From as far back as the last decade or even earlier there had been — and there are at present too — innumerable talks, lectures, sermons, discussions and conferences besides public meetings initiated and conducted by eminent persons — intellectuals, religious leaders, N.G.O. delegates and most of all by politicians on the much trumpeted theme of ethnic unity and harmony, so much so that it has now become almost a public show.

There is also an avalanche of letters, articles and opinions — expressing mixed thoughts, suggestions and proposals prominently displayed in both the print and electronic media too, in a feverish attempt to resolve the prevalent ethnic strife.

It is however, unfortunate that we have failed to achieve any far reaching tangible results to the satisfaction of either party involved in the endeavour and search for peace in our country.

Those in the LTTE hierarchy have blindly and demoniacally adopted a most intransigent unjustifiable attitude to clamour for separatism refusing to entertain our peace moves. It is still more unfortunate that they are, adamant on waging a diabolic guerilla warfare with an unfathomable — ‘do or die’ mind set knowing fuly well that they could never achieve their ultimate goal.

The problem has become so complexed that various interested parties including quite a number of — NGOs some of whose interests and credentials are palpably questionable in most instances, are now pressing for a third party — foreign country involvement to bring about a peace settlement.

The bulwark of the cultural and peaceful co-existence prevailing in our country from the beginning of civilisation, strengthened by years of experience gathered in a modestly advanced societal complex needed no alien props to buttresis our standing in social justice fair play and inter communal amity.

What is really needed is a correct and justifiable evaluation of the social, cultural and economic conditions obtaining amongst all ethnic sectors. The core necessity in this regard is the adoption of a meaningful and constructive process of reconciliation — with groups at loggerheads by means of a fair and acceptable policy of "live and let live" and ‘give and take" that would afford an allround participation in the governance/ polity of the entire Island Nation as an integrated one whole unit.

Sincerity and honesty of purpose from all sections is of paramount importance and that spirit of full involvement should not only be invited and given but fearlessly adhered to by all ethnic sectors as nationals of one nation. No room should be given to extremely cantenkerous anti-national power seeking sectarian leaders or as a matter of that, to any groups of extreme trouble makers to exploit the present undecisive stance of our vacillating policy makers and scheming executives to drag down our beloved country deeper into an unextricable morass.

What is also importantly and urgently, required is the sincere and unflagging support and participation of all our people — the majority and minority groups — irrespective of any linguistic, religious, clan or class differences to resolve the brutally destructive war situation in which thousands of lives have been sacrificed and are being continually sacrificed on both sides of the divide.

Those in the majority ethnic group after realisation has dawned on them of the futility of this war of attrition are now amenable to peace moves. It is, however, very unfortunate that the so called intellectuals, leaders and motivaters of the Tamil community who are comfortably settled and resident in the south — away from the devastating north — their so called homeland — are apparently not genuinely involved in a reasonable and justifiable peace process, but are seemingly concerned in setting up one faction against the other in their own — community trying to steal a march and score over the others. They fully well realise that even if they as a community gain Eelam and establish a separate state — they could never run the show amicably and achieve stability and safety in the face of their internecine conflicts. Dissension and fractions struggles for class and clan superiority would — utimately over take them in their dreamland of a home state where resourceless poverty and resultant mayhem would become the order of the day.

It is time our legislators shun their arrogant divisive politics and put their heads together to evolve an acceptable system that would neither endanger the prevailing stability and status of the major community nor indiscriminately jeopardise the rightful standing of the minority groups.

Our Tamil politicians and professionals too, who are living in our midst and claim leadership and representative — responsibility for their community should at least now — when they have seen and grasped the pros and cons of the existing realities of the ethnic situation — be able to fearlessly condemn the atrocious and murderous campaigns of the LTTE and actively impress upon their people the necessity of a consensus for adopting, on their part, a conciliatory and pragmatically beneficial policy of co-existence with the majority community.

As reasonable and responsible citizens they should not always expect other ethnic groups to unduly pander to all of their whims and fancies in the context of a peaceful settlement of the ethnic problem.

It is only then that all of us could achieve the much longed for peace and harmony in our Island — nation.

R. M. A. B. Dassanayake,
Matale.

The letter of Dr. Piyasena Dissanaya-ke, Secretary, National Joint Committee (NJC), which appeared in your publication of 3rd Oct. 98 under the above title should not be allowed to pass over without challenge as he seems to think that everyone accepts its findings. This is evident when he says that "as there is no disclaimer to the report".

Mr. Tyronne Fernando is one of the few politicians who speak out his mind without fear or favour while sometimes he is silent when the political party he represents does or speak something against his liking and conviction. He has the right definitely, to speak and stand up to the Sinhalese.

