When the deadly virus called covid-19 has influenced our island nation, the word 'online' is spelled out by each and every person in the country. It was not a common situation not only for Sri Lanka but also for the whole planet. Doing one's daily work by using the internet is simply identified as 'online working'. It is an ordinary process in most developed countries when covid-19 has arrived. It is not as ordinary as them for the majority of Sri Lankans though. As a developing nation, we are struggling with IT facilities including IT laboratories, IT teachers, a low network of connections, etc. When these were going on, covid-19 entered the country and it made a novel path to form an online workplace in every sector throughout the island.

We were facing so many challenges amidst this pandemic and finding new ways to solve them at the same time. Education is heavily affected by the pandemic and online education is the easiest way to learn in such kind of situations as these. We did our daily work in a normal way till the end of 2019. But, we could not act like before. Then, 'online' appeared as the only option. It is new to our entire system. We heard that online education is better for both the child and the teacher. Because it costs only for data. Learning from home is an effective policy. But nowadays, we are experiencing it never before. We are applying 'online' to our lives today.

Working online came into effect in lockdown, and quarantine situations, and it became a popular solution among the community. We don't need to go to the bank directly to withdraw money. We don't need to fill out bank slips, because we could do them with the help of E-banking. When it comes to the health sector, online medical clinics have appeared vastly popular at this moment. Since covid-19 patients are still at home, the doctors could directly contact them to give the advice to instruct what to do next. And, it's a better way for the welfare of both parties as well. When thinking of online working, we cannot forget E-business. Since the pandemic is speeded all over the country, it has become more popular and people were eagerly waiting for the stuff they have ordered online. It was a money saver as apparent to all of us.

Online education is totally different from how we learn at school and university. If education does not move forward, it may cause the downfall of the entire nation’s backbone. As undergraduates, we felt anxious and confused when the lectures were stuck in March 2020 due to the prevailing health condition in Sri Lanka. It affected to close entire university system physically and the students were trapped at home. Online learning seemed like a primitive and effective way to solve it. Yes, of course, it really worked. In the beginning, we felt so content ourselves for several reasons. We don't need to go to the university premises. It costs us valuable time and money. If the online lecture is at 8 o'clock, there is more time to prepare than the physical lectures. The other important advantage of online education is the enhancement of IT knowledge among the community. The usage makes us perfect. The persons of every age who don't know how to use a laptop, have immediately learned the IT concepts and are applying them in daily work.

All these things matter to work easily and in an effective manner. But, it's crystal clear that working online seems to be a disaster. We are struggling and get desperate through online work at the end of the day. We are following the rules of machines. We don't have direct contact with people. We cannot smile as we did before. University students are facing a hard time during online lectures with so many difficulties like low internet connections, no adequate sources and no proper technical devices to learn, the atmosphere of E-learning at home, etc. It causes the mental hygiene of youth. As university undergraduates, we feel terrible and despondent, because we didn't see our batchmates for several months. We have lost the most memorable, stunning, and splendid days of our entire lives.

Happiness is the key result of everything that we expect. We temporarily console ourselves through online education. It is evident that 'online' save our time, money, and everything. But when we are deeply concerned about 'online', it is a menace. Online working is caused to several issues now and in the future too. It affects physical as well as mental health. Backbone, neck, and eye pains make us unhealthy and uncomfortable. Mental health rests upon what we do and face. 'Online' causes teenagers' mindsets to a desperate level with loneliness, anxiety and social dilemma etc. It changes the vision of life in a pessimistic manner. The youth generation gets anguish and hopelessness. Because they could not know how to deal with a community. They love to travel; to take on fascinating adventures and unforgettable challenges. It sets their mindsets so energetic and optimistic. Natural beauty is enchanting, but we cannot go on an expedition. We are fed up with everyday online lectures, and online zoom sessions. We all spend a tough time trapped in online assignments and annoying google meetings.

'Online working' will make our younger generation sicker and unhealthier than our elder generation does. Addiction to social media like Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, low rate of life expectancy, a low average of physical exercise, and mental unrest create agony and hopelessness. Social media have become a prominent way of getting the latest updates in the 21st century. It is too fast and easy to access and handle. Ignoring the real social values of human relationships and joining hands with social media and machines like smartphones, laptops, and desktops through an online platform may worsen the regular life pattern into a complicated one. Most 'Online people', simply can be identified as online users who don't even have contact with their family members. They live in the same house, but in different territories. The world is in our hands through the internet. Ignoring our loved ones too far distances is a tragedy of it.

We always face problems. We find solutions at the same time too. Online struggle affects not only us but also the whole population all around the world. The first thing that we could do is move away from online platforms if they are unnecessary. Hobbies made our childhood more fantastic. This is a perfect time to get started again in a refreshing way. We could learn something new and entertain our souls. We could catch up on our childhood cartoon heroes. Watching a comic, playing board games, gardening, and taking a glance at the photo album for your treasured memories would take us to a solace dimension from an online struggle. Music is a golden way to heal souls through the universal sound of strings and notes.

  In our childhood memories, we all have colourful memories among the pages of books. But now, it's totally different. We are just like 'cell phone worms', not just 'bookworms'. Books have an influential power to change our life patterns in a sophisticated manner. Now, this is the greatest time to explore your inner happiness into a reality. They enhance our gigantic power of imagination through the edges of books. Online platforms or social media don't make us as delighted as books do. We cannot get enthusiasm from them when we read a dialogue between Sherlock Holmes and Watson and the monologue of Upali in Madol Duwa.  

Sachini Somarathna

Department of Linguistics

Faculty of Humanities