The real issue — what is it, really?
Jehan Perera, writing in the issue of ‘The Island’ of the 13th October, has captioned his piece "Equal Opportunity is not the real issue". He was commenting on the pros and cons of the latest piece of legislation proposed by the government to hoodwink the people — "The Equal Opportunity Bill".
I agree with Jehan that equal opportunity is not the real issue. Then what is it, really? — not only in this country, but all over the world? Though, perhaps, in this country and in other former colonial territories, the fall-out from the problem is more devastating than in lands where society is considered to be more stable.
If we are honest with ourselves — more particularly those who have thrust themselves on the country as its leaders — and awaken to the real issue, there is still some chance that we may be able to salvage our island home.
While agreeing with much of what Jehan has said, I venture to think that the real issue in this country as elsewhere, is conflict. Old hat, many would say. Indeed it is. All the same however that is the reality. The only difference being that in different lands, conflict manifests itself in different forms.
Academic clots who propose changes in the Constitution, suggest appointment of Commissions under special and bizarre legislation, advocate the participation of professionals in political life and so on, are merely pulling wool over the peoples’ eyes. They will be making a greatest contribution towards the elimination of conflict in the country if only they will be more honest with themselves, be less ambitious and less deceitful.
If the real issue is conflict, what are its roots?
Having observed, from my school-boy days, the way adults behave in this country and the hopes and aspirations they have for their children, I venture to think that one of the root causes of the many forms of conflict that our land is plagued with, is personal ambition. All our lives, from the moment we are born till we die, are an endless struggle to become something. This struggle makes us insensitive. We worship success and through success we seek power and through power we dominate. The so-called wish on the part of most politicians to be of service to the people is an alibi for concealing their desire to dominate and enjoy the fruits thereof.
We also seek to dominate because we wish to cover up an inner insufficiency. It is a case of empty vessels making the biggest noise. Inside ourselves, we are nobody. Inwardly, there is no richness, there is nothing at all.
Despite all our wealth, the positions we hold, the academic and other qualifications we flaunt before the people, there is this aching insufficiency or void which, in turn, makes us ambitious, leading to fragmentation in society and violence. So we look for causes to espouse. Human rights, religious and ethnics discrimination, poverty of the people, media freedom, etc. all these are roads leading to the acquisition of power and hence the root cause of coflict.
For example, these days many people who label themselves "Buddhists" are up in arms against the proposed ‘Equal Opportunity Bill’ on the ground that, if passed into law, the Act will pose a danger to Buddhist schools.
Ofcourse, Buddhist schools must be protected and fostered if for no other reason than that those schools are presumed to be run, based on the doctrine of the one solitary Teacher in history who stood four-square for unfettered freedom of inquiry, thought and expression even to the extent of requesting people to question his own teaching. For that reason alone all of my five children were sent to Buddhist schools, despite the fact that I myself had my first ten years of schooling in a non-Buddhist school which, in the opinion of my parents, was one of the two ‘best’ schools in the country.
My most rewarding years as a student were spent, however, at Ananda College, from where I entered the university. But I know of several principals of Buddhist schools who have sent their own children to non-Buddhist schools, despite their vocal support for and expousal of Buddhist education. Why this contradiction in their lives? The reason, to me, is all too obvious. They want their children to go up the social ladder and hold top positions in life — which means, power, prominence, status, etc. which have no intrinsic worth.
Then again take the case of those who fight for the ‘Sinhala’ cause. Sinhala has been the official language of the country since 1956. How many of the retired bureaucrats, judges and politicians who shout themselves hoarse about the plight of the Sinhala people have ever delivered a judgement in courts in Sinhala in their day or ensured that departments under their charge turned over to work in Sinhala after 1956?
I know how I was marginalised in the Foreign Ministry for working in Sinhala after it became the official language of the country. Fortunately, at that time, the Foreign Secretary was the late Gunasena de Zoysa who encouraged me to work in Sinhala, gave me the necessary backing and protected me.
These champions of the Sinhala cause — how many of them read a Sinhala newspaper, a Sinhala novel, sing a Sinhala song, recite a Sinhala kavi — indeed, in how many of their homes is Sinhala the spoken language?
What I am trying to get across is that for many of these crusaders, the ‘causes’ which they espouse are ladders by which they seek to climb to positions of prominence, power, popularity, recognition, authority and so on. They are incapable of fighting a cause for its own sake, devoid of personal agendas. This is so even in the organization of which I am a founder member — ‘Avadhi Lanka.’
