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The Daily News of Aug. 16 carried an article containing the views of
TULF leader Anandasangaree. It gave his solution to the ethnic issue.
He urged the JVP to accept a federal solution based on the Indian
model. He said "The Tamils are prepared to give up the demand for a
separate State and agree to a solution within a united Sri Lanka.
Everyone in this country is yearning for peace.
The country is prepared for a federal solution and is prepared to
accept the Indian model as an alternative. Let not the future generation
curse us for failure to find a solution when the opportunity came our
way."
I think this is a suitable solution and all parties should join and
accept it. War is not the answer and it cannot solve the problem,
because it will only create more suffering and enmity.
We must remember the words of the Buddha.-
"Not by hate is Hate conquered but by Love."
So a peaceful solution to a problem is the best solution.
GERTRUDE DE LIVERA,
Dehiwela.
Two policemen were recently killed on the Mesalai Road while they
were on patrol duty. Hot on the heels comes the brutal shooting of
Minister Douglas Devananda's Secretary, an enthusiastic leader of the
Eelam Democratic People's Part.
When will these brutal and beastly killings stop? The Army, Navy,
Police must strengthen and intensify their patrol duties. More
watch-huts and check-points must be opened. Discomfort and inconvenience
is nothing, we must save our youth and even the civilians.
Condemnations and appealing to foreign nations serve no useful
purpose as killings go on non-stop. The Defence Minister and Ministry
officials must wake up from their slumber. Thousands of soldiers,
sailors and policemen have been brutally massacred.
It's time to wake up. Why this silence, timidity and meekness against
a mere microscopic minority? If there must be a war, let it be a war to
end all wars. No war games like defending civilians. The LTTE is in a
dilemma as over six lakhs of Tamils are living in peace and harmony in
the South, the Colombo suburbs and all parts.
Thousands gainfully employed doctors, engineers, accountants and
others working hand in glove with the Sinhalese. If there is a war to be
candid the Tamils will have to flee the South to their traditional homes
which they have given up.
One wise, intelligent and honest Tamil gentleman, a bold writer has
said in a recent newspaper "that Prabhakaran will destroy the Tamil race
- already the gang leader has massacred nearly a lakh of Sinhalese,
Muslims and even Tamils, their own kith and kin". All patriots wake up.
There is a limit to patience, tolerance and endurance.
It's time to wake up and eliminate terrorists.
CARL NANAYAKKARA,
Kalutara.
Athula, your response to Ruah about sexual harassment in Sri Lanka (DN
Sept. 06) is unrealistic. The New York Bronx is undoubtedly an unsafe
area. I cannot speak for the US, but in the UK and Australia, the roads
are safe to walk on, and the majority of men behave like decent men and
do not verbally or physically harass women.
This is not the case in Sri Lanka where a woman walking along even
the main roads in the daytime would, at least, have vulgar remarks cast
at them. While all men should not be criticised for one man's fault, in
Sri Lanka the proportion of perverted and sexually frustrated men is
much higher than in the West, where both stricter rules and cultural
development has reduced their number to a minority.
Rather than try to bolster up an image that does not exist, which is
the natural response of most Sri Lankans when someone criticizes
something Sri Lankan, we should take cognisance of the fact that our
country is suffering from cultural poverty.
SENAKA RAJAPAKSE,
via email.
I have seen the Dalada Perahera in the 1960s many times which I would
call 'grandiose' and 'spectacular'.
I was keen to watch the Randoli Perahera after a lapse of almost
twenty years and I arranged my holiday to fulfill this wish. It is sad
to see that the Randoli Perahera this year lacked that pageantry glamour
and splendour of the yesteryear and it was nothing but a glorified Gamey
Pansaley Peraherak except for the extra number of elephants, which you
don't see in a village Perahera.
One may argue that the grandeur of the Perahera got diluted because
of the security situation in the country. It may be one of the facts,
but some of the shortcomings cannot be attributed to the security
situation prevailed at that time.
Shortcomings: There was a lesser number of elephants. Foreign
tourists mainly come to see hundreds of elephants parading down the
streets majestically.
The Perahera was not parading but it was running down the streets. I
had a very good view from the balcony of Bank of Ceylon building and the
various dancers, drummers and other participants never stayed in one
place and perform but kept on running (not moving) as if they were in a
hurry to go home.
The Perahera was going in the dark most of the time, as there were
not enough torch-bearers, which is one of the very important items in
any night Perahera. I could see the dancers, drummers etc. dancing in
the dark.
The few torch-bearers who were there, were not evenly distributed. I
wonder whether the Perahera organising committee could not find enough
torch-bearers (If they have contacted the politicians, they would have
found a few torch-bearers effortlessly).
There were only a few veterans of dancers, drummers, flautists and
the other participants and most of the others were like ten year old
children and novices.
People also go to the Perahera to see some extraordinary dance and
drumming performances by veterans and professionals.
There was a great vacuum of veterans.
The performers under various devales have been reduced to minimum and
it was dull and boring for the viewers.
Positives: Due to the prevailing security situation in the country,
the security was tight and the law enforcement authorities did a
marvellous job without inconveniencing the public, so as to say that the
Randoli Perahera ended up with no incidents.
The youth who performed dancing, drumming and other events will be
the next generation to takeover from the ageing veterans and this is a
very good move for the future. I could see kids as young as 10 years
dancing, drumming, playing flute and in all other events.
I am sure there was one unforgettable thing that the viewers would
have enjoyed on that night and that was three young elephants who were
mesmerized by the drumming and music dancing waving their trunks and
taking small jumbotrots. It was a treat.
MALIN ABEYATUNGE,
Australia, via email. |
