Opinion
Airline Pilots – salaries and income tax reforms
By Capt Gihan
A Fernando, MBA
Honorary Life Member, Air Line Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka (affiliated the International Federation of Air Line Pilot Associations)
Former Secretary, Air Ceylon Pilots’ Guild and Air Line Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka
Former Member Air Line Pilots’ Association Singapore
Life Member Organisations of Professional Associations (OPA)
It is no secret that Sri Lankan airline pilots engaged in international flying are highly paid and therefore in the country’s highest slab of income taxation. Their income is received direct from their employer. Their profession is strictly regulated and they cannot engage in private practice, unlike many other professions.In 1947 when Air Ceylon was formed, a DC-3 Dakota Captain’s maximum basic salary (without allowances) was Rs 800 per month. The Ceylon Air Line Pilots’ Association (CALPA) and later the Air Ceylon Pilots’ Guild (ACPG), as it was then known, tried but failed to negotiate for higher salaries. One Air Ceylon Chairman (who was known as ‘our man in Bonn’ at one time, and father of a present Member of Parliament) even asked how the Pilots’ Guild had the audacity to ask for salaries over and above what he was earning.
That status quo remained almost the same until 1977, when the Secretary of Defence, General Don Sepala Attygalle, declared that the Army Corporal who drives his car was earning almost the same wage as airline pilots, and increased pilots’ salaries all round by Rs. 1,600 per month.
Then in 1979, when Air Lanka was established, national pilot salaries underwent another increase with ‘per diem’ allowances matching international standards. The standard method of calculating these allowances is based on the crew duty time starting one hour before departure time, and finishing half an hour after landing. For want of a better method, traditionally there was a certain value added to breakfast, lunch and dinner; and if the crew member was on duty during those meal times, a ‘Meal Allowance’ was paid.
Additionally, if a night was spent overseas the crews were paid an ‘Overnight Allowance’. All allowances were the same for Technical (flight) and Cabin Crew, except for the ‘Overnight’ allowances where the Captain got a little extra to cover tips, porterage, etc., in local currency. In those days the overseas meal and overnight allowances were frugally saved by many Sri Lankan crew members and encashed into rupees in Colombo in order to supplement their take-home pay.
Even during Air Ceylon days, the Internal Auditor didn’t understand the concept of per diem payments based on meal times, and commented that crews were not entitled to meal allowances when flying as they were provided with meals on board. It took the Air Ceylon Pilots’ Guild quite an effort to counteract that notion.
Increasing flight crew salaries to present levels was the result of a long, hard struggle for the Airline Pilots’ Guild, as Air Lanka was truly ‘international’, with expatriate crew members on its payroll too. In the mixed (Sri Lankan and expatriate) crews, a ‘national’, or local, Captain earned far less than an expatriate First Officer or Flight Engineer, who also received free housing and children’s education fees as part of their remuneration packages.
Yet the Captain, whether a Sri Lankan or an expat’, was the most senior crew member in the aircraft. Further to regular appeals to Air Lanka Management, in due course the salaries were adjusted to a great extent and tied to the constantly appreciating US dollar, so as to eliminate the salary gap between nationals and expatriates. The Pilots’ Guild also managed to secure duty free car import/purchase permits for its members, in keeping with certain other professions at that time.
In accordance with the then Sri Lankan tax laws, while an expatriate’s salary was tax free, a national captain had to pay income tax amounting to around 40% of earnings. Again, after many appeals from the Pilots’ Guild, Air Lanka management agreed to pay flight crews’ income tax, which was then considered a perquisite by the Government Income Tax Department, and necessitated the airline management paying ‘tax-on-tax’. This was done to prevent pilots leaving the company for better jobs in other parts of the world.
So why is an airline pilot is paid so much?
Let me give you a few reasons. An airline pilot must undergo an annual medical examination up to the age of 40, and then regular biannual medicals until the age of 60. From then until age 65 additional blood tests and stress EKG tests are conducted. While pilots need not be as fit as astronauts, there cannot be any disqualifications either. Unfortunately, the limits of these tests are quite subjective and could be a source of worry and stress to individual pilots. Needless to say, pilots must practise self-discipline to maintain these medical standards.
