Building Character for a Changing World
Frontpage Journal | Current Affairs
A new national initiative to shape the mindset and character of the next generation has begun from the hills of Kandy. The Attitude and Personality Development Program, jointly organized by the Presidential Secretariat and the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, aims to foster leadership, discipline, and civic responsibility among school children. The Central Province inauguration, held on the 25th at St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, brought together students from five educational zones, marking the first step in a program that seeks to nurture not just academically capable, but emotionally and ethically resilient youth.
More than a hundred students participated in the opening session, which included leadership and attitude-building activities designed to continue across four separate training days each month. Speaking at the event, Central Province Governor Professor S. B. S. Abayakon emphasized that the ultimate goal of the Clean Sri Lanka initiative is to “create citizens who can live responsibly within the law.” His words resonated deeply in an era where academic knowledge alone is no longer sufficient to navigate the complexities of modern life.
For parents, educators, and those invested in youth development, the importance of this initiative extends beyond classroom boundaries. As Sri Lanka, and the world, enters an age defined by rapid change, automation, and social uncertainty, emotional intelligence and personal ethics are emerging as critical life skills. Attitude training encourages empathy, teamwork, and integrity, traits increasingly valued by employers, universities, and global communities alike.
The program’s phased expansion across Kandy’s education zones, from Wattegama, Katugasthota, Theldeniya, and Haguranketha, toDenuwara, Kotmale, Walapane, Hatton, Nawalapitiya, Matale, and Wilgamuwa, demonstrates a strategic approach to inclusivity. It recognizes that positive transformation begins with young minds, but must be supported by consistent mentorship and community reinforcement.
The focus on “attitude” is particularly timely. In today’s uncertain world, where technology reshapes economies and values shift rapidly, academic excellence without personal discipline or emotional stability can leave youth unprepared for the realities ahead. Programs like these, therefore, serve as national investments in emotional resilience and social harmony.
For parents, this initiative offers an invitation: to participate actively in nurturing these values at home. For educators, it’s a reminder that every lesson carries the power to build not just intellect, but character. And for Sri Lanka as a nation, it’s a signal that the path to true progress lies not only in policy or infrastructure, but in the hearts and habits of its children.
As the Attitude and Personality Development Program unfolds, Kandy may well become the birthplace of a renewed national mindset, one built on respect, responsibility, and resilience, equipping the next generation to thrive in an unpredictable world.
