Sri Lanka – A Fragile Craft sailing perilously in Uncharted Seas -A plea not to rock the boat
Posted on June 16th, 2013
R Chandrasoma
Mankind will face great hazards in the decades to come from the growingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ instability of the Biosphere given the overpopulation and energy-demands of a single rampaging species. As we approach what systems-experts call the ‘tipping point’ – perhaps only a few decades in the future – global politics will acquire a new dimension of ferocity and uncharitableness. It is not this dismal prospect for our species that we wish to highlight and forewarn – it is the stand we must take as Sri Lankans to protect the brief goodness we currently enjoy due to a providential concatenation of events in the recent past.
The defeat of the Tamil Tigers and the installation in power of what some detractors call the ‘Rajapakse regime’ was a climactic shift in politics that resulted in – for the first time in our Post-Colonial period – a rulership that honoured nationhood and the call of history. Needless to say, the detractors and naysayers have not given up and a mighty campaign is now on to portray the liberators and pathfinders as a pack of corrupt rogues unfit to rule our country.
That the enemies of our country – the ex-colonial band-wagon of a dying White Imperialism – are hell bent on ‘getting rid of the Rajapakse Regime’ is understandable even if we condemn the effrontery of these hypocrites. Equally understandable is the blighted stand of the UNP and its allies who see no way of defeating the ‘Rajapakse Regime’ in a fair electoral contest and have leagued with the Foreign Devil to destroy the Government in power by other means.
What are these other means? The charge that a man is unvirtuous, duplicitous in political dealings and flaunts a religiosity which is not genuine is held to be sufficient to warrant a campaign to overthrow him. Here a distinction must be made between private judgments of moral worth and public morality as a dimension of social well-being.
The killing of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”harakasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ for consumption by an indifferent society cannot be transmuted into a blight of the ruler given that the latter is not a God-like shaper of society. Nor can the consumption of alcohol be equated with robbery or assault. Future societies will be increasingly heterogeneous and morality may become an issue decided by consensus. These remarks may seem overblown but there is a point in bringing out these themes. There is a move by overzealous Buddhists to pressure MR to prove his fidelity to the ruling faith by moving the law where individual compliance is weak.
That such a move by the President is politically disastrous is known to these religious zealots and their persistence can only be interpreted as politically inspired. To overthrow a government or its ruler for the persistence of moral weakness at the individual level has no warrant in either ethics or politics. To those acquainted with the history of our country will recall the tippling propensities of the Kings of the Kandyan Period. Riotous eating was a mark of nobility in the old days. At no time was Sri Lanka a land of pious vegetarians forcibly surviving on AdamƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Ale alone. To ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”rock the boatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by dragging in these negative issues is a disservice that Sri Lanka can ill-afford at this difficult moment in history.
June 16th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
All resources should now go to get rid of 13 amendment not to the cattle slaughter issue right now.
Lets handle one problem at a time.
June 17th, 2013 at 1:47 am
While it is correct that Sri Lanka was not a pious land of vegetarians it had also no meat industry (rearing animal for food) as such. When people wanted meat they hunted or got the veddas to bring it in exchange for items the former needed. Riotous eating was a mark of nobility in Europe in the old days – NOT in Sri Lanka. There is no mention of riotous eating in the Kandyan Kingdom in the 17th Century accounts of Robert Knox or Joao Ribero. Though many dishes were served the kings and their subjects displayed good manners when having meals. It was true not only among Buddhists and Hindus but even Muslims.
June 17th, 2013 at 6:37 am
At present, we have a number of problems facing Sri Lanka. The present GoSL has inherited a number of problems from past governments, notably the 13-A, which must be got rid of, the sooner the better. Without the 13-A, there will be a sense of security and development can take place properly. Lankans ought to keep their focus on what is important.
The President is a politician and a statesman, not a religious leader. He and the GoSL have done a great job of work in eliminating a terrorist (ltte) take over of the entire island. There is much more work to be done and political infighting is preventing the work of the people that needs urgent focus all over the island.
