1st November 1998

Why such brutality?

It is with a deep sense of sorrow I write this in reference to the death of Raja the Tusker who had served for fifty long years at the Kandy Dalada Perahera and at temples such as Bellanwila, Kelaniya and Gangarama. The news item which appeared in the "Lak Bima" newspaper dated 27. 09.1998 was most shocking and dreadful.

According to eye witnesses, not even two hours persore after the burial of this poor animal, four had been seen hacking its head, tongue and trunk in the most cruel and barbaric manner for the purpose of removing its valuable tusks. The grave had been a pool of blood with the elephant's flesh strewn all over.

Worse and worse still, according to these eye witnesses four Buddhist monks had been seated watching this.

Can one imagine this sort of cruelty in this Buddhist country of ours where religious activities are held everywhere, and in the early hours of the morning pirith chanting, religious talk and maithri bhavana are heard over the radio. There are some who embrace Buddhism and speak of compassion but do not have human feelings towards anything on earth.

On behalf of all animal lovers, I wish to make this specific appeal that effective action should be taken regarding such happenings and those responsible for such cruelty be severely dealt with, so that cruelty to animals would be eliminated in this Buddhist country of ours.

Seetha Basnayake
Badulla.

Not at liberty to show what we want

I refer to the Feature Article headlined "Where do you go for fun....?" on page 14 of the Mirror Magazine of October 25.

In the earlier days the cinema was the most attractive form of entertainment, especially for middle class families because there was a variety of films available which had public appeal. But what has happened to the cinema exhibition trade. One of the persons interviewed by your journalist, Chamintha Thilakarathna has quoted a reader, Ms. H. Pathirathna with regard to the movie entertainment today. She has stated, "there are few movie options if one is looking for a family evening out. We could go either to the Liberty or the Majestic. Liberty is screening a series of Hindi movies...."

We should like to explain that the sole supplier of films today is the National Film Corporation and although the Liberty Cinema was reputed for screening the best of English films we are unable to source our films of foreign origin and compelled to screen what is supplied by the National Film Corporation. This sorry state of affairs is a result of controls and high tariffs on cinema admission rates imposed by the National Film Corporation. It is regrettable and strange that while there are no controls on all other media providing entertainment, strict controls are continued on the film industry.

We owe it as a duty to our multitude of patrons who have patronised the Liberty for decades to explain the plight of the cinemas. Today, where the Liberty is concerned (and it is so with the other cinemas too), we are not sure what films would be supplied for screening by the National Film Corporation. We cannot give publicity to a "Next Change" or "Coming Attraction" because the National Film Corporation is unable to inform us in advance what films would be made available. Whilst thanking your paper and those who were interviewed for bringing out this position with regard to the film industry, we too look forward with them to continue our business which we have been doing for the last 50 years. Just as much as the patrons are looking forward to good entertainment, we are also anxious to provide them with that.

Liberty Cinemas Ltd.,
Colombo.

Plenty of soya vs GST

HI PRO SOY is the name of the sales centre which functions as a fast food outlet of soya products, adjoining the YMCA gymnasim close to the Commercial Bank at Kotugedella Veediya, Kandy.

This is very popular not only among the vegetarians but also others who don't mind climbing the several steps leading to it.

This was started by PLENTY, Canada as a project to popularise soya claimed to be the cholesterol free high protein wonder bean out of which many tasty items such as short eats, ice cream and milk are made. PLENTY team leader Gerry Channer, a Canadian stated before his departure that he hoped the centre would carry on to serve mostly the not so affluent.

Now the centre employs over a dozen personnel some of whom are not so courteous.

The prices of products are also going up but the regular customers have to grin and bear.

Now even the GST is added and the products are beyond the reach of the ordinary customer. As expressed by the authorities, if GST is not for prepared food items of this nature, how come that it is added to the bill when soya products available at HI PRO SOY are purchased?

Vee Jay
Kandy

A way to remember Rita

I am very confident that none of the citizens of Sri Lanka will disagree with me if I appeal and propose to the Minister concerned and the Mayor of Colombo to name the Crows Island Promenade "Rita Jones Promenade", in memory of the young lass who met a tragic death at the hands of lecherous beasts on the beach at Crows Island.

this immortal memorial will make the lecherous beasts, pick pockets,and dope dealers think twice before they leap.

Kingsley Kodippily,
Negombo.

Send them to the gallows

The public is entitled to presume that the decision to do away with the death penalty was influenced by a desire to make this country Dharmishta and expecting the people to appreciate this change and respond to the preaching and guidance of all members of the clergy and social institutions by their becoming Dharmishta themselves.

Or was this done due to pressures and to satisfy sections of the clergy and religious bodies!

Whatever the reason was for doing away with the death sentence, when it was obvious that after the past era when killings and display of dead bodies became the order of the day and drug related offences on the increase, the death penalty was brought back but never implemented.

The Government must at least now reconsider the situation taking into consideration not the expressions of those who pontificate about "maithriya" and forgiveness and the question of right of man to take the life of man, but act to save the lives of thousands including children.

The number of rape incidents recorded nears a thousand this year and we know that the actual total must be about 2500 to 3000.

The numbers include several rape murders, not only of young women but children and several old women. Apart from the usual hoodlums there are several recorded instances of close relatives and even fathers raping their own children.

The "death sentence" as well as "life sentence" mean nothing now as we all know that after a few years those who commit the vilest crimes come out endangering society.

Rapists are bailed out and are free to use influence and buy up witnesses or worse still to continue raping fresh victims as in the recent case where the main culprit was on bail after a previous rape charge arrest.

How many more rape killings and organised premeditated murders will be required before real effective action is taken? Men who commit rape and premeditated murder and hired killers can never be reformed as this is a base uncontrolled inborn trait.

Just as they do not value life or have any sympathy for the victims and care little about their pleas, tears and fear, a few years free board and lodging at state expenses cannot change them and in any case the state has no right to take a chance with them at the risk of some other victim's life.

Rape of children is as serious as murder and simple settlement with easy sentences or fines and compensation paid has become a joke now.

Although few speak out openly, I can vouch for the fact that every person I met and who referred to this situation agreed that the death penalty must be introduced and implemented and that other punishments for serious offences, gang robbery, premeditated murder, rape and drug related offences should be increased.

A mandatory minimum punishment should be brought in without delay.

The people who commit these offences have no fear of punishment as it exists today.

Punishments meted out by the law have to serve three objectives namely (a) to punish a wrongdoer for the offence - punitive object (b) to set an example to the rest of society and deter them from committing such acts - (c) to satisfy the injured parties thereby making personal revenge unnecessary.

Are we today achieving any of these objectives in the true sense of the judicial requirements and in keeping with the needs of todays' society?

Dhanapala Weerasekera
Colombo.

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