Are astrologers running or influencing the day-to-day affairs of the top political leadership in crisis-ridden Sri Lanka today? Recently a 'Sunday Times' article on an Indian astrologer and some dire predictions by him were discussed at a Cabinet meeting amidst a stormy situation. Two important ministers went to the extent of taking time off from their busy schedules to write to 'The Sunday Times' regarding those astrological predictions.
All this reminds us of some horror-scope days in the Premadasa era. That late President was known to bathe in milk to ward off evil spirits only to die at the hands of an assassin who was in his own kitchen. No astrologer warned him of that. And the CID was too busy chasing journalists to know what was really happening. Some of those who joked about Mr. Premadasa's jugglery then now find themselves at the wrong end of the joke.
Many believe that important political decisions today are being taken on the basis of what some astrologers say. We are told that bad times for some people at the helm of affairs have set in from mid this week. Suddenly all schools were closed until further notice, just days after the government launched a major diplomatic initiative to tell the world that Colombo was safe for Australia and the West Indies to play their World Cup matches here.
Island wide Bodhi Poojas and Pirith ceremonies were also launched from last night to protect the country, its leaders and people. Essentially this is a good tradition where people while going through struggles and conflicts seek supernatural blessings. It is good at a personal and even at a national level when a nation is going through raging waters or the hottest fires. But blessings could become curses when the leaders of the country allow themselves to be totally immersed or enveloped in what astrologers tell them to do for the country.
Historians say British intelligence got Hitler's horoscope in a bid to anticipate his next act of megalomania. Indeed it is lonely and insecure at the top. Power demands a high price from its practitioners and absolute power perhaps demands the highest price. Surrounded only by bodyguards and those singing their praises, leaders surely fear the unknown. They are then susceptible to astrologers who virtually prey on them.
There is no escape from reality. While star gazing and plotting the planetary changes are one thing, to run the state on such mumbo-jumbo is ridiculous to say the least.
In this second editorial also today we wish to refer to another matter in areas that range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Recently a group led by a young politician has announced plans to seek official recognition as a Christian Political Party.
The Catholic Church has warned that the emergence of parties such as this so-called United Christian Congress could cause religious sectarianism with adverse results for a country that is already divided. Bishop Malcolm Ranjith's has commented that solidarity, justice and brotherhood have to be with all the religions. Seven main line Christian churches have also dissociated themselves from the new party.
The organisers of this party profess noble ideals of humanity and claim they are multiracial though they have used a Christian name to attract attention of world powers. Comments made by the new party leader in an interview with 'The Sunday Times' today, more than hints that they are playing a religious card to get into Parliament. Self gain or self glory cannot surely have nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Even the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress could claim to be multiracial since it has one Sinhala MP but sadly the SLMC has exclusively been concerned only about its own community, and sometimes their own financiers as seen recently when it came to the recognition of Israel. That type of politics is not good for a multiracial, multireligious Sri Lanka. Parties that serve only the interests of one community do not foster development towards equality for all before the law. Not only a Muslim Congress or a Tamil Congress, any moves towards the formation of a Sinhala Buddhist party also would hinder rather than help in building a united Sri Lanka. But it is these communal Parties that give rise to what is called fashionably as Sinhala Buddhist Chauvinism. The sooner they are extinct the better it is for a United Lanka.
The tragic experience of Bosnia has showed us the dangers of having racial or religious enclaves. We would like to remind sectarian elements, including the new Christian party of the immortal words of W. S. Senior, a Christian poet who lived and worked in Sri Lanka - "And so shall I sing of thee Lanka in the brave new days to come; when the races have all blended and the voice of strife is dumb; when we leap to a single bugle and march to a single drum."