Past political leaders have put their stamp on local politics and given it its present shape – a form of “conflict politics” that is peculiar to Sri Lanka.
In order to grab political power, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike stressed divisions of language and religion, and created an even greater rift between the Sinhalese and Tamils. Traditional rivalries fermented, leading to discontent, suspicion, and discrimination.
J. R. Jayewardene brought in “power politics”. Backed by an overwhelming majority in Parliament, he created an “Executive Presidency” that resulted in a single individual being elevated to a position of supreme power in the country, above even Parliament and the Judiciary, and answerable to no one – a concept born of megalomania.
Ranasinghe Premadasa was the ideal protagonist of this concept, but his “one-man show” saw the country and the economy advance, despite the presence of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and their terrorist activities.
Chandrika Kumaratunga had the necessary majority in Parliament to rid the country of the “Executive Presidency” but made no move to do so.
Mahinda Rajapaksa presently holds this Presidency, which is uniquely powerful, boosted by the fact that he was in power when victory over the LTTE was achieved.
All communities have struggled together as one nation to achieve Independence, but we have inherited conflicts and divisions. Politicians, regrettably, will not let these die.
Concerned Citizen,
Moratuwa
Resolutions I wish that others would make
It’s a forlorn hope to think that other people will care about one’s wishes in regard to New Year resolutions, but they would certainly brighten my day and year if they did.
Since there’s nothing to be lost in airing my secret wishes, here I am to put them down in print.
1. That people will stop parking at the entrance to houses, (especially mine), completely blocking the gate, leaving a locked vehicle there while they go about their errands.
2. That people would not indulge in long and loud conversations just on the other side of my parapet wall.
3. That neighbours would not choose the afternoon hours (1 – 3 p.m.), in which to start hammering away as if they were knocking nails all over their walls or chipping away at a rock.
4, That sales people would learn that 2 p.m. in the afternoon is not the best time to ring a door bell, if they intend to make a sale.
5. That people would realize, when they see a queue (say at a post office), that others who have waited patiently for their turn, feel aggressive when a late customer just marches past as if the queue were invisible and buys her/his stamps or whatever. And that the clerks on the other side of the counter - instead of meekly serving them - would have the guts to tell them kindly to join the queue.
6. That the “mal horas” who denude our gardens of flowers, would find some other honest income-generating occupation.
7, That people wouldn’t stand passively by when their dogs stop to poo at other people’s gates.
8. That the Animal Welfare Association would round up all the stray cats that seem to abound in Colombo – at least in my part of it.
9. That the many people who come knocking at the door with printed lists that require a donation, would accept a courteous apology in lieu of money, instead of refusing to take “No” for an answer.
10. That people would accept the fact that octogenarians (generally), have no desire to join FaceBook or You-tube or whatever, and are content just to be on e-mail.
11. And finally, that borrowers of books would feel honour-bound to return them to their rightful owners.
Of course, I have my own list of Things to Do in 2012 (most of it a repetition every year, I sadly confess), but as I finished writing down rules for other people, I realized that there is ONE good resolution which I must make and honestly try to keep, myself:
AVOID GETTING MAD AT THOSE WHO DON’T CARE TWO CENTS FOR THE RESOLUTIONS I WOULD IMPOSE ON THEM - WE ARE ALL FRAIL HUMAN BEINGS, BOUND TO IRRITATE ONE ANOTHER AT TIMES (but not ALL the time, one hopes).
Anne Abayasekara
Via email
Clowning
(crowning) glory
Some are concerned about the A, B and C
Some on the Z score alone
But the Clowning ( crowning ) glory of the episode is such
The Minister doesn’t seem to care much
He waived off the issue, saying it’s only a mistake
That could be rectified in no time
But the grief stricken children are drifting in a wave
Unable to reach the shores
To enjoy the perks given by the payers of tax
The beggars would do any mean deed
They sit tight on their exalted seats
With acolytes lying low at their feet
Disgusted,
Kandy
Food prices are killing
We are being crippled by the escalating cost of living. Ineffective price control of essential food items is confusing and frustrating for the consumer.
Many of us cannot afford the prices demanded. Our children need proper nourishment. It is pretty depressing when a person or family cannot be sure of a decent meal every day.Many of us earn salaries that are not in line with the prevailing cost of living. The authorities should find ways to make essential commodities affordable.
Jacintha John,
Wattala
Ananda Coomaraswamy’s name should live on – not be erased
I wish to register my profound disappointment over the news about the renaming of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha.
It seems necessary to remind ourselves, and inform those of the present generation who may not know who we are referring to, of the great scholar Ananda Coomaraswamy, whose book “Medieval Sinhalese Art” is an authoritative and indispensable source of knowledge about the traditional arts, crafts and folklore of Sri Lanka.
The book was published in English in 1908, and translated into Sinhala. Both versions have been reprinted many times over the years. The writing of “Medieval Sinhalese Art” was an intellectual feat and a labour of love, carried out to preserve a great heritage that is now in a steep decline. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy and his English wife Ethel should be remembered for their tremendous contribution towards the preservation of Sri Lankan culture. Edith’s monograph on traditional Kandyan embroidery is still used as a starting point in undergraduate classes in the local arts and crafts. Ethel became a weaver and an influential member of the British Arts and Crafts Movement after the couple returned to England.
Post-colonial creativity and the search for a modern Sri Lankan identity must start with a solid grounding in our own rich cultural heritage. Thanks to Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, we know a great deal about our cultural inheritance. We would be wandering in the wilderness without “Medieval Sinhalese Art” to anchor us in our culture.
When the road leading to the National Art Gallery was changed from Green Path to Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, I thought “better late than never.”
When Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha was changed to Nelum Pokuna, I thought: Cry, the beloved country, this surely is a death knell – a blow to our national pride. The renaming betrays a lack of sensitivity and gratitude.
Chandramani Thenuwara,
Teacher in Art and Design
Present judicial system is an under-performing enterprise
Much has been said and written about what happened at the Colombo High Court after judgement was delivered in the White Flag Case.
The lawyers and the general public behaved in a very high-handed and unruly manner, and some even abused the judges. Such behaviour is deplorable.
But we should also ask ourselves why the public acted this way.
The main reason is a loss of trust in our judicial system. During the past two decades, the judicial system has functioned as if it was a pro-government arm. The people have no one to turn to for redress.
A look at the outcome of court cases in that period, reveals a pattern of almost all politically coloured cases being decided in favour of the existing government. In the eyes of the general public, the present judicial system is a redundancy, an under-performing enterprise.
O tempora, O mores!
K. M. S. Perera
Rtd. Deputy Director of
Education, Agalawatte |
E-mail
