Letters to the Editor

Keep religion, race and language out of Lankan politics
The strength of a chain lies in its weakest link. The weakest link in Sri Lanka is the racial and religious minority groups. For a country that is finding its feet economically, socially and culturally, the unity of its people as a whole is vital for progress. Strife and discord in a household invariably lead to a breakdown in a family; so is it with a country.

There is considerable fear and suspicion among religious and racial minority groups that they will be discriminated against in employment, education and other opportunities.

The way to allay such fears and to marshal the human resources of the entire nation is to write into the constitution specific safeguards to guarantee fundamental rights of individuand guidelines for politicians and political parties.

Religious, linguistic and racial issues should be prohibited from being made the subject of politics. Legislation to this effect must be introduced to debar politicians from making such issues the plank of their political platform. A developing nation such as ours, where unemployment and social inequality are the order, requires only a spark of emotion to ignite the inflammable racial and religious haystack.

Hitler was able to rouse a dormant nation and unleash the horrors of war and racial tyranny because of poverty and unemployment in Germany. Man denied the necessities of life easily turns into an animal. It is then that acid enters his soul. The fact that any emotional appeal finds mass support among the poor and the less fortunate flows from this reasoning.

Constitutional amendments should be made to set up an all-party body to resolve religious, linguistic and racial questions on the basis of unanimity. Democracy, as one wit remarked, 'is not only a counting of heads, but also the counting of heads within limits'. Countries such as Pakistan under the late Ayub Khan and Egypt under the late Gamal Abdul Nasser understood this wisdom and made vast strides economically and socially.

Unbridled freedom in a developing community such as ours can be the freedom of the wild ass. Politicians making use of this unbridled freedom have romped into power by confusing the masses with religious and racial cries.

We have the classic example of Britain, the cradle of parliamentary democracy. When faced with the problem of coloured immigrants and the riots at Notting Hill, the constituent parties of Parliament at that time unanimously agreed to refrain from making it an issue at the parliamentary elections that followed immediately after.

Here in Sri Lanka, political success whether of individuals or of parties depends, by and large, on the size of the sop offered to the communal Cerberus. Our only chance of building a nation lies in introducing adequate and detailed safeguards to expunge religion, language and race from the vocabulary of party politics.

Let all our political parties get together and forge on the anvils of common consent a strong and abiding link that would withstand the ravages of racial, religious and linguistic discord for all time.

Save commuters from railroad hooligans
A few days ago, some boys pelted stones at a train somewhere close to Seenigama. A woman who suffered severe head injuries was rushed to the Karapitiya hospital in Galle.

It was also reported that some women who were with the boys had encouraged them to throw stones. This is not the first time an incident like this has taken place. Sometime back, a fish mudalali got a group of people to throw dirty water on a commuter with whom he had a dispute.

As a result innocent people were drenched to the skin with stinking water. I do not know how these people who had to take another bus got back home. Apart from a perverted few, many train communters vehemently condemn such despicable behaviour.

The divine right of dynastic dictatorship
The UPFA seems to be pock-marked with contradictions over many an important issue and keeps sending out confusing signals to a bemused electorate. The most recent of these contradictory signals is an unambiguous public statement (Daily Mirror of March 3), by one of the national organizers, a Bandaranaike at that, of the UPFA, that he will be the next President, and that with him will end the Bandaranaike dynastic rule.

In almost the same breath, another Bandaranaike, and no less a person than the leader of the UPFA and the Head of State, has stated quite categorically, that when the UPFA comes into power, the presidency will be abolished. This solemn undertaking has been echoed, quite vociferously, by the other National Organiser of the UPFA.

It is obligatory on the part of the UPFA to reveal, quite unequivocally, its stand on this most important issue. Surely, the people have a right to know, who will have the right to rule this country, after All Fools Day!

Or do we await that dawn, when Rosmead Place will be the Versailles of Sri Lanka – a Pharoah sits, in all his glory, in President's House while a queen reigns at Temple Trees, and we witness the execution of the divine right to rule by dynastic dictatorship ?

A station with a big difference
The guard on duty smiles and beckons you inside. You walk through a neatly laid-out garden. Inside the building, the walls are purple, cream and butter yellow. A telephone booth is available for public usage in the foyer area.

At the reception, a smiling lady actually puts her palms together to say "Ayubowan". The reception has flowers. She smiles and records your name and asks you the reason for your visit and directs you to the relevant department.

Inside everyone is courteous and you are given attention immediately. There is adequate seating and since there are no delays - no throngs of people either. Framed posters highlight the five Japanese management techniques of Jasteca Taiki Akimoto "5 S system".

One of Senaka Senanayake's beautiful paintings of parrots hangs prominently on the walls. A TV mounted on the wall has 24-hour news on cable T.V. Also in the background is music playing on a public address system. A large fish tank adorns one corner.