The training regime to become a commercial pilot is long and extensive. There are as many as 14 theory exams to pass, along with numerous practical tests where competency has to be demonstrated to an examiner and recorded for licensing purposes. The pilot needs to qualify for: a ‘Type Rating’ to fly a particular type of aircraft; an Instrument Rating to enable himself/herself to fly solely with reference to instruments at night-time or in conditions of limited or non-existent visibility; a ‘Multi-engine Rating’ authorising him/her to fly an aircraft with more than one engine. They must also be current on Safety Equipment Procedures, which involve going down emergency slides into a pool or tank of water, and survival in case of a ditching at sea.
Even after obtaining the requisite licence and ratings and joining an airline, every six months a pilot must submit to a practical test conducted by a Civil Aviation Authority Sri Lanka (CAASL)-designated examiner in order to demonstrate continuing competency. Throughout his/her career, every year the pilot must also satisfy a company-designated ‘Line Examiner’ that he/she is up to date on all company procedures and instructions. The pilot could be failed and given re-enforcement/consolidation training at any time.
In contrast, not many vocations, including the medical profession, have such systems in place for rigorously and regularly monitoring and recording competency and proficiency. Sadly, such testing can be subjective by nature, and is sometimes used by airline companies the world over to force pilot employees to ‘fall in line’ and not rock the boat. But that’s another story.
The demand for qualified and experienced pilots around the world is high, especially as airlines are bouncing back after the pandemic. Therefore, Sri Lanka’s national carrier must find incentives in pay and conditions to keep experienced pilots within their fold. Losing experienced pilots to a ‘brain drain’ will affect the airline’s safety record in the long run. Airline Captains cannot be produced overnight. It takes at least six years on average for a good First Officer (FO) to become a Captain. That gives the FO experience to fly through all the seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter weather, by day and night, at least six times under the watchful eye of an experienced Captain, before the FO goes out on his/her own. Not unlike a ‘House Officer’ in the medical profession, who learns what to do, as well as what not to, to enhance his/her ability to work with others in a ‘team’ environment.
Commercial airline pilot training is expensive, with ever-rising costs of equipment and fuel. Unless the trainee is sponsored by an airline, or has wealthy parents, many student pilots will incur debt. It is not unknown for some not so well-to-do parents to even mortgage their property to put their children through flight school. Yet at the end of it all one is still not sure of securing an airline job because even in the ranks of prospective flight cadets, many are called but only a few are chosen for further training by the airlines.
It is no secret that an airline pilot’s work is unique and different from a regular 9 to 5 job. Flying duties take pilots far from home, while they miss out on family events such as birthdays, weddings and funerals of near and dear ones. It is very hard on the pilot’s spouse as he/she has to be both father and mother, nursemaid, and chauffeur, especially when children fall ill. Airline pilots have to be mentally prepared for such events, and free of financial worries and stress that can cloud judgement and decision-making when performing flying duties and functions that are stressful in their own right. It must be remembered that apart from being responsible for hundreds of lives, an airline pilot is in charge of and responsible for airline assets costing hundreds of millions of dollars, leaving no margin for error; as distinct from a run-of-the-mill administration job which, according to some, allows for as much as a 50% error margin.
An airline pilot has to be trained and tested regularly in a flight simulator or an actual aircraft to safely handle emergency situations such as engine failures or fires on take-off, rejected take-offs, emergency landings with hydraulic failure, cabin pressure failure, and many other potentially perilous situations. A wrong decision will be very costly for the airline, and could even make the company go ‘belly up’.
There is a famous saying among aviators which is attributed to Jerome Lederer, the then President of the Flight Safety Foundation. He stated: “If you think that safety is expensive, try having an accident.”
That also brings to mind what Lee Kuan Yew, widely acknowledged as the ‘founding father’ of modern Singapore, said: “If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.”
