15th February,  2004  Volume 10, Issue 31

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CBK should quit honourably in 2005

Going by the theory enunciated by the President and her alliance, when the general election is held shortly and if the UNF wins another term, it will also be entitled to claim they have been elected for two consecutive terms in office for a total of 10 years and the Prime Minister and the members of his government could take oaths in parliament this year and again in 2006 and govern the country until 2011.

For that matter any government voted into power for five years that decides to go for a fresh election one or two years prior to the end of its term in office and wins a second term, could resort to this theory and be in office for a total of 10 years.

In the case of the President, of her own volition, having decided to recontest in 1999, one year before the end of her first term, had she lost, she would have had to go home in 1999.

Whatever said and done, it must be appreciated that J.R. Jayewardene who was elected president in 1977 and who recontested and won a second term in 1981, two years prior to the expiry of his first term in 1983, did not try to maintain that as his first term in office ended in 1983 he had the right to stay on from 1983 to 1989. Instead, he marked his attendance for his second term commencing from 1981 and retired without a murmur in 1987.

The President should similarly uphold the dignity of her office and declare to the public she would retire honourably and gracefully in 2005, without involving herself in controversy after controversy. If not, she will be creating a most unholy precedent in this country.

R. Gunadasa
Dehiwala

JVP master plans revealed

At the Kinihiri Forum discussion televised on November 18, whilst responding to Vasudeva Nanayakkara's tirade against the JVP atrocities from 1971 - 1989, their spokesman Nandana Gunatilake revealed their master plans quite lucidly. As usual he avoided answering any of the atrocities attributed to the JVP, but tried to implicate Nanayakkara about making futile attempts to come together with them.

Foremost, Gunatilake said their mouths are not activated by US dollars or Maharaja's funding, implying that whilst the UNF government's mouths are activated by dollars, the President's mouth was activated by Maharaja funds.

When asked about who funds the JVP, he admitted quite shamelessly, that they only depend on the 'till collections' from the poor rural masses. What he omitted to say was that in addition to tills they also 'collect' gold jewellery directly from the poor rural folks when they make their midnight gang visits, and also rob banks and take away cash and gold jewellery of the poor people, as most of the banks robbed were People's Bank branches or rural banks, where security was minimal.

As regards political strategies he said, they would make the optimum use of JR's Bahubootha constitution to capture power from the UNF, after which they will throw it to the dustbin and bring in a new constitution, and reverse the UNP's progress, which according to their doctrine, was a sell-out of our country's assets and will end up by dividing Sri Lanka.

If this proclamation is not outright treason, I would like to know what is and why the government tolerates all this in silence? I need not add that this Satanic force has already infiltrated our schools, universities, the public sector, and the three armed services, as they have boasted of an army of 50,000 who are ready to wage war against the LTTE terrorists.

Are we just waiting for yet another 'Beeshana Yugaya' where they will close down all offices, disconnect electricity, (there are all island blackouts already), block all major and minor roads by cutting down trees and destroying bridges, and rule at night whilst the army will rule by day and ruin our revived economy, which is not development, according to their economists?

Alert citizen of Sri Lanka
Matale

Public scorn against UNF growing

If Thilanga Sumathipala could be credited for bringing the present UNF regime to power, the same Thilanga Sumathipala appears to be responsible for the UNF regime amassing a wealth of public scorn and displeasure since recently, that is bound to result in a massive landslide defeat when polls are held shortly the least on the current legal proceedings against him but more on how Mr. Sumathipala had conducted himself in the case against him.

Public scorn against the present UNF regime is now heard everywhere around and even in farming communities, and this can only be attributed to the UNF government leaders. Foremost the Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues continue to sustain the high place afforded to this man who is now in remand.

It is also an open secret known by people even in this remote place where I am living, that two or more cabinet ministers were openly trying to cover up this case in fear of their own records of crime and misconduct surfacing in the public eye.

Dr. Hubert L. Keppetipola
Retired medical practitioner

Tanks running dry in Hambantota not news

In the commentary after the news at 7 p.m. on ITN a few days ago, it was pointed out that the people of Hambantota were suffering due to lack of water in the tanks in the area. This is not news.

Even during the war, when rice rationing was introduced in 1939, Hambantota and Polonnaruwa were exempted till 1942 when things became worse. The Rajapaksas have been sitting from 1936 onwards, except for short spells when the UNP, won the seats, but the core areas like Mulkirigala have been theirs for well nigh 70 years.

They knew very well that agriculture was the mainstay of the area, but did they do anything to improve the area and supply the all important water? Did they even think of desilting the tanks or tapping the Walawe Ganga for irrigation purposes? Could they not plan the improvements all these years? No! Just before an election they descended there and made a big noise to collect the votes, and having won it, they went back to live in Colombo till the next election.

Even a woman from Colombo 7 won a seat there! Did they not pass these areas before ITN highlighted the lack of water?

G. Godage
Ratmalana

President making mock attempt to 'save' nation

The gravest political impasse that this country has ever witnessed since independence was the recent one created by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and for which frantic efforts are now being made to arrest the damage after a long pause of confrontation and stocktaking.

Quoting the constitution of the country as the final authority in legitimising the irresponsible action in itself debases the very spirit and solemnity of its dignity. The biggest disrespect that one could show to the constitution of a country is by making light of its provisions through a mock attempt ostensibly in all seriousness to save the nation but in reality in expectation of petty parochial interests over national duty.

The crowning experience of insouciance ever displayed in the interpretation of the constitution in its short and chequered history was witnessed in the President's assertion that she can hold the reins until the year 2006 instead of 2005 by way of a secret oath taking ceremony, being her third for her second term and that too in a grand show stage managed by herself on the idiot box, the use of which has been usurped from the government.

Has it not been noticed by everyone concerned that the President has appeared on the three TV channels under her control since November 2004 more than the Prime Minister had done in his two years in office?

Can the constitution of a country continue to remain a scapegoat in a miscarriage of justice to the very people it is supposed to protect and safeguard? Can the judiciary, the intellectuals and the so called educated in the highly respected professions, the artistes who are supposed to be ever sensitive to the nuances of popular thought, the middle class of society which is the receptacle and most vociferous of grievances affecting the people and the farmer, the fishermen, plantation and industrial worker who with the sweat of their brow contribute their mite to the well being of the economy despite perennial hardships continue to subject themselves to deception and servile mentality or remain non committal which is as bad as being servile for fear of repression in the vindictive climate of political backlash well steeped in this country? Or have the people grown apolitical due to the miserable depths that general politics in this country has sunk into with its culture of endemic political violence and rampant corruption at all levels?

Mahanama Devapriya
Kandy

Timely call to turn the searchlight inwards

Your editorials in your issues of 28-12-2003 and 04-01-2004 are indeed thought provoking. Your call to the Buddhists, nay all religionists to turn the searchlight inwards comes at an appropriate time and therefore must be done to clear doubts, misunderstandings and sift truth from myths and fantasy. This also would be a great opportunity for recommitment to the mission of love, peace and goodwill espoused by all religions.

I am surprised by your statement "Sri Lankans of all faiths were forcibly converted to Roman Catholicism at the point of a sword by the Portuguese!" Whether these actions were isolated incidents by some over zealous individuals or fact or fiction or mere exaggerated statements is hard to imagine or accept in the absence of scientific scrutiny.

For what purpose are forced conversions? Conversions by force, deception or without conviction are barren spiritually.

People who forcibly or unwillingly or unwittingly converted to a religion would decamp en masse at the earliest given opportunity. Therefore, when the Dutch virulently persecuted the Catholics pursuing them relentlessly, how many "forced converts" to Catholicism would have dared to remain in that faith?

The situation was such that when Fr. Joseph Vaz arrived is Sri Lanka from India, there was not a single Catholic priest available, they being either murdered or deported and the few Catholic laymen who remained steadfast because of this conviction were practising their religion in obscurity prepared to die at any moment.

I see this persecution as a godsend to rid the flock of unwilling travellers and to test and strengthen the true believers. The Catholics of today should be proud to be descendants of true Catholics and not of those 'forced Catholics' who wilted under the Dutch persecution and decamped en masse.

Should the Catholic Church and its adherents be punching bags whenever some controversy crops up? The Catholic Church did turn the searchlight inwards at the Vatican II in the late fifties and thereafter and Pope John Paul II publicly apologised at the beginning of the new second millennium on the first Sunday in Lent in the year 2000 for all the wrongs, mistakes and abuses against humanity during the past millennium.

Let us forget the past, learn lessons from our mistakes and move forword with renewed vigour to a peaceful co-existence, drawing inspiration from all that is good and beautiful around us.

E.B. Ediriwickrema
Mattakkuliya

Clear example of unethical conversion 

I write as a Sinhala Buddhist to express my feelings of deep sorrow and utter revulsion at the acts of criminal violence against peaceful citizens perpetrated by mobs incited and led by the very persons supposedly dedicated to propagating and ensuring adherence to the Five Precepts and the Noble Fightfold Path.

The logical course of action would be to visit those in danger of conversion and convince them that to change the religion of their forefathers by inducement of material benefit is immoral, and that only conversion impelled by intellectual conviction is ethically acceptable.

I take this opportunity to draw the attention of your readers to the Buying Section of The Yellow Pages 2003. Therein under the sub-heading Clergy - Buddhist will he seen about 10 pages containing the names of about 2000 Theras, and their inclusion is not free of charge.

Evidently this is a clear example of unethical conversion from the precepts of religion to the principles of economics.

Ananda Ekanayake
Colombo 15

Cheating Lankan youths! 

If you happen to pass Galle Road in the wee hours of the mornings along the high walled British Embassy, there is a queue of Sri Lankan youths standing well dressed and with a file in their hands. They stand there with hopes/ dreams of flying into Heathrow Airport to see Buckingham Palace, River Thames and Big Ben! They are the holiday work maker visa aspirants. But when they come after the interview out of the gates of Queen's Kingdom, you will see their heads drooping.

Not only that they have been refused a visa, but have been robbed of Rs. 5,760 by the British High Commission. When the visa is refused, the visa fee is not refunded. Why this anomaly? We are informed about 90% of the applicants are rejected, Calculate the amount of money robbed from Sri Lankan youths.

They squeezed and robbed us when they ruled us. They are continuing with their inherent qualities even now. High Commissioner, Sir, do not act in such a fraudulent manner cheating Sri Lankans.

Over to Her Majesty the Queen of England for action please!

A. Nadarajah
Mount Lavinia

The Sri Lanka Turf Club reminisces the disappearance of Upali Wijewardene 21 years ago. On 13 February 1983, the famous business entrepreneur, turfite and sportsman disappeared on his way from Kuala Lumpur to Colombo over the Malacca Straits in his private Lear Jet. Upali Wijewardene was the chairman, Board of Stewards of the Sri Lanka Turf Club at the time of his disappearance.

The young Upali who lost his father at the tender age of one and a half years was brought up by his mother Anula Kalyanawathie Wijewardene. Upali had his primary education at Ladies College and Royal College, Colombo. He later graduated from Queen's College, Cambridge.

On his return to Sri Lanka Upali commenced his business career as a management trainee at Lever Brothers. Thereafter, he ventured out on his own and founded the Upali Group of Companies under the sign of the eternal symbol of energy, the Sun. Upali's maternal uncle, the late Sarath Wijesinghe, president of the senate and chairman, Board of Stewards of the Ceylon Turf Club was a great inspiration to him in both his business and horse racing career.

Upali Group pioneered by one man, began as a small candy manufacturing factory under Delta brand in Sri Lanka. Next he was the pioneer to assemble radios, clocks and TVs under the UNIC brand. Upali Motor Company was next in line. The UMC Mazda and Upali Fiat were assembled at his industrial complex in Homagama in the early 70's. He also started the first domestic airline and helicopter service Upali Aviation.

Upali next acquired Kandos Chocolate Company from his uncle Sarath Wijesinghe. His next ventures were consumer products such as Sikuru and Crystal soap which are household names in Sri Lanka today. He also started the Upali Newspapers Ltd in publishing the Island and Divaina newspapers. His paternal uncle D.R. Wijewardene, founder of Lake House was his inspiration for this venture.

Upali was a man of many parts. He was the Basnayake Nilame of the Raja Maha Vihare, Kelaniya. This position he inherited from his father, Don Walter Wijewardene, son of Helena Wijewardene Lamathani who renovated the present Kelaniya temple after its destruction by the Portuguese.

The name Upali Wijewardene is synonymous with the, the sport of kings, horse racing. Upali raced in Sri Lanka and England - where he won the Royal Ascot with Rasa Penang ridden by the world famous jockey Lester Piggot. He also won the Singapore Derby and Perak Derby - 1980 with his horse named Varron. He raced General Atty too and won many races in England.

Upali Wijewardene raced under the famous racing colours first used by his uncle Sarath Wijesinghe, Red and Gold Cross Slash. At present these colours can be seen at our turf on the horses raced by Dhammika Attygalle, nephew of Upali Wijewardene who is the current president of the Sri Lanka Turf Club.

Another hobby of Upali was rearing pedigreed dogs. He imported four Labrador retrievers from England to revive Labrador breeding in Sri Lanka in the 70's.

Upali was keen on motor racing too. Having raced his mother's Opel Kapitan at the Katukurunda races in the early 60's, he was so enthusiastic about racing that he imported a M.G.A. Sports Twin Cam, which he raced at the Mahagastota hill climb.

The creation of GCEC (now the BOI) was the brainchild of Upali. President J.R. Jayewardene appointed his cousin Upali as the first director general of the GCEC.

It is sad to say that the disappearance of Upali Wijewardene at the prime of his life has left a void in Sri Lanka which cannot be filled.

- Sri Lanka Turf Club