“I believe in mastering calmness in the face of adversity, criticism and chaos,” says Head Prefect of Ananda Sastralaya Kotte, Shanaka Samararathne. Perfect Prefect features Samararathne who believes that if you do not lose hope, you can do anything you set your mind to.
The hopes of the world rest on young people. This is exactly why Samararathne points out that the thinking patterns of people should be developed at a very young age. Samararathne reminds us that on social media and television, and in the newspapers, we see and hear many crime and pollution-related stories. Indeed, the youth of today are paying for the sins of their parents. However, it is today’s youth that can put an end to this suffering – for themselves and for future generations. There is good in this world, but the youth see so much violence and destruction done to man and nature, and they stop believing in a better world - a world full of love and kindness.
“I would like to change the way society thinks. If you look at social media, newspapers and television, what do you see? You see crime and pollution – news that is so demoralising. And, they have become common topics in Sri Lanka. We can understand from these reports how corrupt our society has become. People need to understand that ethics and human values are very important and invaluable for a meaningful life - a life with purpose. They are important for a well-functioning society. This is what we need to teach our children,” he said.
“People who have wealth and power, but no compassion, in turn, lead their nation towards destruction. This is not what we want to see. The thinking patterns of people should be developed at a very young age. But I also believe that any kind of change can be achieved through example and action. I always try to be a positive influence in the lives of my brothers,” explained Samararathne.
He adds that as the Head Prefect, many problems and issues come to him every day. He takes them as a challenge. Every challenge gives him a new experience and a new lesson too. These challenges are not an issue for him. They strengthen him, enabling him to face challenges that he will have to encounter once he leaves school. He understands that the youth face many struggles such as drug addiction and unhealthy relationships, to name a few. He feels that as a youth leader it is up to him to intervene and provide assistance.
“Real leaders create more leaders but not followers. Therefore, I believe that before leading our fellow brothers, as the Board of Prefects, we need to improve ourselves as disciplined, responsible, honest and capable individuals. So, I guide my fellow prefects to be better versions of themselves, so, they can be instrumental in creating good leaders as their successors, and become exemplary personalities to other students,” he said.
“In my opinion, leaders should be balanced. They should be tough enough to take the right decision, weighing the pros and cons of each situation, and still be sensitive enough to empathise with the people they lead. In this current pandemic situation, the world needs leaders who are both strong and sensitive. At the same time, they should be professionals. That is of the utmost importance. If we take our country as an example, we are currently dealing with many problems due to the lack of good leadership in almost every field. I think the creation of future leaders must start from our schools.”
“Facing every challenge with a positive mindset, he is calm in the face of the storm. In fact, he says that he has learnt to remain calm in the face of adversity, criticism and chaos which has helped him to see and think clearly, irrespective of the situation he faces. “Every victory, I consider as an achievement and every failure, I take as a lesson. Either way, they both lead me to success,” said Samararathne.
He does not sugarcoat the truth. Yes, you will face many risks and challenges once you step into society. Society is not as same as the school. His message to everyone who is stepping out into society is to be strong and do what you are passionate about. You need to set your goals and focus on them. Never give up until you succeed.
“Because whatever you put your mind to, if you do not lose hope, you can achieve it. And do not let anyone tell you that what you are trying to do is impossible. Also, keep improving yourself, because learning is a lifelong process. You cannot lead if you do not update yourself constantly,” he said.
He was appointed as Head Prefect in November 2021. After his tenure, he is planning to engage in higher studies and apply for a job in the IT field. He has already started learning Visual Designing online. He dreams of being an expert in the IT industry and making a difference.
“I believe that technology must be used for the betterment of society and not for the degradation of it. This is one reason that the leader I admire the most is Elon Musk. He is an extraordinary person. I also admire him because he is not afraid of taking risks and he invests his time and money in innovations that are new to people. He has earned a name in many industries such as the space exploration, electronic cars and Artificial Intelligence. He is an inspiration to many people,” points out Samararathne.
The school was founded in 1890 and the prefects’ guild was started in 1957. Samararathne is the 65th Head Prefect of the school. Since 1957, the prefects’ guild has supported the development and the smooth functioning of the school, maintaining the students’ discipline, assisting the school management in organising all kinds of events, in addition to moulding outstanding citizens for our nation.
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