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The nuclear test and Sri Lanka The article on the Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests and the position of our country was most interesting and informative, I shall thank you to permit me to make some observations thereon. The writer, Mr. Godage, has referred to a recent article, without naming either the author or the magazine, but as a subscriber to the Lanka Guardian, which I read with interest, I had no difficulty in identifying the Magazine and the article to which Mr. Godage refers. The article is one titled 'South Asian Prospect' - perceiving reality by Jayanath Rajapakse. The author is the 'Advisor on Foreign Affairs', to the President of Sri Lanka. Mr. Godage has not raised an issue of vital importance when he commented on this article. The question that has to be asked is whether Mr. Rajapakse has given expression to government policy or perception. We presume that he has for no public servant has a right under the Establishment Code to express private views on Public Policy. If he has violated the Establishment Code he must then be dealt with under the 'Public Service Rules'. He has created a dangerous precedent. If he has not violated the 'Esta Code,', then we have to take this as Government Policy towards India. The whole issue has then to be viewed in a different light. In the first instance the opposition must ask for a debate on this new policy which makes our Sri Lanka subservient to India. This is an affront to our sovereignty. It is a matter of the gravest importance. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe should be briefed on the implications of what Mr. Rajapakse has stated and he has a duty by the people to question the government on this. It is an absolutely fundamental issue. Your paper should editorialise on this vital matter. Rajapakse in his article, states that 'South Asia appears to be focused on the visible trappings of structured co-operation rather than on the fundamentals of meaningful regional cohesion'. What then are these 'fundamentals of meaningful regional cohesion'? Rajapakse refers to the interactions between political leaders, officials and the people relationships that have been established but bemoans that 'lack of tangible progress and achievement'. He next refers to the shared civilization, the shared colonial heritage of the British Raj and the 'shared world view of Non Alignment'. At his poaint he refers to the obvious 'asymmetry of size, capacity, power and influence' and gets carried away by India's undeniable preponderance its indisputable position of preeminence in the region'. He next states that India's 'preponderance provides an obvious axis around which to forge regional cohesion'. He then refers to 'India's unique centrality'. He states that India is the preeminent HUB and 'the regions security becomes India's concern, and India's security becomes the concern of the regional partners'!!! Mr. Godage has been kind to Rajapakse, if what he implies is not unadulterated tosh what is? What has Rajapakse to say now that Pakistan has the capacity to destroy all Indian cities in north India and the warning time is only three minutes? Where is India's preeminence? The whole world knew that Pakistan was a 'nuclear capable state' - she only made a political point by testing her weapons and Rajapakse speaks of India's 'preponderance and indisputable position of preeminence'. What sort of an advisor is this? More dangerous to us citizens of this country is that this view propounded by Rajapakse, may represent this government's perception of the situation in South Asia. God forbid! As Mr. Godage has pointed out on the basis of his thesis, he has appointed India as the policeman of the region, having the sole right to decide 'who comes and goes and what happens here, for this could in certain circumstances pose a serious threat to her'. Rajapakse is unashamedly speaking the language of an Indian agent, This is not the language we would expect from a patriotic Sri Lankan leave alone the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka! If this is not government policy then he must resign for he has compromised the government. How could any government of China or Pakistan have confidence in this government when it has a person of Rajapakse's mindset as the principal advisor on its foreign relations? K. I. Perera, Local authorities are spending a large sum of the taxpayers' money in constructing pavements, but who benefits? Car owners, taxi drivers, building contractors, hawkers, vehicle repairers and the taxi drivers are so selfish as to park their vehicles vertically so as leave no room for pedestrians even to creep through one side. They are compelled to take the open road at the risk of losing life and limb. They seem to be having a unique level of patience from the way they have accepted this terrible mess on the pavements. It is useless complaining to the police or the higher authorities for they turn a Nelsonian eye even in the case of vehicles parked on the pavements opposite police stations! The people are suffering untold hardships owing to the sins of omission and commission on the part of the police and other state officers and the day will come when they (the people) will have their revenge on the incumbent government at the forthcoming elections. Pro Bono Publico I read with interest the Island on 29, May 1998 under the above title. While I agree with much of what you have stated, I wish to point out that there is one lesson for Sri Lanka from the Northern Ireland Peace agreement, namely that the drawing of artificial boundaries and separation always