Greater vigilance and safeguards needed

A major, two lance corporals of the Sri Lankan Army and a foreman of the Anuradhapura peoplised bus depot and a record keeper of a magisterial court have been arrested by the police in connection with the theft of an invaluable ancient statue as our lead news item revealed yesterday. In Wariyapola too the police had recovered two gold plated Buddha statues that had been pilfered from a temple in Kegalle. Two persons have been taken in to custody on suspicion. The statues had been tucked away in a muddy hole.

A statue of the Buddha or the founder of any other religion is an object of veneration and time was when desecration of objects associated with one's religion was seldom heard of. It was supposed to a sin beyond redemption that only atheists or nihilists were capable of committing. Others shuddered at the very thought of such profanation.

But today the country has come to a pass where such sacrilegious acts ARE the order of the day. The rapine of artefacts most of which are associated with the predominant religion of the land is a common occurrence. THE HEADS OF BUDDHA STATUES ARE DEMOLISHED AND FOUNDATIONS OF DAGOBAS DESTROYED.

Are people being weaned away from religion due to the shamanistic proportions it is assuming and the WIDE SPREAD PRACTICE OF worship of fetish? If not how can one explain their indifference to the on-going pillage of artefacts which are an integral part of one's religion and culture?

Can one afford to dismiss these dastardly acts as sins committed by a handful of persons driven by their insatiable desire for MATERIALISTIC gains and continue one's slumber till it is too late?

Not a ripple has this massive wave of plundering of artefacts caused in the religious and cultural circles where thousands let out hysterical cries over relatively trivial matters. Why is this deafening silence on their part on this instance? One would have thought that there would be a procession of these pious mortals IN COLOMBO demanding that the authorities put an EARLY end to THE ON-GOING pillage.

The arrest of the army personnel in connection with the stolen statue poses a new challenge to the military top brass as well as the policy makers. In most of the areas that are studded with ancient monuments in this country, there is a considerable if no heavy military presence. And if some unconscionable personnel in the armed forces themselves commit such dastardly acts as the major and two lance corporals are alleged to have, daunting will be the task of the law enforcement authorities to track down culprits. The credit should be given to the police, for their grit and courage displayed in making the arrests.

There are already various gangs of military deserters on a looting spree in the south. The training they have received, their experience and confidence in facing situations that are obviously nothing vis a vis EYE BALL-TO EYE BALL battles they have had with terrorists in the north have certainly stood them in good stead in carrying out much dreaded daring heists with such ease. It is also the involvement of these elements in criminal activities that has put paid to the attempts by the police to crack down on the underworld.

The involvement of miscreants in active military service IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES redoubles this problem. Concessions and immunity that the military personnel enjoy make it more difficult for the police to conduct their investigations effectively. Stringent action is what is called for if acts by such reprobates are to be snuffed out. THEY ARE A DISGRACE to the troops valiantly battling terrorism at the risk of life and limb.

Much more however remains to be done as regards plundering of artefacts. The pillage is not likely to end with a few arrests. There are obviously other well organised gangs operating elsewhere enjoying patronage of the high and mighty. The police must seek public cooperation and thrust the spade deeper in an attempt to get at the very roots of the problem.

The police must be given every encouragement and their hands strengthened to enable more arrests so as to put an early end to the on-going pillage which smacks of a sinister plan to wipe out the vestiges of the country's ancient civilisation.