Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai, Dehiwela.

Following the end of war our country is under scrutinyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by the whole world, rightly or wrongly ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for war crimes, disappeared persons, ethnic cleansing etc.

At present there are agitations by ill informed groups of Sinhalese against the Muslims. Totally unprovoked, totallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  unfair allegations which are even comical if not for the damage it may cause to the country. The very people who are supposed to teach people to be away from thanhawa (greed for worldly (possessions) are instigating them to be full of greed for ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-our countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚our religionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and hatred towards another ethnic group.

As DBS Jeyaraj pointed out ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Don’t the monks who lead these Hate filled processions know the Buddha’s teachings about Hate?

“Through hate, by hate overwhelmed, and fettered in mind, one leads an evil life in bodily deeds, words, or thoughts, and understands neither one’s own welfare, nor the welfare of others, nor the welfare of both sides, according to reality. If, however, hatred is overcome, one leads no evil life, neither in bodily deeds, words, nor in thoughts, and according to reality one knows one’s own welfare, the welfare of others, and the welfare of both sides”. Anguttara Nikaya Ch 3 Ver 55 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Sutta Pitaka

“The hater does not grasp his weal, nor does he wish to see the TRUTH, for gloom and darkness reign supreme when hatred overpowers man.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He knows no shame, no moral dread, is lacking tact whenever he speaks, and overpowered by his hate, he finds any refuge nowhere”. Anguttara Nikatya Ch 7 Ver 60 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Sutta PitakaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

It is a pity that the government is not doing anything, at least palpably, to counteract these unnecessary instigations of violence. The media even reports ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ openly the police saying that there were orders ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-from higher echelonsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ not to stop the agitators, but were asked to protect them.

We mustƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  remember this is a time of open information. This information are all followed by the world. And ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ itƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  behooves the government to squashƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the world opinion that our ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ army has been unfair to the civilians ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” all what the President need to do at this juncture is to prove to the world that he will not tolerate any sort of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ unfair treatment to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the minority. And it will be advantageous for him and the country ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ too to have peace in the country.

That does not mean he has to apply violence on anyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  groups. Rather if he can arrange for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the differing groups to have a discussion and make amends removing the misunderstandings it will prove to the world his intentions as well as the Srilankans too will appreciate it very much. No sane person in this country wants another ethnic clash. HavenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t we suffered enough?

Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai, Dehiwela.