Myriam François Courtesy Guardian

As Cambridge investigates its past, it’s time we acknowledged that slavery embedded a racial privilege that exists to this day

Cambridge University has announced that it will finally – just two centuries after the abolition of slavery and about 80 years after the end of the British empire – conduct an in-depth academic study into ways in which it contributed to, benefited from or challenged the Atlantic slave trade and other forms of coerced labour during the colonial era”.

I’m not sure in-depth” is how I would describe an inquiry which omits all 31 of its colleges, which hold most of the wealth in Cambridge, and some of which already have verified slavery connections. And it is worth pointing out that, while Cambridge has framed this inquiry as part of its race equality initiatives”, this conversation was forced on it by students, activists and brave academics.Advertisement

But Oxbridge institutions are not alone in owing a tremendous debt to slaves. The Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership at UCL has created a vast database that shows just how profoundly slavery shaped modern Britain – well beyond its two best-known universities. Among the institutions with a history of slavery connections are the Bank of England, high-street banks (RBS, Barclays and Lloyds), railway companies, insurance companies and even the Royal Mail. And as these organisations flourished through their use of forced labour, their owners bequeathed part of their huge wealth to some of the UK’s leading cultural institutions, including the National Gallery, the Royal Academy, the Tate, the Victoria & Albert and the British Museum. Visitors to these galleries today are given little or no indication of their murky histories.

Slave-owning planters, and merchants who dealt in slaves and slave produce, were among the richest people in 18th-century Britain. Profits from these activities helped to endow the industrial revolution, Britain’s naval supremacy, and even British capitalism itself. By the late 1700s, slave-generated profits were large enough to have covered up to a third of Britain’s overall investment needs.

But the privileges accrued from slavery were not only economic: prestige properties were built which would be passed down as generational wealth. If you’ve ever marvelled at some of Britain’s stately homes or listed buildings, you should be aware that many of them were built or bought using money derived from slavery. One example is Dodington Park, a beautiful estate, currently owned by British inventor James Dyson, and which was originally built by Christopher Bethell-Codrington, using sums derived at least in part from plantation profits.

Often this wealth translated into political power. Alderman William Beckford, whose father was one of the most powerful men in 18th-century Jamaica, went on to serve as mayor of London. He even kept enslaved Africans to serve him in England. More recently, former prime minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, were both revealed to have slaveowners in their family background. Inherited wealth matters for generations.

Yet, as historian David Olusoga has pointed out, it would be a mistake to think of slave-ownership in the UK as confined to the upper classes. Many middle-class people, including clergymen, naval personnel and people who had returned from the colonies were also slave-owners”, regarded an enslaved person as a sound investment”.

The footprints of slavery, and the profits it bequeathed to generations, still shape the present. The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 formally freed 800,000 Africans. Not one of them got a penny. Instead, the British government paid out today’s equivalent of £16bn to former slave owners to compensate” them for their loss of property”, a national debt that took until 2015 to be paid off. Yes, that means the descendants of slaves here in the UK were, until just four years ago, paying off slave owners for their ancestors’ freedom.

Britons today aren’t directly responsible for the actions of their ancestors, but we are responsible for making the consequences of their wrongful actions right – starting with recognising how history and a culture rooted in supremacy feed into modern-day injustice.

Today in Britain, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people are more than three times more likely than white British people to live in the most deprived neighbourhoods. Rates of prosecution and sentencing for black people are three times higher than for white people. Unemployment rates are significantly higher for ethnic minorities; from mental health to education, crime to housing, there are enduring inequalities. The question, then, is why?Advertisement

Could it be that the supremacist beliefs that shaped slavery and colonialism did not simply evaporate in 1833? And that the structures – social, economic, cultural – forged by that period haven’t disappeared? That we are still beholden to hierarchies shaped by racism, such as the idea that the barbarism of some faiths justifies military encroachment, or that white people’s DNA makes them genetically smarter? The structures forged by white supremacy have proved incredibly durable, partly because we refuse to recognise them, and partly because feeling superior to other races justifies actions which would otherwise seem unacceptable.

As the Jamaican-American philosopher Charles W Mills points out, while other political ideologies are acknowledged – socialism, capitalism, fascism – we consistently fail to name the ideology that forged global European imperialism: white supremacy.

