At what dark point?

Some looming clouds of gloom are incrementally enveloping our paradise isle very vividly and palpably and the writer is compelled to suppose that the whole nation is at some dark point in her history that has to be arrested at any cost. At what dark point, we have to be deciphered by the intelligentsia of the country with the least delay because of the very fact that when the die is cast the situation would be ‘no turning, no stopping’ an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

The student violence in the so called big schools is an ill omen. If it goes spiraling, the whole school system would embroil in an ugly foray. This is an unprecedented situation. It would be a Herculean task for the rulers who have some other fish to fry. Modern generation seems to be very immature. They are driven by sudden emotions. The solution has to bear social sensitivity. In a village school, the higher authorities nip it in the bud, but the names of the schools signal the level of the parents.

The other day, some of the national newspapers reported that a junior prefect of a school in Kandy had been severely assaulted and intimidated by a senior prefect of the same school. The reason behind that is not the concern here, but the gravity of the situation with regard to student violence in the school system. Once the writer read in a newspaper that a teacher in a school in England had been molested by some students for keeping them after school for not doing homework. So, the situation seems to be global and developed out of proportion. The big match season is another nuisance and a root cause for students’ violence. Yet, it has to be viewed sans malicious sentiments. Opposing everything, dwelling in the traditional mindset is not the solution. It has to be done on expert guidance.

Ethnic violence

Literature written on ethnic violence is vast. The nostalgic memories of the writers have resulted in good literature in every genre. The late Anne Ranasinghe’s poetry speaks volumes in this regard. The disgruntled politicians and racist maniacs are at the forefront to hamper any development towards ethnic harmony. I wonder if ethnic violence would raise its ugly head again what could be the ultimate outcome? Under these circumstances reconciliation efforts of the country ought to be propelled at any cost.

It goes without saying that country is debt-ridden to the bottom. The huge amounts of local borrowing and foreign debts have to be paid off. But, we hear every day on the Central Bank grapevine that the country is in a treacherous bog of financial disarray. It seems a Herculean task for the governor to shoulder. Some others could invent and fabricate fairy tales to the public as they are politically motivated to remain in power. The governor has to bear the cross and have faith; the people have to tighten their belts. The late professor Indrarathne and other veteran economists in the bygone era of country’s economic resurgence candidly showed the way forward for us. Dr. N. M . Perera’s far sighted economic planning to increase productivity and curtail import of luxurious goods to the country was scrapped poignantly and very ironically. He made the country debt-free to a great extent.

It seems very advisable to take a leaf from his book and seek solace in this disgraceful economic ordeal. A productivity driven economic system curtailing unnecessary imports seems mandatory. Our honourble members of the parliament would definitely wait for some time to enjoy the duty free benefits to own a new car to visit the constituents with the sublime aim of serving them.

The street protests do not seem augur well for country’s progress. The opposing factions always claim for the right pound of flesh. The problems are aggravated by the relevant MPs and ministers of our August Assembly making the situation unbearable for the Government to solve. During the halcyon days of our parliament in the post-independence period, the honourable members and responsible ministers appeared in the house well prepared to answer any question. It is only history now. When the well-educated parliamentarians were on their feet, it was a scene to enjoy and something to listen and learn.

When the late Anura Bandaranaike was on his feet, it was something to learn and revise from HAMLET. The most veteran minister of finance the country has ever seen honourable Ronie de Mel once said ‘SUPERSTION IS THE RELIGION OF FEEBLE MINDS’. Informative, educational, literary eloquent, farsighted, visionary and humorous speeches made by the iconic parliamentarians could be the lessons for the novice of the current parliament if by chance they visit their library as our well-read prime minister reminds them over and over again.

The oral questions that the members of our house ask to be answered by the relevant ministers seem very unimportant. The country is burning and they questions on very impertinent subjects. They are given humorous answers and the tax payer foots the bill. The parliament canteen seems to be their rendezvous to plan speeches for public ralleys. It seems that they make public utterances with mutual understanding. That is the name of the game. At what dark point our paradise island is?

small screen

The monks wearing their saffron robe could be seen very frequently on the pillion of their friends’ motor cycles. Monks are highly venerated in our society. Their reverence and dignity seem to have eroded due to such irrational conduct in the public eye. One could argue on this matter very eloquently. But, the crux of the matter is that they have already earned that ill reputation in the public mind indelibly.

Another recent development is that the actors who are known by the public for their known and unknown conduct are draped in the sacred robes for aesthetic performances on the small screen in particular and on the silver screen in general. In the contemporary period of our great playwright William Shakespeare, even women were not allowed to perform on the stage. But, the playwrights were capable enough to dress men for women. As a regular viewer of tele-opera I have never seen the religious dignitaries of other faiths acting in their clerical garbs. When we put this situation in juxtaposition one could feel it odd. In the long run, this offshoot of monk actors would pave the way for another cultural crisis, the writer laments, the writer is in a state of aphasia.

The other day, the writer pointed out in the national press a grave error the examination department had made in the G.C.E. A/L English literature question paper. It has fallen into deaf ears.

The defective question papers, leaking, pilferage, not representing the given parts in the syllabus and a plethora of accusations against the question paper modeling panels could be leveled with available data. The curriculum development should necessarily be geared to productivity development of the country. But, very poignantly these things lie stagnant at the relevant places.

To clinch over, a comprehensive cleansing of all the aspects of government machinery and public awareness of the ongoing changes are of paramount importance to look forward to. The delay in taking decisions would create calamitous effects leading the whole country to a total collapse and a moral paralysis. This is the time to turn the swords into ploughshares.