Sarath Wijesinghe Presidents’ Counsel, former Ambassador to Israel and UAE, Solicitor England and Wales, president Ambassador’s Forum

Time is precious and cannot be regained

Time is precious that cannot be regained once spent except pleasant or unpleasant memories. Sweat does not mean that the sweat on hard labour. Sweat is time taken with body as well as mind which is valuable to you and the world over. Some work with blood sweat and tears for his livelihood and that of others with great sacrifice, which is valued on currency today in the fast developing modern society, when some just waste time for nothing or nothing impotent to him or the country he is sheltered in. No moment is more important than ‘’NOW’’ as it is so precious and once gone the time cannot be reacquired whatever efforts you make and apply. Now is the time and you will not get younger again at any cost, and you are the ‘’gatekeeper ‘’of your precious time that no one could steal from you unless you waste it unnecessarily by you willingly or unknowingly. Nothing is important than living well and happily and you must be happy to be alive today. Your time is limited, precious and should be used wisely all the time. Is more important money or time .Money can be regained but not time. Morning you enjoyed will never get it back therefore living is more important and more importantly productive living is still important for you, your loving ones and the community you live in. Therefore it is useful to think back your losses and achievement for the future plans of you and the community beneficial to all. These sayings are so important and precocious to us as time when time goes on which we cannot regain. With all this is it not a crime that so many young just waste time in Sri Lanka doing nothing, for them or the society or nation with no aim mission vision or strategic plan for you or the country you belong to. Do not blame others, blame yourselves by following the correct path for you using the internet you are so conversant with in Sri Lanka as if there is a will there is definitely a way out, which is correct by the success of success stories.  Use the internet for your success and not destruction please. This paragraph must be read again between Ines by the young generation in Sri Lanka used and almost addicted to internet reading browsing.

Learn from other success stories of small Nation’s such as Israel, Hong Kong a Singapore and UAE

Israel is a small but a world nuclear power that emerged as a world leader with only human resources and innovations based on artificial intelligence as a leader on agriculture in an environment akin to a desert among the enemy nations with eternal fights yet emerged as a leader on arms industry and agriculture in which 95% agriculture is science and technology. The surrounding enemy countries are oil rich and Israel is protected by an artificial iron ‘’Dome’’ protecting the country from enemy attacks yet developments continues as usual with measures to protect the nation from the powerful enemy around. They use every minute of their precious time for themselves and the nation they are given shelter. In Israel every citizens is an innovator with a substantial knowledge on modern technology to some extent they make use as inventers for sheer necessity due to the hard life with limited resources. Sri Lanka is in crisis with all natural resources including human resources not second to any other yet some say it is a failed state with no money at all with savings even as sovereign gold or bonds. The seeds of Israel grew   from the imagination of the exiled people with long exile of some 2000 years they fought hard to be what they are today. The soil of the new land explored was hostile on environment, obstinate soil and no water expect the only lake ‘’Galili’’ in the country. They started collecting water underground and spent heavily on desalination of sea water with the help of the Israel community world ever until they became a leader on water technology and famous drip irrigation spread world over today. Only capital at their disposal was human capital. They invented new ways of living ‘’kibbutizim/ moshavim,’’ (communities’ equipped with all facilities including schools and hospitals as incubators of development.) developed towns and companies never existed they drilled and laboured and demanded much from themselves. But they dreamed and innovated for the dream nation they dreamed for thousands of years.  ‘’Kibutz’’ became the  incubator and the farmer a scientist,  High Tec in Israel began with   agriculture even little land and less water Israeli became the agriculture leader Though many still consider agriculture the epitome of low tech they are mistaken. Technology was 95% of Israel’s prodigious agricultural productivity. Israel with a population of 9,038 309 in 2021 10, 00000 has a young population of 32.6% in a country with 1/3 of the size of Sri Lanka is a world power in all aspects and areas a leading payer in international politics not least bothered about the series of resolutions against her by the Human Rights Council on violation of human rights mainly on the Palestine in the occupied land and otherwise including 1.907 of Arab origin in Israel. This is the miraculous developments in Israel in all areas to be a small but a world leader on technology, Agriculture, and Innovations is an example to Sri Lanka a beautiful island with natural beauty, water in abundance surrounded by beautiful and shallow sea, is in a financial and political crisis indeed a pitiful situation to be carefully studied and taken control of by the young and educated finding ways to leave the beatifically Island looking for foreign employment.  UAE  has been a fish market full of ‘’Sea Pyrites’’ attacking the ships passed by until ‘’OIL’’ was explored  which they invested wisely to be what they are as a  haven for money for investors and they invested it wisely on tourism making use of the geographical situation to attract the tourists and investors from all parts of the world.  Singapore is a small island once a barren land the visionary leaders have converted to be a business HUB as Hong Kong are success stories unlike the gloomy story of Sri Lanka in crisis which is a sorry state to which the successive governments and leaders and also the people are responsible. But the fact remains that if we realise the mistake and the grave mistake of the waste of our precious time in vain we can still regain the lost and legitimate glory by working together with collective attempts and a vision led by a visionary or a visionary leader in the proper way with a strategy for all to be what we should be in the world family. They became world leaders with human will and the strength led by visionary leaders who realised the ‘’value of time and sweat of the citizen.’’

