World needs leaders that value human life

A strange and worrying culture seems to be developing in our world.

All major religions preach peace, compassion and harmony. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi showed that even the struggle against injustice can be fought without violence. He disagreed strongly with British rule, yet chose non-violence as his weapon.

Today, however, we see a different pattern emerging. Powerful nations openly confront rival leaders. During the Presidency of Donald Trump, tensions with countries such as Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro and Iran led by Ali Khamenei became extremely intense, with military actions and targeted operations becoming part of global politics.

Closer to home in Sri Lanka, we see daily killings over disputes the recent murder of a lawyer and his wife in broad daylight being one tragic example. When disagreements are settled with bullets instead of dialogue, society begins to lose its moral compass.

If this culture of violence continues, whether in international politics or in our own streets, we risk sliding backwards into a time when life was, as once described, “nasty, brutish and short.”

The world needs stronger respect for law, dialogue over destruction, and leadership that values human life above power.

Upali Weerasinghe