Books

 

Child in the middle
By Esther Williams
A passionate campaigner for children’s rights, eminent paediatrician and head of the National Child Protection Authority Prof. Harendra de Silva launched his book 'Power Games in War and Peace' last week. In the book, which he has dedicated to all children who were sacrificed due to power struggles, he makes a plea to adults to play the role of peacekeepers.

The professor of paediatrics at the University of Kelaniya explains his concerns relating to politics and war, a field he admits to be outside his area of speciality. "We cannot devolve politics from the issue of child protection," he stresses.
Violence has become a part of life that we witness everyday. "By being silent, we become passive perpetrators!" he declares. He has decided to take a stand and hopes that it would prompt professionals and decision makers to address the problems.

Questioning the peace process, he says, "Are we taking the correct path?" He highlights issues such as child conscription and abduction that primarily affect children in the north and east.

As Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority of Sri Lanka, Prof. de Silva has been actively involved in child protection and welfare. The problems he encountered in the course of his work led him to campaign against various factors contributing to child abuse, such as paedophile activity.

Dr. de Silva calls for a change of attitude in society. "We need to see where we went wrong and work towards long-term solutions to protect our future generations," he says. Rather than concentrating on economic development, we need to invest on social development.”

Speaking at the launch, veteran journalist Edwin Ariyadasa commended Dr. de Silva's exercise of analyzing the peace process and bringing to light issues that needed redress.

Children’s and women's rights activist, Dr. Hiranthi Wijemanne reiterated that politicians look for short-term solutions. It is thus left to civil society to take matters into their hands. "To regain Sri Lanka we need to start with children, our future. We need to protect them from all forms of violence and abuse."


Sybil Wettasinghe’s latest book will leave readers purring for more
Captivating cat tales
It's an age-old story about the greatest rivals on earth with a lovely twist. Sybil Wettasinghe's new book for children, 'Strange Visitors to the Cat Country', is certain to be a hit among both the young and not so young.

Written in her simple style, what initially strikes one about the book are the illustrations. Wettasinghe's own simple lines and soft colours bring out the best in each character making even adults yearn to turn the pages for more.

"This is a story I wrote back in 1994, my purpose being to spread the message of peace and harmony," says Wettasinghe. The book was first brought out in Japanese and is a much-loved picture book in that country.

A Japanese-sponsored NGO, Surangani Voluntary Services then went on to publish the book in Sri Lanka in Sinhala, Tamil and English and it went on sale this year.
‘Cat Country’ where the story is based is a happy place. Cat people are active, for there's never a moment to laze around. Until the day they see a ship sailing towards their shore.

Nearly all the cats in Cat Country become enthralled with this object sailing the high seas. Not having seen a ship before, they gather at the beach and are amazed as strangers step out, dressed in many coloured clothes and wearing masks the likes of which the cat people have never seen.

Then drumbeats fill the air and the strangers move like the wind. Even though the Cat People are unsure of what is happening the beauty of their dance lures them and they take the visitors to meet the ‘Cat King’. The King asks that they perform their dance for him and they do, somersaulting in different directions in tune with the beat of the drum.

The most captivating factor about the book is the astute likeness Wettasinghe has drawn to man. Every movement, every illustration and every word spoken is identical to that of man. As the dance comes to end the Cat King insists that the strangers remove their masks - they refuse, saying that they have a very specific reason for wanting to do so. But unable to refuse the Cat King’s request the strangers unmask and horror breaks lose.

The simple language and Wettasinghe's style of writing make the book reader friendly.
Children are sure to love the soft pastel shades and the human-like poses the cats and their strange visitors take in the illustrations. The book ends unexpectedly, but happily as children's books usually do. But unlike most other books you'll be reaching for this book again and again. -RHG-


To know the child
Family duties and child rights by J.P. Wanniarachchi. Reviewed by Sajeeva Samaranayake
Appropriately titled, Mau-Piya Daru Wagakeem saha Lama Aithiwasikam (Duties of parents and children and child rights) the maiden publication on child welfare by veteran educator J.P. Wanniarachchi is a welcome addition to a meagre Sri Lankan shelf on this subject. The book contains a balanced mix of basic documentation on child rights, information on approaches to child welfare here and abroad and perspectives on child development. It can therefore function as both a reference text and a useful manual for the child care student, teacher and practitioner alike.

