Sustainability: Definitions Vs Interpretations

Abstract

It can be stated that "thirasaara" (තිරසාර බව) is one of the most popular words in the so-called developed and standardized world that is considered to be developed. This article questions the extent to which the concept of "thiraasara" (in English' sustainability) is defined reasonably, while this study focuses on the main purpose and two additional objectives. The main purpose is to present a more reasonable definition for "thirasaara" (sustainability). Additional objectives are to distinguish definition and interpretation and to suggest a definition for the term 'definition'. This study used "pada nirukthi" (mo ksrela;s or etymology of words in English) as a method. Etymology used in this study was primarily cross validated (in confirming its accuracy) through historical sources, Sri Lankan Literary Criticism Language training and Sri Lankan folk standard. Since a mother tongue is more helpful to understand an inherent meaning of a word better, "thirasaara", which is the Sinhala word for sustainability was used in this study in providing a just definition for the sustainability in the context of Sri Lankan culture based on unique "pada nirukthi" (mo ksrela;s) method. The nature of this study is descriptive. Although the term 'sustainability' has been interpreted differently according to various purposes, this study confirmed that those definitions hardly derived the fairest definition for "thirasaara". According to the "pada nirukthi" method used in this study, it was found that continuously maintaining the conceptual nature is "thirasaara". In other words "thirasaara" is maintaining "saara" things in a "thira" way. The definition, which uncovers the quality of "thirasaara" is uncovering self-aromatic properties and Arya qualities or uncovering "Swayn Bhu Ariya Guna". Further studies are needed to explain the components of "Swayn Bhu" and "Ariya Guna" and this need for a further study is being introduced as a research gap. In conclusion, the study emphasizes that it is more appropriate to consider the "pada nirukthi" of any word from its mother tongue with an open mind based on its cultural heritage, language and peculiarities to understand the real meaning of a word.