In 1776, the Scottish economist and moral philosopher Adam Smith wrote a book called ‘The Wealth of Nations’. In it he outlined five principles underlying why labour rates are different. They are still valid today. I quote:
“The Variation of Labour Rates
There are five major factors that explain why labour wages differ from one occupation to the next. To begin, labour rates differ depending on how simple or difficult the job is. A tailor, for example, is paid less than a weaver. His job is much easier. Weavers earn less than smiths. The most despised of all jobs, public executioner, is paid more than almost any other common profession in proportion to the amount of labour done.
Second, the ease and low cost of learning a new business, as well as the difficulty and cost of doing so, affect labour salaries.
Third, salaries in professions differ because some crafts have significantly more consistent employment than others.
Fourth, labour wages vary according to the amount of trust that must be placed in the workers. Goldsmiths and jewellers are always paid more than many other workers because they are entrusted with valuable materials.
Fifth, labour remuneration varies according to the likelihood or improbability of success. If 20 people apply for a job and only one is hired, the one hired is usually paid the sum of the salaries of the other 20.”
In addition, Smith states a few more home truths, such as:
“Give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you want.”
and
“A man must always be able to support himself through his job, and his earnings must be sufficient.”
Many airline administrators take Aviation Safety for granted. It does not happen automatically but with hard work put in by the people in the front line, such as pilots, engineers and mechanics. Unfortunately, aircraft can’t fly without pilots and engineers. In the love/hate relationship between the Sri Lankan Airline Pilots’ Guild and airline management, the usual cycle of events since inception is as follows.
The Board of Management appointed by the ‘powers that be’ consist of government cronies who confess to the airline employees that they know nothing about running the airline and ask for guidance. The unions, including the Pilots’ Guild, give them support and guidance. After a few months the Board members believe they have learned all they need to know, and try to ride roughshod over the unions while trying to control traditional behaviour despite really knowing nothing. It is a truism that ‘a little knowledge is a dangerous thing’. The pilots are considered ‘a necessary evil.’
Speaking for the pilots at the ‘pointy end’ of the aeroplane, they see the product of that ‘board management’ at its worst and best. The communication channels should be kept open with the Chairman and his Board of Directors. From what I gather, and in aviation terms, there is “a loss of com” between them.When the COVDI-19 pandemic began, the present Board of SriLankan Airlines unilaterally reduced pilots’ salaries by almost 50%, put a cap on the dollar conversion rate, and told pilots that if they didn’t like it that they could go look for jobs elsewhere. The Pilots’ Guild went to the Labour Commission, who discovered that the airline’s management had short-changed the pilots to the extent of Rupees 1.928 billion! It is obvious that management should not look at the bottom line only but follow a Safety Management System which ensures resilience.
Now other airlines are hiring again, and 130 Sri Lankan pilots have applied to convert (validate) their Sri Lankan ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation)-recognised Air Transport Pilots’ Licence (ATPL) in other countries to be able to work there. More than 40 local pilots are expected to leave for other reputed airlines by February 2023. If that occurs, it will become a national crisis. This attrition will in turn cause disruption of scheduled flights in the short term, or the airline might even cease operations in the long term. It has happened to other airlines. Sri Lanka is not and will not be immune. Yet, SriLankan Airlines’ Board of Directors seem to be blissfully oblivious of this fact.
With the proposed national Income Tax reforms, the quantum of income tax is going to be higher. Could the Board of Directors of SriLankan Airlines consider income tax payments and pay tax-on-tax where pilots are concerned, as has been done before? They can ill afford to hire expatriate pilots at ‘exorbitant’ dollar rates, as in the past. Or by ‘sitting on their hands’ would the Directors force national airline pilots to leave for greener pastures abroad, along with Sri Lankans in many other valued and respected professions?
by Dr B.J.C.Perera
MBBS(Cey), DCH(Cey), DCH(Eng), MD(Paed), MRCP(UK), FRCP(Edin),
FRCP(Lon), FRCPCH(UK), FSLCPaed, FCCP, Hony FRCPCH(UK), Hony. FCGP(SL)
Specialist Consultant Paediatrician and Honorary Senior Fellow,
Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Joint Editor, Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health
In an age of unprecedented global development, technological advancements, universal connectivity, and improvements in living standards in many areas of the world, it is a very dark irony that child food poverty remains a pressing issue. UNICEF defines child food poverty as children’s inability to access and consume a nutritious and diverse diet in early childhood. Despite the planet Earth’s undisputed capacity to produce enough food to nourish everyone, millions of children still go hungry each day. We desperately need to explore the multifaceted deleterious effects of child food poverty, on physical health, cognitive development, emotional well-being, and societal impacts and then try to formulate a road map to alleviate its deleterious effects.
