Letters to the Editor

We need statesmen, not politicos 

All such elected representatives and parties have a moral obligation to rule the country, strictly conforming to accepted rules and regulations. Once elected, we expect them to attain the level of statesmen. 

We do expect our representatives to conduct themselves in such a manner where voters could be proud of their performance inside as well as outside Parliament. We expect them to be above obtaining luxury vehicles, liquor permits, enhanced salaries and pensions or making wild allegations against one another in Parliament.

In the meantime, the question of the main opposition party agreeing to a National Government under the present circumstances could be considered wishful thinking. Nevertheless the need of the hour is to obtain the assistance of the opposition and explore means to end this costly war. 

Jeoffrey Gunasekera. 
Colombo 05.

Let us listen as we move along

The reports add that according to a survey only about 15% of the country's vehicle owners obtain licences for radios. 

As the licensing fee for a radio or TV in a vehicle is so small, is the effort made in issuing these by the various authorities and checking and prosecution by the law enforcement authorities worth it ? The man hours lost in this exercise can surely be utilized for traffic control, law enforcement and administrative work. 

One does not fix a radio or TV in a vehicle to relax and listen to music in the evenings like one does at home, but purely to break the monotony of travelling and to be up to date with news. Besides radios are now standard fittings in most vehicles. Hence could the Motor Traffic Department be magnanimous in this millennium and rescind this outdated requirement? 

Ananda Pilimatalauwe 
Pilimatalauwa 

Good lies and bad lies

oSomething that is not true, pleasing to some but disastrous to others should never be uttered; 

oSomething that is true, not pleasing to others and disastrous to some should never be uttered; 

oSomething that is true, pleasing to others but disastrous to some should never be uttered; 

oSomething that is true, not pleasing to others but beneficial to some should be uttered at an opportune time when it will be beneficial to some and harmful to none; 

oSomething that is true, pleasing to others and beneficial to one and all may be uttered all the time. Lies are bad and should not be uttered under any circumstances. 

D. J. Dangalla 
Palliyapitiya East

No! Not even white lies !

In the example he quotes, Bertrand Russell lies by pointing out a wrong path to some hunters, thereby saving the life of a fox. He could have achieved the same objective by speaking the truth: "I know which way the fox went - but I am not going to tell you that because I would like to save the life of that innocent animal !" He would not only have spoken the truth but also taught the fox-hunters a lesson about the wanton destruction of life. 

What about the sole witness at a murder trial who has seen 'A' stabbing 'B' with a dagger and killing him ? By speaking a 'good' lie saying that he (the witness) did not see anything, ' A' would go scot-free. But the witness would be guilty of a criminal offence for not speaking the truth and could be severely punished. 

To maintain one lie one often has to resort to a host of other lies. In my opinion, lying is intrinsically wrong and cannot be justified under any circumstances. Indeed I feel that lying is never necessary. I also believe that one can easily go through life without having to resort to lies. By so doing, one would earn the eternal respect and admiration of others too and be a shining example to them. 

Even a child who admits to a wrong - without lying - is often pardoned and is treated with dignity, honour and respect, which he richly deserves. One who lies, on the other hand, would be plagued by a guilty conscience for ever - especially if others have had to suffer due to him not speaking the truth. 

Dr. Riley Fernando 
Mt. Lavinia

Sounds of fury from the scorned

Ranil has no need to cling to the UNP leadership as a stairway to fame and fortune. Unlike Mr. Cooray, he has the education, the breeding, the integrity and a sense of history and culture necessary to be respected as a man of vision who can take this country forward out of the present mayhem. How can Mr. Cooray who spends most of his time abroad and returns now and then to issue statements full of venom against Mr. Wickremesinghe ever be considered as an alternative ?

If Mr. Cooray and the UNP dissidents using undemocratic and violent methods familiar to them seize control of the UNP, thousands will move away from the party and this is exactly what the government wants. 

It is a conglomeration of strange bedfellows who want Ranil out-racists, advocates of thuggery and corruption, and those to whom changing political loyalties is easy. 

We, who live in the rural areas, are aware of the methods used to defeat the UNP. We saw for ourselves the low levels of violence, intimidation, rigging, the use of guns and the stripping of women. 

Come, come, Mr. Cooray! There is a thread of desperation in your statements. Was it because the recent ruse of some to bring thugs in buses to take over 'Siri Kotha' failed ?

You were offering your help to Ranil some time ago. You began your campaign after you were rejected. 

I thought that 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'. Here, the boot is firmly on the other (male) foot ! 

Tilahasiry Ratnakara
Bandaragama 

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