• Protect like gold the land regained by Armed Forces

• Mohan Samaranayake

• Medawachchiya checkpoint

• Moragahakanda Samudra

• Why not auto gear vehicles?

• Train commuters in difficulty

Protect like gold the land regained by Armed Forces

When one goes through the recent history of our country, it becomes clear that the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka had to rescue the Nation from many unenviable positions resulting from political follies.

Abandoning the East of Sri Lanka and subsequent open invitation given under the notorious CFA to the LTTE terrorists to consolidate themselves in the area was one such unfortunate decision of the policy makers of our country.

Recently, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces rescued the Nation once again when our heroic sons and daughters drove away the main units of the LTTE from the area South of Trincomalee to Vihare. (Vakarai).

The clearance of these villages provides many opportunities to the Government to improve the delivery of services to the people who have been suffering under the LTTE terrorists.

Without allowing these areas which are strategically crucial, to be directionless and turning the issues facing the public to a political football, the authorities must seize the opportunity to bring economic and political stability to the area.

As we rejoice the achievement of regaining of land and bringing it under the writ of the Government, we cannot under-estimate the significance of another important accomplishment of re-opening of historically and archaeologically important sites in the area.

Among the main tactics used by the LTTE to spread its power and the hate-philosophy are the ethnic cleansing and destruction of places of historical importance.

The Eastern Province had to bear the brunt of the LTTE's brutalities during the last four years mainly because of its economic importance to the separatist agenda.

Prince Dhantha and Princess Hemamala with the Buddha's tooth relic arrived in Lanka Pura where Samudra Giri Viharaya is situated. (This is to the North of Veheragala and the area is known as Mottuwaram which was Muhudu Tota in the ancient days) This important episode in Sri Lanka's history took place in 4th century during King Keerthi Sri Megavanna's rule.

According to Sri Lanka Army sources, the LTTE has caused a lot of damages to the site and have built a Hindu Kovil and had their Illankkasthurai camp established in the area. There are many rock inscriptions in the caves around Samudragiri Stupa which is in ruins.

These inscriptions confirm that this was an abode for many Buddhist monks and according to historians Samudragiri Stupa was built by King Kavantissa. Kenda Bew Bime Ganga now known as KangiKudichchi Aru which is situated in Tirrukkovil division is another important area.

There are ruins of a tank bund and a Stupa damaged by treasure hunters. On the Southern border of the tank on a highland there is a row of caves used by the members of the Sangha.

Ven Ellwala Medhananda thera in his book, 'Sinhala Buddhist heritage in the Northern and the Eastern areas' says that he visited the caves and was able to copy two of the inscriptions out of many.

In one it says "Maha Thishanage, the son of Pramuka Punasha Gupta donated the cave to the Maha Sangha". The language used is Prakrit Sinhalese and it is evident that this village again represents the well known Sinhalese model of Tank and the Bund (Wawa saha Dagabo).

The recapture of the Eastern seaboard by the Armed Forces is another important step to arrest balkanisation of the country on the basis of ethnic groups.

The whole country should resolve to protect its land and its heritage from scheming politicians, foreign funded NGOs, some members of the World Community who are still not willing to accept the political realities of the country and most importantly from the Terrorists.

To the members of the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives and who were injured in the current drive to defeat the LTTE, we again pay our tributes and salutations.

To Him - ....."You stay at home and watch TV, He sees the broken bodies lying around him - and wonders whether it will be him the next time.

You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows and get comfortable, He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minutes nap, only to be awakened by gun fire.

Some of you sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place because of men like him! But, if only there were MORE men like him!

WHO IS HE? He is sacrificing his today and may be his life-for future Sri Lanka !!!

Keep him always in your thoughts -and keep wishing that he will be safe.

He is from the Army, Navy and Air Force of Sri Lanka"

(from an unknown poet)

RANJITH SOYSA - Australia - via email

Mohan Samaranayake

How dare they (the UN) even try to gag respected journalist Mohan Samaranayake? In the first place, why is that Clinton allowed to stay on in Sri Lanka? (Reference DN Jan. 24) Whoever is working against the peace loving majority of Sri Lanka should be deported immediately.

