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vs Rest of the world: A rich collection of documents A long overdue lacunae indispensably needed to be filled by the publication of documents on Sri Lanka’s external policy under various governments from the period immediately preceding independence and since then. This need of scholars and other interested readers and students of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy has been filled at least up to 1965 by a modest though eminently equipped and doubtlessly competent university don Prof. Amal Jayawardane. The foundation for this erudite contribution to scholarship on foreign affairs and external relations of Sri Lanka lay with the efforts and initiative of two distinguished scholars, Prof. Shelton Kodikara and Prof. K.P. Misra, of the University of Colombo and of Jawaharal Nehru University of New Delhi respectively. But for the completion of the difficult and demanding study, credit deservedly is merited by Prof. Amal Jayawardane. The arrangement into groups of the foreign policy documents reflecting various views on external relations over the years under different regimes is commendable. It helps scholars and readers of politics to comprehend the panoramic outlook of different governments over time, if there was any remarkable change or not. As a bedrock of the small but strategically centred island of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, a vital and busy waterway linking the west with the east, lay nonalignment between power blocs. Sri Lanka remained uncommitted to any bloc free of the fallout of rivalries between major power groupings. It would be invidious if one were to select any single document for commendation. A critical and serious student must spend time on all 13 documents carefully chosen and arranged in the first section focusing on non-alignment comprising the views of the first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake and Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, more dedicated to a vision on positive neutralism and non-alignment. Section ll concentrates on issues relating to disarmament and arms control, relevant even today. Attention is placed on perils of nuclear weaponry, wasteful expenditure on harmful devices, and the need to utilize resources for peaceful purposes and development. The third subsection is riveted on anti-colonialism. The documents dwell upon references to Indonesia, independent struggles in colonial and dependent countries, liberation upsurges in Algeria, Cyprus, West Irian, Tunisia and Goa, and freedom movements as a rule. Some presentations in the United Nations and other forums enhance the value of the documents in this grouping. The fourth subsection touches upon anti–racism, a topic that should capture the concern and interest of many scholars and readers of foreign affairs. Section B of the book dwells upon Sri Lanka and the Major Powers, a subject that is extensive and important so as to merit profound attention, detailed study and analysis. The first subject deals with the Defence Agreement and External Affairs Agreement between the UK and Ceylon. These agreements are aptly followed by Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake’s Speech in the House of Representatives on the Motion on the Independence of Ceylon. The above topics are scrutinized in documents that follow consisting of the statements of the members of Parliament. Some of the issues that cropped up became contentious as for instance the grant of bases to Britain for the use of the Royal Army, Navy and Air Force. They are critically reviewed and a student of Sri Lanka and foreign relations has to pay close scrutiny. This first subsection B of the documents reproduced in the book has naturally dealt with Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. Subsection (ll) of Section B of the study centres upon Sri Lanka and the United States of America, a major power in the world. It begins with an extract culled from a statement on Sri Lanka’s foreign policy made in 1950 and terminates with Premier Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s speech supporting Cuba’s Independence in January 1964. In between documents comment on the grant of port facilities to the United States Navy, Point Four General Agreement for the Technical Cooperation between Ceylon and the US, the Finance Minister’s statement on suspension of US Aid to Sri Lanka in 1963, Dr. N.M. Perera’s observations on stoppage of American aid in 1963, and the views of the Sri Lanka delegate in the Security Council on the Cuban Crisis in 1960 and 1961. Invaluable documents provide convincing evidence of Sri Lanka’s independent thinking and expression. Section B, subsection lll and lV concentrate on Sri Lanka’s relations with the USSR and the People’s Republic of China. The evolution of Sri Lanka’s attitude towards communism, promotion of diplomatic ties and cultural cooperation with the Soviet Union, and the Soviet economic assistance to Sri Lanka receive prominence in the section on the USSR. Then follows the Trade Agreement between Ceylon and China, the important Rubber–Rice Trade Pact, Sri Lankan espousal of admitting China to the UN, Prime Minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike’s speech on Tibet, and Sri Lanka–China Maritime Agreement in August 1963. Section C is devoted to documents on “Sri Lanka and Asia–Africa” emphasizing Afro–Asian solidarity and world peace. Documents range from number 113 to 133. They commence with JR Jayewardene’s speech at the San Francisco Conference on the Japanese Peace Treaty and run over among others on Sir John Kotelawala’s speech at the Bandung