Every day, right across the world, millions of parents and families are struggling to provide nutritious and diverse foods that young children desperately need to reach their full potential. Growing inequities, conflict, and climate crises, combined with rising food prices, the overabundance of unhealthy foods, harmful food marketing strategies and poor child-feeding practices, are condemning millions of children to child food poverty.
In a communique dated 06th June 2024, UNICEF reports that globally, 1 in 4 children; approximately 181 million under the age of five, live in severe child food poverty, defined as consuming at most, two of eight food groups in early childhood. These children are up to 50 per cent more likely to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition. Child Food Poverty: Nutrition Deprivation in Early Childhood – the third issue of UNICEF’s flagship Child Nutrition Report – highlights that millions of young children are unable to access and consume the nutritious and diverse diets that are essential for their growth and development in early childhood and beyond.
It is highlighted in the report that four out of five children experiencing severe child food poverty are fed only breastmilk or just some other milk and/or a starchy staple, such as maize, rice or wheat. Less than 10 per cent of these children are fed fruits and vegetables and less than 5 per cent are fed nutrient-dense foods such as eggs, fish, poultry, or meat. These are horrendous statistics that should pull at the heartstrings of the discerning populace of this world.
The report also identifies the drivers of child food poverty. Strikingly, though 46 per cent of all cases of severe child food poverty are among poor households where income poverty is likely to be a major driver, 54 per cent live in relatively wealthier households, among whom poor food environments and feeding practices are the main drivers of food poverty in early childhood.
One of the most immediate and visible effects of child food poverty is its detrimental impact on physical health. Malnutrition, which can result from both insufficient calorie intake and lack of essential nutrients, is a prevalent consequence. Chronic undernourishment during formative years leads to stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and increased susceptibility to infections and diseases. Children who do not receive adequate nutrition are more likely to suffer from conditions such as anaemia, rickets, and developmental delays.
Moreover, the lack of proper nutrition can have long-term health consequences. Malnourished children are at a higher risk of developing chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity later in life. The paradox of child food poverty is that it can lead to both undernutrition and overnutrition, with children in food-insecure households often consuming calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foods due to economic constraints. This dietary pattern increases the risk of obesity, creating a vicious cycle of poor health outcomes.
The impacts of child food poverty extend beyond physical health, severely affecting cognitive development and educational attainment. Adequate nutrition is crucial for brain development, particularly in the early years of life. Malnutrition can impair cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Studies have consistently shown that malnourished children perform worse academically compared to their well-nourished peers. Inadequate nutrition during early childhood can lead to reduced school readiness and lower IQ scores. These children often struggle to concentrate in school, miss more days due to illness, and have lower overall academic performance. This educational disadvantage perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as lower educational attainment reduces future employment opportunities and earning potential.
The emotional and psychological effects of child food poverty are profound and are often overlooked. Food insecurity creates a constant state of stress and anxiety for both children and their families. The uncertainty of not knowing when or where the next meal will come from can lead to feelings of helplessness and despair. Children in food-insecure households are more likely to experience behavioural problems, including hyperactivity, aggression, and withdrawal. The stigma associated with poverty and hunger can further exacerbate these emotional challenges. Children who experience food poverty may feel shame and embarrassment, leading to social isolation and reduced self-esteem. This psychological toll can have lasting effects, contributing to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety in adolescence and adulthood.
