open Society Foundation.


The world’s leading organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights focus international attention on where human rights have been violated; they give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. The donation Human Rights Watch recently received will be used to increase their international presence in the emerging power centers of the world. In order to speak to specific governments; they will directly address allies of those particular countries. This might grant them more access in creating awareness within specific nations, perhaps even enabling them to pressure governments in to taking action to ensure higher standards of human dignity.


Responsibility however lies not just with those who govern us. The people need to take an active role and consider how fellow humans are treated; especially those who are the most vulnerable. It is all too common for us to compare other developed nations and point out their imperfections, thereby quite conveniently ignoring our own. The kind of thinking that encourages pointing fingers at violations of human dignity between states and somehow because theirs is worse makes ours better, seems rather pointless but unfortunately all too common. We should uphold ourselves and those who govern us to higher standards. It is always easier to turn a blind eye or shrug our shoulders. It is in truth, what we all do; turn a blind eye. After all, denial probably helps us sleep better at night.


While to an external enemy, for example the recent case of the housemaid who was tortured in Saudi Arabia, we are appalled and quick to rise up and protest against; the same does not apply when it is from within. Women and children still need greater protection, especially greater laws. Our society needs to be more open to issues we as Sri Lankans are reluctant to openly debate. For example, the recent report on university students being subjected to virginity tests is a clear violation of one’s privacy. Many would not even consider this abuse. Who dares speak out?


More than ever before, countries cannot live in isolation. President Rajapakse was right when he stated in his recent address to the United Nations, “In this globally inter-dependent world, we must work together where we can and constructively counsel each other where appropriate.”


Work conducted by governments and organizations around the world have resulted in strengthening work on rights of women, children, refugees, and migrant workers. These organizations have been able to bring a human rights perspective to issues such as domestic violence, trafficking, rape as a war crime, and child soldiers. Perhaps it is time we Sri Lankans take a closer look at ourselves. We are not alone and we cannot live alone, even if we wanted to. Perhaps we should consider reacting more and creating awareness. Gandhi did say “be the change you want to see in the world.” Perhaps it can start with better communication at home. Creating actual dialogue between parents and children, an open society within the walls of our own homes might help. This generation might have gone by, but there is always the next. The concept of an open society might sound utopian, but not out of reach if we all play a part and care, just a little bit more.


Published - TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2010 00:00
http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/opinion1/24615.html