Letters

Is minister trying to create a 'religious war'?

I refer to P. Dharmasena's letter on the proposed anti conversion bill and fully agree with the views expressed by him.

I wish to ask Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake whether the burning problems of Sri Lankans could be solved by introducing an anti conversion bill at this stage. According to a news report recently, the President had publicly apologised to the victims of the 1983 July ethnic holocaust. Now her minister is trying to create a 'religious war' just as the people of this country are breathing some peace.

It would do well for the President to act now and avert another 'war' rather than apologise later for atrocities perpetrated on Christians. Instead of pandering to the demands of a few 'extremists' whose sole desire is to crush and stifle another religion, the Minister should actually protect the Sasana by enforcing laws to prohibit Buddhist monks from taking part in mundane affairs - i.e. politics, business etc., which are not in keeping with the Vinaya rules. By doing so, the laity will not go astray and find solace in other religions. After all, Buddhists and Christians have inter-married and have lived in harmony for over 500 years.

In a recent newspaper article it was disclosed that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha, with much fanfare, passed the Prohibition of Forcible Conversion Bill on October 5, 2002 but had to repeal it after 18 months, on May 18, 2004. During this period, it has been revealed that more than 10,000 people have voluntarily sought Church membership. Much has been written on this subject. Therefore, those who are 'hell-bent' on enforcing this bill should ponder over the comments made by a reader who states - "who would give credence to a religion that appears fragile, where it can only survive, if protected by an army of policemen, judges and lawyers!"

Chithralatha Gamage
Gampaha

Whither sovereignty of parliament?

Besides the specific provisions made in the constitution for ensuring the unassailability of the sovereignty of the people, it is an universally acknowledged and firmly entrenched premise in the theory of political science that in a representative democracy, the people exercise their sovereignty through freely elected representatives to parliament. Accordingly, parliament shall, theory of political science emphasizes, not abdicate, alienate or divest itself of the sovereignty vested in it by the people. Parliament, therefore, of necessity constitutes the repository of the sovereignty of the people.

Parliament, as every one knows, exercises its sovereign authority of the people through a process of enacting legislation (laws) for the governance of the country. The legislation should, the theory lays down, of necessity, originate in parliament. However, there is an universally observed deviation from the premise of the theory in that the act of executive of sovereign power of the people i.e. the process of enactment of legislation does not, in practice, take place in exactly the same manner as defined in the theory.

Generally it is the cabinet of ministers, the executive arm of the government or the power centre of the government, yet co-existing with parliament, that initiates the legislation necessary for execution of the policies of the government. It should, however, be emphasised that the above procedure which is being universally applied in every democracy does not intrinsically deprive the parliament of its inherent sovereignty, because such legislation in spite of being initiated by the cabinet, shall not be passed into law until and unless it has been ultimately approved by the majority in parliament with or without the assent of the opposition which has no constitutional obligation to support and approve it.

Once legislation has been passed in parliament following this process, it is deemed, in theory, that such legislation represents the collective sovereign will of the people; such laws in turn have to be recognised by the system of judiciary and the other law enforcement authorities for their due enforcement.

However, there is a peculiar, an unhealthy and anti democratic development taking shape in Sri Lanka which has the veritable effect of vetoing or negating the sovereign power of the people vested in parliament. To all appearances, parliament has wittingly or unwittingly allowed some powerful trade unions or the so called "Sandanayas" of unions to subjectively step in to the shoes of sovereignty of parliament and thus usurp the sovereignty of the people.

Parliament would cease to have its raison-detre the moment any legislation passed by it is allowed to be compromised by giving in to illegal collective action of trade unions. Therefore, it behoves the present parliament and the government to take stock of this  evolving anti democratic culture of trade unions openly challenging and subverting the sovereignty of the people exercised through parliament and bringing in appropriate legislation clearly defining the parameters within which the trade union can exercise their collective bargaining power without prejudice to the sovereignty of the people.

Unless such proactive measures are taken in time there will evolve chaotic situations where the Sri Lankan polity may have to put up with a kind of perverted paradigm of democracy with the sovereignty of the people and of the parliament thrown over board.

The present government has of course made a u-turn on its former privatisation policy. This is not considered a policy decision taken on edification of the unfeasibility of privatisation, but as a necessary convenience for avoiding the prospect of Sandanaya coming unstuck in the event of going ahead with the privatisation programme. JVP cannot possibly reconcile itself with the privatisation program, given the policy stance it had taken against it at the election.

As an alternative to the privatisation, Sandanaya has devised an institution called Strategic Enterprises Management Agency (SEMA) which is expected to streamline the management of public sector institutions. Basically, SEMA qualifies itself to be identified as a macro level management strategy. No doubt, SEMA would prove to be a yet another institution where some professionals who are favourites of the government may be accommodated with luxurious perks. However, it is very much unlikely that a macro level management strategy would succeed where micro level management strategies have failed.

Kay Dharmadasa
Ragama

Attending Holy Mass and receiving 
the sacrament - a sacred practice

With reference to the letter titled "Why this witch hunt for Fr. Rector?" in The Sunday Leader of July 25 by "An Old Joe," I wish to state primarily that Rev. Fr. Rector was issued court summons and not a warrant as stated by him.

He states in his letter that "a huge song and dance is only over the fact that the annual general meeting of the OBU of the college was held without being preceded by the Holy Mass."

Please permit me to remind the Old Joe that the Holy Mass preceding the AGM was a sacred practice adopted for the past five decades or more. It surprises me that an old Joe, assuming that he is a Roman Catholic by faith pays scant aspect by implying that celebration of Holy Mass preceding the AGM is a "petty thing." This is doubtless an act of sacrilege on his part.

During my schooldays at St. Joseph's over 40 years ago. I vividly remember pastors of the calibre of our beloved Rector Very Rev. Fr. Peter Pillai, Vice Rector Rev. Fr. Alphonse Margez, Rev. Frs. Noel and Ignatius Perera urging us Catholic students to attend Holy Mass and receive the Holy Sacrament of communion as often as we could.

I totally agree with Old Joe when he speaks of the positive progress of the college, but without spiritual and moral values a sound education could be rendered inert.

I also wish to remind Old Joe that a priest of the college reminded us students that the college chapel was built during the rectorship of Very Rev. Fr. Le Goc in the centre of the extent of land on which the college was built, symbolizing that God is the "centre of our lives."

I am wholeheartedly in favour of the unity of the Josephian fraternity and sincerely hope that rationality and sanity prevails.

Melvyn H. Van. Dort
Kandana

Questions for Finance Minister

As ordinary folk, we do not enjoy the privilege that parliamentarians have, of questioning those in the cabinet. It would be helpful, therefore, if newspapers will provide us with a forum to seek clarifications from our elected representatives as a kind of extension of the Westminster practice.

I work for a small business competing with corporate giants and multinationals, and as a start, here are some questions for the Minister of Finance.

1 Is he aware that some India-based multinationals have opened offices in Colombo that are little more than addresses?

2 That by doing so, they are able to export their products manufactured in India to these offices instead of to Sri Lankan businesses?

3 That these products are heavily under invoiced when compared to the values declared when the goods are sent to Sri Lankan businesses?

4 That the government is losing huge amounts in customs duties as a result?

5 That such operations are tantamount to participating in the retail trade, which is reserved for nationals?

6 That local companies are faced with unfair competition as a result?

7 Will he order an investigation by the BOI, the Customs and other authorities of such practices?

8 If not, why?

R. Kulasekera,
Colombo 3

Bill will further disintegrate Sri Lankan polity 

Secretary General of the Liberal Party, Kamal Nissanka in a press release states that the anti conversion legislation is equivalent to the Prevention of Terrorism Act and urges parliamentarians not to support the bill.

The statement adds: The Liberal Party feels that anti conversion legislation will bring a lot of problems in the sphere of individual rights and individual autonomy and therefore urges parliamentarians to rethink on its passing.

Liberals believe that the majority view on certain issues is not always correct and some erroneous decisions of the majority in the past have ultimately led to an unwanted bloodbath. The Sinhala Only Act introduced in 1956 resulted in bringing disintegrating tendencies to the Sri Lankan polity and society.

Later, considerable political pressure was mounted to bring legislation to make Tamil a national language. Liberals believe that the Sinhala Only Act increased and enhanced the privileges and benefits of the few who were English educated depriving the masses of many opportunities in selected employment where English is necessary. Today the younger generation from rural areas is striving to learn the English language as they feel it is a 'must' in modern world affairs.

Liberals affirm that the anti conversion bill which is in the pipeline will be a very bad and unrealistic piece of legislation that will suppress individual and human rights. They urge the government not be a party to endorse the whims and fancies of religious fanatics and extremists.

Liberals are confident that anti conversion legislation cannot stop the choice of change of religious beliefs and warn political parties not to take an official line with regard to the proposed legislation, which if enacted, they feel will further disintegrate and alienate the paralysed Sri Lankan polity and society.

Kamal Nissanka
Secretary General
Liberal Party of Sri Lanka

Conversions have no meaning 

According to all the accepted dictionaries the word 'conversion,' with reference to religions mean "the act or the instance of converting or the process of being converted, especially, in belief or religion and the word 'convert' means "cause a person to change belief, opinion, party, etc." The word 'religion' means "the belief in a supernatural, controlling power, especially in a personal god or gods, entitled to obedience and worship" and also "a particular system of faith and worship." The word 'faith' means "firm belief, especially, without logical proof."

Thus, for the conversion of any person from one religion to another, what is essential is that he has to be made to change his belief from one supernatural power to another. Now, the most important question is how can one be sure that a person has actually changed his belief?

Suppose a Christian stops going to church but goes to the Buddhist temple on Poya days dressed in white and has a shrine room in his house, does that make him a Buddhist? Does a Buddhist coming to church every Sunday and taking part in the service and having statues of saints in his house, make him a Christian? How can any one say that all those going to mosques are Muslims and all those going to kovils are Hindus? So, the problem is how do we ascertain that there has been a conversion.

What is important to remember is, in every religion, faith plays a key role. Faith cannot be seen by anyone. Only the individual knows what he believes in. One can show the whole world by his words and actions that he is a Buddhist, Christian, Hindu or Muslim but only he and no one else can know what his religion is and what he believes in.

Conversions cannot be judged by the change in the attendance in Buddhist temples, churches, kovils and mosques, nor can they be judged by the numbers taking part in pinkamas, peraheras, processions and other religious gatherings.

W.R. de Silva
Dehiwala

It is with deep regret that the Carey College OBU observes the demise of our past President, Chandrakanth Vasa.

Vasa was born in 1942 in Jamnagar in India. He received his primary and secondary education at Carey College, Colombo in Sri Lanka. He left for the UK to pursue his higher studies where he mastered his family business in the field of ophthalmology and returned to the island in 1958, qualifying as a fully-fledged ophthalmic consultant.

He served as the president of the OBU for more than two decades, dedicating his time and resources to uplift the college and the OBU to reach greater heights. Vasa was generous enough to donate the gymnasium to the college in order to assist the students in physical development. It is noteworthy that Vasa spearheaded to raise funds to construct the 'Wickremasinghe Hall,' as a mark of respect to past principal, Rev. Dr. W.G. Wickremasinghe, who rendered a great service to the college.

He held the prestigious position of president of the Mercantile Table Tennis Association for a number of years. During his tenure he ventured out to promote the sport and uplift the standards. Vasa had a charisma to lead by example and had loyal followers. This ultimately paved the way to accomplish his vision.

Vasa was an active Rotary Club member of Colombo East and initiated novel projects to provide employment to the youth through the club. He was also actively associated with the Colts Cricket Club and Central YMCA, displaying passion for charity and blossoming the talents of youth. He was a simple and noble gentleman who had an unassuming work ethic which made him popular. He was respected and recognised by people in all walks of life for his noble qualities, especially the leadership displayed by him.

Vasa decided to spend his last days of life at his birthplace and entered eternal rest on March 31.

Life is a journey which has to reach an end. Vasa has performed his duties to his family, religion, school, sports and social movements.

Our deepest sympathies are with his grieving wife and family members.

The OBU takes this opportunity to extend their sincere gratitude towards the services rendered to the college and wish him eternal rest, according to the religion he practised.

Carey College OBU