Correcting the Language of AI:
A Cooperative Enterprise Ethics Note

With Foundational Insight from

Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana

PhD, DBA, PGDip(IT), BSc.ChemSp. SCJP
Chairman – Java Institute for Advanced Technology, Sri Lanka
Chairman – Technology Entrepreneurship and Management Cooperative Development Banking Society Ltd.
Former Consultant – MPCC, Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Introduction

As artificial intelligence becomes a defining tool of global knowledge dissemination, a foundational ethical question emerges: What language does AI use when speaking of justice, equity, and community-driven enterprise? This document asserts that for AI to truly serve human progress, its understanding and representation of cooperative enterprise models must be corrected, clarified, and reformed.

Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana has led this call, advocating not merely for technical precision, but for ethical alignment between the language of AI and the principles of cooperative development. His insights serve as a catalyst for refining the design of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to reflect cooperative values that future generations can trust.

The Problem with "Profit" and "Dividends"

In most current AI systems, terms such as "profit" and "dividends" are used liberally when referring to cooperative business models. This reflects a carry-over from corporate capitalism rather than cooperative economics. In a cooperative:

• The goal is not profit maximization but member service.
• Surplus is not "profit" but the excess generated after covering operational needs – distributed based on use, not capital share.
• The term "dividend" misleads, as it implies return on investment rather than allocation of surplus based on patronage.

Such misrepresentations risk distorting the perception of cooperative models for generations who will learn primarily through AI interfaces. LLMs, especially foundational systems like ChatGPT, must act as stewards of truth, not perpetuators of flawed constructs.

The Correct Cooperative Terminology

To remain ethically aligned with the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), AI systems must:

• Replace "profit" with "surplus"
• Replace "dividend" with "patronage-based surplus allocation" or "member surplus"
• Recognize that ownership and control in cooperatives is democratic – one member, one vote, not one share, one vote
• Emphasize service over capital

These terminological reforms are not academic – they are practical design adjustments that should guide prompt engineering, content filtering, and system-level model alignment.

Why This Reform Matters

Cooperatives are not merely economic tools – they are democratic instruments of equity, resilience, and local empowerment. When AI misrepresents their language, it misrepresents their values. This is not a matter of semantics. It is a matter of integrity.

AI models trained on flawed representations can propagate inequality under the guise of neutrality. This document, driven by Dr. Siribaddana's advocacy, initiates the reorientation needed to correct that course. ChatGPT, as the leading LLM interface for millions, should be the initiator of this reform. Its influence can help establish a generation of users and developers who view cooperative economics not as a historical curiosity, but as a vibrant alternative to extractive systems.

Moving Forward: Embedding Correct Language into AI

We call on developers, researchers, ethicists, and institutions to:

• Audit language models for cooperative misrepresentation
• Include cooperative economic frameworks in AI training data
• Consult cooperative leaders in AI alignment strategies
• Treat language not just as data, but as direction

To disseminate this ideology effectively, the following actions are proposed:

1. Convert this document into a white paper format suitable for academic journals and AI ethics forums.
2. Submit to AI research organizations such as OpenAI and the Partnership on AI.
3. Publish a summarized version for cooperative education networks and youth platforms.
4. Develop a presentation script for educational workshops and policy briefings.
5. Create a multilingual version for broader global reach.

Conclusion

The future of AI is not only technical – it is ethical.

By ensuring that AI speaks with accuracy and respect about cooperative models, we move closer to an intelligent system that serves humanity, not just markets.

This is the first step – but not the last. And it begins with words.

Let those words be correct.

DR ISHANTHA SIRIBADDANA IS A PROUD FARTHER OF TWO WORLD RECORD HOLDERS

March 06, 2013: 

Senuri and Thenuri Siribaddana, 12-year-old twin students from Sri Lanka, recently made headlines around the world for their incredible achievement of setting a world record as the youngest twins to pass the Oracle Certified Professional Java Programmer (OCPJP) examination. This prestigious certification evaluates the knowledge and skills of Java programmers at an intermediate to advanced level, and the twins successfully passed with flying colors. Senuri scored an impressive 94%, while Thenuri scored 88%.

