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Report from Washington Q: New subject - talking about the US delegation to India and Pakistan - first, it was quick sanctions against India and Pakistan then. Now - a waiver - in the US Congress and now that the US delegation to the Indian Subcontinent. Do you think the US has achieved what it wanted, or there is not enough global support against India and Pakistan to punish them? RUBIN: The two subjects - global support and sanctions - let me address one by one. With respect to sanctions, we, as a result of our sanctions legislation and a result of implementing that legislation, have sent a powerful message to the world that to test nuclear weapons is to cause the isolation of your country. There's no question in our minds that both India and Pakistan have felt the sting of sanctions. Last week we did not seek to end sanctions, and some may have breathed a premature sigh or relief. All we sought was authority from Congress to have the flexibility to act if India and Pakistan were to change their positions and to join in one way or another the CTBT and other international regimes. We have not taken the view that sanctions should be suspended in whole or in part. On the contrary, these sanctions remain in place; they are tough sanctions. They have obviously stung in India and Pakistan, and that is as it should be because the decisions were taken that we opposed. With respect to international support, I would say this - the international community has rallied in an unprecedented way around a very concrete set of requirements first laid out in the Permanent Five meeting that was held in Geneva; reiterated in the meeting in London; and reiterated in a number of Security Council resolutions and acts of condemnation by the organization of American States, by European organizations like the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. So there's been a sweeping condemnation by the whole world of India and Pakistan; and clearly they are uncomfortable, as they should be. The question now is what can we do to work with them to try to get them out of the holes that they've blown up for themselves, and to try to improve the climate by getting them to move in the direction that we're seeking. That is what Deputy Secretary Talbott is doing. He had meetings in New Delhi today; he will be in Islamabad tomorrow, as I understand it. The goals are very clear - how can we and the international community work with India and Pakistan to bring them back into the international non-proliferation consensus, to reduce tensions between them and address their security concerns at the same time. That is what Deputy Secretary Talbott is doing. That is our view on international opposition to the tests and the subject of American sanctions. Q: I'm sorry, to follow - the two prime minister meetings in Sri Lanka next week. India has always said that the Simla agreement signed between India and Pakistan - then Mr. Bhutto and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1972 - that India will stand by Silma agreement. But do you think the US supports the Silma agreement - that the two nations should resolve the problems of Kashmir and whatever rift is between India and Pakistan? RUBIN: We certainly would like the two countries to resolve their problems peacefully. I think that's a view it would be hard to imagine anyone could disagree with. With regard to the specific agreement and our formal view on it, I'd rather get that for the record. Q: Could I ask you, the US view is that sanctions - they're punitive, clearly. But does the US consider them corrective? I ask because Senator Biden, for instance, who's the senior serious member of the Senate and you used to work for him, believe. RUBIN: Very good taste in personnel - Q: Well, while you were briefing one day, he made a big speech last week; some of us tore ourselves away from the briefing to hear Senator Biden. He said it's time to reconsider sanctions so far as changing the behavior of nations. He said he's sorry to come to this point because he hasn't got a sure formula to improve things, but he thinks you've got to look at it a different way. Do you think sanctions will get India and Pakistan to forego their nuclear programs? RUBIN: I don't think there's any way of answering that question today. I think we in the Administration certainly share the view that you've attributed to Senator Biden that the sanctions pendulum has swung too far. There's a tendency for people to think if they just impose a sanction, they can solve a problem; it's not that simple, as we've learned in many cases. That doesn't mean, on the other hand, that sanctions are ineffective all the time. It means that greater care needs to be applied in using the tool; that we have to bear in mind the one overarching principle that for sanctions to be effective, they are more effective the more they are supported around the world. Unilateral sanctions, while sometimes making people feel good, don't actually do good. With respect to the US view and the US sanctions on India and Pakistan, we are not alone. The best example, I would say, would be the London meeting in which the G-8 made very clear that they were not going to be supportive or were going to suspend consideration of loans in the international financial institutions. There's been a wave of change around the world in terms of assistance and dialogue and support for the government of India and Pakistan because of what they've done. So these have been widely - there's wide support for some sanction against India and Pakistan for what they've done. We obviously have gone farther than other countries, but many countries have taken very strong measures. Will this work? We certainly hope so; we certainly hope that Deputy Secretary Talbott in his meetings in Islamabad and in New Delhi can help the governments there realize that the course of wisdom for them, for their people and for the world will be to come back into the fold, come back into acceptance of basic norms of the international community. Sender: "WIRELESS, FILE" Organization: USIA Those
