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So Keith Vaz wants to lead a delegation of British Parliamentarians
to sort out Sri Lanka’s problems with the LTTE, does he? Wouldn’t his
time be better spent here in Britain, sorting out the mess into which he
and people like him have got his British Labour Party and Government
into?
You will be aware of the depths to which the British Labour
Government has sunk in recent times.
In the recent Local Government elections in the UK - which were
widely seen as a referendum on the present Labour Government’s
performance in office over the past 10 years - only 27 per cent of the
electorate felt able to support the Government while support for the
opposition Conservatives rocketed to 40 per cent.
When asked why they had become so disenchanted with a Government
which they had voted into office three times in row since 1997, with
landslide majorities, the vast bulk of the electorate gave ‘sleaze’ as
their reason.
Prime Minister Blair and the exchange of peerages in Britain’s Upper
House of Parliament for ‘loans’ to party funds is only a comparatively
recent manifestation of the rot that has set in to the present British
Government.
It was Mr. Vaz and his like who started the rot many years ago when
he was forced out of office as a Foreign Minister in the Blair
Government for his part in the fiddled issue of British passports, in
very suspect circumstances, to the billionaire Indian Hinduja brothers.
His latest display of concern for the plight of the Tamils in Sri
Lanka is no more ‘disinterested’. Many of them are constituents of his,
on whose vote he is dependent to hold his seat at a time when support is
simply leaching away from his party - and therefore from him.
TONY DE ALWIS (REVD)
England
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As is being pointed out by Lionel Wijesiri (DN May 15), a major part
of the commerical ads displayed on TV Channels, Sri Lankan woman is used
as a marketable piece, to gain their ends by competing tradesmen to sell
their products.
On an earlier occasion too, I pointed out, instead of these women
shown for their Javaya or their bravado, it is more appropriate and
pleasing to the eye, to show a war hero or a cricketer, or even a child
athlete, or a Diriya woman, for his/her bravador, valour or courage, in
the achievement, of each one’s target, and what with a vast amount of
strength or morale, the viewer could be motivated, and yet derive a
feeling of satisfaction in displaying such action/plan simultaneously
with the product.
Sometimes the women ads are repeated twice or thrice, in the
intervening period of a teledrama, they telecast, that nestomalt ad has
just become an eyesore, with that teledrama actress, who is just an
actress and not even a recognised athlete. Why cannot some products,
display modest ads, with a majority of viewers who would rather get a
more intellectual idea of the product, which is being marketed.
At times women in glamour, are shown just like dummies, and no one is
interested, in wasting precious TV time. As I had suggested on an
earlier occasion too, (and which was recently telecast) that it is far
from seeing a cheap teledrama to view, an actual drama, a true but a
very hard encounter, and a battle won, telecast in the national channel,
with an LTTEer being rounded up and shot on the spot, which was a rare
drama, not often aired on the channels.
When the whole country is eagerly waiting to win the war, it is more
appropriate, to frequent the channels with such dramatic scenes, (may be
for security reasons), which our own brotherhood, on one side is
fighting tooth and nail day and night, with such blood-chilling
encounters, we dare not imagine even.
So it is over to you the commercials, to air ads, more appropriate,
more congenial, serene and pleasing to the eye to view instead of the
habitual commercial pieces which has now become truly an eye-sore.
B. ABEYWICKRAMA
via email
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One hundred and sixty seven years ago in the year 1840 Rawatawatta,
Moratuwa Methodist Church was virtually ‘written off’ as a place of
worship with ‘no hope’ due to the drying out of celestial fire within
the hearts of the congregation. Amidst such a bleak embodiment, Minister
Rev. Peter Gerard de Zilva was appointed amidst total discontent of the
Methodist Community at large.
Rev. Peter Gerard de Zilva did not falter. Going on horse back to the
people living in the vicinity, he planted his utmost faith in God, which
he did very successfully, by reaching out to all parts of the community.
Be it an ordinary wood shed of the famed Moratuwa carpenter or the
little hut of the fishing community, or even the ordinary man on the
street or market posed, no barrier for him to execute his God’s mission.
He was indeed a martyr of sorts, for he endured obstacles and heavy
criticism by a large number of people but remained absolutely dedicated
in faith to the service of God. It was upon a mission as steadfast as
this, that the future of the Rawatawatte Methodist Church came to
reality.
The Church whose humble beginnings showed a rapid growth in just two
years of Rev. Peter Gerard Zilva’s mission was relocated to the
congregation at its current location at the Rawatawatta Junction, facing
the Galle Road, in 1859, constructed upon beams and pillars for a sum of
Rs. 3000 at that time.
With such humble beginnings emerges a success story to which many
chapters have been added in great numbers with the passage of time.
Today, nearly one and half centuries later, the very same church of
‘no hope’ has flourished magnificently and celebrates a remarkable
milestone on April 27, 2007 on the eve of its 148th anniversary with a
new construction at a cost of 23 million rupees which is regarded as a
miracle of its own. The Church will be consecrated to God at a Service
of Praise and Thanks-giving.
One may wonder as to how a church previously considered as
spiritually hesitant managed to flourish. The answer may lie in the
arch-shaped structure above the Altar which encompasses a beautiful
stained-glass window of an individual holding onto an empty cross, while
he is being tossed by a tempest upon stormy waves. Yet, he looks not at
them, rather glances up at heaven where his gaze is met by an Angel
whose radiance offers hope, comfort and grace.
This window which was housed in the earlier church has found its
logical place in the new building, and stands testimony to the
congregation of the Rawatawatte Methodist Church that, ‘Through God
nothing is impossible’ always and for generations to come.
DR. TILAK S. FERNANDO
via email
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D.V. Perera has gone too extensively, Malinga is a wise lad who is
just enjoying his life (DN May 17).
I am afraid to comment on this matter, my belief is that Mr. Perera
has had past experience to the matters he has written, so be that, he
has an inner sight to judge so! No school boy, nor policeman of our
country will walk bear body like in the US who loves to expose their
body in every possible way be it a man or woman, where the crime rates
are high! Beauty Queens will be stripped on their positions, mind you
none from a cultured society, Shilpa was a recent news on Gere case.
Leave the guy to do his part to our society, why go on and on with this
subject, when he is least bothered.
NINA H. KAMAL
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This is in response to ‘Don’t mess with Malinga’ - I think many of us
don’t know enough about Malinga to judge his character; we certainly
should not be doing so based on his appearence.
He does not have an obligation to maintain his appearence to suit our
subjective opinions and expectations. It’s better to represent Sri Lanka
by good character, and in this case, with his talent and good
sportsmanship.
I do hope that the same individualism and ability to think for
himself that guide the choice of image that he presents (and it is fun
and refreshing) will be his strengths in resisting the undesirable
influences that D. V. Perera talks about, and continuing to shine as an
outstanding cricketer and a human being.
ROMAINE J.
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I must congratulate the Editor, Daily News for this new concept of
showing the beauty of Sri Lanka daily in your newspaper.
kindly endeavour to persuade our television channels to do likewise.
W. J. SAMUEL
Rajagiriya |