leads to heightening of tension, disputes and violence. What is the original cause of the present dispute in Northern Ireland? It is the partition of Ireland by the British government in the early part of this century into two separate states. There are many examples of such separation leading to disputes and violence. The example closest home to us is the Indian Sub Continent. The partition of the Indian Sub Continent at independence into India and Pakistan lead to much bloodshed and violence as predicted by Mahatma Gandhi. Even 50 years after independence and after the waging of three wars, tension on the Indian Sub Continent is even today at fever pitch. If the division of such a large country has resulted in so much tension and violence, one must expect a much worse situation from the division of a small country like Sri Lanka. To this day, the openly proclaimed goal of the Irish Republican Army and its political arm, the Sinn Fein, is the reunification of Ireland. The Northern Ireland Peace Agreement is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. But it does not require a genius to realise that the long journey to peace in Northern Ireland has only just begun. Permanent peace in that land will dawn only when the whole of Ireland returns to its natural state as a united country under a single government. In Sri Lanka all right thinking people will no doubt subscribe to the view that devolution of power to the periphery is a must. But the drawing of artificial boundaries based on ethnic or religions grounds will be disastrous. Devolution should be to units drawn up on the basis of natural geographical features, such that these units will be administratively and economically viable. Enduring peace will dawn in Sri Lanka only when we create conditions which enable all communities to live in equality, dignity and security with the whole of Sri Lanka as their homeland. Separation based on race and religion can never contribute to lasting peace. Unscrupulous politicians and power hungry terrorists seeking power at any cost will not agree. But unity can only come from integration rather than separation. This is the lesson for Sri Lanka from the Northern Ireland Peace Agreement. A. Sirimanne, Living in quiet retirement, I was sitting in my favourite rocking chair, on May 28 night having organised the 'cup that cheers' and gazing at the old TV, nonchalantly pressing the buttons on the remote control to view something interesting. Low and behold I heard the words 'bamboo gahanna' and here appeared the Media Minister, as large as life, addressing a press conference and these words I presume were addressed to them, on some discussion. The public have not yet got over the 'live performance' on TV of our legislators who debated on the privatisation of Air Lanka. I was under the impression that a pack of cards has only one joker, and four knaves, but since watching that performance I have revised my impressions. Surely when any minister or for that matter any person of repute addresses an audience, there should be dignity and decorum in one's speech and restraint too, as millions of viewers are watching. The English and Sinhala languages are profuse in adjectives that can be used instead of such vulgar words, which at least to me, created a very poor impression of the speaker. I am also surprised that at a 'press conference' which was televised and attended to by the local and foreign media not a single media representative had the courage to stand up and advice the speaker that his words were an insult to their intelligence and to request for an apology. I suppose that parliamentarians when in the 'house' are quite used to vulgar language and so it comes to them quite naturally. Hurling abuse is not a way to win an argument, just plain facts in plain language will do. Rexy Halal has become a very common word today. Halal hotels, Halal restaurants, Halal food, Halal meat etc. Can anyone please inform me through the media from where could I obtain Halal fish? Interested consumer, There appears to be an urgency on the part of the Ministry of Defence in attempting to set hands on deserters from the various forces the army in particular. So much so, that even a one day amnesty had been granted following a previous amnesty and a round of arrests. While it is another aspect for the Ministry to determine the reasons for such large numbers to desert their positions in the army, navy or air force, the writer firmly believes that the vacuum created by such deserters could be bridged to a great extent without having to go to the schools by simply pruning down the number of soldiers allocated to the officers from captains to brigadiers. It was the old practice that each officers is allocated a "batman" - (a soldier acting as an officer's personal servant. But what do the general public observe! In the suburbs of Colombo in particular where these officers have taken residence, one sees the house construction being carried out by soldiers, building material being transported in army lorries and tractors, a number of army vehicles at the disposal of these officers outside and we hear from reliable sources that the cooking, laundry and other household work is being carried out also by soldiers. Were these soldiers in the first place recruited and trained at our expense to go to the battle front or carry out such domestic functions! So it would appear that a couple of battalions could be formed if the number of soldiers allocated or commandeered are reduced to the old concept. After all, was it not the other day that some one mentioned about occupational hazards so that goes where the security of these officers