FEATURE: Ray of Sunshine: Develop a Green Heart

By Timothy A. Edward

Sri Lanka won the Wanderlust Reader Travel Award this year in the category of the ‘Most Desirable Island in the World’ showcasing its unique blend of beauty, hospitality, and economic growth. What a unique honour which all of us can celebrate and be proud of. No wonder we are known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean. However, it is the tea plantations, the lush highlands offering an exciting new way to explore Sri Lanka’s green heart which has been the attraction this time around that has caught the eye and attention of the voters of this award.

Blue, Red and Green Hearts

Sri Lanka is known for its blue heart – the beautiful beaches that surround the island.  It is also known for its red heart – the sunny rays that the world come in search of, for short bursts of sun exposure can usually allow the body to produce all the vitamin D it needs to build and maintain bones by absorbing calcium.  Now, it is the green heart – the plantation sector. Is it any wonder we are one of the most desirable islands in the world?

Most Desirable People

Yet do we have it in our strength to become the most desirable people in the world?  We can become the answer to many of the problems with which the world is plagued. If we dare to do a few things differently and constantly, then we can become that nation which can be the differentiating factor in world affairs.

Pray for World Peace

For a change, we can become a change agent in this world by praying for world peace.  Our world desperately needs peace.  Just imagine 22 million Sri Lankans praying for world peace in one voice.  If we just take 5 minutes each day to pray for world peace, our prayers will indeed make a huge impact on the world.

Owe it to the World

We have been supported by different countries all throughout our history.  However, now we can see those nations that have donated and helped us are at the brink of war or in the middle of war of some sort.  In a real sense, the Third World War is already upon us.

The more we pray, it will become clearer as to how we, as the most desirable island in the world, can promote world peace and happiness. In years past, we have been constantly supported by successive governments and charities representing these nations.  Now, it is our opportunity to explore how we as a nation can partner and support these nations through our different business sectors, like the tea, garment, rubber, coconut and fruit industries. 

We have witnessed how, during peak seasons, fruits and other perishables are harvested in plenty.  We can look at how excess harvest can be sent as special aid to nations that are in need.  One such classic example is Sri Lanka donating a consignment of Ceylon tea to the civilians affected by the typhoon Yagi in Myanmar. The world needs more of such donations. For example, can our garment industry send some containers of clothes to the children, women and the elderly in Gaza?  How about our export chambers sending a few containers of tea and tropical fruits to North Carolina, Virginia and Florida, to those victims affected by hurricane Helene, which caused torrential rains and flooding in those areas?  During Spain’s floods, Valencia region and surrounding areas saw months of rain descend upon them in just a few hours.  What could be Sri Lanka’s response? Can the INGO sector, together with the public and private sectors, drum-up aid from Sri-Lankans to send relief to those devastated places?  Then again, must we wait till catastrophes hit to show our willingness to help?       

Develop a Green Heart

It is time we made a shift in our mindset.  We also need to shift our economy to embrace philanthropy best practices through public-private partnerships. We are in a defining moment in history.  The question is, as a nation, how are we going to manoeuvre our future in world history through world trade?  We have a number of examples before us.  Take, for instance, the historic China-Ceylon Rice Rubber Pact which was signed in 1952. This agreement is looked upon and hailed as one of the most durable and successful partnerships in the world. The time is ripe for Sri Lanka to enter into similar trade agreements with countries that have helped us in the past and support them to overcome their challenges with the resources with which we have been blessed as a nation. It is time for us to develop a green heart and become the most sort after citizens of this world.