Books
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Eye
on the assets of Lanka Reason one; the strategic location of Sri Lanka (at a strategic point in the Indian Ocean, covering 2,850,000 sq miles, touching the shores of the Indian subcontinent in the North; Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia in the East; Antartica in the South; and East Africa in the West) Reason two; Sri Lanka’s most valuable asset – the eastern Trincomalee harbour. These
are the reasons why the big neighbour, India is keen to keep an
ever watchful eye over its tiny tear drop shaped neighbour Sri Lanka,
its global diplomatic connections and the politics that embroil
this island nation. As
the author reminds us, Trincomalee has immense significance in this
day and age of nuclear weaponry and nuclear submarine-based missile
systems. In
‘The strategic significance of Sri Lanka’, it is shown
how international diplomatic relations between the indigenous Kandyan
kingdom and the European powers in the 18th and 19th centuries had
been based on who would use Trincolmalee harbour. The author explains
the British- French rivalry to acquire Trincomalee as their prime
objective and highlights the post-war/post-independence diplomatic
relations of the then Ceylon government. Somasundaram’s book takes us through the diplomatic wrangle for the Trincomalee harbour and through the arrival of the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean in 1498 and its capturing of Colombo in 1654 and their consequent establishing of authority over the country’s coastal maritime region. The Dutch, French and the British, followed in dominating the Indian Ocean with the Dutch taking over Trincomalee in the 17th century. Somasundaram explains how the Dutch beat the French to it though the latter had the sanction of the Kandyan king to possess Trincomalee. Britain at war with Holland by 1780, and also with the French, left no stone unturned to seize Trincomalee from the Dutch. The
British entered into a Defence agreement with Ceylon in 1947 (having
received the approval of Ceylon's first Prime Minister, D. S. Senanayake),
which enabled the use of Trincomalee and the airbase at Katunayake. He
adds “At this point the USA took control of Western interest
(in a naval sense) within the Indian Ocean and, with the gradual
development of the Indian Navy, India tended to stake a claim as
a pivotal regional power in South Asia. By 1972 this position was
recognized and the significance of the agreement had to be assessed
in these changed circumstances”. Somasundaram’s book also traverses the recent changing political destinies of Sri Lanka - and traces the IPKF entry into the country and the LTTE’s freedom struggle, analyzing these changes in juxtaposition to the history of foreign invasion. Lessons
for all times In situations like the present, we Buddhists need to be reminded that within the basic Buddhist teachings there is no room to make a moral issue of this tragedy as a heavenly or divine punishment for those who, by the judgment of the man in the street, are guilty of sin. Punishment for the sins of man in the popularly known sense of vindicta mihi or revenge is mine, leaving the power of punishment in the hands of somebody above and beyond man, is unknown in Buddhism. Paying off for sins in Buddhism, as is implied by the word panisauvedeti, is a self-operative process where the major religious concern is either about the individual's corrosive degradation or his transcendental self-edification. Coming back to our tragedy of the tsunami devastation, the violence of an angry ocean has dealt with all things both animate and inanimate with equal venom and ruthlessness. In this kind of situation, popular Buddhist beliefs would also incline in the direction of identifying the punishment suffered with an action which led to this result. In other words, it is a belief in a qualitative identity of kamma with its consequence or vipaka that follows. This sounds very plausible to many, we agree. This is the way it is presented in Sri Lanka today by most of the dhamma preachers, both monks and laymen. They confidently hang on to the kamma- sarikkata doctrine of the Apadana Pali, little realising that this book, together with the Buddhavausa and the Cariyapinaka of the Khuddaka Nikaya was rejected as being unacceptable by the orthodox monks of Sri Lanka, even as far back as pre-Buddhaghosa times. According to these preachers all the ailments which the Buddha suffered during forty-five years of his life as Buddha are traceable to different single acts of papa-kamma which he is supposed to have committed in his previous existences. And this, mind you, while he was aspiring for Buddhahood under the jurisdiction (vyakaraoa or vivaraoa) as it were, of twenty-four previous Buddhas. It may also appear very convincing, if one or two examples without adequate verification, were presented even by modern-day writers on Buddhism. But we have definite proof in the more authentic Buddhist texts that the Buddha rejected this kamma theory of identity where vipaka or the consequence is identical, more or less qualitatively and quantitatively, with the action or kamma which preceded it. In the Looaphalakavagga of the Anguttara Nikaya [at AN.1.249]. The Buddha is seen rejecting the assertion that 'people suffer or pay for their kamma in the same manner as they have committed them (yatha yatha yau puriso