10th January 1999

• Ceylonese culture: one of the most hybrid
• We elected you to serve us
• Clean out the rubbish
• Show some mercy
• They have no right to obstruct
• Do something for all Kusumawathies

Ceylonese culture: one of the most hybrid

In this context it would be appropriate to reproduce a news item in the press way back during the times of the State Council (1936) and a speech made by the late B.H. Aluwihare, the M.P. for Matale, in the State Council; he was a Barrister (BCL) and was actively involved in the Independence movement along with Mahatma Gandhi and Shri Jawaharlal Nehru. He could have been identified anywhere as he sported the Gandhi Khadder Cap and the North Indian vest

The news item is reproduced here.

A Ceylonese culture!
Is there such a thing as a Ceylonese culture, and if so, what is it?
This is the question that arose in a debate a few days ago in a Literary Club in Colombo. Speaker after speaker got up and asserted that there is no such thing.
And then somebody went on to quote the following delightfully eloquent passage from a State Councillor, B.H. Aluwihare, apologising at the same time for his authority's "knowledge of history and geography." 
"Ceylonese culture.... is one of the most hybrid things on earth. It is born of Portuguese and Dutch culture and it is mixed up today with the British.
"In ancient days it arose in the tree of Vedda culture. It was enriched by the Hindus and the Aryans at the Ganges, and it was then touched by the fervour of the South Indian and the Tamil. 
I am not certain that we have not to some extent been enriched by the thought of the Negroes of Africa. I am not certain that we are not affected by adventures and traders from Arabia.

"Therefore, it is a most hybrid culture. It is certainly rich, but when you ask what Ceylonese culture is, the answer is that culture has come to us from all the ends of the earth. It has enriched us, and if ever we do boast of anything, it is that we have the wealth of the four corners of the world. It has enriched our vision, our mind, our literature; and that is what we are able to boast of - the breath of vision and the breadth of thought of our golden age."
"It is from Mr. Aluwihare's speech in the State Council on the subject of non-Ceylonese teachers". 
A large majority of the debaters I have referred to refused to believe in Mr. Aluwihare's theory". 

Let our historians and learned men, who have breadth of vision and breadth of thought, utilise these assets to the betterment of the country as a whole and build up harmony, goodwill and peace. May 1999, bring about the Year of Unity in Sri Lanka.

S. Thambyrajah

We elected you to serve us

Politicians should take serious note that the majority citizens of this country voted them to power as their representatives in Parliament to act and function as gentlemen. Irrespective of party politics, all decent and right-thinking people of our country should vehemently oppose such unruly and unbecomingly conduct. 

The voters too, on their part, whatever political party they belong to, should act with farsightedness and refrain from electing such individuals again as their representatives.

It is learnt through the media that a certain senior cabinet minister had stated in the course of his speech during the Budget debate, that the salaries of politicians would be increased, the reason being that it would be the means to safeguard and maintain their reputation and the sovereignty of the House. 

There seems to be no logic in such a statement. Our economy is plagued by a bleeding civil war for the past 17 years and a substantial proportion of Government revenue is being spent on the war effort. The need of the hour is sacrifice by everyone all round. First and foremost all Parliamentarians should shun their high style of living. 

The increase of salaries of Parliamentarians would also not serve as a panacea to reform those who lack the decency, good manners and fundamental norms of behaviour in Parliament. 

A code of Parliamentary ethics has to be formulated and those found contravening such rules of conduct and behaviour should be disciplinary dealt with - either fined or even dismissed. A perusal of the Hansards of the late fifties would bear sufficient testimony of the decent manner in which business in the House was transacted in humour and good faith between the Government and Opposition. 

At times of national crisis all parties rose to the occasion on a common agreement without holding it as an issue for political gain. 

Politicians, please do bear in mind - we elected you as our representatives to serve us. Do your part well and uphold the sovereignty of the House and maintain the respect of those who elected you. 

Don Sarath Abeyeskera 
Bandarawela

Clean out the rubbish

Everytime I visit Sri Lanka I am so disturbed to see the deterioration of the cities. The rubbish on the roads and the terrible conditions of the roads, the huge pot holes etc., are extremely depressing. Here are some thoughts that may help ease this problem.

1) Educate the public on the importance of good hygiene for good health:

(A) Through the schools - Parents and Teachers must through example and through education instill on the young, the importance of good hygiene and taking pride of the environment. Children must learn from birth and be made aware of recycling. Have bins for glass, plastic and paper. Instill in them the importance of using rubbish bins and not littering the streets.

