Peace match played with referee in place
It was with amusement that I read H.L.D Mahindapala's article last week. Amusement since the article was on the wrong page. The usual position for such a letter would be amongst the columns reserved for humour. That, too, the ones in bad taste.

Nevertheless since it crept into the main section, a reply was deemed necessary.
The Tamil question, as I would like to call it, has been around for far too long. It has come thus far and needs serious consideration since a group, call them terrorists, freedom fighters or liberators took up arms to force the issue. There is no point arguing whether the peace-loving Tamils could force this group to seek another avenue to settle this issue.

They simply cannot. There is further proof of this. The other democratic Tamil political parties, too, were forced to toe its line.

What does one do in such a scenario? Fight fire with fire? Good. We have done that for over a decade. Call another powerful army from a friendly country to fight on our behalf? We have done that too.

Carve out a portion and hand it over? We have resisted that vehemently and the new Prime Minister has gone on record before the Maha Sangha that he intends seeking a solution within "one country" through direct negotiations with the LTTE amongst others. We have done that, too, one might say.

But has it ever been done with a referee in place. A referee invited by the previous government but endorsed by the whole international community.

Mr. Mahindapala will remember that the previous government did pinch the referee time and again. So in cricketing parlance, it would be apt to say 'different captain- better batting'.

The whole country is for peace. There is hope like never before. Yet it is common to nurse doubts. Well and good, but one needs to balance those views without jeopardising the positive aspects of the process.

Now I shall deal with Mr. Mahindapala's below-the-belt lines.

Clause 2 1 (a) deals with the prohibition of assassinations, according to the writer. So be it. The PA, too, had a similar clause. Though the writer likens President Chandrika Kumaratunga to the Sigiriya rock, she was more interested in staying on as the leader of the nation by circumventing laws. She tried to extend her political life along with the peace proposals!

Not only politicians have been saved from being killed. Over a thousand soldiers and civilians have survived, escaped death, due to the MOU judging from the averages in the past.

The clause in the MOU he cites is just that. A clause to ensure that lives are saved and the ground conditions are not muddied for the more important segment. The MOU, too, is only an interim document. This is like a joint preparation of a pitch before the match is played. The tougher decisions are still ahead.

So, let us analyse Clause 2 1 (a) as the writer has stated. No assassinations, he screams. If, according to Mr. Mahindapala's logic, this was done to save the Prime Minister, it will also be to the benefit of many soldiers and innocent Sri Lankans who live here! Can any peace-loving, civic-conscious person deny this? We are aware that a section of the opposition in Parliament still challenges this. That is Sri Lankan politics. But the writer has cleverly shrouded himself in patriotism.

Mr. Mahindapala's disposition towards the Wickremesinghe family is well known. Strained would be a mild phrase.

He does not even speak to the Prime Minister's extended family save for Mr. Wijewardene of the Wijeya Group.

Mr. Mahindapala should do well to use his vitriolic style to boot fascist politicians in his adopted country into jail or better still wait for lasting peace to arrive in Sri Lanka and then decide where he wants to pitch his tent.

My advice is to scoot to the UK where he will be able to scream, "Hooray, I'm in HooKay!"
Johnny Schucroft
Colombo 3

Rest houses gone to cats and dogs
Rest houses managed by the Urban Development Authority are in a deplorable state.
I found dogs sleeping on beds, filthy toilets, bedsheets torn and dirty and the rooms dusty at several UDA rest houses.

In the Chilaw and Puttalam rest houses, rooms not only have cats and dogs but also are full of flies and mosquitoes.

Most of us cannot afford to stay in hotels. However, I found that most of the rest houses preferred to give rooms to lovers for a few hours than to families or travellers.

Immediate action should be taken to compel rest house keepers to maintain these places properly or cancel their licences.
Asoka Lajpat
Colombo 7

May peace and unity dawn!
Vesak Full Moon Shines
With brilliant radiance
Spreading holy fragrance
Covering every distance.
The peal of temple bells
The beat of temple drums
Renew our memory
Of the Triple anniversary
Birth, Enlightenment and passing away
Of our Master, Lord Buddha.
Sweet smelling flowers
Perfuming the surroundings
Greet the world so gay
On this Thrice Blessed Day
Adding beauty and serenity
To the surrounding scenery.
Shining in milky white
Stands the 'stupa' in moonlight,
The resplendent pinnacle
Performs a miracle
The Bo-leaves spread the message
Through every passing breeze.
Temples turn into seas
Of white-clad devotees
Altars of fragrant
Flowers, camphor and joss-sticks
The oil lamps glitter
Illuminating the surroundings.
Everywhere can be heard
The message of the Buddha,
The preaching of the 'Dhamma'
The path to renounce desire,
The path to end rebirth
To attain the bliss of 'Nibbana'
Gorgeous pandals
Exhibiting various births
Of Bodhisatva, and episodes
Of the life of the Buddha
Attract large crowds,
At the height of such celebrations
The Vesak Full Moon smiles.
With Vesak Full Moon beams
May sympathy and kindness shine
Kindling all human minds!
May peace and unity dawn
On this dark world war-torn!
May all beings be happy!
Malini Hettige
Galle

Indian visa agony
It is alleged that there is much corruption in issuing Indian visas to Sri Lankans in Colombo. Often, hundreds of would-be applicants, having stood in the scorching morning sun for hours, are turned away without any reason.