Drawing on his long experience as a teacher, principal and education administrator, the author introduces the reader, in simple language, to three broad strands forming this subject. These cover,

1. The global re-orientation towards doing the best for children;

2. How Sri Lanka has positioned itself within this international re-ordering of priorities; and

3. The relevance of understanding the process of child development in fashioning a rational approach to child rights.

The first strand examines the response of the international community based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (CRC). This accepted the fact that rights must be matched with relevant services in order to promote child development within the framework of a supportive, family-friendly society.

Wanniarachchi asserts a connection between democracy, human rights and peace and states that child rights cannot flourish within an overall context that does not accord equal respect to the humanity of all people. This is the holistic principle that has guided the United Nations in its work during the last fifty years. He traces the beginnings of UNICEF after World War II, created to safeguard the welfare of children in war- torn Europe.

Also specifically dealt with is its present global mandate in terms of the CRC to make a reality of the rights of the most disadvantaged children to live and grow in a protective environment in which their human dignity is respected. The author also explains the 'Triple A' approach that underpins the programmatic responses of UNICEF where a situation affecting children is assessed and analyzed before action is taken.

The second strand picks up the national response to the issue of 'child abuse' by successive governments and deals in detail with the work of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). Wanniarachchi summarizes the main initiatives launched by the NCPA during its first five years. These are:

* Creating awareness,
* Making use of a multiplicity of communication devices including an effective campaign against domestic labour,
* Focusing attention on corporal punishment,
* Rehabilitation and reintegration of abused children,
* Decentralization of functions through the establishment of District Child Protection Committees,
* Legal reforms to the criminal process and
* Skills development for building a multi-disciplinary knowledge base on child welfare.


He states that the efforts of this body within such a short period of time must be appreciated and applauded. The author's objective has been to produce a comprehensive basic manual for the childcare practitioner in Sri Lanka. This he has achieved in good measure adopting a positive tenor throughout. In keeping with this approach he does not critically evaluate the formal legislative response in falling back on an punitive approach to child abuse and neglect from 1995.

However the limitations of that approach become apparent when we move into the third strand of his book. This takes us to the realm of child development and child psychology. His lucid analysis of child development from birth to adolescence emphasizes the function of parents and a supportive society in nurturing the growing hearts and minds of children - not merely their bodies.

A truly scientific understanding of how abuse and neglect affects the cognitive, emotional and biological development of children is essential for society to devise a relevant and useful approach. This developmental perspective must inform decisions taken as to, what is abuse and neglect, when the State should act to prevent or protect against it and how effective such action has been. The development of official policy and local practice regarding child protection and child welfare based on the latest developmental knowledge is a national priority if Sri Lankan children are to reap the full benefit of the global movement for children. A significant challenge in this regard is the present lack of professional orientation towards child abuse and child welfare as a subject requiring serious study.

This makes Wanniarachchi's book essential reading for those engaged in decision making concerning children at every level. It is also hoped that it would find a place in the reading lists of students of social sciences and human resource development in both schools and universities. The pricing of this book at Rs. 175 is no indication of its value but is in accordance with the author's intention that knowledge on child welfare should be disseminated widely, not only amongst those working with children but amongst children as well.


The historian’s craft at its best
The second volume of Lakshman S. Perera's monumental trilogy on The Institutions of Ancient Ceylon from Inscriptions has seen the light of day 55 years after its completion. This is a sequel to Lakshman Perera's book, The Institutions of Ancient Ceylon from Inscriptions Vol. I (3 century BC to 830 AD) published in March 2001 by the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Kandy. The present volume covers the period 831-1016 AD and deals with political institutions. A third volume still in preparation, focusses attention on religious and economic institutions of the same period.

The International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Kandy and its Executive Director, Prof. Kingsley de Silva must be congratulated for masterminding this project and placing before the researcher the invaluable information unfolded in Lakshman Perera's doctoral thesis.

The three unwieldy volumes were lying in the Ceylon Room of the Library of the University of Peradeniya, where generations of students had used them so frequently that the paper had deteriorated. Despite the numerous problems that arose such as typing 1,500 brittle yellowed pages that could not be scanned, and annotating and updating the references to inscriptions used in the text after a period of 50 years, Prof. Sirima Kiribamune completed this laborious task assisted by Dr. Piyatissa Senanayake of the Department of Archaeology, University of Peradeniya.

hile the text has remained faithful to the original, the refinements to the footnotes, the dynastic tables and the comprehensive index has been completed with the professional competence and the meticulous attention to detail usually associated with Kiribamune's work.

