Youth paid the penalty for not knowing empathy - EDITORIAL

We talk much about youth these days with so much concern. There is no doubt they have to deal with frustration given the skyrocketing prices of goods and services and both the state and private sectors reducing the intake of new employees. There is also brain drain in the country, but before youth get to the stage of being qualified professionals they have to first complete their university education; which is now getting increasingly costlier. 

There are also youth who tried their hand at cleaning the political system or in other words working towards a ‘system change’. The countless number of fresh faces at the aragalaya (struggle) saw their efforts being robbed by a veteran politician, who now heads the country with the help of some grand old politicians who probably don’t entertain the word ‘retirement’ even in their dreams. 

May be these youth can learn something from rallies conducted by the National People’s Power (Jathika Jana Balawegaya). The main party of this political alliance- the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna- attracts large crowds at rallies. But when it comes to voting time at elections the expected votes are not generated. The reason for this according to columnist and creative director Chinthana Dharmadasa, who writes for the Anidda newspaper, is that the JVP lacks empathy. In one of his columns he writes that the present youth are also guilty of not having this quality; which is needed to progress in politics. Dharmadasa adds that the veteran politicians cannot be written off as not needed in the present system; so soon. This is because they are masters at putting effort to knowing what the citizens of this country are thinking of and what their immediate needs are. They don’t waste time conveying to the citizens what they themselves are thinking. This is called the ‘feel’; something so vital to be in power in Sri Lanka and retain it. 

The youth of this country know like the lines on the back of their palms that this nation needs a leader and a system that will hire professionals and work towards achieving an economic goal; which would eventually pull this country out of the woods. A lawmaker like Patali Champika Ranawaka who talks a lot- about what has to be done professionally to lift Sri Lanka up in his speeches and voice cuts-minces no words when he says that there is no room for a comeback by the Rajapaksas. The sad part of the equation is that the people of this country don’t know much about to what levels they have to raise their contribution at work. But these citizens know very well how much they need as donations, allowances and free meals and medicines to survive the month. Before the mindset of politicians is changed the mindset of voters must be changed. 

These are days when tourism in Sri Lanka is picking up. Hence there is a need to sustain the peaceful environment that exists in this country. But what’s disturbing is that several student organizations are staging protests in and around Colombo. When there is unrest in the country travel warnings are issued to discourage foreigners from visiting this island. This is detrimental to the tourism industry which is on life-support. Most of the recent protests featured undergraduates, union members and other leaders who can be categorized as youth. Hoteliers, who once supported the aragalaya, now don’t wish protesters to take to the streets because such actions deter tourist arrivals to the country. The regime now knows that the hoteliers would approve the squashing of any protest that disturbs peaceful existence.   

Youth can take a cue from veteran politicians about how to complete a task; especially when a task must be completed to eliminate the opposition. See how the old brigade has successfully restricted people-including youth- from staging protests and rallies. The seasoned politicians of this island still have the ability to turn slim chances into ‘career saving campaigns’. See how all the old lawmakers, whose houses were burnt and were forced to quit, have returned to power. 

Sri Lanka’s youth must take note that people in another country would never have allowed a leader who was chased away from the country after a rebellion to return. These youth did just that!
It would serve these youth well if they give the same importance to studying subjects like economics, business and agriculture when they decide on studying empathy.