Professor Stephen Arata argues that narratives of colonial reversal”, whereby colonisers and exploiters are treated with sympathy, and their victims dehumanised, were frequent in late-Victorian popular fiction in Britain. But such fiction is just as popular today, with bestselling books about the genetic superiority of Germans being dumbed down” by migrants; or the Great Replacement” theory, in which the French author Renaud Camus claims the presence of Muslims in France will lead to the destruction of French culture and civilisation. It’s seen too in media frenzies about white female sexuality being under threat from migrants.

Across Europe, far-right parties are making gains. The mistake is to view these developments as a new phenomenon – this is a resurgence. White supremacy is back with a vengeance because Europeans failed to unpick the dangerous underpinnings that forged its first incarnation.

So, here in Britain – in a country whose modernity was birthed in violence and racial supremacy – what is each and every one of us doing to confront that past and pave the way for a fairer future? Far beyond Cambridge and Britain’s elite institutions, this is a conversation that implicates us all. Because as American author James Baldwin wrote, Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed if it is not faced.”

• Dr Myriam François is a research associate at the Centre of Islamic Studies, Soas University of London, and founder of the blog We Need to Talk about Whiteness

Aloysius Hettiarachchi

On the 4^th of June  former president made a startling revelations to say that he had to personally sign 22,000 documents within  a couple of days or so for the extradition of Arjun Mahandran from Singapore. He has been convinced again to say that he cannot be brought to Sri Lanka to face charges because he is now an Alexander and not a Mahendran. This is amazing given the fact that all those around him were very experienced civil servants and top lawyers. I think the Attorney General at that time was the current one. Did they all take our head of state as a joke?. If so, no wonder a thing like Pasku Praharaya (the 4/21 attack) took place when all law enforcement forces as well as armed forces were under him. And all those top brass took advantage of the situation to make a fast buck at the experience of about 300 innocent lives as well as those 500 people who have been critically injured. If what he said was true, then it is an insult on the whole nation (especially on the Sinhalese) and action should be taken against all those who advised him to do this shameful act.

Similarly we see the same thing happening to the current president, too. We see that he is being surrounded by a similarly experienced lot and being advised to approve some wonderful projects. The world’s largest cricket grounds with money collected by begging is one. And then he has been advised to embark on beach nourishment project at a most unsuitable period of rough and high tide seas without any serious studies. Almost one billion rupees gone in water in just a couple of days. I remember the government of the country where I previously worked sent some senior engineers from their relevant department together with a representative of the company where I worked to Sri Lanka (Lanka Hydraulic Institute) to do the modelling of the project in their research station for a Coastal Protection Project. They were the consults together with LHI for that multimillion dollar project and they had high regard for those engineers doing the modelling. Why was LHI overlooked for this project?. Like signing the documents by the former prez, these coastal conservation officers and their contractors must have created a very nice picture of beautiful beaches after the work was over. However there should have been a clause to rectify the damages by the contractor if things go wrong.

We saw the other day a bunch of so called experts on dairy farming which included some lady professors giving a rosy picture to the nation. The whole nation knows how silly their plans are as similar importation of cows have gone awry more than once.

Not stopping there now the education ministers want to build so many universities in one go without any planning  when we are running short of money to pay even the salaries according to some news reports.

When we supported the prez in these forums for his campaign we had a good idea about him.  We thought he would at least take back Hambanthota port as promised and will not be openly supportive of some sections of the minorities who are hell bent in destroying the country.

Looking at the number of blunders already committed or planned to do within this short period of time we do not know where we will be heading on the long run, if advisors remain the same.

Aruna Laksiri Unawatuna (Attorney-at-Law)

The ruling power of the British Crown in the United States was brought to an end when the Declaration of Independence was pronounced in 1776 with the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). It was recognized as a free state by the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

The racial laws for the weak and the powerful which were separately introduced by the British for the countries that they governed; South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and also United States including other countries as colonies.

Unlike the other British colonial countries, the United States was the only nation in the world to disarm the British with an armed revolution but there was a huge tragedy in its society because of the strong establishment of laws for confirming racial discrimination and oppressing the oppressed which were introduced by the British.