Child food poverty also perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality. Children who grow up in food-insecure households are more likely to remain in poverty as adults, continuing the intergenerational transmission of disadvantage. This cycle of poverty exacerbates social disparities, contributing to increased crime rates, reduced social cohesion, and greater reliance on social welfare programmes. The repercussions of child food poverty ripple through society, creating economic and social challenges that affect everyone. The healthcare costs associated with treating malnutrition-related illnesses and chronic diseases are substantial. Additionally, the educational deficits linked to child food poverty result in a less skilled workforce, which hampers economic growth and productivity.
Addressing child food poverty requires a multi-faceted approach that tackles both immediate needs and underlying causes. Policy interventions are crucial in ensuring that all children have access to adequate nutrition. This can include expanding social safety nets, such as food assistance programmes and school meal initiatives, as well as targeted manoeuvres to reach more vulnerable families. Ensuring that these programmes are adequately funded and effectively implemented is essential for their success.
In addition to direct food assistance, broader economic and social policies are needed to address the root causes of poverty. This includes efforts to increase household incomes through living wage policies, job training programs, and economic development initiatives. Supporting families with affordable childcare, healthcare, and housing can also alleviate some of the financial pressures that contribute to food insecurity.
Community-based initiatives play a vital role in combating child food poverty. Local food banks, community gardens, and nutrition education programmes can help provide immediate relief and promote long-term food security. Collaborative efforts between government, non-profits, and the private sector are necessary to create sustainable solutions.
Child food poverty is a profound and inescapable issue with far-reaching consequences. Its deleterious effects on physical health, cognitive development, emotional well-being, and societal stability underscore the urgent need for comprehensive action. As we strive for a more equitable and just world, addressing child food poverty must be a priority. By ensuring that all children have access to adequate nutrition, we can lay the foundation for a healthier, more prosperous future for individuals and society as a whole. The fight against child food poverty is not just a moral imperative but an investment in our collective future. Healthy, well-nourished children are more likely to grow into productive, contributing members of society. The benefits of addressing this issue extend beyond individual well-being, enhancing economic stability and social harmony. It is incumbent upon us all to recognize and act upon the understanding that every child deserves the right to adequate nutrition and the opportunity to thrive.
Despite all of these existent challenges, it is very definitely possible to end child food poverty. The world needs targeted interventions to transform food, health, and social protection systems, and also take steps to strengthen data systems to track progress in reducing child food poverty. All these manoeuvres must comprise a concerted effort towards making nutritious and diverse diets accessible and affordable to all. We need to call for child food poverty reduction to be recognized as a metric of success towards achieving global and national nutrition and development goals.
Material from UNICEF reports and AI assistance are acknowledged.
By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana
The colossal failure of not a single opinion poll predicting accurately the result of the Indian parliamentary election, the greatest exercise in democracy in the world, raises the question whether the importance of opinion polls is vastly exaggerated. During elections two types of opinion polls are conducted; one based on intentions to vote, published during or before the campaign, often being not very accurate as these are subject to many variables but exit polls, done after the voting where a sample tally of how the voters actually voted, are mostly accurate. However, of the 15 exit polls published soon after all the votes were cast in the massive Indian election, 13 vastly overpredicted the number of seats Modi’s BJP led coalition NDA would obtain, some giving a figure as high as 400, the number Modi claimed he is aiming for. The other two polls grossly underestimated predicting a hung parliament. The actual result is that NDA passed the threshold of 272 comfortably, there being no landslide. BJP by itself was not able to cross the threshold, a significant setback for an overconfident Mody! Whether this would result in less excesses on the part of Modi, like Muslim-bashing, remains to be seen. Anyway, the statement issued by BJP that they would be investigating the reasons for failure rather than blaming the process speaks very highly of the maturity of the democratic process in India.
I was intrigued by this failure of opinion polls as this differs dramatically from opinion polls in the UK. I never failed to watch ‘Election night specials’ on BBC; as the Big Ben strikes ‘ten’ (In the UK polls close at 10pm} the anchor comes out with “Exit polls predict that …” and the actual outcome is often almost as predicted. However, many a time opinion polls conducted during the campaign have got the predictions wrong. There are many explanations for this.
