Letters to the Editor

Let the flag of peace fly high above different party labels

There was also goodwill generated by the spontaneous call of the Presidential poll winner extending the hand of friendship and inviting the loser to join. But this was unfortunately marred by the President's recent interview on Rupavahini. Once more tension is mounting and if not curbed, it will be carnival time for the rabble rousers.

Sri Lanka's greatest pride is the Buddha's teaching. Therefore, there is a need to remind all especially the leaders, of the eight-fold path and in particular, of 'Samma vaca' (Right speech). 

The post-independence history of Sri Lanka will show that attempts by every government to bring about peace and reconciliation have been thwarted by the opposition. The examples include the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact, which was internationally hailed and described by British researcher Walter Schewarts as, 'one of the few statesmanlike compromises between two extreme oppositions ever to be in Sri Lanka'. This is the reason why those who do not wear party labels, are able to see that the one and only way to restore peace, is to bring the major political parties together on a common platform on common issues facing the country. The name - national government or any other is not important.

Very soon the country will be celebrating the 52nd year of independence. That will give the leaders of this country another opportunity, not only to hoist the national flag, but also to hoist the flag of peace and renew efforts to meet on common and friendly ground.

S. Thambyrajah
Colombo

Bring the people in for talks

Even worse, some politicians recognize emotions only to excite and exacerbate them, and then ride to power on their crest. As Peter Singer states in his 'How Are We To Live? Power taking precedence over ethics,' it is not in the interests of politicians to go against the wishes and passions of their society. 

This is one reason why it is not correct to place the entire blame for the ills of a democracy on politicians; that is all too easy an evasion of responsibility by the people. 

I feel the President should hold a referendum, offering the electorate various options and, on the authority of the verdict of the people, on their mandate, enter into talks with the Tigers. To talk first may lead to the situation of an agreement being reached with the Tigers, only to have the Sinhalese people reject it, as happened, for example, in pre-Tiger days with the Bandaranaike-Chelvanaya-kam Pact. The Tigers will then have a case for saying the government lacks courage and is reneging on its promises. 

One of the options on the referendum papers should be that no talks be held with the Tigers at all, and the war continued whatever the cost. To pay lip-service to a "political settlement" when the majority want nothing less than a military victory is futile. 

If the people frankly opt for war, they will then be also willing to pay the human and material cost of the war, and the government will stand exculpated. 

However, the present censorship should be lifted so that the people get a true and accurate understanding of the situation, listen to different opinions and be fully and frankly informed. One cannot ask for an opinion unless they possess the full facts. In a true democracy, the people know fully and decide freely. Partial knowledge leads to wrong choices. 

Indran Ponnuthurai 
Bahrain

LH Plantations replies

a) A profit bonus was not paid to them and

b) That the profit of the company was utiltised for the campaign of the UNP leader at the recently concluded Presidential election.

Our company being the managing agents of Kurunegala Plantations Ltd. issued a total rebuttal of the allegations to this same newspaper on January 21 which however was not published.

We would be grateful if you could kindly therefore, publish our correction.

Company Secretary
LH Plantations (Pvt) Ltd.

Another bloody story

When the late Mr. Dudley Senanayake visited a certain institution, he noticed there was much confusion among the staff. When he inquired as to what had happened, he had been told that a labourer who met with an accident was taken to hospital in a vehicle not meant for that purpose. "It's alright if you break all the rules to save the life of a person," Mr. Senanayake had said. 

In the recent incident the doctor had reportedly taken away 14 pints of blood to save the life of a person injured by a bomb explosion. It doesn't matter who the person is as long as a life is saved. 

It would be appreciated if this same procedure is applied by the doctors to save the life of any person irrespective of his/her position. 

Bindu 
Panadura 

Ulemas mooning over Ramazan

According to Islam, the Ramadan fast should commence and conclude with the sighting of the moon.This year the moon was sighted at Kinniya and there was substantial proof of it. But the "Ulemas" thought otherwise.

But surprisingly the "Thakbir" went on the air in the early hours of Saturday morning, indicating that the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr was to be celebrated that day. This created confusion among some Muslims, especially the less affluent, whose last minute shopping was hampered by a curfew. Let's hope that there will not be a repetition of this when celebrating the next Eid-ul-Fitr Festival on December 28.

Rowan Aniff
Colombo

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