The other big problem is the usage of fertilizers (F), pesticides (P) and herbicides (H)), (FPH). The proper use of all these items must be made known to the public (see Dr Garvin Karunaratne’s article on this subject). The dangers of overuse of these items must also be made known to the public. It is best for most of the country to go Organic in farming. Upcountry farmers especially must act with responsibility in the use of these items as all our RIVERS start Upcountry and can get easily polluted from over use of FPH. The Mahaveli River is obviously polluted already and hence the NCP kidney disease problems for the citizens there and spreading to other areas.
So much work for the people of the country awaits attention. The 13-A must go, and sooner the better. Tamil Separatism is a waste of time, especially for Tamils. Tamil Leaders of Lanka must stop misleading the Tamil people.
June 17th, 2013 at 11:07 am
Addressing the first part of the article I fully disagree. It is not an issue of population but the efficient management of resources. Japan which is the size of the US state of California has a population of 125 million people and lacks any natural resources. Yet Japan’s economy is the 3rd largest in the world and her standard of living is equal to any first world nation., while California with a population of 40 million and large amounts of natural resources is about to go bankrupt with a rising population that are illiterate and dependent on the Federal gov for support. Israel a land no bigger than 7 thousand square miles and a population of 8 million transformed a barren desert into a fertile agricultural land. Israel is a food exporting nation and her agricultural sector amounts to only 2% of her economy. She is also the most powerful nation in the Middle East. Similar examples of good management is Singapore who boasts of having the most number of millionaires per capita. The opposite example is India which has gone through two green revolutions and one white revolution (milk). India is a food exporting nation but the number of people who etch out a living on one dollar per day per family is around 400 million. Most live in ever growing slums or the streets. One article pointed to the lack of toilets leading to defecating on open land. Raw sewerage and Industrial waste pour into her rivers. Last year India had a bumper harvest but not enough grain silos to store them. 70 million tons of grain were left in open fields to be victim to the elements while millions starve. A simple act of buying state of the art grain silos from Australia would have solved the problem. Finally India cannot claim to be a functioning Democracy as long as the dreaded Caste system thrives. The principles of Democracy are negated by the laws of the Caste system which by itself reneges millions to a life of hopelessness
June 18th, 2013 at 12:01 am
I agree 100 percent with Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha’s comments
June 18th, 2013 at 10:41 am
When India catches a cold, Sri Lanka catches pneumonia – that is the basic truth. Being connected to India historically and other ways have a big draw back, along with proximity. The only main gain was the Buddha’s teachings.
Japan scores with her mono-ethnicity. Japan does not allow free entry of foreigners into the country or residency there. Visas for visits only are granted. They do not waste their time settling emotional problems or adverse and odd rituals of others, but set about the task of economic welfare of all Japanese citizens.
Australia is a relatively young country, not hampered by ancient and adverse historical events and is also careful who settles down there. Ancient Lanka suffered many invasions from South Indians. Sri Lanka’s sea shores were wide open to all and sundry during some 500 yrs of Colonial rule and even after Independence had illegal migrants (mainly from Tamil Nadu) come in bringing with them all their baggage of problems.
June 18th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
A very useful article for all of us, Sir……..I am deeply grateful.. NOW the most important question we face TODAY is getting rid of 13th amendment & PCs connected with that amendment.
WHO will raise their HANDS to NOT ASK ANY FAVOURS what so ever from India. I DON’T think there are many takers…….Now that is the problem. We always seek the easy way out of a probem. FACE IT, tackle it & find solutions, if the elected officials are reluctant….LET THEM KNOW HOW PEOPLE feel loud & clear.
NO dependence on INDIA period. It doesn’t matter India is our closest neighbour. This MANTRA has been said over & over again. Anybody in the Indian officials payroll will feel the heat….BUT too bad, what they give us are Un-workable, railway engines, Power plants, which break down consistently & host of other JUNK they throw at us. It is no wonder they have a HUGE trade balance in their favour.