As a result, great personalities such as President Abraham Lincoln (1865) and Nobel laureate Martin Luther King, Jr. (1968) sacrificed their lives to the bullet, and the persistence of such assassinations expose the dark areas of the rule of law in the United States.

Another such brutal murder which was committed by police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA by torturing a black man named George Floyd (46) to his death on May 25, 2020, has achieved to create a stir in public opinion in all countries.

Although there have been many horrific murders all around the world, the murder of the black man named George Floyd by depriving him of air for nearly 9 minutes, even after he begged for a breath reminds us especially of the massacre of Jews by the Nazis using the gas chambers preventing them from breathing during the 2^nd World War, and it was clearly a cruel act against humanity.

Although there are many protests in the United States of America and other countries around the world for equality disregarding the white-black discrimination while implementing legal actions regarding this cruel murder which was done by preventing breathing, the nature of the protests of the Blacks of the United States against the brutal murder of George Floyd proves us that they are far more ahead than the people of other countries which had been colonized by the British in demanding the right to equality before the law.

Unlike the people of former British colonies such as Indians and Sri Lankans, Blacks in the United States are well-versed in English, so they have the legal literacy to read the laws of the United States and the judgements of its Supreme Court.

Therefore, without the operation of anyone else the Blacks in the United States have the legal literacy to independently utilize the knowledge gained through it and obtain a successful procedure against the legal discriminations taken against them. Because of that strong legal power, Blacks in the United States will have the opportunity to seek justice for George Floyd’s murder.

Unlike the Blacks in the United States, the Sinhalese who are the majority of the Sri Lankans are a community who are neither free nor able to access legal literacy. All necessary and important legal matters in Sri Lanka are handled and decisions are made in English language which is used only by a minority and not in Sinhala, the language of the majority. As a result, the legal literacy of the Sinhala majority in Sri Lanka is very low and they do not have the knowledge to act legally against the actions that the powerful people take against them.

The Sinhalese in Sri Lanka do not know how to obtain freedom through legal activities, unlike the Blacks in the United States can obtain freedom through legal activities. While being ignorant of the law is not an excuse (Ignorantia juris non excusat), the Sinhalese are not allowed to know the law.

Although the People’s Voice against George Floyd’s cruel murder testifies that Blacks in the United States are far ahead in demanding equality before the law, it cannot be said how much more time it will take for the majority of Sinhalese in Sri Lanka to demand equality before the law.

This is an English translation of writer’s article of ‘නීතිය ඉදිරියේ සමානත්මතාවය අයදීමේදී එක්සත් ජනපදයේ කලු ජාතිකයන් බොහෝ ඉදිරියෙන් බව ජෝර්ජ් ෆ්ලොයිඩ් කෲර ඝාතනයට එරෙහි ජනතා හඩ සාක්ෂි දරයි…!’ Dated 04.05.2020

නීතිය ඉදිරියේ සමානාත්මතාවය අයදීමේ දී එක්සත් ජනපදයේ කලු ජාතිකයන් බොහෝ ඉදිරියෙන් බව ජෝර්ජ් ෆ්ලොයිඩ් කෲර ඝාතනයට එරෙහි ‘ජනතා හඩ’ සාක්ෂි දරයි…!

Aruna Laksiri Unawatuna (Attorney-at-Law)

RANJITH SOYSA

It is reported that Ratnajeevan Hoole, the commissioner of the Elections Commission has told a TV station that Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna ( SLPP) had been criticizing him and is against democracy and therefore the people should not vote for the party.

The members of the independent Election commission are considered as public servants under section 9 of the terms of reference of the Elections Commission as specified in Amendment 17 of the Constitution.

As such Hoole’s action contravenes the law and the expectations of a member of an independent commission.

We trust that the public service commission or any other relevant disciplinary body will take the required action to discipline Hoole and to prevent the recurrence of such unethical, and illegal actions.

RANJITH SOYSA

By Jane Lee for The History Listen Courtesy ABC Radio National

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Two retired judges say a section of the constitution which allows federal laws to be made for a particular race of people should be changed, because it is a relic of Australia’s past and is potentially dangerous.

The races power, in section 51(xxvi) of the constitution, gives parliament the power to make laws for “the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws”.

It was introduced into the 1901 constitution to regulate the migration of particular races to Australia, amid concerns about Chinese and other Asian migrants after the gold rush period of the late 19th century.