Sri Lanka and ‘’Aimless Youth’’ with lack of vision and a visionary leader yet to emerge

 ‘’Sri  Lankan’’ youth is 23/% out of the population of 22.40 million generally educated and computer literate of 40% and the mobile penetration of 136% with internet facility 20% to 30% is a very successful and encouraging situation. The situation varies and it is difficult to find exact statistics (subject to correction) for obvious reasons. Youth is the future of the country generally educated yet not geared to or employment oriented with proper training due to the deficits in the system of education with no proper plan or strategy whilst the rich and able parents give children in selected private schools with English education which is necessary for employment and higher education using their savings and selling properties and finding funds from any source to educate children as an investment for them and children a very serious and disturbing situation. Universities are of substandard and not maintaining internal standards as subject to strikes and disturbances by political parties with full time ‘’political animals’’  (politically motivated student leaders) who are obstructive and anti-establishment as a result billions are spent for studies overseas especially on medical science, and such productive courses of studies. This is the unfortunate situation of the young pruned to higher studies who are able and willing for higher studies. Then what happens to the left over after O/L and A/L not properly trained in schools on languages, for technical and innovative fiends with no aim and proper guidance. Failed politicians and some Unions discouraged private medical schools and as a result millions are siphoned away for studies – a sorry state it is.

 Drop Outs from Schools

Drop outs try to find employment through political influence unsuccessfully as no vacancies in either private or public sector due to want of funds or no vacancies. They are not trained for a profession or a trade and depending on employment through political influence and today are aimless and helpless lot who will find some money to purchase a three wheel and start driving privately or as an agent of ‘’Uber’’ or Pick me operated from home or a three wheel stand also currently almost full. It is informed that there are over ten million three wheel taxies on the road ever increasing daily filled by the school drop outs and the other youth who has nothing else to do , which is a criminal waste of the productive youth otherwise would have been productive in proper facilities training and guidance is given.

Avenues for trained employees worldwide and way out with joint efforts on State Private Training Centres countrywide

The potential for foreign employment are immense of the applicants and properly trained on language and ILTS skills generally given by private and state centres free or for a reasonable fee countrywide the youth is unfortunately not making use of. We are informed that the Employment Bureau is not functioning to the maximum capacity exploring new employment opportunities and providing the demands of countries in need of labour with qualified employees the Sri Lankans are famous for as good and hardworking workers. It is time for the private sector and the state together or individually to take this responsibility to their shoulders and train these able young to be productive to themselves and the nation to be out of the unfortunate crisis the country do not deserve due to ample opportunities waiting for them world over in need of trained labour and educated youth. Philippine is one of the leading employee providing counties where 30% of the population is in overseas employment at an given time When Sri Lanka is in the range of 10% of the population with a potential of increase to lot more which is not being explored, when the prime youth is wasting the precious time on three wheel stations and on the road for jobs which are not productive to the nation in development or agriculture related matters when the country is in a grave financial and economic crisis. Employment opportunities are immense in the Middle East and many other countries in need of labour for their industrial, hospitality, development and many other areas. Opportunities are ample, Avenues are numerous, resources are enormous, education and skills are available with computer and modern skill to many including in villages, and what is lacking is the vision, visionaries, dedication, and the will of the citizen always blaming the other person without blaming themselves and to look at each other and themselves for a happy today-  NOW sarathdw28@gmail.com and sarath7@hotmail.co.uk 0094777880166 active worldwide with ‘’Wifi ‘’available