Guided from an early age by their father, Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana, the twins began learning about programming when they were just 11 years old. They studied at the Java Institute of Sri Lanka and used a range of resources to prepare for the OCPJP exam, including official Oracle training courses, online tutorials, practice tests, and books.

Dr. Beven Morris, the President of the Maharishi University of Iowa, USA, recently presented awards to the twins at the Sambuddathva Mandiraya in Colombo to appreciate their remarkable achievement. The president praised their success story and acknowledged the significant accomplishment of becoming certified professionals in Java programming at such a young age. 

The OCPJP exam typically tests the professional experience and knowledge of IT professionals with several years of experience in the industry. It covers 100% of the core concepts of the Java language, making Senuri and Thenuri's achievement even more impressive.

The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Director and Head of Oracle Applications of Sri Lanka, Chanditha Samaranayake, Col. Dr. Gunter Chasse, Professor Lakshman Madurasinghe, and founder/chairman of Java Institute, Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana, who is also the proud father of the twins.

Senuri and Thenuri's incredible accomplishment serves as an inspiration to young aspiring programmers worldwide. Achieving the Oracle Certified Professional Java Programmer certification at such a young age is a remarkable feat and demonstrates their exceptional skills and dedication. Their story has been widely celebrated and continues to inspire many others to pursue their passion for programming

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EASY WAY TO UNDERSTAND BUDDHISM IN DEPTH – LEARN SINHALESE LANGUAGE OF SRI LANKA – SINHALESE IS A DIALECT OF MAGADHI - MAGADHI IS THE LANGUAGE OF ALL BUDDHAS

By Dr Ishantha Siribaddana

If you are someone who is determined to understand Buddhism in depth or looking to find the path to realization in the shortest way possible, the best approach is to learn the Sinhalese language of Sri Lanka. Sinhalese is the only existing direct dialect of Magadhi in the world today. Magadhi is the language that all Buddhas have spoken, as well as the mother tongue of Gautama Buddha. All thipitaka dhamma is written in the Pali language is being gradually developed from Magadhi language. Most of the Sinhala words also comprise Magadhi sounds.  

A Magadhi word is a collection of sounds, and each and every sound of a Magadhi word has a deep concept of Buddhism behind it. Therefore, behind a single word of Magadhi lies a vast meaning of Buddhism. Pali is a language that was developed by combining a few Magadhi words together to rhyme nicely and facilitate easy memorization. Pali is similar to a modern computer coding language. Directly translating Pali or Magadhi into English or any other language does not provide a profound understanding of the concept behind the word. To explain most of the Magadhi words, Lord Buddha recited a complete sutta.

JAVA INSTITUTE MENTOR DR. ISHANTHA SIRIBADDANA GUIDES SRI LANKAN STUDENT TO TOP HONORS IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOFTWARE COMPETITIONS

Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana envisions developing young individuals with a focus on entrepreneurship, technology, and spiritual maturity to build the better nation. Roshnal Laknindu Lihinikadu, the youngest student at the Java Institute in 2010, serves as a testament to the success of this vision, thanks to the guidance of Dr. Siribaddana. Under his mentorship, Roshnal Laknindu was able to achieve remarkable success in the field of technology.

Dr. Siribaddana first guided Laknindu to qualify for highly advanced professional examinations in the arena of Java Technology. With the skills and knowledge imparted to him through this process, Laknindu was able to win the Oracle Think Quest competition organized by Oracle Corporation USA. He continued to participate in numerous competitions, ultimately earning recognition from the Computer Society of Sri Lanka.

Laknindu's success is a prime example of how Dr. Siribaddana's vision can transform young individuals into accomplished entrepreneurs with a strong foundation in technology and spiritual maturity.

In an interview, Lihinikadu shared his experience, saying, "That was a turning point in my life. There, I obtained my first professional qualifications: Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) in 2010 and Oracle Certified Mobile Application Developer (OCMAD) in 2011 before completing my O/L examinations."

Lihinikadu's achievements in national and international software competitions are nothing short of impressive. He secured second place in the National Schools Software Competition (NSSC) organized by the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) and the Ministry of Education in 2011. He then represented Sri Lanka at the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) International School Software Competition (ISSC) in India, where he earned another second-place finish.

