I was amused to read Cutty Felsinger's little piece on legalising homosexuality. As a citizen, I don't care who was instrumental in the Cabinet press briefing he/she takes umbrage against. I believe that Minister Mangala Samaraweera is absolutely right when he says that "there are more pressing problems to resolve than to worry about what two consenting adults do in private".

That neither this Minister nor his government seem to be doing anything about these "more pressing problems" is another matter.

But Felsinger should not worry about the Vice Squad being disarmed. They will have the power to arrest prostitutes, paedophiles etc., but not adults who have consensual sex in private! There is a evidently a difference between offering sexual favours for money and having sex because the persons involved are able to acquire the conditions under which they may enjoy it for its own sake. And here the sex of the individuals does not matter.

I have heard of the "Companions on a Journey" and have read some of their literature and find what they write to be quite sensible. A person's sexual orientation is a private matter and I think that the state does not have any business to poke its dirty fingers into it. So the matter is not one of supporting proposed legislation to legalise homosexuality, but that of protesting the relevant enactments that forbid it!

Being gay does not make one unhealthy. It does not pollute society. Removing the blinds that are associated with homosexuality can only make us a more tolerant society. Whenever difference is ignored or crushed, it leaves the social fabric torn and ridden with wounds that take a long time to heal. And homosexualism, or the condition of considering all other sexual

preferences apart from the heterosexual as deviant, certainly exacerbates these conditions.

As long as sexuality is not expressed in inappropriate manners, that is, where the general notions of decency are not violated (I am not a student of law, but I'm sure there is legislation related to such things), it is alright, in my opinion. Taking homosexuality off the list of 'crimes' does

not necessarily mean that all gay people will come out into the open and start having sex in public. If there were to be such cases, as according to Felsinger there are in the beaches stretching from Bentota to Ahangama, then the relevant law can be enforced. And again, this would be the same law that applies to two heterosexuals who transgress it.

Janaranjana Mithrasena
Colombo.

The so-called 'hilarity' of un-conditional peace talks!

The defence person, Anuruddha Ratwatte, says that he finds the UNP's demand of un-conditional talks with the LTTE to be 'hilarious'! On the other hand, in the S/Island of 20/9/98 we have retired Major-General Gratien Silva pleading on behalf of the personnel being slaughtered in this 'politicians' war' that preliminary talks could always be un-conditional because they establish the forward-positions for the actual negotiating processes.

Obviously, retired General Silva is more intimately conversant and concerned with the realities of professional soldiering. On the other hand, Ratwatte seems to have acute amnesia about PA political history because in 1994 the PA's election platform flatly stated that the Tamils had a legitimate grievance and called for a political solution rather than a military one! Their 62% majority vote at the election indicated that the Sinhalese supported this promise of the People's Alliance for a political solution.

Their initial effort in 1995 at negotiations was also greeted with delirious joy by all of mildly cheering Jaffna and the LTTE were extremely well-disposed. But the un-professional conduct of the negotiations by a PA 'government' team packed with cronies of Kumaratunga (including an architect and a banker) proved their un-doing! It was also an indicator of the PA's utter amateurishness in the handling of governance.

Is the nation aware, for instance, that over a period of seven weeks commencing 2/1/95, only around seven days of negotiating actually got done? Quite obviously, there were no forward negotiating - positions, fullback situations and provisional arrangements (as goodwill), or psychological and historical studies that ever were scientifically indulged.

In such abused situations of governmental helplessness the facilitation work of a mediator is invaluable, but in Sri Lanka the ego element of officialdom does not welcome this third presence even though neutral intermediaries have been guarantors at every important international negotiation of recent times.

If, however, despite the electors' wishes Ratwatte finds these invaluable un-conditional preliminaries to be 'hilarious' rather than useful toward a peace process, could he prove to us, through verification on a map of the north-east, how ninety five per cent (95%) of the war 'is now won' as claimed by him? Could journalists visit? Is everything well secured besides being 'safe and sound' like the Jaffna Town Hall?

Rohan Jayawardena

Superiority complex in cricket

Hats off to you Mr. Colvin Karunaratne. Your forthright and forceful article will and should be appreciated by all Sri Lankans. You have hit the nail on the head and I am sure it will go right into David's......

