
Changing the Sri Lankan System. It may take the entire country and many more decades. But it has to start from someone like you.
Something we claim and hear nearly too often as Sri Lankans is that “the system is flawed”. Let it be in the sphere of education, politics, healthcare or finance, the system is held accountable for all of our frustrations.
And rightly so. All systems in Sri Lanka are flawed. The degree of imperfection varies from one area to another. However, the fact that an absurd amount of limitations and loopholes exists, is common to all.
I live a pretty ordinary Sri Lankan life. I am a university student, struggling entrepreneur, aspiring environmentalist, part-time teacher. I’m also an individual who gets deeply disgruntled by injustice, favouritism and ignorance — of which I experience generous servings on a daily basis.
I can’t count the number of times that I wish the system was different.
Whether it is about my university life which has moved in snail pace for the past four years or about people throwing garbage wherever they want and walking away with no repercussion what so ever, I am in a constant desperation for change.
I want the education system in the country to change. I want it to be more inclusive, flexible and student centric.
I want the biodiversity of the country to be protected and to be freed from any political influences.
I want my country to be peaceful, accepting and free of racism and judgement.
I want people to have access to basic needs like water and sanitation.
I want the country to be safe. For rape to stop, for girls to feel safe in busses and roads.
I want the political scenario of the country to make sense for once.
I want to see young people given the opportunity to flourish. Specially those who don’t want to become a doctor or lawyer, the outlaws.
I want mental health to become a talked about subject. I want access to comprehensive reproductive health care for people of all ages.
I want a lot from this country. But for a very long time, I was not ready to give anything in return.
In the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to meet and talk with incredible people.
People like you, who truly care about creating change and opportunities. People both young and old who have taken the time to think about something bigger than themselves. Individuals who have come to the realization that individual success or prosperity means very little if the community, country or world we are living in is suffering.
However, throughout these amazing few years I have also accepted the sad reality that people like you, and people like me, talk about the need for change, but do very little to create it.
And it’s not because you don’t want to, it’s simply because you don’t have to.
We don’t do things we don’t have to if it’s too hard.
And taking the first step to change a system that has thrived for centuries is possibly the hardest task in the world. So it’s completely understandable that you don’t want to be the one to take up the responsibility of a lifetime.
But what you don’t understand or rather know, is that you are not in this battle alone.
There are hundreds of people like you, all over our tiny island who have innovative and practical ideas of how to change the system. Only if they knew you existed and that you were thinking the same thing, they’d have the courage to start.
The start is always the hardest.
I’d like to say that it gets easier from there. But in my experience it realistically doesn’t. Instead, your little victories, the little moments of change that you experience becomes catalysts. They help you see impossible trials as challenges that you can overcome. While the actual process doesn’t get any easier, you become stronger. You get a clearer sense of clarity of why you are doing what you are doing, and you find the strength to go on.
We will all will find the strength to go on, only if we persevere.
So to all those who believe that the system can be changed, but don’t say it out loud because you are afraid of being held accountable.
Say it, shout it out loud today.
Next, think of how you want to create change and start work immediately.
You don’t have to have money, experience or a PhD to change the system. All you have to do is believe.
And I agree, greater change will require a greater amount of people.
Changing the Sri Lankan system. It may take the entire country and many more decades, but it has to start from someone like you.
