A tuition teacher who referred to prominent Sri Lankan author Martin Wickramasinghe as “an idiot” during a lesson has issued a public apology after a video of the remarks went viral on social media, prompting widespread criticism.

The footage, circulated widely on platforms including TikTok and Facebook, shows the teacher dismissing Wickramasinghe’s literary stature before students during a class. In the video, he questions why Wickramasinghe — regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s most influential modern writers — is considered “a great author,” adding that he personally did not enjoy reading his works.

“That idiot who wrote Gamperaliya… what’s his name… Martin Wickramasinghe. Now, do you all like to read Gamperaliya? Then why do they call him a great author of this country? What is the reason? I don’t understand. Think and see how gullible you all are. The printed book says so, or the school teacher says so, so you all write in the exam that the great author of this country is Wickramasinghe. But do you actually feel it? Is he a great author? What sort of author is he?

I don’t feel like reading any of his books. Do you feel like it? I don’t.

Next, they teach you bits and pieces of Sinhala literature. For what purpose? To this day I still wonder why they teach those things. There’s Selalihini Sandeshaya. I don’t know what use that is.”

The teacher then used a vulgar re-rendering of a verse from Selalihini Sandeshaya.

Martin Wickramasinghe, celebrated for works such as Gamperaliya, is recognised not only for his contribution to Sinhala literature but also for writings on philosophy, evolution, anthropology, and social history. Several academics and commentators expressed concern that disparaging such figures in a classroom setting reflected a growing trend in which tuition instructors freely impose subjective and derogatory views on students without context.

Amid mounting backlash, the teacher posted a video on Facebook publicly apologising for his remarks. He claimed the comments were made in a closed environment as part of a lesson and that he did not intend for the footage to be recorded and uploaded online.

“Since I am responsible for my words, I want to apologise to everyone who was hurt,” he said in his statement. “I had no intention of posting it on social media. It is not my work. I should have chosen my words more carefully.”

He further added that he was unaware the clip would later be shared on TikTok.