Feature: Mark of a Leader: Reflecting the Heart Cry of People

By Timothy A. Edward

In a recent conversation with a group of friends, the subject of leadership came up. In his own gentle characteristic manner, an elderly gentleman who has held several important government positions said that in any country that has developed rapidly, one would find an immaculate leader at its helm. For example, Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of modern Singapore, is considered as a brilliant political leader and a visionary who transformed this island nation into a formidable economic powerhouse.

Calling Younger Leaders to the Front

Chipping in, another friend started to share his recent visit to Mongolia. Mongolia's economy is considered “moderately free” according to the 2024 Index. The entrepreneurial sector in Mongolia benefits from a relatively open trade regime, and policy reforms have supported economic expansion and reductions in poverty. Mongolia has become a fast developing country thanks to its younger leadership. The best practice emerging from the Mongolian success story is that we should appoint younger leaders who are suitable for the changing times.

We all have our favourite leaders both in our own communities and around the world whom we look up to and admire. So, when we talk about leadership, it is only natural that these personalities come dancing into our minds. Our nations and cultures are built upon their courageous spirit, sacrifice and commitment. Many of them have poured their lives into our societal structures to ensure our peaceful and joyful existence.

A Decisive Year

2024 will be marked in many countries as a year that determines its future destiny. Because more than half of the world’s population has gone or is going to the polls in 2024 to elect its political leadership, and Sri Lanka is no exception. Our presidential election is set to take place in about 50 days from now. While wishing all the candidates the very best, we need to look out for the ones who can lead our nation into its destiny. Leadership who can reform our nation.  Let us together play our part in creating a new vision for a prosperous and peaceful nation. 

The Cry of the People

The heart-beat of a leader should reflect the heart-cry of the people. A leader should be able to motivate the followers and beneficiaries alike to align their skills, resources and talents for a greater impact on communities. 

Unfortunately, in Sri Lanka, after we obtained our independence, in every decade we have been losing generations to violence, civil war and youth unrest. These days, we can see a hike in such vicious cycles all over the world due to poverty, disparity in the distribution of wealth, accessibility to education, basic human rights, and the right to have an honourable vocation in life, causing people to take to the streets, and in some countries, to take to arms. Even as we move forward, as leaders, we need to close those gaps on these lethal issues and strategise areas that we need to work on to make our countries a piece of heaven on earth.

Honour the Unseen Leadership 

It is natural that only a few leaders get the spotlight. But there are so many unseen and unsung leaders who shape and change our nations on a daily basis. One such segment are our mothers and educators who give birth and literally carry the next generation on their shoulders. These leaders give back to the next generation on a daily basis without making a big song or dance about it. The time has come that every true leader must listen to the heart-beat of the mothers and educators in their respective nations. 

Some leaders are like fireworks. They illuminate the skies for a brief moment like a skyrocket and thereafter they are gone. Then, there are others who continuously illuminate the skies even long after they are gone, because they are like a burning light in the hearts and minds of people, spurring them on to achieve greater heights. Will your leadership be remembered as a skyrocket, or will it become a burning light in the hearts of people?