By M D P DISSANAYAKE

During a meeting with Mrs Anoma Fonseka and her team, the Malwatte MahanayakeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thero has expressed confidence that there is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a likelyhood of some relief being granted by the President Mahinda Rajapakse toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sarath Fonseka, subsequent to the swearing ceremony for the second term in Office.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Our President is not a vindictive person.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Our President is not a Western Puppet.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Our President is not a coward. Our President is someone who has improved his own image and the image ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lanka immensely within a short period of time in Office.

But our President is a Leader. A Leader is a person who is prepared to make tough decisions to advance the process of Change.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  A Leader will not activate the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Change for the sake of Change.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  A Leader will not activate the Change under duress.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  A Leader who succumb to duress will cease to be a Leader instantly.

An imminent Lawyer Mr S L Gunasekera has written a colourful and crispy article under the caption ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Cardinal ErrorsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to the Lankaweb highlighting gross misrepresentations made by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We cannot understand why Malwatte Mahanayake and the other top class Buddhist clergy who are clamouring for special redress forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sarath Fonseka are not responding to the lop-sided Cardinal for his outbursts.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  IsnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the country, the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sinhala nation, our heritage are for more important and relevant than Sarath Fonseka? Why are these Buddhist monks ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ so dump founded and scared to speak against the puppets of Catholic Action?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It seems that these Buddhist monks have no other Agenda now, other than fighting for Mr Sarath Fonseka.

Many legal cases against Mr Sarath Fonseka are still work in progress. To uphold the Constitution, the President must allow the due course of process of law.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The President is not a Santa Clause, to grant relief to Mr Sarath Fonseka, just before ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ upcoming XƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢mas.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  At the completion of all pending cases, there mightƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ an option for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sarath Fonseka to exercise, if he wish to do so.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That is to express his Repentence and seek mercy, if he has been found guilty by the Court of Law.

In Sanskrit,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ksamayatiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  is Repentence or remorse. The Repentence is intended to feel regret or contrition for the past sins and committing not to commit such wrong doings again. If it isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  possible to Sin, why is it so difficult to Repent or show Remorse?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Why bother going after Buddhist Priests?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  You only have to go after your own inner mind and seek redress for yourselfƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and bring peace of mind.

• ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-For all the evil deeds I have done in the pastƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚,
• ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Created by my body, speech and mindƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
• ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-From beginninglessƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  greed, hatred and delusionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚,
• ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I now know, share and repent them allƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
• ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Sins come from the mind, so use the mind to purify the sinsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚,
• ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-When the mind is pure, the root of sins is exterminatedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
• ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Achieving the state of emptiness of both the mind and sinsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
• ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-That is the real sense of true repentanceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

(Avatamsaka Sutra,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  known as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Flower AdornmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  SutraƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚)

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, Sri Lanka and its people are mindful of the dangers of showing any mercy to Sarath Fonseka, the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-loose cannonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The UNP, JVP, DNA, Western Allies will pump in vast financial resources spontaneously to bring disrepute to the President and Sri Lanka in the event Sarath Fonseka is shown any Presidential leniency after the legal battles. At a time the Government is marching ahead with massive infrastructure projects to take Sri Lanka to the next level within a 10 year Plan,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  no mercy should be extended to Traitors, whether they are Sinhalese, Tamils, Buddhists or Catholics. The Nation must be placed ahead of Individuals!

In summary, the Sri Lanka Opposition has no Leader for the present or theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  foreseeable future. Whether Ranil or Sajith, they are doomed to fail.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Showing leniency toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sarath Fonseka at some stage will provide a political impetus to the Opposition.

As I have said before,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sarath Fonseka was ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ worse than Prabhakaran! But can Sarath Fonseka be Rehabilitated to become Mr Sarath Fonseka? The answer lies with Mr Sarath Fonseka himself!

We still write about Mr Sarath Fonseka, as we have some space yet for him in our hearts and minds!

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