Letters to the Editor
View(s):Act immediately to stop this religious tension
It is sad to note what is happening around us and it is time to put a stop to it. It is the duty of the Government and the politicians to take the responsibility for the worsening situation and do something without passing the buck and saying that they have no hand in all this. If they could end a 30-year war, certainly why can’t they end this?
The recent attack on an apparel store owned by a Muslim: Growing trend of intolerance
Every day, we see and hear how the so-called respected Buddhist clergy behave in public and then say that it is not them but some men in robes. If that is so, why don’t the police take action to arrest the perpetrators and produce them in courts for creating chaos and panic among ordinary people? How can they get away with all this, while the police just look on?
Why the double standards? It has been said that the recent attack was because a Muslim youth committed statutory rape on an underage Sinhala girl. But when local politicians are involved in rape, the crime is swept under the carpet and they are even released without any charges being framed against them.
When the war ended, all Sri Lankans — the Sinhalese, the Tamils, the Muslims and the Burghers – were waiting anxiously for lasting peace, but now that seems a distant dream. Now it has turned to be a religious issue. There is no tolerance, be it religious, ethnic or social. The present generation has grown up with this turmoil and that is why we see so much of violence, rape, murder, robbery and other crimes in our society. That the Bodu Bala Sena is trying to do a clean-up of society is good – but is it using the correct method?
Haven’t our religions taught us anything? Haven’t we learnt from the past that violence breeds more violence? Do we need a violent society to put things right?
Can’t we follow the Buddha’s path or the teachings of Jesus or Muhammad or the Bhagawad Gita? They all teach us to be tolerant and show mercy, kindness, and love. Why is it that, what is taught at Sunday Schools of our own religions does not have an impact on our children? Is it because there is no one to set an example of what is taught that they grow up to be so violent?
Efforts must be made to change our society and this is not one person’s responsibility. We all have to take up the responsibility and not leave it to the government or the politicians or the religious leaders. We all have our rights and privileges to live in our society and these should be respected by everyone irrespective of race, caste or religion.
This country belongs to all Sri Lankans. It cannot be said that this country belongs to only the Sinhala Buddhists as they are the majority or that this is not a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. After all, for many generations the Sinhalese, the Tamils, the Muslims and the Burghers lived side by side peacefully and even inter-married. Why now sow the vicious seeds and poison in people’s minds when everyone has learnt to live amicably saying we are Sri Lankans.
We all have our own problems in life. So can we all rise up against this wave that is going to hit us and engulf us very soon and leave us with a society that could be broken into bits and pieces?
Rani Jesudian, Nugegoda
Pension anomaly: Presidential press secretary, this is over to you
Several letters have appeared in newspapers, spotlighting the plight of the pre-2006 pensioners, many of whom are in the twilight of their life. Yet little or no action has been taken by the authorities to rectify the anomalies.
We, the pre 2006 pensioners, ask the President to fulfil his promise regarding the rectification of anomalies in our pensions. The President made this promise on January 14, 2010 at a Temple Trees meeting attended by pre-2006 pensioners. Besides, such a pledge was also found in the Mahinda Chintanaya – the ruling party’s election manifesto. Subsequently, the then Public Administration Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne also gave an assurance in Parliament that the pension anomalies would be rectified.
With these promises remaining empty words, the pre-2006 pensioners are in dire straits today.
Anyway, the President cannot be faulted for this state of affairs. Once elected to high office, he has to deal with many issues and problems in his day-to-day work. He may not remember the promises made by him. He also may not find time to scan the daily newspapers and learn about our problems.
I would appeal to the presidential press secretary to read this letter and bring the grievances of the pre-2006 pensioners to the immediate notice of the President. This includes the rectification of the anomalies and the revision of the pensions. If the President acts fast, we the pre-2006 pensioners will be able to live our lives without being a burden to others as we near death.
S. Tharmalingam, Moratuwa
SWRD’s ‘Sinhala only’ policy: Language as a political tool
The divide-and-rule policy of the British Colonial administration has largely contributed to the ethnic conflict of Sri Lanka. To put the record straight, in fairness to the architects of the 1956 victory of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) coalition, it has to be accepted that S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s role was one of political expediency rather than an attempt to restore the lost rights of the majority community, the Sinhalese, under the British rule.
‘Sinhala only within 24 hours’, the eye-catching slogan which contributed in large measure to the landslide victory of the MEP in 1956, was of course, SWRD’s coinage. Exuberant campaigners such as K.M.P. Rajaratne of the Jatika Vimukthi Peramuna, Ven. Henpitagedara Gnanasiha Thera, Ven. Baddegama Wimalawansa Thera, L.H.Mettananda and F.R. Jayasuriya were some of the leading personalities who were in the forefront of the Sinhala only campaign. The Eksath Bhikshu Peramuna also played a key role.
SWRD was no chauvinist although his Sinhala Maha Sabha had resolved to make Sinhala the official language. He only gave leadership to this movement which had gathered momentum even before the formation of the MEP coalition. The language issue came as a handy weapon to crush the opposition led by Sir John Kotelawala.
Incidentally, Sir John’s untimely utterances in the Delft Island during the 1956 election campaign spelt his ruin. He declared that he would confer parity of status to both Sinhala and Tamil languages, if he came to power.
Even SWRD once stood for both Sinhala and Tamil languages. The following excerpt from a speech of SWRD (Hansard-State Council, 1944, vol.1, page 810, May 25, 1944) is self explanatory:
“What is the object of having Sinhalese alone as the official language? … I do not see that there would be any harm at all in recognising the Tamil language also as an official language. It is necessary to bring about that amity, that confidence among the various communities, which we are all striving to achieve within reasonable limits … I have no personal objection to both these languages being considered official languages, nor do I see any particular harm or danger or real difficulty arising from it.”
Philip Gunawardena, leader of the Viplavakari Lanka Samasamaja Party, advocated Tamil as a regional language while supporting the Sinhala only bill of 1956.
SWRD, having succumbed to the pressure of the diehards in the ruling coalition, later saw through the passage of the Tamil Language (special provisions) Act no.98 of 1958 to rectify matters.
The manner in which the Official Language Act No. 33 of 1956 was implemented overnight gave rise to a just grievance among the Tamils. However, since then Tamil language has also been accorded official language status. The rest is history now.
J. Abeygunawardhana Via e-mail
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