David I say unto you, please accept defeat peacefully and teach your charges likewise.

It is true that

1. 'Britannia rules the waves' (NOT NOW)
2. 'Great Britain (NO MORE)
3. 'Red White and Blue'

What does it mean to you? (Means nothing)

And now what has happened - they come 'tops' in hooliganism. I recall the World Cup Soccer games.

It must be remembered that the English taught us the English Language, cricket and above all, good refined manners - And Now we can teach them all.

The words used by the English Captain - Alec Stewart - on Hashan Tillekaratne is unprintable. Excuse him - for he is used to squatting behind 3 bars (wickets!!)

Richy Jacob

Sudassanaya

I was relieved to learn, on reading 'A new vision and a new path' in the issue of the 'Sunday Island' of 20th September, that the aim of the organization of which Mr. Mitra Wettimuny is the president, and Major-General Ananda Weerasekera the secretary, is not to capture power and that it is this fact which distinguishes it from a political party.

Thank heavens for that Mr. Mitra Wettimuny's categorical assurance is heartening and most welcome.

We already have enough and more political parties. And with the birth of every new political party, society gets further fragmented.

On perusing the constitution of 'sudassanaya', I find that it describes itself as 'a political organisation'. This is perfectly understandable.

Mahatma Gandhi once wrote 'If I seem to take part in politics, it is only because politics ensured us today like the coil of a snake from which one cannot get out no matter how much one tries.'

Very true, what matters is that one participates in political activity but remains detached. That is, one refuses to be corrupted by the corrosive effects of politics which arise when the sole object of political activity is the capture of power.

It is a matter for satisfaction that 'Sudassanaya' is not after power.

Its constitution declares that the objectives of the organisation are:-

(a) The welfare of the people, (b) fostering unity amidst the people and (c) the unity of the country.

None of these objectives can be achieved by fragmenting further our already sick society.

Unity and party politics as practised in this country, are mutually exclusive.

Avadhi Lanka will be very happy to join hands with 'Sudassanaya' in awakening people to this fact.

Stanley Jayaweera

A vision come true

It is said that memories live longer than dream. Memories last since they are refreshed when similar incidents occur from time to time.

I am about to relate an incident which repressed my memory after about 20 odd years.

I left school in the very early thirties along with a good friend of mine whose acquaintance lasted for quite a long time. His father was a rich land owner who used to celebrate every Sinhala New Year to entertain his workers and the neighbouring rural folk.

My friend knowing that I was an amateur musician, requested me to provide music at one of these functions. To oblige him I gathered a few musicians and went there knowing that we were in for a good time.

It certainly was a gay occasion, every one enjoying. There was a village sports meet, traditional dancing and many more to make the function a memorable occasion.

As twilight was approaching things were coming to a close, the chief guest who was no less a person than Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was going round wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

We were playing with guests to reach the finale when to our surprise the chief guest appeared before us. As I was the leader of the group. I stood up in haste to give Mr. Bandaranaike three hearty cheers expecting the others to respond. Before I could complete the first phrase, 'Three Hearty Cheers' Mr. Bandaranaike turned towards me in his usual dignified manner, supported with his walking stick and said 'why cant you boys say that in Sinhala' (in Sinhala) I was taken aback and could not make amends since I was too young having encountered a formidable personality.

I had completely, forgotten this incident and it was after about 20 odd years when Mr. Bandaranaike crossed over from the UNP to form the SLFP introducing the Sinhala only policy, this incident, referred to refresh my memory and gave thought that Mr. Bandaranaike had a vision from such early days to give Sinhala the due place, although some were under the impression that this was a political expedient to come to power.

This act (Sinhala Only) came at a time when the minority English educated were ruling the roost in the urban areas and the Sinhala educated majority were regarded as second rate citizens. This finally gave the ordinary person a place in society for his vision to come true.

H. C. Q. Leslie Senaratne,
Nawala.

Aggregation of music philosophies

There will be an extraordinary aggregation of Sri Lankan musical genius at a concert titled 'Triveni - Volume Four' on 6th October at 7.30 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. All of the participants are the very best at their disciplines, and the international level cast is led by the peerless master of the keyboard Harsha Makalanda and the incomparable Pradeep Ratnayaka on sitar.