Why is the LTTE labled as a Tamil extremist organisation? That’s because we SinhalesAe drove them to be extremists by ourselves being extremists. It is common understanding that when one pushes an object to the extreme, the one who pushes stands at the other extreme end. One wise leader, to the cheers of the Buddhist clergy and Sinhala ignorant crowds, thought, by not enforcing the law for twenty fours to curb the communal riots, the Tamil people could be subdued. But the result was quite the opposite. They rallied around to be a militant force with suicide squads to face the challenge. Today we see the results where thousands of innocent lives are lost, due to the lack of foresight and understanding of our Sinhala leaders and specially, the Buddhist clergy.

I wonder whether the Sinhala Commission or the Secretary, NJC is aware why the Sinhala Maha Sabha was dissolved by the late S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and joined the United National Party (UNP). It was when Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was clamouring for independence the wise British rulers — Lord Soulbury, advised veteran politician D. S. Senanayake to show the British government that there was no communal disharmony and the country could govern itself without strife, though there are several races and languages. The Britisher knew that as long as a deviding line is drawn between the Sinhalese and Tamils, the country cannot prosper and there would be communal conflicts. What they said over fifty years back is a stark reality today.

Weera Puran Appu fought for the Sinhalese at a time when the Sinhalese was the only race, others a microscopic minority, not worth to mention. Today the situation is different and Veera Puran Appu’s descendant, Tyronne Fernando sees the situation, today, in its correct perspective. Therefore, calling the Sinhalese an extremists should not be taken as an insult. Intelligent, educated people, will, I am sure, agree with me.

There is a belief that foreign powers, and international lending agencies, would wish poor countries to be always dependent on them to have a hold, so that they could make such countries dance according to their tune. In order to carry out this vicious thinking, they employ dubious methods as having organisations both foreign and local to disrupt, destabilise the smooth working of a country, under the guise of aid or help. I wonder whether the NJC, unknowingly is playing into the hands of these powers to achieve their cherished wish.

It is most unfortunate and regrettable that the "eminent citizens" of the NJC have thought it fit to speak ill of the good that the Britisher had done to their country. The economic development through opening of land for agriculture — tea, rubber, coconut , cocoa etc., infrastructure development roads, for transport of goods and persons, law and order and many more. Above all the English language, to keep this country abreast with modern advancement in science and technology and participation in international affairs eloquently.

NJC could be excused as they stand on a preconceived notion and tries to uphold it — running in blinkers, kicking reasoning to the drain.

Dr. Piyasena says "....such derogatory term to describe a group of eminent citizens, who have rendered a great service...." If they call themselves "eminent citizens", I wish to quote from the Dhammapada-Bala Vagga.

Yo Balo mannati balayam, pandito vapi tena so

Balo ca panditamani sa ve balo ti vuccati

(The fool who knows that he is a fool is for that very reason a wise man, the fool who thinks that he is wise is called a fool indeed)

Finally "Vengeance will be met with vengeance — Retaliation never leads to peace. Buddha’s advice to his non-violent followers is "Hatred never ceases through hatred but through love alone they cease". "Metta" is the answer. Open-minded and intelligent Sinhalese, specially the Sinhala Buddhists will agree with Mr. Tyronne Fernando that some Sinhalese, are extremists.

S. Gardia Arachchi,
Colombo 4.

So much had been written, discussed and carried out to stop the leak at Samanala Wewa but the problem still persists even with a colossal sum of money being spent on wet blanketing. The solution I propose here is inexpensive, permanent and needs no foreign ‘expert’.

The method is to build a semi- circular bund surrounding the leak to form a mini reservoir . This should be as small as practically possible for better stability and lower costs. It should also incorporate a large valve or sluice at the bottom to divert the stream of water during the construction stage. Once the bund is completed, by closing the valve or sluice, the water will rise in the mini reservoir till the levels on either side equalize. At this point the leak will stop permanently and the valve or sluice may be covered with concrete. The cost would not exceed five million rupees.

May I earnestly request the Minister of Power and Energy, the relevant officials of the CEB and the Irrigation Dept. to consider this proposal for the benefit of our country before any more foreigners prey on us. I have used this method on a smaller scale in my engineering work and I am confident of its feasibility.

Sarath Jayakuru
Mechanical Engineer

In Galle, Sri Lanka Telecom operates as the chief company in the service, with two other companies, a New Zealand and an Indian company assisting in the construction work in the so-called betterment and development programmes.

Instead of a better service subscribers are facing hard times without proper services. In the suburbs of Galle, many phones go out of order as long as 01- 02 months at a stretch.