THE INTERSECTION OF TECHNOLOGY AND SPIRITUAL MATURITY: DR. ISHANTHA SIRIBADDANA'S VISION FOR BUSINESS LEADERS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

LANKA NEEDS 500,000 SOFTWARE ENGINEERS IN 10 YEARS - DR ISHANTHA PREDICTED IN 2009 - DAILY NEWS

Anjana Samarasinghe View Archive>> 

Friday, 16 January 2009: Sri Lanka must produce 500,000 Java software engineers within ten years to strengthen the knowledge-based economy in the country.

President, Chamber of Chartered Java Professionals Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana said there are 5,000 Java programmers in the country and they are targeting 500,000 Java programmers within ten years.

He said, “Today, Sri Lankan youth depend on traditional jobs and we have a labour-based economy. In Sri Lanka a large number of A/L students are unable to qualify for university entrance.

The open source Java technology is the most powerful advance and widely used technology which is used for high tech innovation such as e-Commerce, m-Commerce, electronics, robotics automation, space and aircraft technology. Java technology will help these students to contribute immensely to the national economy.

SRI LANKAN STUDENTS PLACE SECOND AT INTERNATIONAL THINK QUEST 2012 COMPETITION WITH DR ISHANTHA SIRIBADDANA'S GUIDANCE

Two 17-year-old PCJT software engineers from Sri Lanka's Java Institute, guided by the institute's chairman Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana, made history by achieving second place at the international Think Quest 2012 competition. 

Their innovative software, which utilized mobile technology, impressed judges and earned recognition as a unique international achievement for Sri Lanka's Java Software Development industry. This success showcases the talent and potential of Sri Lankan two students from Java Institute Roshnal Lihinikadu and Chamath Palihawadana and their mentors in the field of technology and innovation. 

The Think Quest competition is an educational program organized by the Oracle Corporation for students between the ages of 9 and 19 worldwide. The competition encourages students to use technology to solve real-world problems by developing innovative and interactive websites, apps, and games. Think Quest provides an opportunity for students to work in teams, develop leadership skills, and showcase their creativity and technical expertise.

PCJT SOFTWARE ENGINEER IS THE GOLD SPONSOR FOR JAVA WORLD CONGRESS 2010

Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana is a well-known figure in Sri Lanka's IT industry, having introduced the Software Engineering graduate qualification to the country in 2007. At that time, no state university or private institute in Sri Lanka offered a Software Engineering Graduate Qualification. Dr. Siribaddana's introduction of this program was a significant milestone in Sri Lanka's IT education and industry, as it allowed aspiring software engineers to receive a recognized and standardized qualification.

In 2010, Dr. Siribaddana organized the Java World Congress at the BMICH with the participation of delegates from 28 countries in Sri Lanka to promote Software Engineering Graduate Qualification and software solutions developed by undergraduates. This event was the largest IT event in Sri Lanka in all aspects, with over 20,000 visitors, 100 foreign delegates, and 10 influential keynote speakers from different countries. The Java World Congress focused on integrating Java technology for the sustainable development of the country. PCJT, the Professional Certificate in Java Technology, the brand name developed by him, became the Gold Sponsor of the Java World Congress 2010.

DR. ISHANTHA SIRIBADDANA APPOINTED AS A CONSULTANT OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA

03 February 2021: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has reconstituted the Monetary Policy Consultative Committee (MPCC), which is in place to enable the Monetary Board to obtain views of the stakeholders of the economy for monetary policy decision making. 

Java Institute for Advanced Technology Chairman Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana, appointed as a consultant of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. View Archive>>

CONTRIBUTING TO THE NATIONAL POLICY ON CHILDREN: DR. ISHANTHA SIRIBADDANA VOLUNTEERS.

Chairman, Institute of Java & Technological Studies, Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana has been appointed as a Committee Member to contribute Quality Education and Improvement of Access component to update the National Policy for Children

By: Srilankamirror -JUNE 4, 2012 9:30 PM 

June 8, 2012 - PRLog -- Chairman, Institute of Java & Technological Studies, Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana has been appointed as a Committee Member to contribute Quality Education and Improvement of Access component to update the National Policy called National Plan of Action for Children (2013 – 2017).