An opinion poll is defined as a research survey of public opinion from a particular sample, the origin of which can be traced back to the 1824 US presidential election, when two local newspapers in North Carolina and Delaware predicted the victory of Andrew Jackson but the sample was local. First national survey was done in 1916 by the magazine, Literary Digest, partly for circulation-raising, by mailing millions of postcards and counting the returns. Of course, this was not very scientific though it accurately predicted the election of Woodrow Wilson.
Since then, opinion polls have grown in extent and complexity with scientific methodology improving the outcome of predictions not only in elections but also in market research. As a result, some of these organisations have become big businesses. For instance, YouGov, an internet-based organisation co-founded by the Iraqi-born British politician Nadim Zahawi, based in London had a revenue of 258 million GBP in 2023.
In Sri Lanka, opinion polls seem to be conducted by only one organisation which, by itself, is a disadvantage, as pooled data from surveys conducted by many are more likely to reflect the true situation. Irrespective of the degree of accuracy, politicians seem to be dependent on the available data which lend explanations to the behaviour of some.
The Institute for Health Policy’s (IHP) Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey has been tracking the voting intentions for the likely candidates for the Presidential election. At one stage the NPP/JVP leader AKD was getting a figure over 50%. This together with some degree of international acceptance made the JVP behave as if they are already in power, leading to some incidents where their true colour was showing.
The comments made by a prominent member of the JVP who claimed that the JVP killed only the riff-raff, raised many questions, in addition to being a total insult to many innocents killed by them including my uncle. Do they have the authority to do so? Do extra-judicial killings continue to be JVP policy? Do they consider anyone who disagrees with them riff-raff? Will they kill them simply because they do not comply like one of my admired teachers, Dr Gladys Jayawardena who was considered riff-raff because she, as the Chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation, arranged to buy drugs cheaper from India? Is it not the height of hypocrisy that AKD is now boasting of his ties to India?
Another big-wig comes with the grand idea of devolving law and order to village level. As stated very strongly, in the editorial “Pledges and reality” (The Island, 20 May) is this what they intend to do: Have JVP kangaroo-courts!
Perhaps, as a result of these incidents AKD’s ratings has dropped to 39%, according to the IHP survey done in April, and Sajith Premadasa’s ratings have increased gradually to match that. Whilst they are level pegging Ranil is far behind at 13%. Is this the reason why Ranil is getting his acolytes to propagate the idea that the best for the country is to extend his tenure by a referendum? He forced the postponement of Local Governments elections by refusing to release funds but he cannot do so for the presidential election for constitutional reasons. He is now looking for loopholes. Has he considered the distinct possibility that the referendum to extend the life of the presidency and the parliament if lost, would double the expenditure?
Unfortunately, this has been an exercise in futility and it would not be surprising if the next survey shows Ranil’s chances dropping even further! Perhaps, the best option available to Ranil is to retire gracefully, taking credit for steadying the economy and saving the country from an anarchic invasion of the parliament, rather than to leave politics in disgrace by coming third in the presidential election. Unless, of course, he is convinced that opinion polls do not matter and what matters is the ballots in the box!
By Prof. Kirthi Tennakone
ktenna@yahoo.co.uk
Thoughtfulness is the quality of being conscious of issues that arise and considering action while seeking explanations. It facilitates finding solutions to problems and judging experiences.
Almost all human accomplishments are consequences of thoughtfulness.
Can you perform day-to-day work efficiently and effectively without being thoughtful? Obviously, no. Are there any major advancements attained without thought and contemplation? Not a single example!
Science and technology, art, music and literary compositions and religion stand conspicuously as products of thought.
Thought could have sinister motives and the only way to eliminate them is through thought itself. Thought could distinguish right from wrong.
Empathy, love, amusement, and expression of sorrow are reflections of thought.
Thought relieves worries by understanding or taking decisive action.