One word more — many years ago when I was working in the Foreign Ministry, Vernon Walters, the well-known roving U.S. Ambassador at the time, came on a visit to Sri Lanka. My Foreign Secretary invited him to lunch at a leading Colombo hotel and asked me to go ahead of him and receive his guests, several of whom were foreign diplomats. Accordingly, I went ahead and was standing near the reception counter which was manned by an ex-insurgent (he had become a complete gentleman by then) who played a prominent role in the 1971 rebellion, was jailed and later released. He is now a big shot in the P.A. government. I knew who he was but he did not know me. As the diplomats arrived in their huge limousines driven by liveried chauffers, the equally liveried waiters opened the doors of their cars, saluted them and welcomed them to the hotel.
Seeing all this, and enthralled by the spectacle, the ex-insurgent, now turned gentleman, told a friend who was with him, in my hearing "Machang sha apey vade harigiyanang apith owage car valin avith, apitath mung salute eka danawane" — machang, if our insurgency had succeeded, we too would have come in such big cars, and been saluted and received by these fellows, no?"
That about sums up what many of the crusaders who espouse worthy causes are after.
The future will not be fundamentally different from the past unless there is radical change in the hearts and minds of those who come forward to awaken the people and show the way out of the miserable plight in which we all are. Can we bring this about? That is the real issue.
Stanley Jayaweera
(The writer is a founder member activist of the ‘Avadhi Lanka’ movement)
The meddlesome Mr. Ashraff
The national flag, the national anthem, Digavapi and now our schools. There is nothing Mr. M. H. M. Ashraff wishes to leave alone, striking while he thinks the iron is hot. If the moves inspired by him succeed Buddhist schools would be a thing of the past.
It is therefore necessary to educate Mr. Ashraff and other similarly inclined in regard to the origin, purpose and growth of Buddhist schools. The first of them came into being as the result of the efforts of Col. Olcott in the last years of the last century when Buddhist children had to seek English education at a state school or in Christian schools from where a Christian prelate, had guaranteed they would not emerge as good Buddhists.
The clear and emphatic object in setting up Buddhist schools was to provide Buddhist children with institutions where they could receive their education in a Buddhist environment. The schools grew because of the toil of men like Olcott, D. B. Jayatilaka, P. De. S. Kularatne, Arthur V. Dias, W. A. de Silva, L. H. Mettananda and others. The Amarasuriyas, Jeramias Dias’s, Ernest de Silvas, Wijetungas, Henry Kotelawalas and W.A.B. Soysas were liberal with their munificence but the bulk of the support came from thousands upon thousands to whom a five cent coin dropped in a collector’s till was a sacrifice. Old records contain moving stories of how the less affluent and the poor rallied to the aid of Buddhist schools - their schools.
Jayatilaka covered the highlands looking for money for Dharmaraja. Kularatne and Dias walked the streets of Kelaniya collecting coppers from Duruthu pilgrims to the Vihare for Ananda’s Dutugemunu Building.
Rs. 60,000, the price set by Mackwoods Ltd., for 1 1/2 acres next to Ananda seemed an impossible target in the thirties. But a determined campaign saw the money collected in the required time. To receive the donations coming in from everywhere in tiny amounts, the college office was left open for 24 hours a day manned in turn by teachers like Sivagurunathan, de Lanerolle and Carthigesan. Arthur V. Dias addressed the boys at assembly one morning and at the end of his talk he ripped off the gold on silver buttons of his tunic and handed them to the principal as a further contribution to the land extension fund.
Mettananda’s period saw the addition of a number of needed buildings following his fund raising efforts. The first of them was the Diamond Jubilee Carnival of 1946 organized by S. M. H. Mashoor as Carnival Secretary. Later fund raising events found Mohideen Jalaldeen and wife Rizzis working as hard as anybody else. Mashoor and Jalaldeen returned to help their alma mater because they genuinely appreciated the benefits they had from being educated in a Buddhist school and not to look for quotas for anybody.
That, very briefly, is the story of the growth of Ananda - a story of sweat and sacrifice. It is a story common to other Buddhist schools as well. They all went over to the state with the assurance of Mr. Badiuddin Mahmud, Minister of Education, given in the House of Representatives on 24th October,1960:
"If anyone were to say that no provision is made in this Bill for the manner in which schools are to be administered, particularly as regards the religious environment, I should like to make it very clear that the manner in which the schools are to be administered is laid down in great detail in the Code of regulations for Assisted Schools. Under the Management of the Director, the schools will continue to have the same religious environment as they have had in the past. There will be no change whatsoever".