Retired NSW Chief Justice James Spigelman, QC, says when it was introduced, “there was no doubt that it was a racist power”.

He says the races power no longer has a place in the constitution.

“A power with respect to people is I regard a very dangerous power to confer on any legislature, even the Commonwealth parliament … because it can be focused on particular groups by reason of their presumed characteristics, rather than what their behaviour is or what their needs are, but just because of who they are,” he says.

Robert French, a retired Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, says the term ‘race’ is a term of the past.

“I think the term ‘race’ itself is a cultural construct whose day has passed and has very little factual referent apart from what you find in so-called cultural realities,” he says.

“And I think we’d be better off without it.”

The judges discussed the races power in interviews about the 1998 Hindmarsh Island Bridge case for Section 71, an RN series about significant High Court cases.

In that case, the late Ngarrindjeri woman Doreen Kartinyeri unsuccessfully challenged a federal law based on the races power, which paved the way for the South Australian bridge to be built on a site she said was sacred to Ngarrindjeri women.

The future of the races power has been discussed in talks about how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders should be included in the constitution.

The Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians recommended in 2012 that the section be removed and replaced with a new power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which recognised them as the first people of Australia and respected their cultures and languages and heritage.

Races power supports Aboriginal groups

Initially, the only race of people the federal parliament couldn’t make laws for were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders — this was a power reserved for state governments.

But this changed in 1967, when most Australians voted in a referendum to include Indigenous Australians in the federal power.

Indigenous barrister Tony McAvoy, SC, says since then, successive federal governments have largely used the races power to help fund national organisations specially formed to support Aboriginal people.

This includes the Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, Aboriginal housing companies and the now-defunct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

“So [the races power] has made a significant change to the way Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been able to access services, to participate in society,” Mr McAvoy says.

The federal government also used the races power to make laws to implement the Northern Territory intervention in 2007, which has been widely criticised by Indigenous groups.

“That legislation I think remains a low point in terms of the relationship between the Commonwealth and Aboriginal people nationally but particularly in the Northern Territory,” Mr McAvoy says.

He says the races power is “entirely anachronistic” and should be changed. “The notion of distinction between peoples upon the basis of race is something that has generally been left behind internationally.”

Options for changing the races power

Justice French thinks the federal parliament should still have the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders — not because of their race, but to recognise their “antecedent ownership” of Australia.

“I know people say that everybody should be treated the same but it’s not just a distinction based on race,” he says.

“It’s a distinction based upon their special status as the first people of this country and a hugely important part of our national identity now in a way we haven’t appreciated before.”

In the shadow of Terra Nullius

The story of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is contested and complex. Over three programs, Rear Vision traces this journey.

Read more

Justice Spigelman says the races power could be replaced with a power that ensured federal funding for national Aboriginal organisations could continue to exist.

“You could replace it with something which is focused on the support of Aboriginal Australians and their culture and traditions or some other language which was purposeful, which is what most of our Commonwealth powers are,” he says.

Mr McAvoy says that while racially discriminatory language should be removed from the constitution, it’s difficult to know how to fix the “extraordinary injustice and disadvantage” colonisation has caused Indigenous Australians without a specific legal power.

“I tend to agree with those that have called for a specific power for the federal parliament to make laws benefiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people rather than simply repealing [the races power] and leaving nothing in its place,” he say.

“There are some that would say that having a law identifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as potential beneficiaries of [laws] is racist in itself.

“But that is the argument that is thrown up by people who it seems to me [are] frequently interested in playing that particular race card that goes something like ‘Well we’re all here and we’re all equal now and we should get on with it’, as opposed to many of the people in Australia who understand the injustices that have gone on in the past and the need to take steps to remedy those injustices.”

Justice Spigelman argued in the Hindmarsh Island Bridge case that since 1967, the meaning of the races power had changed, so that parliament could only make laws for the benefit of Aboriginal people, and not to their detriment.

The majority of the High Court did not rule on this issue in its decision, leaving the power open to ‘beneficial’ or ‘detrimental’ laws.

The judges ruled for other reasons that the federal government could change its law to remove the site of the Hindmarsh Island Bridge from the cultural heritage protection of the Aboriginal Affairs Minister.