(B) Through publicity campaigns using the media, newspapers and television. People are hooked onto the teledramas. The script writers should incorporate little skits that instill the importance of keeping the environment clean. How not to throw rubbish in their neighbours gardens and onto the streets, in front of their homes. How disease is caused because of unhealthy conditions.

2) Impose heavy fines for throwing rubbish on the roads etc.

(A) Appoint Municipal Inspectors to inspect and reinforce the law. Of course we have to make sure these inspectors are people of integrity. Otherwise they will line their pockets taking bribes instead of imposing hefty fines. 

(B) Impose fines on businesses, small or big, make them responsible for their frontage. The front of their buildings must be free of rubbish. For instance, if a fine was imposed on the building in that photograph, maybe we would not see rubbish underneath that sign that says "Keep the city clean".

(3) The Municipalities must clear rubbish more often, at least two to three times a week depending on the areas.

The rubbish problem must be resolved even though we still can't resolve the ethnic problem and we are still a war stricken country. Let us at least wage war on rubbish and have the satisfaction of a clean and beautiful Sri Lanka "Paradise". After all we are one of the most literate races in the world. Then why must we behave like uncivilized people? Let's get civic minded and take pride of our environment, our public health and the future of our children.

Chrisanthie Wickremesinghe 
Los Angeles

Show some mercy

The animal to be killed as it is done in our abattoirs senses death and is perturbed and agitated and suffers from fear psychosis and severe stress. The procedure is cruel, very cruel. The very reason not to show the knife to the animal is to eliminate or minimize it being disturbed. It is accepting the fact that the animal is able to recognize the death-dealing weapon.

But at our slaughter houses any slight resistance by the animal is met with a clout by a steel rod over the legs so that the animal falls on the ground and then is dragged, tied and pulled. Its head is severed in the presence of other animals awaiting their turn of cruel fate. While waiting some tear, some groan, some pass urine and excreta in fear and stress.

The "Dhah" method is to cut through carotid arteries and jugular veins and allow the animal to bleed. As there is no injury to the spinal cord the wounded animal experiences excruciating pain until sometimes - later cardiac arrest occurs and the animal loses consciousness and dies. But the butcher starts skinning the live animal, which is struggling in severe pain. So much for the Halal and Non-Halal methods of slaughter as practised in Sri Lanka. Therefore prevention of cruelty to animals should be one of the aims of the new Halal Bill which is going to be passed in Parliament.

The use of Bolt Pistol stuns the animal and it becomes unconscious so that the neck cutting ceremony occurs without the animal going through an agonizing time. The same is true of electrical stunning and these methods are practised in many countries such as Malaysia. Bolt Pistol and electrical stunning appear to be more civilized and a more humane method, as the animal goes to sleep as in the case of patients undergoing general anaesthesia.

Dr.D.P.Atukorale
Colombo 07. 

They have no right to obstruct

Are all these so called "Security Measures" necessary? Should the Police obstruct the right of movement from one place to another. Under what provision of the law are they denying the right of the citizen to move from one point to another in the shortest possible way?

Article 14 of our Constitution states "Every citizen is entitled to: 14 (g) "the Freedom to engage in any lawful occupation, profession, trade, business or enterprise," 14 (f) "The freedom of movement... ". This right is violated by barricading roads. Besides what is the impact, a tourist or potential foreign investor will have when he enters the city. 

Not only road blocks, barrels and sand bags dot the city and other areas while some of the roads are completely obstructed. Will these measures prevent bomb attacks? Today with modern weaponry like R.P.G.s, it is futile to try to protect the city by closing roads. 

Bombs have gone off in the capitals of many countries. The Police in those countries have not sealed off the main highways. 

All these security measures in modern times cannot prevent bomb attacks. Security should not be so apparent. 

Christian Professionals Union
Colombo 8 

Do something for all Kusumawathies

Arising from this account, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment should make a full inquiry into this case to find out:- 

1) How was it that the Passport number given in the insurance policy, issued by the National Insurance Corporation, did not tally with the actual passport number?

2) How is it that the Katunayake Unit of the Bureau at the Airport was able to pass this case when there were such discrepancies? 

3) The Sri Lankan Ambassador in Saudi should take this matter up with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia and get compensation for the poor woman. There seems to be some hanky panky somewhere along the line. 

4) In the meantime I would suggest to those who wish to help this woman and her family to send whatever contributions directly to her. 

I would also expect the Women's Rights Organisations to take up this matter immediately with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the constant violations of human rights in the Middle East countries. However I understand from some of these organisations that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is not their business, and that it is the business of the Ministry of Labour. As a result, nothing concrete is being done.

Amaradasa Fernando
Colombo 5

Return to the Plus Contents