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The Muslim factor:
Where SLMC went wrong It is the bounden
duty of the UNF government, the LTTE and the SLMC to maintain transparency,
keeping the people informed about the outcome of peace talk. The recent
agitation against Mr. Hakeem and his answer to the question by an
interviewer could have been avoided if the Muslims had been made
aware of the arrangements for peace talk in Thailand. This is where
the SLMC failed to create awareness about the peace process. Mr.
Hakeem's answer was based on the categorization of issues, such
as core and contentious issues. The unit of
devolution had not been taken up at the negotiating table when Mr.
Hakeem was confronted with the question about the unit of devolution
for Muslims in the north and the east. So he had to say that it
was not an appropriate time to answer such a question. But on no instance
has he denied the demand for a Muslim administrative unit. The SLMC rebels
can iron out their differences by holding discussions with their
leader who has already been identified and accommodated at the negotiating
table. Hope the SLMC and other Muslim politicians will work together
in the interest of the Muslims to find a solution to their grievances
and to enable them to coexist with other communities with dignity,
security and self determination. Bring back patriotism
to education As far as I
am aware, Asian countries such as China and Japan have given a prominent
place to the teaching of the history of their countries. Japan was
devastated during the last World War but younger generation was
able to reach the apex of development during a very short period
with their willingness to work hard being fuelled by patriotism.
Even during the colonial era, an efficient education system was
brought about through the intervention of Buddhists monks such as
Rev. Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera and the revival of Buddhism. We
should reintroduce national history and literature to the school
curriculum. To get children to pass the Year 5 scholarship examination
and get a place in a popular school, parents burden them with an
unbearable workload. This creates an exam-oriented mentality, stunting
the creative ability and the general intelligence of children. Children
confined to classrooms or tutories poring over textbooks have no
social awareness and fail in their spiritual qualities. As they
have been used to a competitive environment, they become victims
to cruel and dangerous thoughts. Therefore, educationists should
implement a system that keeps away the exam-prone mentality. Steps should
also be taken to educate the younger generation on the ill-effects
of dividing the country. In this connection, the necessity of a
constitution based on national unity to suit the aspirations of
our people should be emphasized. The proper devolution of power
on the north and the east, ensuring the territorial integrity, independence
and sovereignty of our country should be considered. Action should
also be taken to re-establish the pristine glory of Theravada Buddhism. The merits of
Muslim fast According to
science, one's body is a biological machine. This machine acts as
an open system, in which the exchange of materials and energy takes
place. Continuous activity brings about defects. Thus servicing
and overhauling are required. Fasting provides this overhauling
and is considered a 'bio-chemical metabolic exercise'. It maintains
the level of hormones in the body. Excess fat which is stored in
one's body, while fasting, furnishes most of the fuel required for
cellular activity. One's digestive system relaxes during this period
and the body develops the habit of working without food and water. Fasting also
develops self-control. Thus fasting is a must in Islam. It is a
continuous process and is one of the five pillars of Islam. Death
and peace Last Saturday
afternoon Some known seniors;
some sincere colleagues; 'Loku', 'Akki'
and 'Malli' awaited my arrival at home Serene surrounding
reverberated futility of war Towards
a safer pedestrian crossing Motorists should
also be made aware that they are approaching a pedestrian crossing.
In developed countries there are flashing lights in the form of
globes. As a Third World country like Sri Lanka cannot afford such
a system, prominent signs should be put up with fluorescent paint
in yellow and black on either side of a crossing so that it will
be visible to motorists at a reasonable distance of about 20 feet.
At crossings
near schools, there should be humps (not mountains) to slow the
approaching traffic with warning signs. May I please suggest that
the Traffic Police top brass leave their offices periodically and
observe what their juniors are doing or not doing on the roads.
I have seen notices by the police that motorists will be breathalysed
but seldom see that this being done. Many smoke belching vehicles
are on the roads but the police do nothing. Motorists beat
red lights but seldom does a policeman give chase and book them.
The vast majority of motorists who are law abiding just grin and
bear. In Britain, digital cameras have reduced the number of accidents.
In the early nineties in Sri Lanka, many motorists used seat belts
and there were advertisements by the Traffic Police about a contest.
Today nobody bothers. A majority of road accident victims are pedestrians
as they have to walk on the roads. The pavements have been taken
over by hawkers, garages etc. Another suggestion
I wish to make is that the policemen who direct traffic at junctions
and roundabouts should be made visible. Those days there was a permanent
wooden platform with a hood. Nowadays a collapsible plastic or aluminum
platform can be used. Then the policemen will be able to see the
line of vehicles and motorists, in turn can see him. He can see
which road is more congested. Traffic sections
should also be computerised. After an accident it is difficult to
get a police report for insurance purposes. If computers are installed,
the report can be obtained quickly and faxed to the insurance company.
The database will also enable the police to identify habitual offenders
and detect and prevent crime too. What
I saw in Gamani Corea I worked under
Dr. Corea from 1958 to 1968 when he was the director of National
Planning. At that time the National Planning Council included such
men as Dr. B. B. Das Gupta, Walwin A. de Silva, D. B. Ellepola and
W. T. I. Alagaratnam. Dr. Corea was responsible for the 1959-1968
Ten Year Plan. He got down such eminent economists as Joan Robinson,
Oskar Lange, Von Glinstra Bleeker, J. R. and Ursula Hicks, Alan
Hall and R.C. Desai. With the help of these men and women and a
staff of about 18, he produced the Ten Year Plan, one of the finest
economic plans that any Asian country has produced. Under Dr. Corea,
all worked as a team. Under him there was no favouritism. Everyone
was given an opportunity of proving himself at international conferences.
He sent me as economic advisor to the delegation of Ceylon to the
21st session of the UN General Assembly in 1966. I have worked
in international organisations such as the Commonwealth Secretariat
but never have I worked under a man who had the genuine interests
of his men like Gamani Corea. That is why
I am delighted to find him appointed as chairman of the South Commission. 'Letters
to the Editor' should be brief and to the point.
Address them to: 'Letters to the Editor, The Sunday Times, P.O.Box 1136, Colombo. Or e-mail to steditor@wijeya.lk or stfeat@wijeya.lk Please note that letters cannot be acknowledged or returned. |
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