expatriate scientists! It was reported recently in the media that the Presidential Secretariat will maintain a directory of expatriate scientists on the Internet. This decision was based on a recommendation of yet another Task Force appointed by the government. The idea is good. Mother Lanka forward to the attractive possibility of harnessing the vast resources of the knowledge of her sons and daughters who have made it good in foreign lands. But is this not another pie in the sky idea of some - who want to impress the President? No good and serious scientist will come and work here given the dismal state of affairs in our scientific establishments. It is not getting down expats, but the urgent need is to safeguard who we have left, the few who have decided to stick on despite all the harassments and interferences and injustice. Let them do their work without petty problems being created by these know it all and over bearing expatriates: respect and value us for what we are. Getting expats to do science here is like the expat advisors. A glaring example of this is the Presidential Science advisor, who had neither the scientific background or the ability to be effective and productive here. Can someone enlighten me and the general public on one useful and productive contribution this expatriate has made? Such persons use this as a holiday home, they have all the perks and power with all facilities, cars etc - while we poor native academics have to struggle - not even being able to maintain a car. They are here only to look after themselves. What more, they mess up all the existing places, by
way of having inputs into persons in high places. And our
fickle minded authorities worship such persons, saying
how great they are to come and serve their impoverished
academic brethren! Most expatriate scientists come for
very short times to have frills added to their CVs while
primarily coming home in summer to visit their relatives;
it also doubles up as an opportunity to show their
children the land of their roots. We are not against
people coming but the way it is happening
now. By all means come and As a University person, I can assure you that this expat scientist system is only a cover up to prevent locals from doing good work and making genuine contributions to the scientific community and to the country. It does not take time for us to identify a fraud. Look at the Institute of Fundamental Studies, which in the past two years has made it unattractive for local University staff, even from Peradeniya to work there, but are crusing the Internet inviting expatriates to come. Is this the kind of nonsense the task force is talking about? It is extremely unlikely that this open invitation to expat scientists is going to be of long term benefit to us. Restore Monuments of the Palace
and Crematorium of Dona Catherina It was 385 years ago on July 21st, 1613 that the remains of the last Monarch of Kandy, Kusumasana Devi, queen of king Wimaladharmasuriya I was laid to rest at Welimannatota present Rock Hill Estate in Kegalle. Sitawaka Rajasingha was instrumental in banishing the Monarch of Senkadagala Jayaweera II alias Karalliyadde Bandara who ruled from 1514 to 1542 to annex the Kingdom of Kanda Udarata to Sitawaka. Jayaweera with his queen, son, three-year-old daughter along with his sister and nephew led to Mannar to seek refuge under the Portuguese. The king and Queen died in Mannar after an attack of smallpox. The daughter of the king was baptized as Dona Catherina by the Portugese. In the Kandyan kingdom she was known as Kusumasana Devi as she was pretty as a flower. For some she was known as Kamalasana Devi. People of Hatara Korale were so fond of her and addressed her as Loka Natha Maha Bisso Bandara Devi. Dona Catherina alias Kusumasana Devi was the daughter of Jayawera II alias Karalliyadda Bandara who ruled in Senkadagala and also the sister of Jayaweera III alias Karalliyadde Kumara Bandara who ruled in Senkadagala from 1579 to 1581. When Jayaweera II gave his daughter in marriage to king Dharmapala of Kotte, people of Kanda Udarata revolted against this marriage. The Buddhist priests of Kanda Udarata did not approve of this marriage to a non-Buddhist king. A rebellious group led by Dumbara Hatan Bandara, Giddawa Bandara and the Kandyan Chiefs banished Jayaweera II from the throne and Weera Wickrama Bahu succeeded to the throne in 1543 and ruled till 1579. Dona Catherina received her education befitting a princess, was protected and guarded with all honours due to a queen. She learnt Western Music, rituals and norms of state-craft and other intricate details of governing a country etc. under the care of the Portuguese. The Portuguese imparted to her all the finer points and details of ruling a country, without any reservations not only because they knew that she was the rightful heir to the Kandyan thrown, but also because they anticipated that at her coming of age, she would be given in marriage to a Portuguese Prince so that the Sinhala country will be a colony under the rule of Portuguese. By this time Don Juan Dharmapala the king