What's next to sell?

A massive protest was organised by the Medical Faculty Students’ Union of the Colombo Medical College, in front of the Faculty last week, against the intake of unqualified local and foreign students into local universities for the academic year 2011/2012, for LKR 7.5 million per head. The second appeal to the Government was to withdraw the students of the Kothalawala Defence Academy which is run under the Ministry of Defence and in the process of privatisation, from hospitals attached to local universities which are maintained under the Ministry of Higher Education, when receiving clinical training.

The latest ploy of the government in privatisation of education is selling government university degrees to both unqualified local and foreign students. For this year the UGC (University Grants Commission) has laid the groundwork to facilitate 42 students with insufficient qualifications in Government medical faculties. The minimum academic requirement made public is a mere 3 ‘S’ passes either through local A/L or the London A/L routes, which is again an incoherent and ridiculous action to take.
The bottom line of 3 ‘S’ passes was set since the inception of the PMC concept in Sri Lanka and it has a strong economical basis from a business point of view. A student entering the PMC has to pay monthly LKR 100,000 on an average. How many parents in Sri Lanka can afford such a huge investment for the education of one child? It is merely 1 to 2 per cent of the population according to the data from the Central Bank. When it comes to the said percentage, out of the students who obtained at least 3 ‘C’ passes from those who have opted for the Biology stream in Local A/Ls, it is absolutely not a sufficient number of prospective students, for a business venture. This fact itself projects the sorry state of the future image of Sri Lankan education.

In keeping with continuous Government strategy failures, the current protocol which has been set in motion by the Government reflects a failed strategy and weak efforts of showing off a flash in the pan. A failing Government possesses classic features such as a wide information gap among politicians about the type of services to provide, unnecessary and silly political interference especially taking cognizance of the short term view rather than considering long term effects, sky-high administrative cost of Government bureaucracy in public services and lack of incentives leading to inefficiency and due to overstaffing. All of the above key features are clearly evident in our present scenario. The next move to save the current crisis is to decide the next item to sell and to fix the next auction date. So what is left to sell for tomorrow? It is prudent to ponder a wee bit more than yesterday.





The Government has backed the insidious scholarships given to prospective students from the Malabe PMC (Private Medical College), reinforcing privatisation of medical education while saying that there won’t be enough available admissions for those who have obtained 3 ‘A’ passes in the Biology stream in Sri Lanka, which invariably is an irrational statement even an Advanced Level (A/L) student can understand, though our political rulers cannot comprehend. Instead, the responsible parties can easily afford to accommodate a student at a Government Medical Faculty for less than LKR 1.5 million, if there are hardly any students left with 3 ‘A’ passes, in spite of wasting colossal amounts, through Government banks.

At the moment the quota of the foreign and local students from different routes who are allowed to study at Government universities has been increased up to 5% per year, from 0.5%, where it was exclusively for foreign students during the previous years. Still the majority of local A/L students are given the opportunity. But, the moment for the percentage to turn around is not far away as of now, as we are passing a dynamic totalitarian rule. When it happens, the victims would not be the minority who are capable of affording a sum of several million rupees over one’s education per year, but the children of parents who strove hard to win 2/3rds majority to the present rulers.




Samandika Saparamadu
14/05/2013




http://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/172-opinion/29402-whats-next-to-sell.html

In Search of Human Nobility & Excellence

We humans have multiplied to more than 7 billion in planet earth engaged in stampeding competition to lay hands on as bigger a share of the dwindling resources of the globe. In the guise of success and development we have accepted as the norm an unholy competition with our fellow beings to survive. The resultant discrimination, deprivation, humiliation, fear and poverty are well known. We live in 21^st century slavery perpetuated by misguided values and social norms.

But, should this be so? We are miraculous creations of the Universe enshrined with the unlimited potential of the Universal Life Force. We are endowed with rational thinking which makes us distinguish good and bad, that characteristic which elevates us from the rest of the animal world.