Interpretations
Lakshman Perera's masterly work is path-breaking since he was the first to use epigraphical sources to unravel the unknown areas in the rich and diverse history of ancient Sri Lanka. Equally important are his thought provoking interpretations on the King and His Responsibilities, the Central Government, Provincial Government, Law and Administration of Justice, many of which have still not been challenged and continue to be part of the current historical debate in this country.

The findings of the author, 50 years ago proves beyond doubt the value and authenticity of the Mahavamsa, now discredited as myth by pseudo historians trying to push their own private agendas. The usefulness of the Mahavamsa as a structural framework within which to place the names of the kings who appear in the inscriptions is amply proved by the author in no uncertain terms thus, "It would not have been possible to construct a genealogy or to arrange the records in chronological order, except on the basis of the palaeography, but for the information supplied in the Mahavamsa, on names, virudas, relationship, lengths of the reigns and deeds of merit and valour.

Most of the inscriptions are royal grants or proclamations and because even private inscriptions often refer to the reigning king to fix the date of the inscription, most of the inscriptions can be arranged in chronological order and a genealogy can be drawn up." Despite the plethora of epigraphic evidence that has been unearthed our knowledge of the island's history would have been disconnected if not for this unique record left by the learned bhikkhus. The present work alone is proof that the Mahavamsa when substantiated by contemporary lithic records presents an authentic picture of many aspects of the island's history.

The inscriptions on the other hand supplement the literary sources whose main interest was religion and political events. On the administration of the religious institutions, the day-to-day economic life of the people, the land tenure system, the evidence of the inscriptions is invaluable. The evolution of the Sinhala script from Asokan Brahmi to the modern Sinhala script and the language from Proto-Sinhala to modern Sinhala and even the development of Sinhala grammar can be traced from a study of the inscriptions.

The period covered by this study (831-1016) extends from the reign of Sena I to that of Mahinda V. This marks the last momentous days of the Anuradhapura kingdom after which it was finally swept away by the Colas under Rajaraja. The inscriptions introduce us to an opulent and prosperous kingdom with an institutional life more mature than any met with before whereas the Mahavamsa supplies the details of strife, political intrigue and foreign aggression.

Immunities
By a skilful analysis of the inscriptions Lakshman Perera has extracted much useful information not found in any other source. The attani kanu which are plentiful at this time are records where the king lays down that royal and local officials of varying status should not enter lands or premises proclaimed immune. In addition to this freedom from interference, other concessions were also made, such as freedom from service on roads and tanks, exemption from certain taxes, guarantee of the supply of water for irrigation and freedom of trespass by processions with drummers and whip-crackers. It would have involved much labour and dedication on the part of the author, a product of S.Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia in the colonial era to understand and interpret these epigraphs written in 8th and 9th century Sinhala.

The author's penetrative study of the Badulla Pillar Inscription reveals the sophisticated administrative structure which reached the local level. Assuming that history is the sum total of human experience, the author gives in detail the organization of the market-town of Hopitigama presenting much data which should be of immense interest to the social and economic historian. It is worth noting that all four poya days of the month were mercantile holidays for the inscription states that whosoever trades on poya days will have to give a measure of oil for the offering of lamps at the Mahiyangana Ceitya. The Badulla Pillar Inscription provides a wealth of information regarding trade, weights and measures.

Law and justice
With regard to the perspectives on law and justice that emanates from Lakshman Perera's study of inscriptions, we are reminded of what Justice C.G. Weeramantry of the International Court of Justice has said in another context regarding Sri Lanka's legal system. "There are multiple sources of law. The law is not drawn only from the will of the king. The law comes from a multiplicity of sources going back to the Vedas and the ancient sacred books and all the higher principles that underlie the moral foundations of the law, which a literal view of the law tends very often to obscure. The monarch himself is subject to the law.

The concept of judicial integrity is deeply ingrained in our traditional and community attitudes. The concept of the rights of appeal-in fact multiple rights of appeal, was built into our legal system. The concept of community oriented administration of justice and of lay participation in the judicial system, the concept of resolution of disputes in an informal manner, rather than the strictly adversarial settlement of disputes leaves a legacy of bitterness between the parties and poisons community feeling thereafter. We also had a system of law which was based on emphasising duties rather than rights... and even concepts such as the concept of asylum and protected places found recognition in our legal system."

All those connected with this superb product, from the author down to the printer have shown a high level of professionalism. The paper, printing and binding done by Karunaratne & Sons has come up to international standards. The cover design is most appropriate giving an air of sober dignity like the author himself. His name Lakshman Susantha Perera written in the Sinhala script of the 9th and 10th centuries is a delightful idea.


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