Furthermore, the authorities should stop foreigners coming into our country on the pretext of helping the tsunami victims etc: and engaging in nefarious activities. Wake up Sri Lankans. Do not be nice to all the foreigners! Please take action before it is too late.

We should not issue visas to these so called 'good samaritans', without doing a background research. Treat them the same way, we are treated at the airports in their countries!

D. S. ABAYASEKARA - via email

Medawachchiya checkpoint

Today the Police are often at the receiving end of adverse criticism after a bomb explosion. I wish to congratulate the Medawachchiya Police for their dedicated efficiency and courtesy in conducting an extremely important thankless function at the Madawachchiya checkpoint.

This checkpoint which is controlled by the Madawachchiya Police and some army officers is situated at a junction where the main access roads from Mannar, Vavuniya, Pulmoddai and Padaviya meet. Any lapses on the part of the Police will result in the destruction of any important town to the South of the country.

This checkpoint consists of a very extensive temporary building which daily handles a minimum of 4,000 commuters and a very large number of fully laden lorries, vans etc. Each of these vehicles together with the passengers is examined. Electrical items are separately tested.

I have been in this queue and I admired the patience of these Police officers both male and female who have also to attend to the heavy load of criminal complaints and cases.

I am reliably informed that this temporary structure has been put up with funds of private individuals and officers.

Permanent structures cannot be built because the land belongs to the Pradeshiya Sabha which is adamantly refusing to release the land to the Police as I think they wish to put up shops etc, once peace is restored. That is the height of patriotism!

These Police officers have detected by their dedication large quantities of explosives which might otherwise have destroyed innocent lives in Anuradhapura or any other town. Let us therefore be grateful to these officers for the great service they are rendering under difficult circumstances.

D. P. B. MAHADIULWEWA - Anuradhapura

Moragahakanda Samudra

Two classical leadership speeches came to my mind when I read President Mahinda Rajapaksa's remarks on Moragahakanda in the Daily News: Winston Churchil's exhortation to the British Public on WW II, and President Kennedy's historic quote when he said to America, "Do not ask what the country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". (Reference DN Jan. 26).

The most significant and encouraging aspect of President Rajapaksa's speech is its ring of sincerity and the bipartisan content of the idea.

I have often said that a country once headed by Pandukabhaya or Parakramabahu should surely have their genes waiting somewhere in Sri Lanka.

I am quite sure that Sri Lankan engineers are equal to the task, and will be with the country every step of the way forward.

JAYATI WEERAKOON - via email

Why not auto gear vehicles?

The driver who is familier with an auto gear vehicle is not necessarily be able to operate a manual gear vehicle comfortably. (Reference DN Jan. 30). However, the driver who can operate a manual gear vehicle has no trouble in operating an auto gear vehicle.

Therefore, the driver who obtains the driver's licence by operating a manual gear vehicle is qualified to operate both manual and auto gear vehicles.

The safety on roads and highways should be more important than the ease and comfort in obtaining a driver's licence.

The other option is to introduce a seperate class of driver's licence for those who want to use auto gear vehicles for the driving test in obtaining a driver's licence.

ARIYADAS YAPA - via email

Train commuters in difficulty

The number of trains which were scheduled to operate from Avissawella to Fort via the Kelani Valley route on week days, both in the morning and evening has been reduced since a few weeks.

Accordingly the train which usually arrived at 7.36 a.m. at Maharagama from Avissawella and the train which left at 4.50 p.m. at Fort station too have been suspended.

This abrupt change has caused enormous difficulties in the commuters as the next train which is scheduled to arrive at Maharagama at 7.50 a.m. too arrives only at 8.10 a.m.

Also in the evening instead of the train which used to leave Fort station at 4.50 p.m. the next train is scheduled at 5.20 p.m. and it only leaves Fort station between 5.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

This is for the information of Minister of Railways and Transport and hope he would be able to understand the amount of difficulties that the commuters are undergoing.

MANJARI PEIRIS - Maharagama