The terms of the Australian constitution can only be changed if the majority of people in the majority of states and territories support the change by voting in a referendum.

More stories from The History Listen:

• ·         The dog fight over school funding that went all the way to the High Court
• ·         The story of Tupaia, Cook’s star navigator
• ·         What it’s like to stand at Maralinga’s ground zero
• ·         Guide Alice and the ‘sleeping buffalo’ that stole her heart

Former Commonwealth solicitor-general Gavan Griffith QC, who represented the Howard government in the 1998 case, says there is “no obvious appetite” to change the races power.

“Firstly there’s not much purpose — it’s part of our history and one would expect, particularly with the abandonment of white Australia, that it’s not in the future going to be exercised in a racist manner,” he says.

The second aspect is there’d be 100 percent no prospect of having such an amendment.”

Justice Michael Kirby, the dissenting judge in the Hindmarsh Island Bridge case, says the races power probably won’t be misused often because of Australia’s traditions and politics.

“But politics can sometimes be tricky in protecting minorities and the plain fact of the matter is that over the history of the Australian nation back to settlement, we have not by our legislation adequately protected the Aboriginal people of Australia,” he says.

Therefore we have a warning — and that warning should make us careful about the interpretation of our constitution, especially where it says you can make special laws on the basis of race.

They can be good or bad [laws] according to the majority in the Hindmarsh Island Bridge case.”

Dr Sarath Obeysekera

White-skinned invaders came to Africa and Asia and made colonies settle down. Most of them not only scraped the national wealth and sent it to their counties some of them settled down in these countries and started living with local women leading to children becoming lighter in skin colour.

In South Africa and in few other countries including Asia  the population gradually became light-skinned

Some of the light-skinned people in Asia were the decedents   of Light-skinned Arabs who migrated via Hambantota ( we call them Hambayas)  and yet some remained darker due to the Arabs who came from Arabic world of dark-colored people 

Despite all these intermarriages and having children of darker colored decedents, white people consider all darker people are inferior to them

In America, it is quite obvious and many other white communities are racially biased 

It is difficult to understand why the whites think that they  are superior and some in our part of the world also think done way 

The irony is that dark-skinned people especially women try to make their skin  white by applying various herbs and creams because their own men prefer light-skinned partners 

I even wonder whether we had a leader who was dark-skinned other than Premadasa. I wonder whether we like light-skinned politicians?

Then why we lament about whites who discriminate dark-colored people?

It is quite interesting to listen to the song in the attached video 

Dr. Sarath Obeysekera
CEO Walkers Colombo Shipyard
Colombo
Sri Lanka

Courtesy Adaderana

Sri Lanka has detected 14 more positive cases of COVID-19 as of 10.30 pm today (07), says the Ministry of Health.

Thereby, the number of confirmed coronavirus infections hiked to 1,835.

The Department of Government Information says a total of 21 infections were detected so far within the day – 02 returnees from London undergoing the quarantine procedure, another two from Qatar at Ampara quarantine centre (QC), 01 from Bangladesh at Rantambe QC and 16 from Kuwait (04 at Trincomalee QC and 12 at Minneriya QC).

Earlier today, the country’s recoveries tally escalated to 941 as a total of 50 coronavirus patients had recovered from the disease completely.

They were discharged from the IDH (05), Welikanda Base Hospital (01), Iranawila Hospital (02), Kattankudy Base Hospital (13), Homagama Base Hospital (22) and Minuwangoda Base Hospital (07).

Accordingly, 883 Covid-19 patients are currently under medical care, says the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry.

In the meantime, the death toll from coronavirus stands at 11.

It is just as well that Dr. Varatharaja has taken to films. He certainly deserves the award for Best Actor. From reading of a script called Hippocratic Oath to serve humanity and practice profession as a doctor with conscience and dignity, he is now reading different scripts and writing memoirs, films and going round the world talking human rights too. He was one of the 5 doctors in the war zone controversially involved in giving one set of information to the Govt that paid him and an opposite version to the foreign media and international organizations based on which he has now found a new source of living.

Dr. Varatharajah and 4 other doctors served in the war zone. Somehow only he has been fortunate enough to ask America’s help and be given visa for entire family to live and work in USA. They left in 2011.