The lady who was Prime Minister when those words were uttered, a time when collective responsibility was a respected convention, occupies the office of Prime Minister even now. It is unlikely that she will countenance the violation of a pledge made on her behalf as well, nor will the Buddhist public tolerate any tampering with the religious environment of Buddhist schools.
If Mr. Ashraff persists with his moves he will not be doing the leader he currently follows, a favour.
Palitha Weerasinghe
Kelaniya
Well done Rupavahini
The Rupavahini broadcast of the 50th Anniversary parade of the Army deserves comment
General Muthukumara, the first Lankan C-in-C, should have been given much more prominence for many reasons. Over 90 years of age, he yet flew all the way from Australia; and this was a signal honor to the Army. A cultured, refined and highly educated gentleman - soldier? he was liked and respected by all ranks. Officers who served with him know what an exceptional soldier he was.
(Incidentally, he gives the lie to the hypocritically expressed need in this country for "equal opportunity laws". As a Tamil, he came to the very top like the very many others of that community who became Chief Justice, Attorneys General, IGP, Permanent Secretaries Navy Commander, DM & SS, GMR, Ambassadors etc. down the years.)
Bagpipes of course have been adopted by armies all over the world outside Scotland including kilts and tartars but bearskins are another thing. They appear quite the thing on the Coldstream guards or on the Black watch - but need we go in for this as well?
It is a pity that public participation in this event was poor. The authorities could not possibly encourage mass participation due to security reasons and this was understandable.
Yet this was an event which had tremendous emotional significance to the parents, family members and friends of thousands of soldiers including the kith and kin of those who have given their tomorrows for our today.
It is a pity that the TV cameras kept zooming in on the President, ministers and other panjandrums and correspondingly less on the marching men (representing over 100, 000 who were on the battle field) the real heroes of the day.
The writers are aware of public feeling. The less that is shown of the politician (government or opposition), the more popular will be TV Programs.
Is too much to suggest that a special film be commissioned on the Anniversary? This should include clips from parades of the past, (even pre-independence shots of the CPRC, CLI, CGA, CSC, CMC etc.), as well as the regimental insignia, shots of training, and even some shots of recent field action.
Such a film, to be shown on TV after preliminary announcement, (on both languages) will be a fitting tribute to the Army as it is today. It will, above all, be but an inadequate tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of a country where everybody has a right to live anywhere and not in ethnic enclaves.
Only the peace beggars, some NGO’s the bishops (of course) and the business tycoons who beg the LTTE to help them survive in business, will oppose tributes to the Army.
M. J. K. de Silva
Losing weight — how it was done
Mr. Derek Sela of Rajagiriya weight 315 lbs in August 1998 and today October 1999 his weight is 200 lbs. How? How? That is the vital question. No fitness classes, no pills, no massage clinics, no exercises, no aerobics. Listen carefully. Listen carefully. I had a chat with him and here’s what he told me.
"I had to stand surgery, and the doctor told me I was far far too fat to stand an operation and that I had to get my weight down. He directed me to a dietician and of course I followed her instructions to the very letter.
"I started walking from Rajagiriya to Maradana daily, and followed a strict diet with three quarter saucer red rice, no sugar, no fat, no starch, no bread, no deserts, no soft drinks, no alcohol and today I’m proud of 200 lbs for a height of 6f to 2ins."
Doctors say this weight is good for this height. I saw Mr. Sela on the road yesterday whilst I was driving to work, I was amazed and stopped my car and asked him if he was Mr. Sela, as I couldn’t believe my eyes. He said he was.
Since I was prompted to write about this I invited him to call over at my home to take down more particulars. So here is a gist of my conversation with him. I’m sure this will interest so many readers, and in particular all those who are over weight.
So do take the contents of this to heart and try Mr. Sela’s method. If Mr. Sela can, why can’t you? Try, and go down gracefully like growing old gracefully. Best of luck!
Yvonne F. Keerthisingha
Rajagiriya
Appreciations
Ariadne Moragoda nee Wickremesinghe
It is now six months since we lost Ariadne, but to those who were fortunate to know her she will remain in their hearts as long as they live. She was endowed with exceptional good looks, and a graceful demeanour and regal carriage. She hailed from a well known and highly respected family yet none of these seemed to have gone to her head. She was a profound friend and treated everyone she knew with dignity and respect, love and compassion. She was both sophisticated yet simple, paradoxical as it may sound. Her calm disposition had a soothing effect on those around her. While her charming personality and radiating smile said more than words. She was soft spoken and gentle - a paragon of refinement and culture. She was gracious, kind and generous, both in thought and deed.