kammau karoti tatha tatha tau panisauvediyata ti). He is seen to be correcting it to read as suffering the consequences of their acts. (Note the correction in the original Pali which reads as yatha vedaniyau ayau puriso kammau karoti tatha tatha 'ssa puriso vipakau panisauvediyata ti). We maintain that it needs a great deal of judgement to see the difference between these two statements. The tsunami disaster does and must teach the saner world a lesson for all times. Those who have suffered death on account of it are gone forever. None of us now alive here has a right to sit in judgement over them posthumously. They have gone, carrying with them whatever judgement they deserve. We Buddhists have to accept that we have to go from here with a self-written verdict, with no need whatsoever of a jury to sit in judgement over our innocence or guilt, or the possibility of a court to appeal against the judgement. The book is available free of charge at the Narada Centre, Sarana Road, Colombo 7. Reminiscences
of Sir Oliver Goonetilleke Sir Oliver was perhaps the only colourful personality among those who functioned as Auditor General during a period of nearly a quarter century, from 1921 to 1946. The others did not get such publicity as Sir Oliver. No other Auditor General brought the work of the Audit into such limelight and publicity. In every Audit Report of his he was able to spotlight the various irregularities and frauds discovered by Audit officers. He saw to it that these revelations were given the widest publicity. People began to speak of these disclosures and therefore Sir Oliver gained a reputation for his ability. He was classed as a clever watchdog of the public purse. Original
ideas He taught at Wesley for a few years and later passed the London B.A. and the London Inter Science (Economics). Rev. P.T. Cash the Vice Principal too gave him much encouragement and helped him in his studies. He had the innate understanding to deal with all sorts of people and get on with them in friendliest of terms. He got employment as an Accountant of the now defunct Colombo Bank but left it before its closure. He had realised that the Bank would not be able to continue its activities very long. He took up the appointment as a Manager at Lake House. When the post of Assistant Auditor for Railways fell vacant, he was an applicant for the post. Sir Oliver’s father had also worked under Sir Wilfred Woods when the latter was the Post Master General. O.E.G. took up this appointment with great enthusiasm and ambition to make it a stepping stone to higher appointments in his career in the public service. From the commencement of his work in the Audit, he did not fail to show the indispensability of his services to the Colonial Auditor Sir Wilfred Woods, who found him ever ready to be very useful to him. He took up every work entrusted to him with very great zest in displaying his abilities. Investigative
mind There had been a colossal waste of money and officials and contractors made easy money as a result of the callous manner in which the extension works were supervised. There was hardly any proper supervision. He went into this work of investigation with an unusual zest, knowing fully well that this was an opportunity which he must exploit to the full and establish for himself a name in the Department. He made a lasting mark by the disclosures he made by personal investigations and scrutiny of the accounts of these extensions. Money had been wasted on unnecessary items of work or money had been paid in excess of work actually done. The public were made aware of this waste of public funds and the Legislature too was grateful to O.E.G. for the able manner, in which he brought to light the waste of public funds. His work in the Railway Audit helped him to establish himself firmly above all other staff officers of the Department. The Assistant Colonial Auditor at that time was an Englishman, who did his normal work but was not so useful as O.E.G. Sir Wilfred recognised this fact and often very important papers were referred to him for his study and comments. When therefore Mr. Gentle left the Department there was no question that O.E.G. would succeed him. He was appointed Assistant Colonial Auditor on February 27, 1925. His meteoric rise in the Public Service is so well known that it needs hardly any mention here. Enterprising
mind First of all one must not forget that he belonged to a middle class family. His father had been a Post Master who had served in several outstations with his family. O.E.G. is said to have been born in Trincomalee. His father gave all his children a middle class education. He was the only son. He had five sisters. The family had difficult days but all of them did well in school. It is true that O.E.G. had to supplement the income of the family by giving private tuition during the period he taught at Wesley. In 1914, he was living in a house adjoining the Campbell Park. He became the mainstay of his family and had to help his sisters in many ways, especially at the time of their marriages. Early in life he faced difficulties. He therefore maintained a sympathetic attitude in life and that was the most redeeming feature of his life, which the officers who worked under him appreciated. At the time he joined the Railway Audit, a senior officer who worked with him was asked whether the Sinhalese in particular could expect much from him. He made a very shrewd observation about Sir Oliver then. “I doubt very much whether the Sinhalese as such will have any distinct advantage. He will spare no pains to attain his ambitions. He is not the man who will jeopardise his future in the service by going out of his way to help the Sinhalese in any special way.” There was no doubt that he was very ambitious and left no stone unturned to achieve the highest positions open to him in the Public Service. He was aware of his capabilities and was shrewd enough to spot the weaknesses of the higher-ups in particular. He also realised that his future lay with those who exercised power not only in the bureaucracy but also in the political life of the country. He was a prominent member of the Turf Club and also at one time the Secretary of the Orient Club. He was also said to have been a Free Mason. He was also a prominent Churchman in the Diocesan Council and at one time President of the Central Y.M.C.A. He knew very well that the contacts he gained in public life would be very useful to him. He saw in D.S. Senanayake a prospective leader of the people. He lived close to his residence and one could have seen both of them on horse back in the mornings going round on their usual riding exercise. In the early days of D.S.’s political life he proved himself to be a great helper to D.S. both as adviser and friend. This friendship did bear great fruit in the future career of O.E.G. Another great friend of his in the early days was Sir A.E. De Silva. He had accompanied him to India and was close to him when Sir Ernest was stricken with Small Pox. Valued
friend From about April till July, each year he spared no pains in the preparation of the Annual Report. He expected the officers to work wholeheartedly during this period. A good number of officers took special care to please him at this period. They would stay after hours and work on Sundays, whether it was quite essential to do so or not. He saw to it that the Report was published expeditiously. It was a common sight every evening to see a box load of papers being carried to his home in his car for attention. This trunk was known as the “Hamu’s Pettiya”. These papers generally dealt with subjects on which O.E.G. thought it a matter of wise policy to delay giving immediate orders or ignore them wholesale in process of time. Some assumed that the box went to and fro with the same papers and remained locked up in the same condition, untouched by hand. The officers did not actually know what was the ultimate fate of those papers! Society
man He also had a keen sense of humour and appreciated fun and laughed quite a lot on hearing humorous anecdotes concerning people. Once, a Railway Audit examiner was sent to check certain items in the Railway Stores. He had to do a test check. After checking, the list was duly submitted to O.E.G. He called the Head of the Branch and the Audit Examiner and questioned him as to why certain items were not checked. The officer felt rather hurt that he was so insistent and said in desperation “Facile Dictu, Difficile Factu (easy to say but difficult to do)” O.E.G. stopped further questioning by asking the Head of Branch whether “facile dictu etc.” were also instruments in the Railway Stores. That ended the matter; both O.E.G. and the Head of Branch laughed over the reply given in that manner. It was usual to see almost daily a good number of people of various walks of life, coming to interview him. The Heads of Departments sometimes came on matters connected with important queries raised. Jockeys came from the Turf Club. Merchants and businessmen too visited him. There were Muslim and Borah merchants too. A Mudalali (dressed in coat, cloth and comb) used to come very often to see him and he was known to be a most trusted man of his. His sudden death was a very sad blow to O.E.G. Once Terence De Zylwa, the leftist of the Suriyamal Campaign days, who was with him at Wesley, visited him. Terence had explained to him about the greatness of the Communist ideologies and his efforts to bring about a revolution in Ceylon. He had listened to him very patiently. Terence came out very much satisfied and told us that O.E.G. agreed with him and wished him every success in his work. He also had told him that he himself had to fight against imperialist forces in his career in the Public Service. No doubt even the Imperial England valued O.E.G. for his services in trying to make Ceylon a “little England”. D.S.
Senanayake was a frequent visitor; one saw them both walking out
from his room smilingly enjoying some kind of joke or other. On
race days, there was no doubt that bookmakers were the ones who
saw him frequently. Old friends of “Wesley days” were also seen coming for help and advice. No one went away without being at least satisfied with a friendly word. Even Christian padres and Buddhist priests interviewed him. He was very particular to give very great respect to the Buddhist priests and they always had a very good word to say of him. He always stood up humbly as the Priest advanced to him and he received him with the usual veneration. “He was all things to all men”. O.E.G. lost his wife in 1931. That was a heavy blow to him. His wife had been a great source of strength to him in every way. From that time his house was kept for him by his brother-in-law Col. C.P. Jayawardena and his wife. |
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