Letters
View(s):Has the International community ever stopped to think, or ever tried to find out what the terrorists were doing outside the war zones in Colombo, Kandy and many other places in this country? They bombed the Central Bank in the heart of the city of Colombo which saw so many innocent civilians killed and many others injured. Shopping malls, Buddhist temples and many other places were destroyed by the ruthless terrorists and many, many innocent civilians killed or severely injured. They even tried to kill the Army Commander using a female suicide bomber, but by the grace of God – though he was very severely injured – lived to tell the tale.
We the people of this country lived in fear, wondering if our husbands, wives and our children would return home once they left for work or school in the mornings. We were terrified to travel in a bus or even travel in a vehicle behind a bus as many buses were planted with time bombs or grenades which would suddenly go off, killing and injuring many passengers and even those on the roadside.
The war in the North was brought to the South by these terrorists – though the armed forces were engaged in a war in the North. Does the International Community have any knowledge of these terrible happenings in this part of the country? I doubt very much.
I am not a Sinhalese, a Tamil or a Muslim – but proud to be a Sri Lankan. I am very concerned and upset by the manner in which the International Community is focusing on the atrocities of the armed force who were involved in this war only to protect our country, while the LTTE were fighting to claim something for themselves. Does the International Community know how many members of the armed forces have lost their lives in this unnecessary war and how many have been maimed by bombs, grenades and land mines planted by the terrorists.
As a SRI LANKAN I believe every bit of this country belongs to all Sri Lankans, whatever ethnicity they belong to. This country cannot and should not be divided, and it is far too precious to be broken up into pieces. Every citizen is entitled to live where they wish to and no one can dictate terms. Anyone who wants to live in SRI LANKA should respect the country and learn to live as SRI LANKANS - whether they be Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay or Burgher or else find some other abode.
B.Wijesinghe
Nugegoda
Give some relief to middle class patients
We must thank the Health Minister for exposing some of the unfair practices at private hospitals. The fees of private hospitals for indoor treatment are going up daily.
They make very high profits. All these hospitals are constructing multi-storied buildings. Some of these hospitals are owned by doctors.
There is no mechanism to control these very high fees they charge.
We request some NGO to start some private hospitals and stop the monopoly and unfair practices of these private hospitals.
The Jayawardenapura Hospital charges a reasonable amount from the patients. We must try to expand this hospital or open several branches of it islandwide.
We also appreciate the fact that the Health Minister has brought up the problem of the drug mafia operating in this country.
We kindly appeal to him to have a system to provide treatment to middle class people at a reasonable price.
D. Weeratunga
Nugegoda
Why can’t our leaders understand what the Buddha stood for
A friend of mine lectures at a technical institute. Currently the institute is going through some student issues. There had been a statue of the Buddha on the Head’s table. My friend had told the Head, “Each time you look upon this statue you should remember that the Buddha relinquished his throne to achieve what he did. So either you follow his actions yourself, or keep this statue far away from you so that it would not remind you to do what he did.” The day after, she had removed the statue from her table and kept it at the far end of her room!! Hats off to her! She has self-realisation, and she has a sense of ethics.
What puzzles me is that our leaders wearing pure white, seem to “worship” the Buddha statues, tie a “pirith noola” around their wrists, kneel in front of the Theras, talk the talk and yet are unable to understand what the Buddha stood for: Relinquishing the throne of power.
Umpteen number of families are broken apart because one of the spouses is far away, slaving in another country to earn a little extra money; thousands of families live in cramped quarters while plucking tea leaves; poverty stricken Environmental Officers (“Kunukaarayaas”) who clean up after the leaders of our land have their tamashas are exposed to so much hazards; thousands of under-privileged children are all over the land; Tsunami stricken families still living in hovels since 2004 begging the nation for a place to live; thousands of middle class families are living in poverty and hunger because they are shy to be begging and the leaders are squabbling over luxury cars!
I heard even a veteran politician saying they need four wheel drive vehicles because they are the only vehicles that can traverse difficult terrain, and to serve the people they would need such vehicles. Even the Buddha walked with Angulimaala and our ministers cannot walk with the common suffering humanity!
Why do our leaders fail to understand that they are living in luxury at the poor man expense? Is it because even though some claim that they are from the best schools of this country, the schools have taught knowledge without teaching ethics? Or is it a failure of the Buddhism that is portrayed by our leaders?
Rohan Wickramaratne
Via email
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