The mad hatters tea party
Are you mad or am I mad ? - Or has the power that corrupts gone a step further making our politicians mad "
I am referring to the proposed Rs. 600 million Cultural Centre and the Statue of God Vishnu - to "counter the malefic influences" that are supposed to have ruined our country.
In the process we have forgotten that we are primarily a Buddhist country and Buddhist thinking does not allow these far fetched theories. Surprisingly the committee that attends to this mad venture comprises of Buddhist Cabinet Ministers - including the Minister for Buddha Sasana !!
When the PA came into power people had faith in the 3 Lakshmans. Two of these lost their places in the hearts of the people trying to cover up for their power hungry colleagues and now the only Lakshman people had some faith in - Minister Jayakody is spearheading this campaign at the risk of losing his credibility and people’s conception of his sanity as well.
Several letters written by people with common sense, elaborated on what could and should be done with this collosal sum of money for the benefit and betterment of this poor country.
The international community must be laughing at us - for we are more primitive than the primitive in believing that such a statue can stop the war.
If such a thing can bring lasting peace then what about the lives of our young sons who died in the battle front ? Why wasn’t this solution to the ethnic problem brought to light earlier, soon after this statue was erected. Of the millions of statues all over. India, how many have been facing Sri Lanka throughout history ? Why didn’t we have the ethnic problems then ?
Are the educated Buddhists of this country going to take this too lying down ? We are a tolerant lot. We never protest when foreign women lie on Buddha statues and pose for photographs. We silently bear up when Buddhism is being betrayed.
We have a Minister in Charge of the Buddha Sasana but even his Buddhistic thinking is being overshadowed by various other cults.
The fearless priests who come forward to teach people the truth and the true aspects of Buddhism are said to be intimidated by the state officers themselves
Now this colossal folly of a statue is getting government sponsorship.
We tax payers will not pay for this mad hatters’ tea party. Stand up and protest, true Sinhala Buddhists of Sri Lanka.
Jayantha Dharmapriya,
Battaramulla.
My memories of Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda
Two years have passed since the demise of Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda, an exceptional academic, a musician, artist, educator and winner of many national and international honours. Yet, it seems as if it were only last week that he visited us at the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) for the last time. He died a few days later.
Professor Kodagoda was a source of great strength to many of us at ADIC in our work to reduce the demand for tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. But far beyond this, he was a rare medical personality with a multitude of interests, excelling in every one of them. Foremost among his achievements was I believe, his work as a public educator. He touched the lives of millions of Sri Lankans through his discussions over radio during the span of four decades, and more recently on television. His lucid media programmes on diverse health related topics made him a household name in even the humblest of dwellings all over country. After Prof. Kodagoda’s death Prof. Carlo Fonseka lamented that "his incredible fluency, his flawless sentences, his impeccable diction and the sheer music of his voice have vanished for ever into thin air."
I first met Prof. Kodagoda when he interviewed me for a post at ADIC way back in 1989. My recruitment began a nine year working relationship with the founder Chairperson of ADIC, during eight of which I reported directly to him.
Prof. Kodagoda has a reputation for being very precise and not bearing fools gladly. However, during all the years I worked with Prof. (as he was affectionately called) I received only encouragement and support at all times. If I called him to discuss a pressing problem, his cheerful voice at the other end of the line would dispel any difficulties, and although he was a very busy man he always made me feel that he had all the time in the world. Despite his reputation his patience knew no bounds. I blush in shame when I recall how I struggled with a Sinhala radio discussion at SLBC, when this veteran media personality gave me only words of encouragement.
As the years passed he developed the marvellous ability of sensing the direction any controversial issue was taking, and he needed no prior briefing. He would know what decision would be acceptable to the majority, yet at the same time was practicable to implement. I was also amazed at his innate ability to summarise diverse views, then extract the essence and draw a conclusion which reflected majority opinion. This skill was recognised internationally where he was invited to chair various forums.
Under his leadership the management team had a great deal of freedom and independence and blossomed in the confidence he bestowed. Similarly he had confidence in the staff and volunteers of ADIC and greatly appreciated their commitment.
On his return from Apollo Hospital where he was told that by-pass surgery was not possible, for the first time I sensed his vulnerability. Prior to his illness Prof. had chaired almost all the Board meetings unless he was out of the country. In the coming months his absence was sorely felt by us. However during July 1997 the last month before his death, Prof. attended not only the Board meeting but also the mid year review meeting. Perhaps he had a premonition or being a medical man he knew the end was near. Despite medical advice he sat through several hours of presentations on activities of ADIC, and he seemed pleased with the overall progress and achievements for the half year. It was gratifying to know that we had given him joy on this, his last visit to ADIC.
May he attain Nirvana
Kushlani Amarasuriya
(Former Executive Director ADIC)