Those manning the entrance are rude and discourteous. The Sri Lankan police deployed here also do very little to maintain order in the queue.

If one manages to reach the counter upstairs with a duly processed application, he or she has to come another day to collect the passport.

A press communiqué by the High Commission claimed that it was happy to learn about the increase in Sri Lankans travelling to India, and pledged that steps would be taken to issue visas speedily.

These arrangements should include the exemption of elders from joining the queue. In the case of families, the husband or wife should be allowed to submit applications on behalf of the other members.
V. Somasundaram
Dehiwela

Let's return to committee system
Prior to independence was a system of governance with legislators grouping themselves into executive committees that were headed by members of the board of ministers. There was peace and harmony with steady economic growth.
But the introduction of the Westminster system resulted in hatred, jealously and mistrust that culminated in violence, which was well illustrated by the infamous Wayamba election.

It also contributed to the emergence of communal politics with the TULF adopting the doctrine of Eelam which was being pursued by the LTTE with military means till it entered into a ceasefire agreement with the government on February 23. Will the LTTE seriously consider abandoning its demand for Eelam?

However, the agreement underscores a communal formula. If this communal formula is accepted, then the SLMC and the upcountry Tamils of Indian origin will make similar demands, thereby making the map of Sri Lanka a mosaic of communal regions, each region with daggers drawn at the other.

Therefore, any solution based on communal lines is not the answer.

The whole system of governance must undergo a radical change, replacing confrontational politics with politics of co-operation and compromise. This will be a reality, if we adopt the executive committee system of governance with all parties subscribing to that end. It functioned smoothly during the colonial era.

Therefore, all parties should unite and re-establish the executive committee system with the Prime Minister, who will be the chief executive, sitting in Parliament heading all executive committees. The President should only be a ceremonial head of state.
Power sharing is the basis of the executive committee system.

This is consensus politics, the best democratic method of governance.
Dr. George R. Wijegunawardana
Colombo

Leaders or disoriented babies?
A Buddhist is required to carry himself with self-respect and dignity. Does anybody know why our so-called leaders, while calling themselves Buddhists, behave like disoriented babies?

They go globe-trotting, get their bowed heads patted by all and sundry and return to boast about the 'international community' being pleased with their performance. That is all that matters!

The leader of a pack of any breed defends territory and protects those living within the boundaries. Instead, what do we have here? People unable to sense impending danger and taking all who depend on them to the point of no return.
Sinhalese Citizens
Colombo 7

It's time to put the clock right
The previous government advanced the clock by one hour and later reduced it by half an hour. Although the clock was advanced, those who made it a custom to arrive late for work did so continuously.

By advancing the time no one changed their ways. Neither did the country gain any benefit. Only our economy suffered and recorded a minus growth rate.

Some believe that the time-shift was effected on the advice of an astrologer. But those who attend to their work at auspicious times have been left confused and inconvenienced. The time has come to rectify this anomaly.
P.A. Binduhewa
Panadura

Rain brings no water
Despite showers in the past weeks, residents at Park Road, Ratmalana are being unfairly penalised and inconvenienced by a shortage of water.

Repeated telephone calls have not yielded any result. The stock answer by the Water Board is a promise to look into matters while the elderly, school-going children and housewives undergo much hardship.

One wonders whether there is an attempt to embarrass the new government. We hope the authorities will remedy the situation soon.
RK
Ratmalana

Milk tax not the answer
With reference to a clash between two ministers over a tax on milkfood imports (The Sunday Times, May 5), I believe that the-robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul attitude of Minister S. B. Dissanayake is unnecessary.

People who expected the UNF government to ease the cost of living burden are having a nightmare. Electricity rates, prices of fuel and many essential items have been increased. Minister Dissanayake wants to impose a tax on milkfood imports to help dairy farmers.

The government should pass legislation, making it compulsory for plantation companies to have 100 cattle on every 100-acre plot. So Minister why don't you get the big man to help us instead of taxing the already overburdened small man.
Abdus Sameeyu
Maharagama

Interim Council should be balanced
The proposed interim administration should reflect the ground situation in the north-east first, and the country next. It should play a pivotal role in finding a permanent solution to the ethnic issue. Neither the government nor the LTTE should be given dominance in the proposed Interim Council. It should be balanced.

Though the TNA, the main Tamil representation in Parliament has been 'neutralised', we cannot disregard its role in realising Tamil aspirations. The council should adequately reflect all shades of viewpoints. No group should have dominance over others. The only exception should be the inclusion of more Tamils in the council than any other single community.
E.M.G. Edirisinghe
Dehiwela

A politician who kept his promise
Minister Karu Jayasuriya has solved the power crisis ahead of his self-imposed June deadline.

The gesture is rare in Sri Lankan politics. Many thought he would never make it. While cynics jeer that the rain gods saved him, there are a few, who never doubted he would solve the crisis with or without the rains. We look up with renewed confidence at politicians who keep their promises and deliver the goods.
D. Hettiarachchi
Moratuwa

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