Let us pause for a moment and use our inherited legacy of the seeds of cosmic wisdom to ponder on some soul-searching questions which should trigger a turnaround of our lives into avenues of human nobility and excellence.

• Health is wealth. Are we not bombarding our bodies with toxins like alcohol, nicotine and narcotics? Are these not leading us towards slow suicide? Are we not inviting diabetes, heart ailment and blood pressure with faulty diets of high sugar, high salt, junk “Fast Food” and carbonated drinks? Are lack of exercise, prolonged sitting, lesser walking, inadequate sleep not pushing us towards premature ageing and disease?
• The Great Universe has abundance for all. In the name of success are we not resorting to unethical and destructive competition based on jealousy and selfishness with our fellow beings? Does great wealth bring great happiness and contentment?
• Are our corporates not engaged in internecine battles to death with competitors and their brands? Can we not adopt saner and more ethical tenets of marketing in striving for greater market shares?
• We are sustained by the eco equilibrium of nature. Are we not wantonly polluting and plundering the environment? Are Governments and corporates merely paying lip service towards “Sustainable Development” and “Corporate Social Responsibility”?
• A healthy work/life balance promotes health and happiness. Are we not chasing the mirage of excessive wealth, position and fame at the expense of our health, and the well being of our families and loved ones?
• True spirituality (not religious fanaticism) helps us reach our inner core through regular meditation and sublime thought for personal development and stress release. Do we care to set aside a little time daily for self analysis and meditation?
• Love and sex are beautiful and enriching human emotions that complement the genders. Are we not desecrating them by raping women, demanding dowries and denying women of equal social status?

There are many more questions which expose the hypocrisy, deception and destructive practices which we tolerate in our society.

Let us create a better world by changing our thinking and behaviour.

(Article courtesy of Edward de Coonghe. Please send your comments to edward.decoonghe@gmail.com)

Is there a LEADER in YOU?

Leaders are made, born and brought into existence through social conflicts, ethical dilemmas and highly competitive arts, sports etc. But, invariably throughout history, leaders had a special and unique quality without which they couldn't even have thought of leading. It's the speaking skill. 

Almost all great leaders of the world were born with this significant talent and they always strived hard to master their competency in addressing gatherings effectively and in conveying a message with fortitude and eloquence. People have a strong belief that "leaders are made", instead of public speakers are made, which signifies the amalgamation and the appositeness of the two concepts. They always go hand in hand.

The concept of leadership has varied definitions depending on the central personality trait of the leader by which he/she is inspired. These leaders possess various capabilities and skills, for example, interpersonal skills, conceptual skills, administrative or organizational skills and speaking skills. Speaking skills are brought into discussions many a time in various fora, hence I consider that it is worthwhile exchanging some views about the rest.

Do you think that there is a leader empowered by conceptual skills in you? If yes, see whether you possess the following qualities in you. Are you effective in problem solving, good at seeing the bigger picture before everyone else does, addressing issues immediately as they arise, on your toes to make necessary changes to your organization and find it easy to discuss values of the organization?

If you think that it is your administrative skills which predominate, in you as a leader, you might be able to appreciate the following facts and qualities in you. Think whether you find it easy to work with details, whether you are effective with the detailed aspects of your work, whether you are efficiently able to manage people and resources, whether you find it enjoyable in responding to people’s appeals and interests and whether you are capable of gaining resources to the programmes of the organization.

What if you are rich in interpersonal skills? Are you endowed with the belief that the potent conflict resolution could be done by respecting the opponent? Do you care about conflict sensitivity and spend time on gaining the consensus over conflicts? Do you have a good preconception on how people respond to novel concepts and a good nose to smell the emotional situations in the work group by being blessed with a good level of emotional intelligence? Finally do you use your emotional energy to coax others?

Sit back and think for a while, if you find the most number of “strong yes” answers in one paragraph, it is more likely that you possess the particular skill described in there. In the same way, if you find “no” for many in one description, it would benefit you to be more prudent in handling such affairs and to study more on your weaknesses.