Ariadne was an artist of no mean repute. One had only to visit her home to see ample proof of this. Be it painting, embroidery or other handicraft, she excelled in them all. Her talent and skill knew no bounds. She was an excellent cook and a most charming hostess. She loved nature and she loved beauty and that perhaps was the reason she was so natural and so beautiful, not only in face and form but also in heart and mind.
I have know Ariadne for a very long time and for almost three decades we were engaged in training teachers in the Montessori method of Education. Ariadne received her training when the late Dr. Maria Montessori visited Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in the 40’s. She was my mentor and guiding light in this venture. Many happy memories race through my mind as I call the good times we shared during our long association.
Ariadne was a concerned and caring person, and this concern was not limited to her husband, daughters, sons-in-law and grand-children whom she doted on, but spread far and wide. You had only to need her and there she was, often neglecting herself for the good of others. She was zealous, religious and sincere and above all she was God-fearing.
I offer her near and dear my deepest sympathies and know that her soul rests in eternal peace.Hers was a beautiful life well spent.
God bless you Ariadne.
Noeline Gunasekera
Justin Mervyn CanagaRetna
A few months ago, our dear friend, Mervyn CanagaRetna passed away. To all of us who had the good fortune to know him, his death has caused a vacuum in our lives, and it is with a sincere sense of sorrow that I write these lines of appreciation, inadequate though they may be.
Mervyn’s was a beautiful life and he endeared himself to all of us to whom he showed profound care and concern.
Eight years ago, his dear wife, Sugi, passed away very suddenly. This was a fate he could not accept, a void which could never be filled. She was his soulmate, counsellor, and mentor and their union was one of unwavering love and admiration for each other. Was it any wonder that Mervyn carried on like a rudderles ship, perhaps waiting for the call from his Maker?
Mervyn was a lawyer and maintained the highest standards of his profession. He adhered strictly to a code of moral integrity and rectitude as a Senior Partner of Julius & Creasy. Right up to his death, Mervyn donned his black coat and went to office — his clients had such profound faith in him that they would not take NO for an answer, even though he had retired from the firm and was only a Consultant. That sense of dedication which he showed to his vocation was exemplary. He also contributed many articles to newspapers and law journals on various facets of the law.
Mervyn was the son of Mr A D CanagaRetna, the Principal of a prestigious School in the Uva Province. Obviously, his father instilled in the family very high standards of integrity, morality and charity. These qualities stood by him through life.
His only sister predeceased him a few years ago; the remaining member of his family is Christopher a leading surgeon, whom he adored and admired.
As a family man he was very warm hearted. He leaves behind two sons, Sujit and Jehan, on whom he showered deep love and affection. This spirit of love he also extended to his relatives and friends, many of whom came to him with their problems for advice and solace.
Mervyn was very hospitable, and kept an open house. Often on a Sunday, he would invite relatives and friends and treat them to a sumptuous meal.
Mervyn was a man of many parts. He was a lover of classical music and in his hours of solitude he would find solace playing Bach, Bethoven and Brahms on his electric organ.
As an ardent and devout church goer, he played the organ for 30 years in his church, St.Paul’s Milagiriya. When Sugi’s cortege went down the aisle on its final journey, Mervyn paid that pathetic tribute to her, playing Handel’s Dead March. What courage and determination would he have summoned to steel himself to make this final heartbreaking tribute to his dear wife.
As Registrar of the Diocese of Colombo, he spent many evenings to advise The Bishop on legal matters relating to the Diocese. He was also closely associated with his Alma Mater, St. Thomas’s College, Mt. Lavinia, where he was a Member of the Committee of Management.
Mervyn’s domestic help idolised him for he gave generously. Many a time, he would send or go himself to remote places outside Colombo to bring their ailing relatives to his home.
We, now, mourn a great, benevolent and good man. His endearing and exemplary qualities have won the affection and admiration of all of us who knew him. He truly was a great man with a heart of gold.
We will always remember him with deep affection, gratitude and Nostalgia.
Mervyn,
One, Amongst Many, of his Close Friends
May Sugi engage you in a Warm Embrace;
The Guardian Angels in Wonderment gaze,
As on the Heavenly Harp, You Strum a Haunting Melody;
Its message - LOVE, PEACE and HARMONY.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE