Maternal Deprivation and the "Middle East Syndrome" among Sri Lankan Children

Dr. Ruwan M Jayatunge, M.D. PhD 

The phenomenon known as Middle East Syndrome in Sri Lanka refers to the psychological and emotional challenges faced by children whose mothers have migrated to Middle Eastern countries for work, leaving them in the care of their fathers, grandparents, relatives, or other caregivers.  In recent peak years, more than 200,000 women from Sri Lanka sought employment abroad, as evidenced by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which documented approximately 122,358 female departures in 2024 and an additional 82,050 women who left between January and August of 2025. It is reasonable to infer that a significant number of these women had families, including children of school age.

This separation can last for extended periods, often years, during which the children experience significant maternal deprivation, particularly during critical developmental phases. The absence of their mothers can lead to profound emotional disturbances, including depression and anxiety, as these children grapple with the loss of maternal presence. 

Initially, upon the mother's departure, children typically undergo a series of emotional responses as outlined by John Bowlby’s stages of separation distress. They may first exhibit protest, characterized by active distress, crying, and tantrums, followed by a phase of despair where they become withdrawn and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. Eventually, to cope with the emotional pain, they may reach a stage of detachment, where they emotionally disconnect from their mothers, displaying indifference or coldness upon her return. 

Furthermore, the emotional trauma often manifests in behavioral issues, such as regression to earlier developmental behaviors, increased aggression, and a notable decline in academic performance, which can lead to school refusal. Internally, these children may develop severe attachment anxiety, fearing further abandonment by their remaining caregivers, resulting in extreme clinginess or panic when separated from them.

Young children tend to engage in egocentric reasoning, which leads them to interpret events through a self-centered lens; for instance, they may conclude that a parent’s departure is a direct result of their own perceived misbehavior or inadequacy. This perspective can significantly impact their emotional well-being, as they often internalize guilt and shame. 

Furthermore, it is not uncommon for these children to express their emotional distress through somatic complaints, presenting physical symptoms such as persistent headaches, stomachaches, chronic fatigue, or sleep disturbances, including nightmares. As they mature, these children frequently grapple with deeper identity and emptiness issues, reporting a pervasive sense of emotional void, loneliness, and resentment. They may feel that their emotional needs have been overshadowed by a focus on material wealth, such as financial remittances, which they perceive as being prioritized over their psychological and emotional support. This complex interplay of emotions and perceptions can have lasting effects on their development and overall mental health.

The following case studies illustrate the impact of the Middle East syndrome on children's psychosocial health. 

THX, a nine-year-old girl, experienced significant distress when her mother took a job in the Middle East due to the family's financial struggles. This decision forced THX to remain with her father, a soldier who was only home every two to three months, while her maternal grandmother assumed caregiving responsibilities. Following her mother's departure, THX exhibited emotional challenges, including sadness and feelings of isolation, which manifested in bedwetting and frequent crying for her mother. Despite being a bright student, her academic performance declined as she faced maternal deprivation. Her behavior became increasingly defiant, complicating her grandmother's attempts at discipline. Over nearly three years without seeing her mother, THX's emotional response to her mother's infrequent letters and promises of gifts upon her return became one of indifference, highlighting the profound effects of separation on her psychological well-being.

LKX, an 11-year-old boy, experienced significant emotional distress following his mother's departure to a Middle Eastern country for family support. Left in the care of his father and two younger siblings, he exhibited signs of anxiety, including nightmares and a regression to thumb-sucking. His irritability increased, leading to excessive punishment of his siblings and a noticeable decline in his academic performance, as observed by his teacher. Additionally, LKX displayed physical symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches without any medical explanation, and on several occasions, he refused to attend school, further indicating his emotional turmoil.

Maternal deprivation can have profound and lasting effects on an individual's life, particularly as they transition into adulthood. According to John Bowlby’s Maternal Deprivation Hypothesis, as well as insights from contemporary developmental psychology, the absence of consistent maternal care during the formative years can fundamentally reshape a child's Internal Working Model, which serves as their cognitive framework for understanding relationships. When a child experiences maternal deprivation without the presence of a stable surrogate caregiver, it can significantly influence four critical dimensions of their adult existence. 

Adults who experienced maternal deprivation may struggle with insecure relationships, often manifesting as excessive clinginess and fear of abandonment, or conversely, emotional detachment and a reluctance to form close bonds. This early disruption can also lead to chronic mental health challenges, including a heightened susceptibility to lifelong depression and anxiety, often accompanied by a persistent sense of emotional emptiness. 

In addition, individuals may find their capacity for empathy and social interaction impaired, which can result in difficulties forming meaningful connections and may even lead to antisocial behavior or tumultuous relationships. Additionally, the stress stemming from these experiences may drive some to adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse or impulsive actions, as a means of self-soothing. Ultimately, these patterns can perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of emotional unavailability, making it challenging for individuals to establish secure attachments with their own children.

Mental health professionals in Sri Lanka should focus on addressing the "Middle East Syndrome," particularly among children who have been left behind. It is crucial for clinicians to identify these affected children and provide them with appropriate psychological support.

Targeted interventions, such as trauma-informed and attachment-focused therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can aid older children in reframing feelings of abandonment and guilt stemming from their mother's departure. For younger children, expressive arts and play therapy can serve as effective means for expressing complex emotions. Additionally, clinicians should provide caregiver coaching to promote surrogate attachment, enabling remaining family members to create a stable emotional environment. In cases where children exhibit symptoms of depression or severe anxiety, medical evaluation and potential medication may be necessary.

Teachers play a crucial role in identifying students affected by maternal deprivation, offering them extra support, particularly when they encounter learning difficulties and behavioral challenges. School counsellors should also provide tailored assistance to meet the specific needs of these vulnerable children effectively.

Addressing home instability through conflict resolution strategies is vital for fostering a supportive environment. Moreover, maintaining transnational maternal bonds through structured communication can help mitigate separation anxiety, while preparing children for their mother's eventual return can facilitate a smoother transition. Collaboration with school counsellors is essential to monitor academic and behavioral changes, ensuring a comprehensive support network for these children.

Combat-Related Psychotic Manifestations Among Sri Lankan Army Personnel

 

Dr. D.P.D Wijesinghe and Dr. Ruwan M Jayatunge

Sri Lanka underwent a prolonged armed conflict lasting 30 years, during which many combatants ended up with severe post-traumatic reactions (Jayasinghe & de Silva, 2024). Beyond post-traumatic stress disorder, a subset of soldiers exhibited temporary psychotic reactions, and some soldiers ended up in full-blown psychosis that was directly linked to the intense combat stress encountered during warfare. This particular manifestation of psychological distress has not been extensively explored within the medical literature.

PTSD and Psychosis are two different mental health conditions, but sometimes they can overlap. There are few studies that have found direct evidence for a link between PTSD and psychosis. Psychotic phenomena may also be a relatively common manifestation in patients with chronic PTSD (Seedat et al.,2003). Morrison and team (2003) provide evidence to support the relationship between trauma and psychosis.

Stress is a significant factor in many theories regarding the origins of psychotic disorders (Holtzman et al., 2012). Extreme battlefield conditions can precipitate the onset of Brief Psychotic Disorders in some soldiers. The severe trauma encountered by military personnel during combat may result in various psychotic disorders, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Psychotic Features, Stress-Induced Schizophreniform Disorders, and Bipolar Disorder.

Investigating combat-induced psychotic manifestations in Sri Lanka Army personnel is essential as it highlights a significant and often overlooked aspect of psychiatric trauma that conventional PTSD frameworks do not adequately address. While much of the global military research tends to concentrate on symptoms such as anxiety, hypervigilance, and depression linked to traditional PTSD, a thorough examination of these psychotic manifestations is crucial for enhancing regional public health, advancing military medicine, and ensuring long-term societal stability.

 

Brief Psychotic Disorders Following Combat Trauma

In high-stress combat situations, certain soldiers may experience Brief Psychotic Disorders, or Brief Reactive Psychosis, which is marked by an abrupt and transient emergence of psychotic symptoms. Umbrasas (2010) highlights that extreme combat stress acts as a direct precipitant for Brief Psychotic Disorder (BPD) in vulnerable soldiers. This disorder can emerge following combat trauma, resulting in a significant disruption in the brain's ability to interpret reality due to the overwhelming stress encountered in such environments.

The mental resilience of soldiers is severely compromised by combat stress, which can lead to a complete breakdown of the brain's stress response. The amygdala, which plays a crucial role in processing fear, may become overstimulated, resulting in acute panic (van Wingen et al.,2011). Simultaneously, heightened levels of cortisol and adrenaline can impair the functioning of the prefrontal cortex, hindering logical reasoning and accurate reality assessment (Arnsten, 2009). Furthermore, an excessive release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate can distort sensory perceptions (Master, 2024), complicating the soldier's ability to effectively engage with their surroundings. Consequently, this condition can result in hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, or catatonic behavior, with episodes typically lasting from several days to less than a month (Bashir & Ahmad, 2023).  

Corporal KJX's experience illustrates the onset of Brief Psychotic Disorder in a soldier during wartime. Following a devastating mortar attack, he witnessed the violent deaths of two fellow soldiers, an event that left him horrified as he saw their brain matter exposed. This traumatic incident triggered an acute stress reaction, leading to a psychotic episode characterized by incoherent speech and unresponsiveness to verbal commands. Additionally, he exhibited signs of agitation and disorientation, becoming confused about his environment. Subsequently, he was transported to Palali Hospital, where he was diagnosed with Brief Psychotic Disorder. Remarkably, after three weeks, he regained his normal cognitive functions.  

  

Combat Related PTSD with Psychotic Features

Research conducted by Hamner and colleagues (2000) indicates that between 30% and 40% of combat veterans suffering from chronic PTSD exhibit psychotic symptoms. The Sri Lankan war theatre has seen numerous soldiers develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that has been further exacerbated by the emergence of psychotic symptoms. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is strictly classified as a trauma- and stressor-related disorder, not a psychotic disorder (Friedman, 2014). The experience of severe and persistent trauma can lead some soldiers with PTSD to exhibit psychotic symptoms, a consequence of significant neurochemical and cognitive strain. This overload arises from the intense stress associated with their traumatic experiences (Arnsten, 2009). 

According to Hamner and team (1999), combat stress causes PTSD with psychotic features by triggering a profound neurobiological and chemical collapse in the brain. Chronic combat stress leads to a physical weakening and down-regulation of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (Shin et al.,2011). In the absence of the regulatory function of the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala becomes hyperactive, resulting in a constant release of adrenaline and cortisol into the nervous system (Koenigs & Grafman, 2009). Prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol levels can cause hippocampal atrophy, damaging neurons in the hippocampus, which is crucial for contextualizing and time-stamping memories (McEwen,2007). Additionally, dysregulation of dopamine can trigger a series of failures in the brain's ability to accurately process reality (Kapur, 2003).  This neurobiological breakdown can cause psychosis.

The following case study examines a Sri Lankan soldier, Corporal XLC, who participated in the Eelam War and subsequently developed PTSD with psychotic features. Having served in the operational area for several years, he was exposed to numerous traumatic combat experiences, which significantly impacted his mental health. By 2003, after more than five years of service, Corporal XLC's condition had severely declined, leading to a diagnosis of combat-related PTSD. In addition to the core symptoms of PTSD, he displayed signs of paranoid surveillance, extreme hypervigilance, and delusions characterized by feelings of depression and guilt. He also experienced traumatic replays, including auditory hallucinations of deceased comrades' voices and phantom sounds reminiscent of the battlefield, such as gunfire and helicopter sounds. On one occasion, he experienced environmental distortion, mistaking an old lorry near his residence for a Unicorn APC, a type of mine-protected personnel carrier developed by the Sri Lanka Army.

  

War Trauma and Schizophreniform Disorders

The emergence of Schizophreniform Disorder, or a complete schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, in soldiers after experiencing intense combat stress can be comprehensively explained by the Stress-Vulnerability-Sensitization Model (Stefanis et al.,2020). It is important to note that the onset of such disorders is not solely attributable to stress; rather, a pre-existing genetic predisposition is necessary (Van Os & Kapur, 2009). Extended exposure to the traumatic conditions of a combat environment can lead to lasting changes in the brain's biochemical pathways (Southwick et al.,2011). This includes dopaminergic hyper-reactivity, sympathetic overload, and a surge in cortisol levels. (Pruessner et al.,2014).  Chronic stress results in an excess of cortisol, which can inflict damage on critical brain regions such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, ultimately contributing to dopamine dysregulation and the development of Schizophreniform Disorders among combatants (Grace, 2016). 

Lance Corporal PNXG's experience illustrates how combat stress can lead to Schizophreniform Disorder. As a seasoned combatant, he took part in Operation Liberation in 1987, where he encountered traumatic events, including the deaths of two fellow soldiers, which left him emotionally overwhelmed. Six months’ post-operation, he began to exhibit symptoms such as combat-themed delusions and paranoia, particularly when he saw airplanes. Additionally, he experienced trauma-echoing hallucinations, hearing the voices of his deceased platoon members, and developed a belief that his thoughts were being manipulated by the enemy to extract critical intelligence from his mind. His condition was further characterized by affective flattening and avolition, resulting in significant neglect of self-care.

 

Battle Stress and Bipolar Disorder

Clinical studies show a shockingly high presence of bipolar symptoms in heavily traumatized military cohorts. The experience of battle stress can lead some combatants to develop Bipolar Disorder due to the brain's adaptation to prolonged hyper-vigilance in active combat zones (Gordon et al., 2014).  This heightened state triggers a relentless release of dopamine and glutamate, enhancing focus, energy, and reaction times (Popoli et al.,2012). However, chronic exposure to combat stress inflicts lasting damage on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates the body's stress response, resulting in excessive cortisol levels in the bloodstream. Following such stress, the brain experiences significant emotional and chemical upheaval, with repeated traumatic events forging deep neurological pathways (Herman et al.,2016).  Over time, the brain becomes increasingly sensitive to stress, leading to emotional extremes that can occur without any external threat. Consequently, the internal mood-regulation system operates independently, oscillating between manic and depressive states. Additionally, sustained high cortisol levels contribute to the structural shrinkage of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, impairing the brain's capacity to manage emotional fluctuations and reinforcing the cycle of Bipolar Disorder (Tomaszewska & Nowak, 2025). 

Sargent BCX dedicated 12 years of service in the Army, primarily in operational areas, where he encountered gruesome battle experiences that significantly affected his mental health. This exposure led to a complex psychological profile characterized by severe mood fluctuations, marked by episodes of both manic and depressive phases. During the manic phase, he displayed explosive rage, restlessness, and grandiose beliefs. Conversely, in the depressive phase, he suffered from emotional numbness, survival guilt, social isolation, and suicidal thoughts.

 

Concluding Thoughts

A considerable number of military veterans from Sri Lanka endured extended deployments, often lasting as long as ten consecutive years, in intensely active operational areas located in the North and East during the protracted Eelam War, which spanned three decades. This prolonged exposure to combat situations has led to a significant prevalence of combat-related stress among these soldiers, with some experiencing severe psychotic manifestations directly linked to their wartime experiences. These psychotic disorders represent a particularly complex and serious form of trauma, arising from encounters with traumatic events that are far removed from typical human experiences. It is important to be vigilant not to miss psychotic symptoms in soldiers presenting with PTSD as early treatment directly improves long-term recovery and reduces symptoms by shortening the duration of untreated psychosis.

  

(Dr. D.P.D. Wijesinghe serves as a consultant psychiatrist and is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Wayamba) 

References

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Bashir, A., & Ahmad, M. (2023). Brief psychotic disorder. Stat Pearls Publishing.

Friedman, M. J. (2014). DSM-5 and posttraumatic stress disorder. The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 42(2), 146–151.

Gordon, R. K., Mustard, S. S., & Brown, G. T. (2014). Apparent comorbidity of bipolar disorder in a population with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 155, 202–206. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24491611/

Grace, A. A. (2016). Dopamine system dysregulation by the hippocampus: Implications for the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia. Neuropharmacology, 62(1), 67–73

Hamner, M. B., Frueh, B. C., Ulmer, H. G., & Arana, G. W. (1999). Psychotic features and illness severity in combat veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 45(7), 846-852.

Hamner, M. B., S. Robert, & Frueh, B. C. (2000). Psychotic symptoms in posttraumatic stress disorder: A distinct phenotype. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 61(1), 30–40.

Herman, J. P., McKlveen, J. M., Ghosal, S., Kopp, B., Wulsin, A., Makoko, R., Packard, B. A., Zhang, R., & Myers, B. (2016). Regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical stress response. Comprehensive Physiology, 6(2), 603–621.

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Jayasinghe, N., & de Silva, V. (2024). Exploring the effects of the past civil war in terms of the prevalence and associating factors of PTSD. Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry, 14(2).

Koenigs, M., & Grafman, J. (2009). Post-traumatic stress disorder: The role of medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 34(4), 256–262.

Kapur, S. (2003). Psychosis as a state of aberrant salience: A framework linking biology, phenomenology, and pharmacology in schizophrenia. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(1), 13–23. doi.org.

Master, S., & Cioffi, C. L. (2024). The underlying neurobiological mechanisms of psychosis: Focus on neurotransmission dysregulation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Antioxidants, 13(6), Article 709. doi.org.

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Pruessner, M., Cullen, A. E., Aas, M., & Walker, E. F. (2014). The role of cortisol in patients at risk for psychosis or with first-episode psychosis: A review of the literature. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 68(11), 791–805. doi.org.

Seedat, S., Stein, M. B., Oosthuizen, P. P., Emsley, R. A., & Stein, D. J. (2003). Linking posttraumatic stress disorder and psychosis: A look at epidemiology, phenomenology, and treatment. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 191(10), 675–681.

Shin, L. M., Lasko, N. B., Macklin, M. L., Karpf, R. D., Milad, M. R., Orr, S. P., Goetz, J. M., Fischman, A. J., Rauch, S. L., & Pitman, R. K. (2011). Diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation during the recollection of stressful life events in identical twins discordant for PTSD. Biological Psychiatry, 70(3), 228–233. doi.org.

Southwick, S. M., Davis, L. L., Aikins, D. E., Rasmusson, A., Barron, J., & Morgan, C. A., III. (2011). Post-traumatic stress disorder: The neurobiological impact of psychological trauma. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 13(3), 263–277. doi.org

Stefanis, C. N., Panagiotakos, D., Smyrnis, N., Charsou, M., & Stefanis, N. C. (2020). The diathesis-stress model in the emergence of major psychiatric disorders during military service. European Psychiatry, 63(1), e40, 1–7. doi.org.

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Cross-Examining Milgram's Obedience Study and the Story of Angulimala

 

Dr. Ruwan M Jayatunge

It is essential to highlight the parallels between psychologist Stanley Milgram's 1961 research, "Behavioral Study of Obedience," and the story of Angulimala found in Buddhist literature.

Milgram's research shows how far ordinary individuals will comply with an authority figure, even at the expense of an innocent person. In his experiment, a participant, referred to as the Teacher, was paired with an actor playing the Learner, while a researcher in a lab coat acted as the Authority Figure.

The Teacher was instructed to deliver increasingly severe electric shocks, ranging from 15 to 450 volts, to the Learner for each memory error made, despite the Learner's simulated cries of pain. The researcher exerted pressure on hesitant participants to continue administering shocks through standardized verbal prompts.

Ultimately, 65% of the participants proceeded to deliver the maximum, potentially fatal shock of 450 volts, highlighting the alarming ease with which ordinary people can follow harmful directives from authority figures.

The Milgram experiment focuses on the concept of obedience to authority, leading psychologist Stanley Milgram to formulate the agentic state theory. This theory elucidates how ordinary individuals can engage in cruel actions when directed by an authority figure.

From a young age, individuals are conditioned to comply with legitimate authorities, such as teachers, law enforcement officers, or scientists, under the belief that these figures possess greater knowledge or the right to issue commands. When individuals are assured that they will not face personal consequences for their actions, their internal moral constraints diminish.

The narrative of Angulimala serves as a compelling historical example that parallels the Milgram experiment, highlighting the profound and often tragic consequences of uncritical obedience to authority.

In Buddhist texts, the character Ahiṃsaka, who later becomes known as Angulimala, undergoes a profound transformation from a promising and serene student to a notorious serial killer. This drastic change occurs as he relinquishes his moral compass to a corrupt authority figure, his teacher. Driven by jealousy and ill will, the teacher imposes an outrageous demand for a Dakshina (teacher's fee), requiring Ahiṃsaka to collect the right pinky fingers of 1,000 individuals.