That is why they clamouring for more by asking our leaders to agree for comprehensive Free trade , BAD enough they have looted our country, & NOW they want more??……NO WAY. as the Profesionals, managers & industry leaders have said.NO MORE free trade, and even the present arrangemnts should be curtailed.
Gradually it high time we NOT depend on India or running toIndia to solve our problems. As a POLICY we must act now, if the existing trading people complain…let them, & find solutions to them. Our Govt. must be pro-active in this regard.
Remember how India, when that country was poor,(NOT that they are rich now either).THEY HAD THIS policy of REFUSING ANY HELP even HUMNITARIAN AID. Now look at India, challenging mighty nations such as China, Australia & European union including UK.
This will be a very good starting point for us to re-evaluate who our friends are. If we can FIGHT USA multi-national oil companies, BUT did not succumb, DEFEATED LTTE, the most ruthless & undefeatable they said.. BUT we did, Then why should we be afraid of what India DOES or THINKS……Our people will decide what is good for OUR COUNTRY.
Thank you all. Lets get 13th ammendent out of the way & then we will take stern action to sabatuers, conspirators.. etc..after that. May God Bless. & Our Noble Trile Gems Guide you all~ J
June 18th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Sri Lanka nationalist party introduces bill to abolish PC system
Tue, Jun 18, 2013, 08:46 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 18, Colombo: An ally of Sri Lanka’s governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today introduced a bill to abolish the provincial council system enacted by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1987.
JHU leader and Gampaha district parliamentarian, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero was granted leave to introduce the Bill, entitled “Bill to amend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka”
The JHU motion aims primarily to repeal the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which paved way for the power devolving Provincial Council system in the island.
June 19th, 2013 at 4:06 am
Jayasiri, we agree with you that : “We always seek the easy way out of a probem. FACE IT, tackle it & find solutions, if the elected officials are reluctant….LET THEM KNOW HOW PEOPLE feel loud & clear.
NO dependence on INDIA period. It doesn’t matter India is our closest neighbour. This MANTRA has been said over & over again. Anybody in the Indian officials payroll will feel the heat….BUT too bad, what they give us are Un-workable, railway engines, Power plants, which break down consistently & host of other JUNK they throw at us. It is no wonder they have a HUGE trade balance in their favour”.
We can add that Indian officials are corrupt. The joke is that administrative officers in India keep a desk drawer open all the time to receive the ‘santhosam’, another nasty habit that creeps into Lanka. India also gave us unworkable radar equipment during the war with the ltte, did they not ? The Indian dilemma is that they are forced to be two faced re Lanka, because of Tamil Nadu.
As this will go on for long time, it is best to NOT depend on India for anything ?
June 19th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Please read as : ” ……. administrative officers (Junior) in India keep a desk drawer open ….”.
Senior Administrators (Indian Administrative Service or IAS) of India keep India afloat through their able administration of the country.
June 19th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Fran Diaz said,
“The Indian dilemma is that they are forced to be two faced re Lanka, because of Tamil Nadu. As this will go on for long time, it is best to NOT depend on India for anything”
NOTHING could be MORE TRUE, Sri Lanka should NOT depend on India for ANYTHING.
Sri Lanka should RAPIDLY REDUCE its DEPENDENCE and INTERACTIONS with India. First and Foremost, get India out of the BUSINESS of Reconstructing the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka …. all those benefits are targeted towards HELPING their Eelamist surrogates; NOTHING for other war affected Sri Lankans. They are just CONSOLIDATING their HOLD on Tamil Sri Lankans …. to Sri Lanka’s FUTURE DETRIMENT!
We are being UTTERLY STUPID in how we let India CONTINUE to invade Sri Lanka Economically, Politically and Culturally. We are PERMANENTLY SCREWED, for THERE IS NO CURE FOR STUPIDITY!