are concerned. The other question that simple people like me and thousands of others are unable to answer is that how come these officers could afford to build mini palaces with their salaries - none whom I know have either approached any financial institution for any assistance - fantastic isn't it? It now dawns that these gentlemen had joined the forces not to serve the country but to enrich themselves. Here, I suppose, is a situation of 'Jaya Sikuru' or success assured where these officers are concerned. Citizens Perera, The debate shown live on the T.V. on Air Lanka and the manner our representatives conducted themselves was an insult to the intelligence of the masses and should be deplored. It was held on a school day and this was a great relief to parents as it was only a mud-slinging exercise. Under no circumstances should there be any more such debates unless and until such time our parliamentarians are willing to conduct themselves properly in the august assembly. Every parliamentarian can take a cue from the proceedings in the Mother of Parliament shown in the T.V. In the entire debate, irrespective of all short -- comings, I was only impressed by the down to earth observation made by C. V. Gooneratne, viz: 'There is nothing called 'State Funds'. It is only 'Public Funds'. However, what one always hears over the radio and T.V. is that one's private personal money is being allocated for work. It must be realised that the PA is holding the 'Public Funds' in trust and are accountable to the people. The PA must make a policy decision and instruct the relevant authorities when public funds are utilised or allocated for any purpose to make reference in such a manner as to be correctly understood by the masses. K. J. I Peiris, In the fiftieth year of Independence the glorious capital of our Kings, Anuradhapura, is enveloped in jungle. In former years the ruins of temples, palaces and other historic edifices stood mute and dignified in open parkland creating a deep impression on all those who come to the ancient city. But today the jungle tide has swept right up to the roadside. It would not be surprising if terrorists lurked in the undergrowth. Security purposes would be served far better by clearing the wilderness rather than scattering the roads with barricades and security personnel. There are no sign posts on the roads. The only sign of ruins are the spires of dagobas that react above the jungle. When the SAARC Conference takes place next month the delegates will no doubt wish to visit this famous city. What will the Cultural Ministry and the Tourist Dept. have to show these delegates from Asian countries which proudly preserve their heritage? Only a nameless city overtaken by the jungle. Sri Lankan. In her column 'People and Events' in the 'Island' of 7.6.98, 'Nan' has referred to certain observations made by me in my article titled 'Tamil separatism and its propaganda' appearing in the 'Island' of 27.5.98. In view of the content of Nan's comments an immediate reply is called for. 'Nan' states that my observations were obtained by cleverly getting her talking one evening and prising information off her, which I have thereafter used with twists and sly innuendo. That my observations were based on private information wormed out of her in a private conservation. This is a delusion. I have had no conversation with 'Nan' or anyone else on this particular matter. My observations are based on what she wrote. I do not hide under a pseudonym. I write under my own name. Therefore unless 'Nan' has confused me with someone else. I am entitled to treat her comments as defamatory. Not only is 'Nan' confused as to who she has been talking to, but she also does not seem to know what she herself has been writing. She has written not one article but two on the event under discussion. In paragraph two of her article in the 'Island' of 22.3.98, she has referred to the 'Sanghamithans'. I have picked it up from there. She named the school. 'Nan' has declared that the matter is now closed. Not quite. Despite a second chance she has still not told us exactly what was to be taught and why there was objection. This matter is therefore still open to speculation by the readers. Kamalika Pieris. A reply to A. S. Jayasekera from Nelum Gamage I refer to the letter sent by A. S. Jayasekera in 'The Island' of May 26, 1998 "Bribery and Corruption Institutionalised?" and wish to make the following observations on the contents of this letter. 1 This letter at para 3 states that the Director General has been moved out invariably over alleged irregularities on her part. I emphatically deny this. I relinquished my duties as Director General on a request made by the president due to internal disharmony that had undermined public confidence in the Commission. 2 Reference has also been made to "missing files" in the commission. There were no missing files up to the day I relinquished office as Director General. As the files move via properly maintained registers their is an officer responsible for each and every file. 3 The news letter also refers to suppression of ongoing investigations. Under the provisions of Act 19 of 1994 the Director General has the same status quo as any other investigator and is only able to carry out the directives of the Commission. The filing of indictments and charge sheets is the only authority vested in the Director General and this too only on the directive of the Commission. In fact up to the date I relinquished office as Director General I have signed all the charge sheets and indictments approved by the Commission for filing. Nelum Gamage, |
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