Sri Lankan Socialist Curriculum

 Changing the Socialist ‘Curriculums’

By Prof. Samitha Hettige

When the ‘Panamure’ tusker was shot, socialists including Dr. NM Perera criticized those responsible for misusing wildlife. Decades later when tusker Kavantissa was shot socialists are being criticized for mismanaging wildlife. When most run from responsibility, Minister of Environment accepted responsibility & he should be commended for that. Discussions on Kavantissa may remind blind men describing the ‘Elephant’. Among the descriptions, socialist governance is discussed since the government is led by the JVP. Socialism isn’t new to Sri Lankans & specially Buddhists. Late Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithree thero referred to the Buddha as a socialist at the funeral of late Dr. NM Perera (1979) who founded the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) in 1935. Sri Lankans they say usually forget & all who wish economic prosperity with socialism should therefore, constantly educate the public on all shades of ‘Socialism’. A good case study would be the Central Institute of Socialism (CIS) of China.

The CIS

The CIS in Beijing is the higher education institution in China which trains cadres from the eight minor political parties & others who aren’t affiliated with political parties. It’s known as a united front organ operating under the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. The CIS was founded in October 1956 & in July 1965 all cadres of the CIS were sent to the countryside to participate in the socialist education movement. The institute was closed in during the Cultural Revolution (1966 – 1976) & was reopened in 1982. It celebrated the 70th anniversary recently & during the 7 decades it has made significant contributions to upholding & improving the system of multiparty cooperation under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party consolidating & strengthening the patriotic united front (Ref. Media). The institute has also strengthened political training, build broad political consensus, & improved the quality of its teaching & research during the past 70 years.

Socialist Curriculum Development

One might say that the 6.4 million who opted for a socialist rule in 2024 are revisiting their decision. However, Sri Lankans who prefer a socialist approach may encourage the JVP & other socialist parties to study the CIS. JVP history indicates the beginning of the famous five classes two months before the CIS cadres were sent to the mountains in July 1965 & the JVP leader contested the first Presidential Election in 1982 after being pardoned by President JR Jayawardena who managed to pardon many without legal loopholes. According to many analysts socialism is becoming a popular system of governance especially for economic recovery etc. Hence, it’s important that Sri Lankan socialists study Socialism to educate others.

Views expressed are personal

The writer is an Academic & the Executive Director of the Zheng He Centre in Colombo.

Photo source: WWW