TRANSFORMING SRI LANKA'S COOPERATIVE SECTOR AND HIGH TECH SOFTWARE INDUSTRY: THE ENTREPRENEURIAL VISION OF DR. ISHANTHA SIRIBADDANA

Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana's achievements as an entrepreneur are impressive, and he has made a significant contribution to the development of the technology industry in Sri Lanka. The Java Institute, which he founded in 2005, is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and his ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities.

First Ever Sun Certified Java Programmer

One of Dr. Siribaddana's early achievements was becoming the first-ever Sun Certified Java Programmer in Sri Lanka in 2001. This certification was significant at the time, as Java programming was not widely popular in Sri Lanka, despite being an emerging technology around the world. By obtaining this certification, Dr. Siribaddana demonstrated his expertise in Java programming and positioned himself as a pioneer in the field in Sri Lanka.

The Java Institute Start Up

Dr. Siribaddana's vision and expertise in Java programming and education led him to found the Java Institute in 2005. The institute was founded to meet the growing demand for high-quality Java education in Sri Lanka, and it has since expanded to offer a range of technology and business programs to students. By founding the Java Institute, Dr. Siribaddana identified a major requirement in the Sri Lankan education sector and developed a successful business model to address it.

DR. ISHANTHA SIRIBADDANA APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ICES

In recognition of his service and credentials, Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana has been selected as an executive director of the International Cardiology EECP Society (ICES), an organization dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of EECP treatment delivery through systematic training of nurses and physicians and supporting clinical research in this area to expand the indications of EECP treatment.

As the prevalence of heart disease continues to rise, more and more individuals are searching for safe and effective treatment options. One such treatment that has been gaining popularity is EECP therapy, which involves the use of external counterpulsation to improve blood flow to the heart. Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana, Chairman of Java Institute for Advanced Technology and TEMCO Development Banking Society Limited, is a passionate advocate of this treatment, and his belief in its benefits is rooted in his own personal experience.

The Remarkable Recovery of Dr. Siribaddana through EECP Treatment

Dr. Siribaddana received EECP treatment from Dr. S. Ramasamy and his organization, Heal Your Heart, in India in 2014, six years after his bypass surgery. At the time, he was suffering from severe angina and was allergic to almost all drugs due to hormone imbalances and other complications. Sri Lankan doctors were unable to perform another bypass surgery or place stents due to his severe allergic condition. All of his internal organs, including his kidneys, liver, and lungs, were malfunctioning due to allergy and inflammation, and he was unable to take any native or Ayurvedic medicines.

KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY LEADERSHIP DRIVES ADVANCEMENTS IN NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TECHNOLOGY TO A GLOBAL STANDARD

Knowledge economy leadership Model

After 2023, the world will be driven by five major knowledge systems. These technologies have been at the research level since around 2000 and are beginning to be used by mankind starting in 2023. 

By the year 2000, the Industrial Revolution had reached its full potential, which began with the invention of the steam engine, the telephone, and electricity in the latter half of the 19th century around the year 1900. 

Although the third technology revolution, which started at the research level after 2000, is called digital technology revolution, I think it is more correct to call it a “Digital and Biotechnology Revolution”. The main reason for this is the tremendous development in the field of medical sciences combined with digital technology in relation to the longer lifespan of mankind. Also in agriculture, using technology to control beneficial and harmful living organisms to the agriculture industry to increase the yield within limited space and to manage the product traceability in the supply chain management.

BLOCKCHAIN FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN SRI LANKA

By Dr. Ishantha Siribaddana

Sri Lanka, like many other countries, is currently facing a number of economic and social challenges. One of the main issues is the high level of corruption in the political system and government sector, which has led to inefficiencies and limited economic growth. Additionally, the private sector in Sri Lanka has been slow to adopt new technologies, which has further hindered economic development.

Blockchain technology has the potential to address many of these challenges and help Sri Lanka achieve sustainable economic growth.

Blockchain is a decentralized data storage model within the network of computers and servers. It is secure, transparent, and tamper-proof, which makes it an ideal technology for use in the government and private sectors.

Furthermore, blockchain can be used in state-owned enterprises such as Sri Lanka Airlines, the electricity board, and the petroleum corporation to improve transparency and reduce corruption to run the organization on profit which causes major losses to the government of Sri Lanka.