of Kotte had already given over the country to Portuguese on a deed of gift. Rajasinghe of Sitawaka was constantly waging war against the Portuguese by this time and even the Kandyan kingdom was under his frequent attacks. In the early week of March 1592 Rajasinghe came upto Balana, attacking the Kandyan kingdom but was badly defeated by Konappu Bandara. Rajasinghe retreated to Sitawaka via Pethangoda where he spent the night. It is said that a thorn from a bamboo shoot pierced his foot, unable to walk he was ferried on a royal barge to Sitawaka, where he breathed his last. Rajawaliya records that king Rajasinghe was in the habit of visiting Dodampe Ganithya's daughter in the night. It was rumoured that the Ganithaya by some witch-craft poisoned the king's wound so that no medicine would cure him. Rajasinghe on the eve of his last breath has said "I have waged war from my eleventh year and won every one of them but now my merits have declined." This episode closed the last chapter of Rajasinghe alias Tikiri Banda who left indelible records in the history of Sri Lanka. The Portuguese who were awaiting for a right opportunity to invade the Kandyan kingdom planned in 1594 to bring Dona Catherina to Kandy from Mannar. Their motive was to enthrone her as the Queen of Senkadagala and get her married to a Portuguese prince. Kusumasana Devi who was farsighted with a balance of mind decided to totally reject this offer at the right time. A group of 150 Portuguese soldiers, a batch of Sinhalese slaves, two Portuguese generals. And the resident of Mannar were to accompany her in the trip to Kandy. As the princess entered the palanquin, a decayed pole made a noise and broke into two. The princes was very angry over this incident as she said it was bad omen and refused to get into the palanquin. The resident who was present there came forward and said "Your Majesty we are Christians, we do not believe in omens. The God will protect us." So saying he caused the damaged pole to be removed and a new one in its place. The journey to Senkadagala took eight days. Don Pedro Lopez, the Portuguese general in Kandy accompanied by all the Kandyan chiefs, Disawas, other headmen and provincial leaders were in attendance to receive the Princess. Large crowds gathered on either side of the roads to pay their respects and have a glimpse of the heir to the throne and the daughter of their deposed king. It is said that 190,000 (One Hundred and Ninety Thousand) silver coins were thrown to be picked up by the large crowds present at the procession. The young princess at the tender age of about 12 years was crowned in Kandy. On 1594 January 2nd she married Wimaladharmasuriya, who became the king of Senkadagala. This union brought an end to the civil wars within the country. Wimaladharmasuriya was able to unite the country under one flag taking control over all the territorils and sea-ports held by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and other foreign invaders. He became the supreme ruler of the entire Sri Lanka. Kusumasana Devi has the unique honour in giving country strong chain of Sinhala monarchs upto king Narendrasinghe for a period of about 245 years from 1592-1739. Had she got caught in the Portuguese trap at a time when Don Juan Dharmapala of Kotte too had given the country to the Portuguese on a Deed of Gift we would have lost our sovereignty in 1592 and not 1815. In the reign terror of Sitawaka Rajasinghe assasinating opponents, burning temples even the learned bikkus were hiding in the jungles and some fled to the south crossing Walawe Ganga. Kusumasana Devi with Wimaladharmasuriya restored peace and harmony in the country, did so much for Buddhism and built the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. From her first marriage she had five children. When Wimaladharmasuriya died in August 1604 she married Senarath, cousin of the late king on 05. 01.1605. By this marriage she bore two sons. Kusumasana Devi lived in a palace Welimanthota towards the rest of her life and passed away on 20th July 1613 and was cremated on 21st with all the royal honours deserving of a queen. The remains of the palace and her tomb is today covered by the dust of history without proper attention of the authorities. The dilapidated buildings and the tomb along with the palace land went into wilderness. From 1812 the British Government started giving free land to Europeans to cultivate coffee, upto 5000 acres were given free. The various taxes enforced from 1896 to 1903 brought all lands under government ownership. The Britisth planters started growing tea in these lands and upto recent times the tomb and the palace remnants were there. This palace land was later named Rock Hill and a European planter owned the land. With westing of land in the L. R. C. the land was bought by a prominent politician of the area and sold to various people. The Archaeological Department excavated the place and made a decision to declare the area an Archaeological reserve. But alas! during the Referendum of 1982 action was suspended for political reasons and after this year no positive action seems to have been taken to pursue the matter. It is high time that positive action is taken to preserve this land. It is a pity that last Queen of Sinhale receives this step-motherly attention and gratitude from the people when monuments are put up to commemorate Saradiel of Utuwankanda, a notorious out-law and a bandit. Today the site of Kusumasana Devi monument is used for illicit slaughter of cattle and a praying hall built in the land. |
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