‘I’ve achieved what others do in five centuries’ - Lal Kantha

17 October 2025 09:35 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 28 Bookmark

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By Sujith Hewajulige

Colombo, Oct. 17 (Daily Mirror) - Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has revealed that he does not possess any formal educational qualifications, stating that the only documents he holds are his birth certificate, national identity card, passport, and driving licence.

Speaking at a public programme held in Kandy, Minister Lal Kantha said that despite lacking educational certificates, he has never faced difficulty in performing his duties or achieving success in life.

“I don’t even have an O/L certificate. The only certificate I expect to receive in the future is my death certificate,” the Minister remarked.

He said that throughout his career, educational qualifications were never a requirement for his work, emphasising that he had already accomplished within his lifetime “what an ordinary person would take five centuries to achieve.”

“Some people earn degrees and certificates just to hang them in their living rooms. I have no objection to learning, but education should be for knowledge, not for show,” he said. The Minister further pointed out that the government’s role is not to provide jobs directly, but to create an environment where employment opportunities can be generated.

Comments - 28

Rajkumar Nagarajah Friday, 17 October 2025 10:29 PM

PLs tell us about your personal achievements, professional achievements and your contribution to food security and nutrition.

2 23

Champika Rathnayaka Saturday, 18 October 2025 12:53 PM

Actually educational qualifications No need to success of ones life.if he doesn't have experience .those qualifications will be only papers. Our ancient people had vast knowledge Of everything .they made bisokotuwa. Irrigation projects to get water for cultivation .they are very inteligent Very practical had sympathy empathy. But most people educated and so many degrees.dont know how to live peace fully.without good virtues education is only a empty thing.success people have not only good knowledge but also Very good humane qualities .

5 11

Zarook Sunday, 19 October 2025 10:30 AM

Molkantha has become the puppy of Dudly. Probably what he means.

0 2

Dr. Dee esquire Friday, 17 October 2025 11:20 PM

Oh yes! Everybody knows. They are even going to change the number of the emergency service honoring your achievements in your golden era!

8 18

Independent Friday, 17 October 2025 11:23 PM

People like him more suitable for organizing protests and creating havoc in the country.

12 22

MOTU Friday, 17 October 2025 11:46 PM

I think he doesn't know what it means centuries.

5 21

Jaffna Logic Saturday, 18 October 2025 12:35 AM

Yes , he seems to have good common sense to achieve all what he already has . But formal education specially a University Degree (not a Internet based correspondence degrees ) in any subject gives a specialist knowledge in the subject that life experiences can not provide with. This experience somehow triggers self confidence in general and the ability to think independently.Overall a person may be successful without possessing a proper University degree but the person is missing out on invaluable intellectual experiences would later show up negatively in the conscious or at the subliminal behaviour for the rest of life. But it should also be understood a person could have all the great experiences but still end up as a complete disaster but that is not the majority.

6 20

NS Saturday, 18 October 2025 03:47 AM

Very honest person to tell the truth about his qualifications.

5 27

Perera Saturday, 18 October 2025 04:42 AM

Let the people judge that. Please do not praise yourself.

1 21

R Navaratnam Saturday, 18 October 2025 05:52 AM

Last Paragraph - Last Sentence: Minister is perfectly right.

2 8

Observer Sunday, 19 October 2025 02:00 AM

I agree. Last sentence! It was a the first brick to create the building call Singapore.

0 0

Lol Saturday, 18 October 2025 06:12 AM

Your behaviour always showed that you have not had an education but today you are a minister!! Hahaha!! Sri Lanka, obata deiyangema pihitai!

7 15

Donkey Saturday, 18 October 2025 06:14 AM

Don't forget that you and your party have always managed to "destroy" within minutes what others took years to build! Do you know how long is 5 centuries?!! Idiot!!

11 18

RanjithT Saturday, 18 October 2025 06:56 AM

Despite the damage this comrade has done to the country by his own admission, at least he has a backbone to stand up in public to tell the truth, sadly most, if not all other comrades in the pack, lack that quality.

4 10

Adwani Saturday, 18 October 2025 07:12 AM

You should certify and agree to provide Certificate to Mr. Ranil for his spade work and establishment of IMF staff for the continuation of the restorations of ruined economy. When no one, including your Boss were able to take over. Today, you are happy to say that, at least I will get my death certificate. After continuation of the same good job.

4 11

Jo Saturday, 18 October 2025 07:21 AM

True. You are wealthier than Mahinda. Who knew before 2025.

5 12

Mike Saturday, 18 October 2025 07:26 AM

Times have changed The minimum requirement for a leadership role is now a Masters degree in most countries. In Srilanka not achieving an o level grants you a high paying government role. No-one appreciates arrogance. Let's hope we see major change soon.

2 9

Sooting Saturday, 18 October 2025 07:52 AM

At least Lal Kantha has admitted having no formal qualifications instead of deceiving the public of having bogus PhDs!

0 14

Sakalabujan Saturday, 18 October 2025 08:09 AM

They have spread 5 centuries worth of lies and destruction.

5 11

Gx Saturday, 18 October 2025 09:02 AM

I strongly agree with his true statement. Some people become overeducated, and they find it difficult to find employment that matches their qualifications.

2 7

D P P Prasad Saturday, 18 October 2025 10:04 AM

Minister Lalkantha is a different character he hits the nail on the head. It is true that no academic certificates are needed to work you should only need the talent and the knowledge. That knowledge should be derived from the experience. Certain renowned characters like Dr Senarath Paranawithana Martin Wikramasinghe didn't have the academic certificates. However they became the pioneers in their relative subjects. Even certain leaders who governed our country didn't have a sound education background however they manoeuvred their part in satisfactory manner than the politicians who were well educated

4 12

Paul Perera Saturday, 18 October 2025 12:46 PM

What he says is correct. He said "I am not against gaining qualifications. But gaining them for show is what I am against. Education should be to gain knowledge" One does not have to go to school to gain knowledge. On the same vein just because you have paper qualifications doesn't mean you have the knowledge. If we look at our school curriculum we can see that the kids gain very little useful knowledge that they can apply on their day to day lives. Look at lot of the uni grades who have degree certificates. Lacking application knowledge. Our ancestors constructed amazing things that we now look at in awe. Study to gain knowledge. If a man do the job, that's what matters. I'd hire him. No need to see his qualifications.

2 3

Dr. Dee esquire Saturday, 18 October 2025 02:17 PM

VP achieved much more than you!

3 0

Nobody Saturday, 18 October 2025 04:42 PM

Didn’t NPP supporters wanted educated people in the parliament? Weren’t they the people asking to remove all uneducated 255? Iooo sirisena!!! I feel sorry for the 6.8 million fools. Also someone needs to tell this guy that humans don’t live for centuries

0 4

Indrajith Perera Saturday, 18 October 2025 05:09 PM

very humble and practical !

2 3

S P Saturday, 18 October 2025 08:10 PM

No one knew Mr Lalkantha before NPP/JVP won the last election. Educated or not whatever the achievements he claims to have made looks like have gone terribly unnoticed!

1 1

Bandu Maama Sunday, 19 October 2025 02:50 AM

Wow, what a claim by a semi literate person. He must be expecting all children to follow him. Besides, he has failed to explain what he has achieved so far.

0 0

manoharan Sunday, 19 October 2025 05:20 AM

very humble person,but has done the work allocated to him very professionally and the food prices and availability well handled -As a tamil i wish you were born in jaffna and represented the region and contributed towards development

0 0

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