The “Golden Gavel Award” recipient in 2012, John C. Maxwell said “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”. Hence have an insatiable desire to make yourself always a better leader within you while making people around you more comfortable, shedding off your weaknesses and cruising towards victory with ease.

MLK Day 2013

"Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children." 

It was the first half of the twentieth century. Another great, historical American orator arrived on planet earth, with a Google search zeroing in to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929. During his short lifetime he stamped his identity as a Baptist minister, a Nobel peace prize winner, an American leader and a civil rights activist, and served for American progressivism as a declamatory and a vehement voice of civil rights; employing the strategies of nonviolent civil disobedience. As the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and as a leader of many campaigns, this “True leader” tried to pave the way for an American society, free of racial segregation and full of civil rights. He is Martin Luther King, Jr. 

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

His world renown speech “I have a dream” which he delivered in 1963 at Washington is a paradigm of world of civil rights. The speech titled "Beyond Vietnam" in 1967 is another milestone of the life of this unyielding patriot. I have outlined a few quotes from his speeches and some of his interesting statements. 

"The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict."

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live"

It’s MLK day. Let’s join hands and come together. Let us give a try to refrain from posting and spreading hatred, abhorrence and harsh criticism against different races, religions and ethnic groups, in "Public and Social media", at least for today...

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

MLK was assassinated on 4th of April, 1968, in Tennessee and it followed many remonstrances in cities of the US.

"A lie cannot live" and that is why his boundless legacy of excellence and his invaluable, radical thoughts are still living with us. 
Happy civil rights day! (21.01.2013)

Is MLK day exclusively for Americans? “To be or not to be, that is the question”. So pondered Hamlet; so as we... Today, MLK day is no longer for the citizens of the US, but for Sri Lankans.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?’

Rabbit and the fox

Once upon a time a rabbit was happily bathing and swimming in a river which streamed down, whilst a fox was drinking water higher up in the same water stream.  Rabbit didn't care about the fox as it had a lot of good friends around. This rabbit was a very friendly chap and didn't bother any of its friends, such as beaver, crane, frog, deer and hamster. 

All of a sudden the fox that was drinking water in the upstream appeared in front of the rabbit and called it to the river bank. Everyone got astonished by this strange invitation, but according to the “JUNGLE LAW” the rabbit could not afford to reject fox’s KIND but CUNNING invitation, as it was a complaint.

However, “ALMOST ALL” of its friends surrounded the rabbit, but kept at arm's length, may be foreseeing the imminent catastrophe. 

Fox cleared its throat and stepped near the rabbit and the helpless creature stepped backwards, innocently. Then the FOX started listing out its complaints. “You are spoiling my drinking water by bathing and pissing”, the fox claimed. Then, the rabbit very innocently stammered “Master, its true... I was bathing but I was doing everything down the stream. How come I spoil your drinking water sir? You were drinking water from the same river, but higher up in the water-stream”.

The cunning and wicked fox exclaimed “You have made the mistake and now you are trying to justify it... Rabbit, you are going to get on my nerves.”

In this particular jungle they had a very solid “JUNGLE LAW” if a carnivore is to hunt; it was supposed to give an acceptable justification, beforehand. But unfortunately the authority of law was dead by then, or in other words; the lion king was no longer with them.

So, the fox once again read out his allegation against the rabbit which was written on an oak leaf by its crew (may be henchmen). Then the fox jumped on the rabbit and ate it.  

Then, the friends of the rabbit dispersed at once with the fear of being killed by the beasts of prey. Finally they decided to leave their own jungle either.

Dear friends, hope you can imagine the fate of the fierce, menace, power minded, and barbaric meat-eaters. Without food, how can they live?

This is an “OLD” story that I have heard when I was a kid. But, the body of the story resembles very recent and familiar incidents for me. The outcome and the motive of the story, may be telling the “tomorrow” of a country even lacking a JUNGLE LAW.

Hope you can relate the role of the fox, rabbit and its friends; now and then.

Today, we all are “RABBITS” (You may take it in any sense).  Be vigilant.