Letters to the Editor

Fingerprinting - the ultimate humiliation
"There were other countries but Sri Lanka was chosen,” were the reported words of Higginson who launched the fingerprinting system at the British High Commission in Colombo.

When Ceylon was under British rule, in the official despatches to London, Governor Brownrigg (1812 - 20) stigmatised the Kandyans as "a horde of semi-barbarians". Well, now you see why we need to be fingerprinted! Do barbarians deserve anything better?

It has been reported that many prominent businessmen complained that they had been subjected to the indignity of queueing in the hot sun for fingerprinting. Given that they are usually the frenzied admirers of the British and everything that is British, it is good for them to experience the ugly side of the British.

At least now they will realize how ordinary Appuhamys, Pereras and Silvas are treated by the British High Commission. The imperialists of yesterday have not shed their imperial toga. It is easier to exploit the ex-colonial subject. His subjugation is brought about by the conditioning of his reflexes by various humiliating processes in his contacts with the imperialists of yesteryear. The minions need to be constantly reminded of their inferiority, that they were once a subjugated people.

In the days gone by, we were also a chosen nation for atrocities by British soldiers.
In January 1818, in a cave near Madulla, many Kandyans hid themselves from the marauding British soldiers of Col. Hook's regiment. They were detected and wiped out without mercy, even though they came out of the cave unarmed and shouting, "Don't shoot".

Lt. Maclaine was fond of hanging Kandyan prisoners without trial, just outside his quarters. Col. Hook was no better. He hanged anyone he suspected. One victim was Mawattagama Nilame, a close relative of the then Nayaka Thero of Asgiriya. All the atrocities committed by the British are too numerous to list here.

Governor Brownrigg was aware of the abuses. Yet, he presented his soldiers to his superiors in London as men of "persevering zeal and ardour which cannot be surpassed but rarely equalled". The Kandyans fought the British, on and off, right through to 1848.

Then another massacre of 200 Kandyans took place in the jungle around the Wariapola Estate bungalow in Matale. Capt. Watson was the man responsible. But Governor Torrington recommended to Earl Grey in London, that "the zeal displayed in the active discharge of public duties induce me to think his (Capt. Watson's) case is deserving of the outmost consideration and indulgence" (Co/54/260). Capt. Watson remained a free and admired soldier!

This brief journey into history is to show that the attitude of the British towards the Sri Lankans hasnot changed since colonial times. In Fanon's words, "The native is declared insensible to ethics; he represents not only the absence of values, but also negation of values. He is the corrosive element, destroying all that comes near him" (The Wretched of the Earth). Therefore, he should be distanced, dehumanised and humiliated so that "he is reduced to the level of superior monkeys", (Sartre) to reinforce the superiority of the white imperialist.

What can we do against this degrading imposition? Everyone should make the loudest protest. Those who need visas should also register the fact that they were coerced to be fingerprinted. It is a disgrace to the very memory of Puran Appu that a descendant of his, in his official capacity, did not even make a whimper of protest against this humiliation of his countrymen!

With the Kandyan genes still in me, I call upon the British government to stop the fingerprinting of my countrymen forthwith and tender the Crown apology still due to the Kandyan Buddhists for the oppression and barbarity imposed on them.

Save Lanka
Sri Lanka consists of nine provinces and the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims live in all of them. The temporary merger of the north and the east by President J.R. Jayewardene aggravated the ethnic problem.

TELO MP Selvam Adaikalanathan is reported to have said that if the north and the east were demerged it would end in a bloodbath. Mr. Selvam should remember that historically, prior to the British period the whole of Sri Lanka, excluding the Vanni and the Western Province belonged to the Kandyan kingdom. (Paper presented to the OPA by Professor Kodikara, elaborated by A. Denis N. Fernando, international cartographer, published in the newspapers.)

The only democratic way out of the present dilemma is: *De-merge the north and the east as two separate provinces. *Appoint two governors and other officers to reconstruct the two devastated provinces speedily.

*Resettle the displaced as far as possible in their former homes. Eventually hold elections. Mere globe-trotting on a wild goose chase will only delay the issue.

Beware of friends
The Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims of Sri Lanka take pride in saying that they are the descendants of great kings. But the fact remains that they are also the descendants of a subject race. For more than three centuries Sri Lanka was ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch and finally the British.

We never fought and won independence. Independence was thrust on us. The Britishers having lost their hold on India in 1947, showed little reluctance to grant independence to Sri Lanka.

The ethnic crisis which the country has been facing has now been internationalised. While some friendly countries are trying to help us, we need to be careful of others who may be having their eye on our land.

Let’s see the light of peace
The real need of the hour is permanent peace.
Tho' senseless killings and violence did cease
'Cos ceasefire did bring about a temporary peace.
In the midst of tension, stability flees,
There'll be no prosperity without peace
Forget the dreadful past and look forward please.
Let those bent on violence, begin a new lease.
Let the parties hold on to the olive branch please.
Let's see the steady flame of the light of peace
Let there be no road blocks on the path to peace
Let this opportune moment, all sides seize
Let's return to the halcyon days please.

Controlling the stray dog menace
No dogs have been killed at the Kandy dog pound in the last six months. Instead, humane methods of eliminating rabies - by vaccination and sterilization of dogs - are carried out under a Kandy Municipality pilot project. Earlier these animals were gassed to death.

Funds for sterilization are, however, running short and we may have to stop this humane method of preventing the spread of rabies. Sterilization helps to reduce breeding and thus prevents strays from having litters. As rabies is spread by stray dogs, reducing their population will definitely bring down the rate.

The University Veterinary Hospital charges Rs. 350 to sterilize a stray and if people could contribute this sum to sterilize one dog a month, the Kandy Association for Community Protection through Animal Welfare (KACPAW) can takeover sterilization at the dog pound. KACPAW can be contacted on 08-2223378.

A dog's life
The dog is man's best friend. There is a story that Prince Vijaya and his men were guided to the place where Kuveni lived, by a dog. But it is pathetic how puppies are treated today.

They are abandoned by the roadside and often run-over by vehicles. Others die of starvation after suffering for several days.

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