Despite the universal virtue of thoughtfulness, some advocate an idea termed mindfulness, claiming the benefits of nurturing this quality to shape mental wellbeing. The concept is defined as focusing attention to the present moment without judgment. A way of forgetting the worries and calming the mind – a form of meditation. A definition coined in the West to decouple the concept from religion. The attitude could have a temporary advantage as a method of softening negative feelings such as sorrow and anger. However, no man or woman can afford to be non-judgmental all the time. It is incompatible with indispensable thoughtfulness! What is the advantage of diverting attention to one thing without discernment during a few tens of minute’s meditation? The instructors of mindfulness meditation tell you to focus attention on trivial things. Whereas in thoughtfulness, you concentrate the mind on challenging issues. Sometimes arriving at groundbreaking scientific discoveries, solution of mathematical problems or the creation of masterpieces in engineering, art, or literature.
The concept of meditation and mindfulness originated in ancient India around 1000 BCE. Vedic ascetics believed the practice would lead to supernatural powers enabling disclosure of the truth. Failing to meet the said aspiration, notwithstanding so many stories in scripture, is discernable. Otherwise, the world would have been awakened to advancement by ancient Indians before the Greeks. The latter culture emphasized thoughtfulness!
In India, Buddha was the first to deviate from the Vedic philosophy. His teachers, Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputra, were adherents of meditation. Unconvinced of their approach, Buddha concluded a thoughtful analysis of the actualities of life should be the path to realisation. However, in an environment dominated by Vedic tradition, meditation residually persisted when Buddha’s teachings transformed into a religion.
In the early 1970s, a few in the West picked up meditation and mindfulness. We Easterners, who criticize Western ideas all the time, got exalted after seeing something Eastern accepted in the Western circles. Thereafter, Easterners took up the subject more seriously, in the spirit of its definition in the West.
Today, mindfulness has become a marketable commodity – a thriving business spreading worldwide, fueled largely by advertising. There are practice centres, lessons onsite and online, and apps for purchase. Articles written by gurus of the field appear on the web.
What attracts people to mindfulness programmes? Many assume them being stressed and depressed needs to improve their mental capacity. In most instances, these are minor complaints and for understandable reasons, they do not seek mainstream medical interventions but go for exaggeratedly advertised alternatives. Mainstream medical treatments are based on rigorous science and spell out both the pros and cons of the procedure, avoiding overstatement. Whereas the alternative sector makes unsubstantiated claims about the efficacy and effectiveness of the treatment.
Advocates of mindfulness claim the benefits of their prescriptions have been proven scientifically. There are reports (mostly in open-access journals which charge a fee for publication) indicating that authors have found positive aspects of mindfulness or identified reasons correlating the efficacy of such activities. However, they rarely meet standards normally required for unequivocal acceptance. The gold standard of scientific scrutiny is the statistically significant reproducibility of claims.
If a mindfulness guru claims his prescription of meditation cures hypertension, he must record the blood pressure of participants before and after completion of the activity and show the blood pressure of a large percentage has stably dropped and repeat the experiment with different clients. He must also conduct sessions where he adopts another prescription (a placebo) under the same conditions and compares the results. This is not enough, he must request someone else to conduct sessions following his prescription, to rule out the influence of the personality of the instructor.
The laity unaware of the above rigid requirements, accede to purported claims of mindfulness proponents.
A few years ago, an article published and widely cited stated that the practice of mindfulness increases the gray matter density of the brain. A more recent study found there is no such correlation. Popular expositions on the subject do not refer to the latter report. Most mindfulness research published seems to have been conducted intending to prove the benefits of the practice. The hard science demands doing the opposite as well-experiments carried out intending to disprove the claims. You need to be skeptical until things are firmly established.
Despite many efforts diverted to disprove Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, no contradictions have been found in vain to date, strengthening the validity of the theory. Regarding mindfulness, as it stands, benefits can neither be proved nor disproved, to the gold standard of scientific scrutiny.
Some schools in foreign lands have accommodated mindfulness training programs hoping to develop the mental facility of students and Sri Lanka plans to follow. However, studies also reveal these exercises are ineffective or do more harm than good. Have we investigated this issue before imitation?
Should we force our children to focus attention on one single goal without judgment, even for a moment?
Why not allow young minds to roam wild in their deepest imagination and build castles in the air and encourage them to turn these fantasies into realities by nurturing their thoughtfulness?
Be more thoughtful than mindful?
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