The other superlative artists are Ravibandhu Vidhyapathi and Krishna (oriental percussion), Rifaiee Thowfeek and Aruna Siriwardhana (western drums), Guy Halpe (bass guitar) and Kumara Liyanawaththa (flute).

The concert title 'Triveni' represents the highly innovative music forms of the three ('tri') principal philosophies of the Orient, Africa and Western Jazz.

At this concert there will not be firm adherence to any of the hitherto established formats, but neither will it be a gimmicky exercise as sometimes misconceived. It will be conceptually original, in line with the superior technical virtuosity available with the players. This concept is the fourth of the series.

The forthcoming event will be sponsored in the highest tradition of patronage by the owner of the Torana Music Centre, Mr. Sarath Kothalawala.

Tickets are available at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.

Rohan Jayawardane

M.R. Piyadasa, the gentalman of chess

It has been a little over a year since he succumbed to a sudden heart attack, but M.R. Piyadasa, former Deputy Commissioner of Motor Traffic and an avid lover of the game of chess continues to haunt the deep recesses of my memory.

Piyadasa was not a flamboyant character and I believe that few in the chess community realize the worth of his mostly silent and inconspicuous contributions to the development of the game in the country. My first memories of him go back to the early seventies when his name would regularly appear in the Daily News in reports on chess tournaments. Although he never won any major tournaments, my impression was that he was one of the strong players at the time.

In the many tournaments since then that we both played in, I had occasion to play him only once, in the Major Tournament of 1979 held at Thurstan College. This was in the penultimate round and we both had a chance of qualifying for the Premier Division. He had a lead of half a point over me and therefore his chances were slightly better than mine. I lost and he went through to the Premier. I was 13 years old then, but I remember quite well that Piyadasa displayed no overt joy at the result, taking the trouble to go over the game with me and offer his comments. He was always a gracious man and demonstrated that he could suffer the vicissitudes of life with equanimity.

I doubt that Piyadasa will be remembered simply for his chess skills, even though he was capable of performing with great skill on his day. The older generation of chess players, however, will always remember him for the manner with which he dedicated large amounts of his time and energy to chess in Sri Lanka. Quite apart from being a great lover of the game, Piyadasa always came off as a person of great integrity, never compromising on principles. He tended to focus his attention on the underdog and the less privileged.

While on official duty in France, he sent chess magazines to those who did not have easy access to chess literature. He clearly went out of his way to help those who demonstrated a talent for the game. He was either a friend, an older brother, or a respected elder to everyone who knew him.

He was instrumental in the formation of the Kolonnawa Chess Club, among whose members were several players who represented Sri Lanka in international tournaments. If memory serves me right, I believe Piyadasa was a member of the Kolonnawa teams that won the Inter Club tournament a couple of times in the eighties.

Never a person who sought office, Piyadasa had to be pushed into accepting the post of Vice President of the Chess Federation on a number of occasions. Given the politics that tend to strangle such sports bodies, it was always heartening to know that he was around because Piyadasa was one person whom all parties involved trusted and respected. I remember how he expressed his support on a number of occasions when I went to him to seek his help to reconstitute the Federation which has in recent times demonstrated a tendency to be dislocated through the machinations of self-seeking individuals. He was always generous with his advice and helped in whatever way he could.

There will be many chess tournaments. Many winners. Brilliant games, heart-breaking losses, needless maneuvers, lost opportunities and unexpected draws will be a part of the poetry of chess. Piyadasa was not a poet. True, he was not a "natural". But whenever matters of integrity, fair-play and genuine interest in doing what is best for the game is at issue, his spirit will arrive silently as he was wont to do. In the subtle maneuverings behind the ranks, in the unnecessary sacrifices, in the pre-emptive pawn push, in the long-winded encounter of wits, in the thrust and parry of executing combination and counter-combination, in the jockeying for positional advantage, the calm voice of this charming and most transparent man will no doubt be missed. For in the matter of transcribing civilization and dignity to life processes, he was in every sense an artist.

Malinda Seneviratne