This is believe it or not, the Kirullapone Police Station. Congratulations, Officer-in-charge Suresh Warnasuriya. After my matter had been attended to, on my way out, I happened to compliment the receptionist who persuaded me to write a comment in the "visitor's book".

I spoke to the O.I.C. briefly. He proudly showed me a merit award the police station had received from the Akimoto Foundation for successful implementation of the management principles.

OIC Warnasuriya said that well-laid out garden and the neat and clean station were all thanks to the efforts of the officers. Every morning, music was played for five minutes, during which every one did their daily tidying and cleaning up. Since the filing systems are up-to-date all matters can be attended to in minutes.

Inspector Warnasuriya himself is very polite and claims that the manner you speak and the tone of the voice are very important. Just because a police officers wears a uniform, it does not give him more powers than others. He is just another human being.

The inspector said he always reminded his staff that they should respect everyone, whether innocent or guilty. A big bouquet to this station- May all other police stations follow this example!!

Let us bring about a Buddhist social order to protect Lanka
There may be millions more like me, wondering how to put an end to corruption, nepotism, inefficiency, poverty, violence, and injustices that plague this nation. These destructive phenomena, for some reason or the other, continue unchecked and undisturbed, eating into the resources of the country.

The country is in severe debt. We are, however, nearing the third Parliamentary general election in less than four years. Unscrupulous politicians, since Independence have put self and party interests before the country’s interest.

The present electoral system too has caused immense harm to society. If we had had statesmen or women of the calibre of Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Mahathir Mohamed of Malaysia or Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore, they could have easily taken this country forward. Let us, therefore, not make the same mistake by being politically green, blue or red. A decision has to be taken carefully in the interest of the country and its people.

The Sri Lankan voter in the past has been vastly influenced by election promises such as bringing rice from the moon or creating a dharmishta society. The innocent voters have accordingly no doubt been taken for a ride and had to pay the price in several ways.

Educational institutions, health, the Railways and other government facilities which were once run efficiently are being shut down or privatized with an excuse that the global trend is privatization. The country needs righteous, dedicated, honest, sincere, truthful and hardworking leaders who could devote more than eight hours a day for governing the country.

Present day politicians are fundamentally in conflict with the basics in governance, namely, truthfulness and righteousness. A social system which runs counter to the Dhamma, which encourages or condones unethical behaviour, is bound to bring widespread misery and destitution, not only for human beings, but for the entire natural order as well.

The scenario now needs total change. The country is on the brink of disaster. However, various facilities such as luxury cars, trips abroad and pension status after five years etc., have been provided to members of Parliament. There is no doubt that these facilities have been provided to enable them to make their contribution efficiently and effectively to serve the country better. I do not think that these individuals, if re-elected, could carry the country forward, particularly when we are confident that they do not have the capacity, ability, honesty, integrity and commitment for the purpose.

The late Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera is one who would always be remembered for the services he rendered to the people. The Buddha's teachings offer a wide-ranging conception of the human being as a complex entity having a diversity of needs which all must be met to ensure happiness and well-being. These needs fall into a well defined hierarchy of importance, which we might here consider as threefold. At the base of the hierarchy is the physical need of the basic requisite of existence: clothing, food, a comfortable dwelling, medical care, transportation, energy, tools and so forth. At the next level are social needs: for education, family, friendship and personal intimacy, participation in a community, and meaningful work. At the highest level are spiritual needs: for moral rectitude, mental development and wise understanding of the true natural life.

It is therefore, important that a social order guided by Buddhist principles would create opportunities for all these needs to be satisfied and would see that no one is frustrated in their aspirations to lead a contented life.

A Buddhist social order will ensure that all members of society are able to satisfy their material needs. Buddhism encourages restraint, simplicity and contentment and it promotes a fair distribution of basic necessities so that no one has to suffer deprivation. In the Sigalovada Sutta, the Lord Buddha has minutely defined the reciprocal duties of parents and children, husband and wife, employer and employee, friend and friend, teacher and students, monks and laity.

Thus in a sound and healthy social order spiritual vision will guide the formulation of economic and social policy. In a Buddhist social order, based on Buddhist teachings, with a final goal of attaining Nibbana, true Buddhist virtues would play a dominant part in developing a social organization favourable to all with no extravagant benefits to a few and considerable misery and deprivation to a majority. Since we have not resorted to improving our social pattern, we are yet a third world nation.

It appears, therefore, after years of destruction, even mayhem and murder, the Sangha now comes with an all important message to all Sri Lankans irrespective of their religion. The Sangha, I have no doubt, will represent all peoples and all religions. I feel confident that particularly those monks who have joined the fray and earned the highest respect of the masses, are eminently suitable to create an impact in Parliament to pressurize politicians to think of the country first without running the country into further ruin and disaster.

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