Due to the prolonged construction work many underground cables have been damaged. The experienced telecom workers say that the foreign companies have employed unskilled labourers. Furthermore no staff members Telecom have been employed in these sites to supervise the on-going construction work.

Amazingly a single coin box did not work in the city of Galle on 23 Sept. 98. What a service? Will the Telecom Minister do something about this?

Lasath de Silva
Gintota.

It is shocking and amazing to read in the news media that these twin vices are to be legalized. They are abortion and homosexuality. It is beyond comprehension as to how abortion, the brutal murder of an unborn child can be given legal sanction in a predominantly Buddhist country. There is a deadly hue and cry raised about cattle slaughter. To millions of Catholics too abortion is anathema never done on an organized scale but on the sly by a few isolated cases. It’s a shame, and the guilt of killing also haunts, the abortionist.

In many Western countries homosexuality and prostitution are legalized. Veneral diseases spread fast. Even students indulge in nefarious activities and disrupt their studies. School drop-outs increase. It is these youth who become drug addicts, car thieves and pick pockets.

It is a crime to legalize homosexuality and prostitution and abortion. There is a semblance of good moral standards and happy family life among the great majority in Sri Lanka yet. So if the State ever tries to promote crime all religious leaders right thinking parents must rise up against it.

Carl Nanayakkara,
Kalutara.

Mr. Tyronne Femando cannot be faulted for lumping the LTTE with the so-called Sinhala Commission.

On the one hand we have a group motivated by ethnicity and greed for power working to crush an opposition even unto shedding human blood to achieve hegemony, and on the other a group driven by ethnicity and religious fervour urging identical action to achieve its superiority .

It was this kind of warped secular thinking that led to the infamous inquisition in years ago Nazi tyranny in more recent times, McCarthyism in America later on, and now to brutal bloodshed at home. The Sinhala Commission without the necessary clout at the moment is only canvassing the lumpen intelligensia. It must be admitted that crooked thinking always appears a tasty morsel to the half-educated, whatever the garb they don.

This is precisely why a wise citizen once remarked that a third class mind is happiest thinking as a Sinhala (or Tamil); A second class mind is happiest thinking as a Sinhala Buddhist (or Tamil Hindu), and a First class mind is happiest thinking as a true Buddhist (or a true Hindu).

Of course, the best minds are those that think without any prejudice and so are the most likely to be rewarded by breaking new ground in fields of knowledge and virtue and humane values.

Anyone who values his race, caste or other accidental attribute on a level with the teachings of the Buddha certainly turns his or her back to the Buddha, as it repudiates the eternal laws of transformation and reformation as taught by the Thatthagata. This is so whatever title one sports or whatever position one holds or held.

Vested interests, chiefly self-interested capitalists, throw in their lot. The harvest is not meagre for those who thrive on strife. Money through sale of weapons, rewarding cronies, fawning on those in high position, political or religious, fishing for position and office are some of the ploys of these vexed souls.

Dr. P. Dissanayake,
Colombo 5.

Vehicles are fitted with horns to be used in case of an emergency, to warn another of impending danger. Today, this concept is blatantly ignored and its use is exploited constantly creating such confusion, that due to this habitual abuse, people get knocked down by vehicles, and collisions are on the increase mainly due to the concentration of other drivers being distracted.

I cannot see why this hazardous and alarming practice is allowed to go on regardless of any concern for the affected.

The police seem to be deaf. In the old days it was not so bad due to the scarcity of motor vehicles. But today’s increase in numbers has amplified the blare and the time has come to ban unnecessary tooting.

This move has proved effective in many countries. In those places one could get about the city in relaxation without agony of the utter ear-piercing decibel menace.
A Citizen
Colombo

Dr. Saroj Jayasinghe of the Health Sector Reforms Implementation Unit is an acclaimed academic of the highest grade and he has predicted that there would be a surplus of doctors by the year 2000 as stated in another newspaper 26.09.98.

The Independent Medical Practitioners Association and the College of General Practitioners have been deliberating on this impending disaster with the authorities concerned over the last 4 - 5 years but nothing has materialised.

The letter "Oh! that Noble Profession" which appeared in ‘The Island’ highlighted my views on the subject in the form of a 8-point plan. If it is treated as a guideline, I honestly feel that the authorities could very satisfactorily face the challenge. But action should be initiated now. Even now it is not late.

If the authorities bide for time expecting time to heal the malady, then the wolf would be at the door by the time the authorities wake up and I could only say God Help Them!!

It is action - concerted and meaningful which should be taken right now.

Dr. A. D. V. Premaratne