Ex President Trump was found guilty in a criminal trial last week. At the same time Human Rights Violations in USA during 2023 was published by the State Council Information Office of China on May 29^th (Ref. Media). Some points from the 31 page report are below;

1. According to the 2023 ‘Candidate Interview Experience’ report by Greenhouse (US based hiring company), 34 % of job seekers have faced discriminatory questions in an interview, & nearly 20% tried to avoid discriminatory hiring practices by changing their name on their resume. 45 % of job seekers who changed their names did so to sound "less ethnic."
2. According to Vox News on 12^th June 2023, in the USA, African Americans have always earned less than whites. The discrepancy means that Black time is worth less than White time. To make up the pay gap caused by discrimination, a Black worker must work extra 2.7 hours each day.
3. The gap between rich & poor in USA has reached its worst level since the 1929 Great Depression. The poverty rate in the USA in 2022 is as high as 11.5% (Ref. Statista).
4. The federal minimum hourly wage hasn't been raised since 2009. 20 states still remain at the federal baseline wage in 2023 (Ref US Department of Labor).
5. More than 29.9 million people (including 14.8 million children) live in 11.5 million low income working families in USA & this disparity in labor income growth has led to large scale strikes in many industries. In 2023 USA experienced the most widespread strike tide since the 21st century & large scale strikes took place in many industries including film & TV, manufacturing, medical care & media.
6. 70 million Americans aged 12 or older in 2022 used illicit drug (Ref. US Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services).
7. The suicide rate per 100,000 people in 2022 was 14.3, the highest since 1941. An estimated 49,449 people died by suicide in 2022, an increase of 2.6% compared with 2021 (Ref. Center for Disease Control & Prevention).
8. The UN Human Rights Committee urged USA to abolish laws & policies criminalizing homelessness at all levels, & adopt legislative & other measures to protect human rights of homeless people.
9. 74 % of Americans said rising food prices were having the greatest impact on their finances meaning 44.2 million Americans struggled to meet their nutritional needs, including 13 million children (Ref. Financial Times & University of Michigan).

Right to life in SL

Some were critical when PM Dudley signed the Rubber Rice Pact with China (1952), When Gotabaya government gave dry rations worth 10,000 Rs to COVID infected families & when 10kgs of rice was distributed among the poor recently many who never experienced hunger were critical. An estimated 28% in SL experienced food insecurity in 2022 & it has reduced to 17% in 2023 (Ref. WFP & FAO). SL Census & Statistics reported last week that food inflation had decreased to 0.0% in May from 2.9% in April 2024 (Ref. Media).

Tambuttegama Giant

Historically Sri Lankans have worked outdoors making a tannery becoming the granary of the east. However, none can say malnutrition was never experienced. Although North Central province is known for agriculture which primarily addresses hunger & malnutrition, PM W. Dahanayake once instructed Education officials (1950s) to issue extra food to a boy named Herath Banda of Tambuttegama in an exceptional case. He gained fame as ‘Tambuttegama Yodhaya’ (Giant) after lifting a car with his bare hands at the age of 5. Herath attended Gamini Maha Vidyalaya in Tambuttegama which dates back to late 1880s (Ref. Media).

Does Education address the need?

SL has a long history of excellent education system dating back to 200 BC. In 1945 CWW Kannangara introduced free education from kindergarten to University. National languages were adapted as the mediums of instruction but establishment of Central Schools was the notable which paved way to rural children to reach great heights.

Focused on same goal, Gamini MV above was upgraded as the ‘Tambuttegama Central School’ in November 1984 when President Ranil was Education minister. It has so far brightened the lives of thousands including JVP leader AKD.

Education is crucial in shaping people to be responsible & understand the value of protecting; human rights, public property & ensuring rule of law etc. to ensure sustainable development. Sri Lankans may evaluate their system of Education & rate of unemployment etc. to see if it addressed the root causes & change if necessary.

(Views expressed are personal)