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Special Assignment6th June 1999 Religious star warsBy Frederica Jansz |
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Rs. 600 m for Muthurajawela peace complex or mumbo-Jumbo?
But religious elders and businessmen who have been approached for funds feel the scheme is based on some religious belief or an attempt to blame the whole ethnic crisis on supernatural forces instead of facing reality and taking responsible action. Grasping at straws and blaming external factors for the war that is raging in Sri Lanka, the two ministers have made the extraordinary request for funds on the advice of some South Indian priests who say that a Vishnu temple in Tiruchchirapalli has malefic effects on Sri Lanka. This temple, according to those priests, is facing Sri Lanka, thus casting evil effects. They believe this phenomenon is largely responsible for the turmoil in the country. The two ministers pushing the project are Anuruddha Ratwatte and Lakshman Jayakody. Dennis Ratwatte, a trustee of the proposed cultural centre project, is convinced that the temple in South India is bringing ill luck on Sri Lanka and something has to be done to counter it. Mr. Ratwatte told The Sunday Times it was not Lord Vishnu who was not looking upon Sri Lanka unfavourably but his benevolent view was being obstructed by a building, 35 feet above sea level. This was completed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M G Ramachandran in 1983. "It is this obstruction which is believed to be causing the havoc in Sri Lanka. Indian priests have told us that in order to counter these malefic effects, it is necessary to build a temple here. Located at the same height, 35 feet above sea level, this place of worship should face India and be surrounded by water. This is why Muthurajawela was chosen by the Indian priests themselves," he said. When we (I)visited the site at Muthurajawela (I) we found a foundation stone laid and the area guarded by police. Asked as to why this multi-religious concept is not being constructed in Mannar, which is directly in line of the malefic rays, Mr. Ratwatte said the conflict in that area did not permit such a venture. He said the Indian priests from this temple in Trichy had told government leaders, including the President, that the ill effects from this South Indian temple had caused the war here. He said assistance was being received from India too, to build the temple here. Businessmen told The Sunday Times that apart from a letter by Minister Jayakody requesting funds for the project, they were given no other detail of a scheme which some are describing as a project going from the sublime to the ridiculous. Plans are underway to sea-freight a massive statue of Lord Vishnu from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka. The project appears to be shrouded in secrecy because even Deputy Cultural Affairs Minister A.V. Suraweera says he knows nothing about it. Land Reclamation & Development Corporation Chairman G.F.P. Withana said he had only been asked to begin filling the chosen site but knew nothing more. The two ministers were not available for comment. But the first reaction from a Buddhist prelate was of shock and amazement. The Ven. Kamburugamuwe Nayake Thera, former Vice Chancellor of the Buddhist and Pali University said there was nothing wrong in building a cultural centre for all religions, but to do so in order to ward off evil effects from another religious site was "beyond comprehension." Hindu Council President Yogendra Duraiswamy said it was believed by
some that this gopuram at the Srirangam temple brought ill luck to Sri
Lanka. "If this is so, why is it that no such ill effects have been
noticed in the areas of Tamil Nadu which are south of the southern gopuram?"
he asked. Mr. Duraiswamy, regarded as one of Sri Lanka's top Hindu scholars, said no acknowledged authority in Hindu temple construction had come up with such a theory nor was there any scriptural reference to any such ill effects. "I feel this is superstition and should not be taken seriously. Naturally it follows that no counter measures need be taken to meet these so-called ill effects," he said. Mannar's Bishop Rayappu Joseph dismissed the whole theory saying evil did not stem from any religious site but from within the hearts of human beings. "This is a political gambit to attribute all the nation's troubles on evil spirits without taking responsibility for what has happened. This is a diversion to take people away from the reality of the situation today. Promoting religious amity is good. It is human beings in Sri Lanka who are the cause for the present havoc in this country and certainly not any religious site," Bishop Rayappu said. The reaction among the businessmen was varied. Aitken Spence Chairman Ratna Sivaratnam said both ministers had said in a letter that malefic effects from the Trichy temple needed to be warded off and financial support for this was required from the businessmen. Asked whether it was worth spending so much on such a project he quipped that peace at any cost was welcome but declined further comments. Moosajees Chairman Asker Moosajee was more forthright. He said some kind of religious star wars would not help solve the problems. He said he believed evil effects were largely man made and it was unthinkable to him to spend Rs. 600 million on such a project while millions of people were facing stark poverty. A more favourable response came from Associated Motorways Chairman Tilak De Zoysa. He said the concept was admirable and important, bringing about a multi-religious flavour such as in Kataragama and countering the ill effects. Eswaran Brothers Deputy Chairman D. Eswaran said he had already made a contribution for the cultural centre here but he did not believe the Vishnu temple had any malefic effects on Sri Lanka. "God Vishnu is ever merciful and kind and will never cause ill effects on any country or any place," he said. He said he felt the proposed temple in Sri Lanka also would bring blessings. Bogoda Premaratne, who heads a National Conference on Religion and Peace, strongly condemned the proposed project at Muthurajawela saying religion had now become an instrument of war. "It sounds ridiculous and this is the wrong way of using religion. Without educating people on religious values the easier way appears to be to waste money on brick and mortar. If there has been any evil eye from South India it has certainly not been from any building. Putting up statues, temples and churches, has no effect on the youth of this country who should instead be taught the values of religion. "These are all outward shows. Evil is rooted in the hearts of people and evil effects cannot be warded off in this manner. This is all mere superstition," Mr. Premaratne said. The cultural centre featuring Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian components, is to be built on a filled marshy area on the Western side of the buffer zone at Muthurajawela. In ancient times Muthurajawela was one of Sri Lanka's famous rice bowls
for producing the best 'muthu samba,' before the Dutch canal development
scheme was implemented. At present Muthurajawela is a mangrove swamp protected under the Wetland Conservation Project as a nature reserve for species of birds, butterflies, reptiles and the elusive salt-water crocodiles. Comprising 7,000 hectares, the Muthurajawela marsh and Negombo lagoon wetland ecosystem is situated at the doorstep of the most densely populated and economically important urban areas. It serves many uses and provides numerous services, both to people and nature. The system however at present is under severe stress caused by destructive fishing, encroachment, water pollution, and expanding housing areas.
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