Conference, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s speech at the Asian Economic Conference, and his “the Task before Newly Independent Nations” at the UN, November 1956. Particularly important documents are S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike’s speech on the “Middle East Problem” (August 1958) and on “Diplomatic Relations with Israel and Arab countries.” (August 1960). Furthermore, section C (ll) confines itself to the presentation of vital documents on “Indo –Sri Lanka Relations,” a theme of paramount importance to us. It comprises documents 134 to 149 and commences with the “Nehru – Kotelawala Agreement on Persons of Indian Origin in Ceylon” (January 1954). Immediately follows yet another significant document on “Persons of Indian Origin in Ceylon” which is the text of the joint statement of the Prime Ministers of India and Ceylon (October 1954). These documents in practice proved to be of no avail and controversy on the issue continued. Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s Senate statement of January 1964 on Indo–Ceylon Problem follows and enlightens us on this critical problem. The very vital Indo–Ceylon (Sirima –Shastri) Agreement of 30 October 1964 is a useful informative inclusion. The statements on the “Sino–Indian Border Dispute” and Dudley Senanayake’s view on the “Indo–Pakistan Conflict” (March 1965) are equally useful documents. Section C (lll) on “Vietnam” embodies statements on “Persecution of Buddhists in South Vietnam,” (June 1963), statement by the Government of Sri Lanka on Vietnam (April 1965) and on other material statements on the situation relevant to that country. These documents educate us about the occurrences and Sri Lanka’s concern in a less known country to Sri Lankans. The final set of documents in Section D on “Sri Lanka and United Nations” are several and worth any student’s cautious study and intelligent attention. Premier S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike’s “Admission to the United Nations” demands serious study. Then documents 158, 159, 161, and 162 stressing Sri Lanka’s views on the role of the United Nations and the contribution made by Sri Lanka in diverse UN Committees provide essential data to students of International Affairs. Such statements concern disarmament and economic development of under-developed countries, the UN role in economic development, Korean Unification, Suez Crisis, the Hungary Crisis, and the Congo Crisis. All these statements cannot be missed as they are extremely informative and instructive. This book contains a rich and varied collection of documents pertaining to Sri Lanka’s international politics, economics and cultural relations with a large range of nations in different continents. They throw light on Sri Lanka’s international behaviour and conduct in connection to diverse subjects. It will no doubt be a compulsory standard text to be thoroughly mastered by scholars and others interested in international affairs. The arrangement and selection demonstrate a mastery of international relations by a discriminating erudite editor and the original architects of the book. Tracing
the evolution of copyright from Berne Convention of 1886 "Human genius is the source of all works of art and inventions. These works are the guarantee of a life worthy of men. It is the duty of the state to ensure with diligence the protection of the arts and inventions." The passage is from the blurb on the book that carries the lengthy title "Prakasana aithiya saha sambandita aithwasikam pilibanda mulika sankalpa" the English translation of which is given above. The passage that sounds like ambrosia to the creative minded, fittingly adorns a plaque in the headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva. Booby Boteju has hitherto been known to local readers only as a translator of classical works. Hence, through this work he has entered a completely new field – probably encouraged by the professional circle he associates with as mentioned in the preface – thereby filling a long felt hiatus in the reading material of the Swabasa reader. Certain facets of the intellectual property law and its implications have been dealt with by a few Sinhala writers like Mahinda Ralapanawa and Keertisiri Jayasingha who have been involved in this area but this particular text can be regarded as a composite work that deals mainly with the following components, such as historical evolution of law particularly copyright law in Europe, Public Lending Rights, Rights of Authors and all legislation pertaining to these, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), International conventions, evolution of the related laws on local soil, the various legislative enactments in the field and the practical execution of these laws. The appendix is equally stimulating and comprises the extensive list of texts and statutes gone through for reference, and a list of glossary words. It also presents verbatim some of the more important pieces of legislation pertaining to the field. Intellectual property is reckoned to comprise two sections –Industrial Property and Copyright. A person's or institution's property is protected by patent rights while the manacle of creative works is copyright. The Sinhala word used by the author is Prakasana Aithiya and this covers the whole repertoire of not only literary productions such as poetry, novels, short stories but also songs, art works, sculpture, cinematographic works, photographic work, radio and TV productions and computer programmes. This book veers more towards the copyright section, tracing its saga from the Berne Convention of 1886, the womb of the international law on copyrights. Ever since the discovery of the art of printing, the flood of books and issues spawned made a convention of this nature almost inevitable. The improvements that followed the Berne Convention of 1948 and the Paris revision of 1971 that concentrated mainly on audiovisual works plus content matter aligned to the above sections are also dealt with exhaustively. Lose
yourself in a world of fabulous fantasy One constant characteristic of good fiction is its ability to enlist the reader's willing suspension of disbelief and get him/her to believe, while it lasts, the unbelievable. Also, it would be worth remembering that forms of literature such as fairy stories, Jataka stories and folk stories too, are categories of fiction. It is true, the folk tale is often distanced from life unlike some of the other forms of good art, particularly, the short story and the novel, whose closeness to real life, no doubt, contributes to their greatness but the greatest virtue of a good folk tale is its ability to keep the reader enthralled and, of course, entertained. Tissa Devendra's new collection of folk stories, "More Princes, Peasants and Clever Beasts", will no doubt, capture the reader's imagination and affection by the sheer ingenuity and variety so replete in its stories (there are ten of them this time) just as it was in his earlier collection. The universal and lasting attraction the folk tale has for children, with their open, unsophisticated and curious minds, should not blind us to the fact that the enjoyment that adults could derive from it is no less. Just as in T.D.'s new collection about 'Princes, Peasants and Cleaver Beasts'. this time it is 'more' about them. The men, women and animals in folk tales are always 'clever' and perform prodigious acts of bravery and ingenuity. In a world where more often than not, evil and injustice reign, in folk tales, righteousness and daring invariably triumph in the end. It is often the story of the innocent and virtuous princess abducted and hidden in the cave, the key of which is held in the mouth of the ferocious giant with swords in both hands. But, there comes the brave prince flying through the air with outstretched arms, crossing the seven seas with his sword held between his teeth to fight the giant in a deadly duel; chop his head off in a single blow and take the key. He then rescues the weeping princess and flies away to their kingdom to marry and live happily ever after! The Peasants, Princes and Beasts in T.D.’s stories, are true to form: they are all clever, shrewd, resourceful and they are never short of daring or ingenuity. In the tradition, from time immemorial, of relating folk stories, one can almost hear the narrator's soft drawl, unfolding his tales, surrounded by his grandchildren, as is shown in the back-cover illustration of the book. Here he goes: "Long, long ago, in a far-far away country, there lived a king and his queen and their beautiful princess.. and so on" and so opens a door to a world, fantastic and fabulous where we are willing to lose ourselves for a moment. Of the ten stories presented this time, the majority are uncommon; true there are a couple or so, of the old familiar, hardy perennials like that story of "The Clever Goatherd" but, as for the others, this writer confesses, he has met them for the first time. T.D. says in his short introduction: "These are genuine Folk Tales based on Parker's classic Collection." Possibly so, but the phrase, "based on Parker's..” seems to be functional here. In many of his stories T.D. apparently has availed himself freely, of one of the basic features of the folk story, namely its easy amenability to adaptation, interpolation and manipulation. He says he has given names to the persons and animals in his stories.. "Sokka", the wayward prince, "Ratna", the captivating princess, "Rala", the talkative, scheming monkey, "Siridevi", the obstinate princess et al. He brings them all to life as he tirelessly spins his web of tales one after another: here are some of them: "The Wonderful Flying Boat","The Ring of the Serpent King', "Stupid Sokka" etc., the very names evoking curiosity and wonderment! Take the case of the story of "The Ring of the Serpent King": it runs parallel most of the time, to the classic of all time, "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp", only, instead of the lamp, here it is the ring. Folk stories, as everyone knows, portray human follies, fads, foibles. of kings, princes, queens, ministers or of just ordinary folk. Men bloated with power or wealth are soon deflated and laughed at. Evil is defeated and the just, resourceful and the brave triumph in the end. Take the story of "Kurulu Veda” who performs impossible feats, all by a series of fortuitous circumstances. But eventually, when this spate of good luck catches the attention of the king and the king sets some tasks for him including tracing the king’s lost treasure, he thinks that he has run out of luck. and laments aloud "Karanne Kumakda?" (Now what shall I do!). The culprit, whose name coincidentally happens to be "Kumanda' comes and falls at his feet and surrenders the treasure box and Veda is saved! The king rewards him with money and a house. Inexhaustible in wit and variety, this great gift of stories made for generations of children of today and yet to come, are, to say the least, delectable to read and are, no doubt, everlasting in value. The book is attractively printed on durable paper and in clear type, making it easy for children to read. The glossy front cover carries an illustration, the colours of which have been chosen with great taste and finesse. |
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