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| Thursday, 27 November 2003 |
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Relevant to the upsurge of violence by some youth in our schools, was an incident I witnessed when I went to visit my former principal, who now lives in retirement. As I was conversing with him, about fifty yards off the road where he resides, was a scene where some senior schoolboys perhaps after their year-end tests, were gathered opposite the house of a resident who had recently returned after a long period of stay in the Orthopaedic Ward of the Batticaloa Hospital. This group of senior boys gathered on the road and were pelting stones, bricks and sticks where this man had the misfortune to have a mango tree. The boys from a leading boys school in Batticaloa town didn't care for the traffic and pedestrians who were on this road. Realising that their college ties would reveal the school where they were studying, they had resorted to pull out their neckties. As I was conversing with my former principal, he observed the scene, where some of the missiles were falling on this poor man's house. Some of the missiles were falling on the electric and telephone cables which could plunge the people here in darkness and their telephones out. My principal suddenly got up and was walking up to his gate and I asked him what he was trying to do and he replied that he wanted to meet this grou. But I advised him, that since all this did not affect him or his house, there was no need for him to have a show down with these boys. It took me some time to understand the remark he made to me "Have you heard the famous saying that normally evil is created by just handful of evil fellows, whereas the worst offenders the large majority, who watch this in silence with folded arms fearing to register a protest. He went up to his gate and addressing the group asked if he could meet two representatives of this group, and invited them to his house. There was some delay while the group was considering this and finally two of them were pushed to come in. Addressing them as 'sons' this is what he told these two. 1. Did you realise that while you were throwing your missiles, several of them fell on the electric and telephone cables, and some can even injure innocent passers-by?. I felt like telephoning the Telecom or the C.E.B. or the Police, but I first wanted to discuss matters with you. 2. Most of the mangoes were very raw, and schoolboys perhaps get a thrill eating such mangoes. If you are so keen will you give me about 15 minutes to send my labourer to the market and get you some raw mangoes. 3. He told them, yesterday too, you did the same thing with your neck ties out, but did you know that I came to my boundary wall and took snaps of you, and I was hoping to send it to the principals of the two schools where I suspected you were students. 4. Why not go up to this house owner and ask if he will consent to your sending one of your group to climb this tree and pluck a few mangoes, which will not damage the house or the traffic using this road. Supposing one of you had a similar tree, how would you react, if some came there and began throwing sticks, stones etc. at your tree. I won't force any decision on you, but if you can discuss this matter with your group and decide to walk away, I shall be most thankful, if you help me to solve this matter without going to the Police or the C.E.B, or the Telecom. In about fifteen minutes, the group looking quite down spirited, walked away perhaps angry at this old spoil sport. I do not wish to make any comments except to just state how this retired principal tackled this situation. M. T. ABOOSAID, Palamunai. It is most distressing to see that as certain lawless elements continue their cowardly attacks on the Christian community, others who profess to be guardians of morals and ethics attempt to explain this trend by accusing Christians of engaging in activities detrimental to the community. The timing of these accusations and the lawless activities cannot help but leave the impression that these could be part of a well orchestrated campaign to stir up religious strife in a country that is struggling to recover from an ethnic conflict. Complaints are received from two quarters. One section keeps complaining of being attacked and harassed, while the other section, which of course disclaims any hand in the violence, keep complaining that certain sections of the Christian community are resorting to what they call proselytism. The Government and the Law enforcement Agencies have a responsibility to safeguard the interests of all citizens. There is a need to investigate and examine the possible motives of those attempting to fan the flames of religious conflict before things get out of hand. Let's take the accusation that certain sections of Christians are engaging in proselytism. The accusations are vague and there is a need to specifically identify what exactly is taking place which is considered objectionable and detrimental to the country. If it is a question of the misuse of foreign funds and concealment of assets, the Exchange Control and the Inland Revenue Departments could deal with it. If it is the illegal presence of foreigners, the Immigration Department and the Foreign Ministry could take action. If there is noise pollution, or unauthorized buildings, the Police, the environmental authorities or the UDA could handle it. If there is any illegal activity like drug peddling, prostitution, gun running, or any other subversive activity the law enforcement agencies dealing with these matters could investigate and take appropriate action. We claim to be a Democratic and civilized nation. So let us deal with these matters in a civilized manner and whoever is at fault, let them be dealt with according to the laws of our land. While these matters are being investigated, we must not ignore the lawless elements who are taking it upon themselves to deal with what they consider unlawful. It is a serious dereliction of duty on the part of the Police to allow such activity to go unchecked. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of Love and Forgiveness with the assurance of salvation. It is difficult to believe that such a message can adversely affect the lives of people, whereas on the other hand, it should enhance their lifestyles. Jesus Christ never resorted to deception and subterfuge, nor did He advocate such measures by His disciples in their task of carrying the good news to all mankind. The Apostle Peter made it very clear about this responsibility when he said - "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do it with gentleness and respect". (1 Peter 3:15). ZERNEY WIJESURIYA, Retired DIG/NIB. When the views of the public on the Budget was televised recently many said that more than the salary increase, which in any case is an inadequate Rs. 1,250, what they are deeply worried is nothing is done by the government to cause a reduction in prices of essential foodstuffs such as rice, lentils, sugar, chillies, spices, dried fish, milk powder and so on. This is very true. The prices of these items have steadily increased in the last few months. Big onions is sold at Rs. 60 per kilo from about Rs. 25. Sugar went up to Rs. 38 from Rs. 26. Halmessa (Dried sprats) is at Rs. 150 from Rs. 100. The black-marketer and the private importers, in the circumstances, are taking the poor housewife for a ride. What are the Sathosa food outlets, which were expected to come to the aid of the housewife in times of shortages, doing? They certainly did a satisfactory job for many years and until a few months ago in the distribution of these essentials countrywide. Probably the President and the Prime Minister, are not aware that the Sathosa's import and distribution activities remain paralyzed for the last four months. Shelves in the Sathosa shops in most parts of the country are empty. Enquiries made by the media from Sathosa officials report the situation is out of control. Not only is the Sathosa's pathetic liquidity situation unable to pay for the imports of these essential items, but a long queue of local suppliers demanding their dues of many millions of rupees for supplies made months ago are seen crowding the Sathosa head office daily. It is also said the management is unable to generate sufficient business to pay salaries of the staff in the past few months. The present management owes an explanation to the public as to what is happening to this organisation that was generally in a healthy state for over 50 years. It is also understood those who agreed to put in money to buy shares in the Sathosa's re-structuring programme have pulled out. There is also talk if PERC were allowed to do the restructuring programme in the prescribed manner Sathosa would have found financiers long ago. There is bound to be chaos during the X'mas and New Year season when customers discover the shelves of Sathosa are empty. The Prime Minister and President must immediately step in and breathe life into the temporarily dead Sathosa and not only pump in the necessary money, but also make way for a more vibrant and profit-oriented management team. P. B. P., Colombo 3. Unethical conversions: NGOs must leave There are three areas that can be used to destabilize nations: Communalism, Marxism, and Religious strife. During the past three decades we have run through the whole gamut of problems with regard to two - Communalisms (or ethnic harmony) and Marxism (via the JVP). We have experienced enough slaughter, mayhem, and as a result have become impoverished which means we are now totally controlled by foreign forces through their money. We are now about to embark on the third and final destabilizer: Religious strife! Unknown to most during the past thirty years certain foreign-funded NGOs have crept into the country with the sole purpose of using the deplorably sad situation to convert the desperate to Christianity. The Evangelists work by numbers (they get bonuses for the number of people they convert or they get fired). Lay preachers are dropped off at various junctions who go from house to house, pretending to be good Christians. Please send those NGOs out of this country without any further delay. They have been identified, so there will be no problem about investigating them. People of the four main religions - Buddhism, Islam, Christian, Hinduism - have existed harmoniously for a few centuries. In fact, we visit each other's Temples, Churches and Mosques and ask favours from all Gods when we are in trouble. We exchange X'mas cake for Kavun, Kokis and Bibikkan. We are fed delicious Buriyani and Watalappan by our Muslim friends and Hindu Devalas flourish alongside Buddhist Temples. We get holidays for all religious festivals and a ball is had by all. Thanks be to the Gods we have survived, carnage, conspiracy, and still emerge a smiling and gracious Sri Lankan nation. Let us not change this whatever happens. LINDA VAN SCHAGEN, Mount Lavinia. Passport office knows no 'Acrobat' I have been performing acrobatic items and formed my own circus troupe about 15 years ago. Recently I was selected by a Sri Lankan gentleman to perform in Taiwan. In order to go on this trip I visited the Passport Office and handed over the duly filled application form and handed over same with the additional one day service fee of Rs. 2500. I visited the office that same evening and waited from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. but was informed the passport was not ready. I once again visited the Passport office on Monday (9/11) morning and was requested to go to counter No. 19. There the officer traced my application form and I was informed that as I had put 'Acrobat' as my profession, they did not know what is was. I was requested to see a higher officer (who had his name with SLAS after, it on the table), who too asked me the meaning of 'Acrobat!. Surely, don't they even know to refer a dictionary, if they do not know the meaning of a word. I suggest the new Controller of Immigration selects people who at least have an ordinary pass in English at 'A/level exam, when recruitments are made. Also the computer operators too should be competent in English as they mis-spell names when applications are in Sinhala and the details in the passport are in English. L. PUSHPAKUMARA, Veyangoda. Reference "Ghastly Encounter" (Front page Nov. 21). I was appalled at the report of a brutal killing of a cobra that had entered a Rambukkana-Kegalle school bus and the insensitive way it was described by your "special" correspondent. His description of the poor reptile as a "hooded apparition" and as "slimy brute", reflect negatively on the humanity and sensitivity of this individual and on your newspaper. Could not this poor reptile being disposed of in a more humane manner. In spite of 2500 years of civilisation and the teachings of the Buddha, we are still a few hundred years behind the Christian west in the treatment of our animal cohabitants. MAHINDA DE SILVA, Colombo 8. Two Tamil Ministers from North and East The National Cabinet must be a useful one for all people. Hence it must have a Tamil from North and another Tamil from the East. Now Sinhalese and Muslims are over represented in the Cabinet. K. RATNAVEL, Chulipuram. |
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