Letters to the Editor

Time for majority and minorities to think in opposites
After 20 years of fighting that has cost more than 65,000 lives and a chunk of the national budget, we are once again at crossroads. On one hand there is mistrust, on the other there is extinctophobia, the fear of extermination. At the root of the conflict are economic benefits in the accession of national resources, education and employment (Refer. Prof. P. Schalk), but on the face of it, they are historical, the right of the Sinhala-Buddhist majority for superiority and the right of the Tamil minority for self-determination. It is time that the majority put on the minority hat, and the minorities put on the majority hat and think in the opposites (a Gandhian principle).

Neither the Eight fold path, Dharma-sastra, Shariah nor the Ten Commandments refer to universal social morals. They deal with personal morals and hardly go beyond the individual and the fold. However, there is reference to "loving enemies" and showing maithree elsewhere in texts. It is time that we open our minds to social ethics as well (e.g. terrorism, chauvinism, discrimination, racism etc.). The tragedy of the social morals is its subjectivity. What is virtue for one party is vice for the other. The fact is that both are wrong, and the truth is in the middle. A dialectic approach of a thesis of one side, the antithesis of the other, and a synthesis by all parties is the answer.

At this juncture, some think that we must go back to the roots of the pre-colonial era and others think that we must assess and resolve issues as they stand today. In between are those who exploit the situation. The former has a weak theoretical and practical foundation. As the colonialists were responsible for bringing Jaffna and coastal towns under Colombo, returning to roots of the pre-colonial era would deprive Colombo of the right to Jaffna. If we go back further in history, then the Veddhas, the descendants of aboriginal occupiers of the land have the sole right to the country. The other approach of applying the principles of existential philosophy and pragmatism is the most practical and meaningful, as it happens in the civilized world elsewhere.

The State has the moral obligation to eliminate mistrust and build confidence. Transparency is the key to building confidence. People-participation in processes, whether it be an EIS on coal power or P-TOMS on aid distribution is essential. Draft proposals can be revised based on the validity of public submissions. After a few revisions, mitigations and controls can be placed as a safety net. The process should be completed within a time frame, since delays breed mistrust. Responsible politics and consistent administrative systems can dispel extinctophobia.

First, there are the structural problems. We urgently need a State leadership that is above party politics, totally committed to, and broad-minded on national issues. Retaining the "Sinhala-Buddhist State" can dispel extincotophobia, but has the potential to create discrimination based on religion and race in 1/3 of the population. A "Secular State" (cf. India) will increase exitinctophobia, but would build confidence in the State.

Perhaps a national identity that transcends all barriers is the most appropriate. Alternatively a "Sinhala-Buddhist State" can take a ceremonial priority stand, while the state runs as a secular entity. The legal system has to build confidence (after the Geneva verdict on Fernando case and the UN envoy's report on the proposed Anti-conversion bills). The Police have to be more disciplined. The administrative system must function without friends, favourites, relatives and financial inducements. The room for improvement is huge, but it can be done, if there is will and determination.

Fasting is good,but let it be in the privacy of homes and temples
I write in reference to the letter of June 26 by a Civic Minded Citizen of Ratmalana on fasting in public places, and whilst agreeing with him wish to make my own observations.

1. Fasts unto death have been staged under the regimes of Prime Ministers and Presidents of all shades of opinion, since independence, but thankfully none of those who undertook such fasts, all on behalf on the motherland and the suffering masses died as a result.

2. Fasting is a good exercise for the human body and mind and therefore fasting should not be banned by law. But every encouragement must be given to those who wish to continue with the fast to reach its logical conclusion of course within the privacy of their homes and temples.

3. It is seen that most of those who indulge in fasts are well nourished and able-bodied men, representatives or agents of some group or class. Sadly no woman in this age of Women's Lib has undertaken a fast.

4. Laws should be introduced to punish those who hang around those fasting, from forcing orange juice and other juices into their systems, as such acts amount to violation of their human rights and liberties.

"God give us men, the time demands, strong minds, great hearts, true faith and willing hands.
Men whom the lust of office does not kill
Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy
Men who possess opinions and a will
Men who have honour, men who will not lie
Men who can stand before a demagogue,
and dawn his treacherous flatters without winking. Tall men, sun crowned, who live above the fog in public duty and in private thinking".

Protect this historic tree
‘Sal’ is a rare flowering tree of religious importance to Buddhists. Its botanical name is Shorea Robusta L. In Panadura, there is a Sal tree which is more than a hundred years old. It is at the boundary of the railway station but within the premises on the side of platform No. 1.There was a plaque at the foot of the tree which stated that it was planted by the then station master, an Englishman when Lord Torrington was the Governor of Ceylon, to commemorate the first railway journey from Colombo to Kalutara South in 1847.

The manner in which this tree is treated now is deplorable Rotting garbage is heaped under the tree even covering the plaque, exposing the tree to bacterial and fungal disease. The railway authorities should pay more attention to protecting this tree.

Open letter to the US ambassador
We only wanted to see your country
It is with regret I write to inform you of the bitter experience I faced at your prestigious office on June 27, when I was called for an interview along with my family for visas.

We were planning to visit your country on a holiday for 14 days to educate my two children with respect to the importance and beauty of the U.S.A.
We are first class citizens born in our country and I am the Managing Director of Vogue Jewellers Ltd., which has been in the jewellery business for more than four decades and our company has created the name for prestige and quality.

We were called for an interview on the said date at 1 p.m. and I was at the embassy sharp on time. When I informed the security lady my appointment was at 1 o'clock I was asked to stand on the pavement near a parapet wall on Galle Road in the baking sun. When I inquired as to why we should stand like beggars on the pavement, the security lady replied that this was the procedure.
In this connection it would have been much appreciated if you had scheduled the applicants in a proper sequence and given them a specific time for the interview. Please note that the time factor is important for everybody irrespective of their status.

Moreover please understand all applicants should be respectfully treated at least in some shelter with a roof. We Sri Lankans have a culture of our own and we are recognized worldwide for our hospitality, and I never expected this kind of treatment from your office. For your information I wish to state that I did not apply for permission to study or for an employment in U.S.A. We were simply seeking permission to see your country.

I have visited countries such as Japan, Italy, Australia, etc., and never faced such an embarrassing situation. However I have already given up any fancy idea of visiting your country with my family. I rather stand tall and not bow to stupid unreasonable rules of an embassy.

A sweet remedy
Recently a nun came to me for treatment for an eye ailment and she happened to have a chronic wound on her leg for more than one year. I told her about bees’ honey which is mentioned in the Quran as a treatment for many diseases.
She came to me after some time to thank me, for this wound of hers which was giving trouble for over a year had healed exactly in three days.

Many readers called me or wrote to me after my last article on this to say they also have tried this remedy and have found it to be effective. Some even tried it on wounds of their pets and found it to be curative! I hope hospitals too would try this remedy, known to many old grandmothers so that we can reduce the number of floor patients which the government seems to be concerned about.

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