Letters to the Editor
View(s):Time to revive angampora
Last week’s issue of the Sunday Times carried an advertisement from the Department of Physical Education of the University of Colombo calling for qualified persons for instructors in twelve subjects. Some of the subjects are, elle for women and men, kabadi, yoga, scrabble and carrom. I feel it is unfortunate that angampora, an ancient traditional form of martial art, is not included in the list.
During British times this form of art had been banned and those who indulged in it were punished. But it did not die completely as some practitioners probably secretly passed it from generation to generation.
Recently I was told that the offensive circular had been withdrawn and a new interest in angampora has been generated with a few schools coming out to train.
In this background the University of Colombo could take the initiative
and revive this dying art.
Dr. P.G. Punchihewa Via email
A bouquet to the medical staff at Nuwara Eliya hospital
My labourer when on leave and in Nuwara Eliya had accidentally slashed his thigh while using his axe. He praised every single member of the medical team of the Nuwara Eliya Hospital who attended on him – it was like hotel service, he said with clean, wholesome food too.
TLC (tender loving care) were the first lessons we learnt at the School of Nursing and praiseworthy are those who still render it to the sick. Commendable are the spontaneous works of these senior and junior staff, for beside the miraculous surgery carried out recently, they care for the majority – less privileged people with dedication.
S.M.P. Perera (Retired Nurse)
For or against: Ranil, the JVP and 13A
Harini Amarasuriya (HA) of the NPP put the JVP into a difficult position by giving a prompt answer to a question on the 13th Amendment. In short, she said “We are for it.” Now the question is whether she meant the NPP or JVP or both.
Later, at a different forum, when Tilvin Silva, the JVP’s General Secretary was questioned about HA’s utterance, he gave a “Malle pol” reply and avoided revealing his party’s actual stance.
Maybe, by bringing 13A to the forefront, Ranil Wickremesinghe who knows that his party has nothing to lose by being ‘For’ or ‘Against’ it, is trying to put all the other parties, at this election time, into a tricky spot on the Amendment, and also to stifle all protests he is facing at the moment over many other grave issues.
Buddhi Perera Via email
Heed those fears over 13A
A recent paper by the well-known researcher Dr Raoul Mc.Laughim, originally from Ireland had in his findings stated that during pre-Christian times Sri Lanka had diplomatic relations with Rome.Emperor Claudius 41-54 BCE had received a delegation from Sri Lanka which at the time was known as Taprobane to both the Greeks and Romans. Currently this paper is available on the internet.
It is a well-known fact that Sri Lanka is among the few countries that has a history that has been written for more than 2500 years. Not only that. it developed a unique culture of its own embodying a unique script, a unique language and unique laws and customs and when it came to defending it, the islanders fought against the invaders, intruders, and plunderers from both west and east. In this effort the Buddhist clergy was in the vanguard. So they, the Maha Sangha have an obligation and a right to safeguard it.
Javid Yusuf, one-time Ambassador, in his article to the Sunday Times on February 12 under the title “Unnecessary hullabaloo over the 13th Amendment” states that many of those who cry foul when the 13th Amendment have only one bogey to raise namely that the implementation of the 13th Amendment can lead to separation.” It is not so. Even now certain things are happening which normally the majority community would have resented. Once the 13th Aamendment is approved their fear is that they would be helpless.
Mr. Yusuf also states, “Those who have reservations about the full implementation of the 13th.Amendment could have articulated their fears in writing when the President gave them a deadline to do so by February 4. However they have not done so.”
Mr. Yusuf seems not aware that the Mahanayakas of the four Nikayas had addressed the President on this issue but had no reply.
C.B. Punchibandara Via email
A wake-up call to high wage-earners
As a person who took part in the 2022 Aragalaya which struggled to chase out a foolish President and to have a change of system which would benefit the downtrodden masses, I am disgusted (though I too am affected) to see how our so-called professionals and intellectuals now gather en masse and make a deafening clamour over their tax deductions.
Only a very few of them took part or supported the Aragalaya. They were never disturbed over how a corrupt regime ruins a country, and many of them supported what was going on.
True, some are badly affected by the recent tax deductions, but were they not aware about the condition of the majority of their fellow countrymen? They are now threatening that they would leave the country if their taxes were not reduced or removed. They should shed their selfish attitudes and join with others to build up the country to a level which would provide a safe and comfortable life to every citizen.
J. Attanayake Via email
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