Letters to the Editor
View(s):A time for reflection
Mother nature has reacted angrily
Demonstrated her power to us humans
To the rich and poor, to the powerful and to the powerless
From East to West and North to South with no one spared.
A warning to us humans to be truthful, modest
A time for reflection.
Humans all powerful and supreme we thought
Down on their knees now
Pleading for mercy and intervention from above
To save us from Corona, unable to find a cure.
A reminder to us humans that we are here in this world only for a short time
A time for reflection.
We built missiles and nuclear weapons
To show our might against fellow nations
Declared trade wars selfishly for own benefits
But are unable to fight the Corona virus and death in our face.
A message to us humans that power and greed are short-lived
A time for reflection.
Values of fairness, integrity, responsibility, accountability forgotten
Rule of law and justice, compassion and respect for others, no more
Right to co-exist and live and let live a thing of the past
Yet Corona does not discriminate – a lesson for us humans.
A call to us humans to go back to basic values which we have forgotten
A time for reflection.
As individuals and professional bodies and corporates/ businesses
We always try to crush the weak, the small and the competition
In a selfish and arrogant manner thinking we are all powerful and eternal
But Corona does not select, it treats all, the powerful and the weak alike.
A lesson to us humans that all have equal rights to live and prosper
A time for reflection.
We go to temples, churches and pray to Gods
We develop rules of compliance, codes of conduct and demand zero tolerance on corruption
But do not live the teachings of the religions nor the codes of conduct
Corona does not pray nor have a code of conduct but spreads without limits.
A show of truth to us humans how hypocritical we are
A time for reflection.
Corona has given us an opportunity, a breather to reflect on our empty lifestyles,
A reminder to love and respect each other, honour and do the right thing to all humans, always
A cry for us to accept co-existence and adopt a live and let live policy
A reminder that we humans are not all that powerful or supreme after all.
A lesson to us humans on the true purpose of life
A time for reflection on the words of Edwin Markham;
Why build these cities glorious
If Man unbuilded goes
In vain we build the world, unless
The builder also grows
A letter to us humans, a time for reflection.
Rohitha Mendis Via email
Issuing curfew passes: Clearer instructions to police stations please
On my way to the Abdul Jabbar Mawatha branch I was intercepted by one of the four PCs (from Kotahena Police Station) stationed at Messenger Street and told that permission cannot be granted for my request. It was only after I called the OIC Grandpass that I was able to get through this barricade and proceed to Abdul Jabbar Mawatha.
When I told the PC that I might need to go to Kotahena as well, in case the machine at Abdul Jabbar Mawatha was not working, he told me that I can’t do so without a curfew pass because I was from Layards Broadway.
This is to request that Police stations be given proper guidelines so that the people are not inconvenienced. Hope the IGP will give clear instructions to all the stations.
Mohamed Zahran Colombo 14