Similar to the individuals involved in Milgram's experiment, Angulimala initially harbored no desire to inflict harm. However, his profound commitment to honoring his teacher led him to enter an agentic state, perceiving himself merely as a tool carrying out his guru's directives, which allowed him to momentarily overlook the horrific reality of having killed 999 people.

Angulimala found himself ensnared by deep cultural imperatives of loyalty and duty, believing that fulfilling his teacher's wishes was essential for his spiritual advancement, which ultimately suppressed his inherent compassion until the Buddha intervened to disrupt this psychological cycle.

The striking similarities between Angulimala's narrative and Stanley Milgram’s obedience studies highlight significant flaws in human psychology when subjected to dominant social influences, despite the two stories being separated by more than two thousand years. Both cases illustrate how easily an individual's moral compass can be compromised by authoritative social structures, as participants in the Milgram experiment and Angulimala underwent a significant transformation from autonomous moral agents to passive instruments of authority.

This unthinking compliance was driven by the formidable status of the authority figures—whether a contemporary scientist in a lab coat or an ancient, revered spiritual leader. To reconcile their actions, both groups deflected personal guilt by attributing moral responsibility to the commanding figure, yet neither found solace in their actions; both experienced profound inner turmoil and psychological distress while carrying out their orders. Ultimately, both narratives depict a gradual descent into cruelty, whether through the incremental increase of electric shocks or the progressive desensitization to murder.

The major conclusion shared by both the Milgram study and the Angulimala story is that human morality is highly vulnerable to social structures, and ordinary, good people can easily be driven to commit horrific atrocities when they blindly surrender their conscience to an authority figure.

 

 

 

 

Lost in Pink Floyd’s Time

 

I was listening to Pink Floyd’s song "Time,"
Swept away by a cosmic, sonic rhyme.
I felt that Time is eternal, vast and deep,
A steady promise the universe must keep.

Time is not a healer; it offers no warm embrace,
It leaves no comfort in its endless chase.
Instead, Time is ticking, sharp and clear,
Ticking away the moments we hold dear.

Time is a rapid passage of life, a rushing stream,
Washing away the colors of our youth's dreams.
Yet Time creates years of empty routines,
Fading our spirits behind dull, quiet screens.

These habits give us the illusion of endless Time,
Making us think we are forever in our prime.
But suddenly you wake up, the day is almost through,
And you realize Time has got behind you.

The ticking clocks ring out, no longer far away,
Chasing the remnants of the fading day.
For Time demands to be in the present moment, loud and clear—
Wake up and live, before the song disappears.

by Ruwan M Jayatunge 

Music Beyond Color; Harmonizing My Youth With George Benson

Listening to George Benson last night transported me down memory lane, recalling my first encounters with his music in the early 1980s when I was still a schoolboy. After high school, I found a part-time job at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, where I fondly remember Anthia Peris Flambert, married to a Jamaican, playing Benson's music on air. Albums like "Gressing Inflight," "Living Inside Your Love," and "Weekend in LA," and I immediately fell in love with his music. I have long admired Benson's ability to harmonize his vocals with his guitar. I cannot substitute a musician who has that kind of musical and vocal talent. My appreciation for his music even led to a friendship with a medical student from Zimbabwe in Ukraine, who shared my enthusiasm for Benson's work, and we often celebrated with music and dance during our weekend gatherings. We played Benson's "On  Broadway" at our wild parties. While in the USA, I encountered many African Americans who expressed their admiration for Benson, though I sensed some insincerity in their appreciation, as if their admiration stemmed solely from his race rather than his musical ability. I found this admiration absurd and disrespectful to Benson's legacy. Conversely, I have met numerous white folks in the UK, Australia, and Canada who genuinely cherish his music, reinforcing the idea that George Benson transcends racial and cultural boundaries. His music is a universal treasure, belonging to everyone, and it deeply saddens me to think of the tragedies he has faced, particularly the loss of his children, as it seems cruelly unjust for someone of his talent and character. Benson is a legend, and his music is immortal. 

Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge