Letters

Conversions: What did Mahinda and Sangamitta do?

We are  surprised at the anger and outrage of the Buddhists and the monks of  Sri Lanka, because they think that some Christian churches and foreign organisations are converting Buddhists to Christianity.

Are not all Buddhists of Sri Lanka converts to Buddhism?

Had not that great Emperor of India,  Asoka succesfully converted the then king Devanampiya Tissa and his subjects to Buddhism some 2,500 years ago, the people of Sri Lanka would not be Buddhists today. Had the king and the people of Sri Lanka protested at and resisted the conversion activities of Mahinda and   Sangamitta, most of these outraged Sinhala. Buddhists will not be the proud Buddhists they are now.

If it was all right for King Asoka, a foreigner to convert the natives of this country then, why is it so wrong for some to do it now?

Of course, I as an individual, will not convert anyone. I think only the Hindus can afford to criticise and be outraged at religious conversions, as they are the only religious sect that by conviction do not convert others to their faith. This is a fact and is stated even in the New Standard Encyclopaedia of America.

Mary de Bond
 Mt. Lavinia

Can opposition co-operate with a govt. in political chaos?

It is considered the government's responsibility to welcome the opposition in the decision making and policy formulation mechanism and involve it in a constructive manner in the process. This objective cannot and will not be achieved through the mere act of lighting lamps in the public gaze collectively with the participation of the opposition to the tune of an anthem composed specially for the occasion. These are mere acts of charade meant for the consumption of the pinheads among the citizenry.

Notwithstanding the fact that nearly 10 months have elapsed since the election of the government, it is still in a veritable state of drift. It has still not been able to get its act together. Also, it has still not found an unerring policy trajectory along which it plans to lead the country, particularly in the spheres of peace, economy, law and order etc. Is it not a fact that the government is still in the process of being formed? Cabinet ministers still continue to be sworn in every now and then. There is perennial infighting among them. The President is being lambasted publicly by her own ministers, accusing her of duplicity, corruption and inefficiency. Some portfolios are still being held in a 'buffer stock' under the President to be deviously handed out to the prospective defectors who are being angled by dangling before them colossal baits as bribes.

Management of national water resources, the buffer zone to be observed in reconstruction in the tsunami destroyed areas, involvement of LTTE in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process, privatisation etc. Can any rational person believe that the opposition can effectively cooperate on such issues, with a government mired in political chaos?

It must be appreciated that the opposition would find itself  skating over thin ice when it decides to cooperate with a government placed in such kaleidoscopic circumstances. The opposition's cooperation does not mean its joining hands with the government to sweep under the carpet the acts of political miscreancy in the name of co-operation. The opposition is not expected to compromise on its legitimate duties to the electorate, tsunami or no tsunami.

Kay Dharmadasa
Ragama

Buddhists beware

The latest move against the majority population here, is trying to stop the Poya holiday! In this island the funny thing is that almost every threat against the majority comes from the decadent, Westernised, boot -licking members of its own kind, especially those perched precariously on the dizzy ladder of corruption. Let the Buddhists speak with one voice that instead of removing the poya holiday, the Sunday holiday of that week be cancelled instead. And let them not listen to stories of the international market deterring such a move, as the Middle East is trading very nicely with its Friday holiday, demanded by its majority population.

We tuned into the radio the other day to hear a pompous intonation that, in case the Poya day was declared a working day, the early  part of that day would be set aside for lectures on all religions ! The speaker was obviously unaware of the fact that all religions may be one and equal, but Buddhism is definitely unlike any other religion on earth. So to subject a Buddhist employee to lessons of a creator god, soul theory, forgiveness of sins, everlasting hell / heaven, blind belief to be accepted unquestioningly, etc, would be just cause for immediate strike action!

It is surely time for all Buddhists to rally round and demand their rights, most of all the inalienable rights of their now besieged and betrayed nation, with its recorded history of over thousands of years! If this means the removal of the traitors at the helm, on both sides of the parliamentary divide, so be it!

Concerned citizens
colombo 7

Mother Lanka

Not the time to march over dead bodies of voters

Donor countries from all parts of the world wasted no time in offering aid to all those who were devastated by the tsunami disaster. Thousands ended up in watery graves, while nearly 200,000 lost their homes and belongings. Our government with assistance from donor countries and local donors, organised the re-building process to bring the country back to normalcy in the quickest possible time.

Unfortunately, much suspicion has been aroused regarding the handling of the aid received. All these ugly accusations could have been averted had the government decided at the outset to hand over to each donor country a project or two that would commensurate with the aid that particular country could afford and grant duty free import of all items required for the purpose, while the state provided the necessary infrastructure.

In this way, abuse, if any, of both local and foreign aid could have been minimised or even prevented. Donations in cash, local or foreign, should as a rule, not be encouraged. In the event of such a gift, a foolproof system of accounting and acknowledgment should be a vital necessity.

No loopholes should be left for miscreants to line their pockets and for politicians and their henchmen to make hay while the sun shines and spread party propaganda to achieve their own ends at the expense of local and foreign benefactors. The need of the hour is for all political parties to join hands in a sincere effort to redeem the unfortunate victims of their sufferings and not for cementing political platforms. This is not the time to march over the dead bodies of voters in the quest for political power or personal gain.

G. D. Perera
Dehiwala

Politicians - the heartless breed

Politicians in Sri Lanka - whatever party they belong to are despicable. Everybody feels the cost of living and is compelled to tighten their belts.

Recently a Sunday paper reported "cost of living soars - MPs want luxury vehicles." They have no consideration for those whom they ostensibly represent. The taxpayers are throttled to keep politicians in comfort.

A large number of them have no education, no family background, no finesse, no decency, and no manners. They were standing at bus stands a few years ago, but with their newly acquired respectability as MPs, they have become upwardly mobile. Now they want luxury vehicles - not ordinary ones. Their fathers have been bus travellers. They themselves have been bus travellers a few years ago. Now they want to travel in absolute comfort, not with their own money, but with the taxpayers' money. This is a colossal fraud perpetrated on the people of this country.

Had they lived in communist Russia or China, these despicable politicians would have been put against a wall and shot. They rob, misappropriate and are guilty of bribery and corruption. You name the offence and they are guilty of it. In Sri Lanka, the standard of literacy is high, but the standard of intelligence is extremely low. In such a society, the corrupt poiticians spring up like mushrooms, and thrive. They will talk on TV of corruption as if butter won't melt in the mouths.

Today, politics is the most paying job. If you are an uneducated, unqualified, crude and despicable human being, who has no family background, with no sense of decent values inculcated in you, does not know what decent behaviour is - then the ideal job is politics. Most of the voters themselves are barely out of their loin cloth amudes, clueless, unintelligent and easy to bluff.

To improve our country, we need at the next elections, a strong, educated, intelligent and above all, an incorruptible head of state, who will take action against corrupt politicians even if there be a breath of scandal against them. That is how Singapore developed.

Lee Kwan Yu was an Oxford educated gentleman, possessing a great deal of intelligence, foresight and love for his country. He was incorruptible and therefore highly respected for his honesty. He never lied even if it was to his advantage. Therefore, the Singaporeans for almost 30 years placed great trust in him and kept on electing him prime minister term after term.

Reggie Seneviratne 
Polhengoda

Shocked to hear Thilanga will be SLC  President

I remain shell -shocked after learning that TS will be allowed to become the president of Sri Lanka Cricket uncontested and without a whimper from anybody including our impotent and spineless sports minister. Why is it that nobody dares to challenge this man, now creeping out of the wood in his relentless pursuit of power? Don't the constitutions of our sports bodies have clauses that prevent such persons from contesting office if they have been remanded on criminal charges?

Here is a man who has even been accused of misappropriating funds of the very office he will be elected to - uncontested! What really has happened to this country? Are we allowing ourselves to be manipulated, threatened and fooled by a man who is seemingly using his money and horse power to buy himself out of trouble and into his crooked fantasy limelight?

It is also sad to note that sections of the free media are also guilty of whitewashing TS.They have splashed stories of an "unconstested president" but nary a word about his shady past and whether the credibility of our country is at stake if he is at the helm of SLC. The media has such an important role to play in protecting our country from villains who destroy our image in their egoistical pursuits for power and recognition. The signals they are sending readers with their endorsement of TS as president of SLC are indeed strange, disturbing and tragic.

Yes, he is innocent until proven guilty but what if he is found guilty and sentenced to prison while he is president of SLC? Is this not a possibility? Will not the image of our country and its people be sullied in the eyes of the cricketing world?

Arjuna Ranatunga has fearlessly written many letters to the President, Leader of the Opposition, the Minister of Sports and the ICC but sadly none of them have responded to him. It does seem to be getting curiouser and curiouser.

Trevor 
Colombo 15

And now 'copters for MPs

Your edition of February 27, headlined the vehicle bonaza that all MP's are going to enjoy.

It also reported that the Geological Faculty of Peradeniya has informed the parliamentary select committee about the non-availability of funds to repair the disaster warning unit.

So is this another scenario like Nero fiddling when Rome was burning?

The same paper reports ministers warning of a public backlash due to the mishandling of tsunami relief, with the Prime Minister stating that before long ministers would have to avoid travelling by road and use helicopters, given the rising level of public dissension.

Will the authorities, therefore think of providing helicopters to all MPs?

Merril T. M. de Silva
Moratuwa

What Prince Charles wrote...

Prince Charles, or so the story has it, wrote in his diary after attending Sri Lanka's Independence Day celebrations on  04 - 02 - 1998 :-

"This is a funny country. It has a police chief who faints, a defence minister who limps a prime minister who is in a wheelchair and a President who is always late....."

Reader
Colombo 

Thunnalai Ponamthoddam Arumugam Thirugnana- sunderam, affectionately called by many as "Thirugnanam," a striking personality esteemed by all, passed away in Mount Lavinia on February 9 at the ripe age of 78, struck by a terminal illness.

He had been living in Colombo and was in government service for the greater part of his life. He was born in Thunnalai in Vadamarchchi to a respected and well-educated orthodox Hindu family. Educated at Sacred Heart College, and being a devotee of Lord Vishnu, he spent much of his last days after retirement in Vallipuram kovil, Thunnalai. All his brothers were in government service from colonial times, and his sisters led happy lives with their spouses who held good positions under government.

One of his brothers had been director of payments and accounts, general treasury. Thunnalai is a village where most people are persevering, god fearing and the young are pursuing their studies aiming at high positions in government service, while several have also found employment abroad. It could be said of them - as in Thomas Grey's Elegy On Death In A Country Churchyard:-

"Knowledge to their eyes her ample page

Rich with the spoils of time did 'ever' unroll"

Arumugam and his wife laboured and sacrificed much to keep their family on top. It is said that there is a woman behind every successful man and it certainly was in his case. His wife was a teacher at Bambalapitya Hindu College. His family was one for emulation by anyone who believes in simple living and in prayer and sacrifice for the upliftment of the family. All his children are doing very well in Canada, Switzerland and the UK.

His funeral took place at Mount Lavinia cemetery according to Hindu rites. There was a large gathering to pay their last respects.

May I say with Grey again-

Can storied urn or animated bust,

Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath

Can honour's voice provoke the silent dust

Or flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of death!

My dear brother, my last prayer is that you should reach the feet of Lord Siva.

Thunnalai S.A. Masillamony

Colombo 10