There are 4 characteristics to Dr. Varatharajah

1. The first can be understood by reading this biography of him. https://en.everybodywiki.com/Dr._Varatharajah_Thariajah

Whoever has written it is venerating LTTE.

Thileepan went on hunger strike and died. LTTE called him Maaveerar Thileepan” and Varathan as Dr. Varatharajah was known was a Student Union leader who also joined the strike. That he joined a strike that LTTE Thileepan died from is a dead giveaway. He was 15years, this naturally makes any to wonder if he was a child soldier.

Reading the long biography also provides us clues to understand the reason for him making contradictory and conflicting statements.

The case of an email sent to INGOs/Media in January 2009 http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/15366but informing his superiors that he had no access to emails yet admitting he gave daily info to the international community highlights his duplicity of character.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sri-lankan-official-says-army-shelled-hospital-1.366060 /https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2009/06/sldr-j13.html  establishes why Ramani de Zoysa writing to Lankaweb in 11 April 2009  asks Is Dr. Varatharajah a LTTE mole”. She questions the 3 confusing statements by him including a letter which Daily Mirror had run on 7 March 2009 titled IDPs starving to death’ which a diplomat had picked up” on 4 March 2009. She questions about the innuendos made by Dr. Varatharajah regarding starvation and claims that people had to bury the dead where they were killed. Perhaps Dr. Varatharaja can show where these skeletons are!

1. The Second aspect to his character was seen in the manner he faced 70 members of the international media in July 2009https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-40904020090708

All the 5 doctors denied they were pressurized to recant

They admitted less than 1000 civilians died from late January till 18 May

Dr. Varatharaja said around 350-400 people were killed from April 15 to May 15 and 300-350 civilians were killed from late January to April 15 (totally less than 700 deaths)

The media asked every question that needed to be asked. The doctors gave their answers including Dr. Varatharaja. Everything he now negates he affirmed in 2009. How can his word be trusted? Anyone can to their advantage keep changing versions. How morally correct is this?

Interview with the Doctors who served in uncleared areas 

These 70 media personnel are eye witnesses to what the 5 doctors told them

• LTTE shot dead civilians trying to escape
• GoSL sent food was stolen by LTTE inside NFZ
• No civilian died of starvation
• Food brought by ICRC given to LTTE not civilians
• Medical supplies sent by GoSL taken by LTTE for their injured

All the above was told not by the other 4 doctors but by Dr.Varatharajah himself.

Both Dr, Sivapalan and Dr. Shanmugarajah admitted they had worked with the LTTE. All the doctors admitted they initially thought LTTE were liberators. They even apologized for false information given to foreign media

Dr. Varatharaja admitted that the LTTE used their names for false propaganda against the Sri Lankan Government.

Dr. Varatharajaadmitted that the LTTE had put their names on the internet with statements purported to have been made by them.

Dr. Varatharajaadmitted that they were not in a position to even object and came to know that the LTTE/Diaspora had used their names only afterwards.

1. Third phase following special treatment by US in allowing him & family to settle down in USA in 2011

Dr. Varatharajah and family arrive in US to their 2^ndhome.

In December 2011 – Channel 4 – Callum McCrae visits him for an interview.

In November 2012 – Illangai Tamil Sangam invites him to give a speech at their annual event in New York where foreign dignitaries and US politicians were also present.

In December 2013 – he travels to Germany to participate in the Permanent People’s Tribunal in Bremen

Pro-LTTE website claims Dr. Varatharajah is living in exile in the US https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=36833

In 2014 – he flies to Geneva, Switzerland to speak on human rights

In May 2015 – he flies to London to take part in the 6^thanniversary of May 2009

In 2015 he flies to Johannesburg, South Africa to meet Yasmin Sooka

In 2016 he flies to South Africa again for an event organized by Yasmin Sooka

In 2017 he begins giving talks in universities – McGill in Montreal Quebec and University of London

Is it a surprise that he has been working in 13 places from 2012 to 2014 since arriving in the US?

Who is funding all these trips?

After leaving for US, Dr. Varatharajah now reverses all that he said in 2009 to the international media.

20 March 2014 – https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26670691

Dr. Varatharajah is interviewed by BBC – he now changes his story

Tamil Tigers neither forced us nor did we exaggerate casualty figures”

Every day, we received hundreds of casualties.

I only told what actually happened on the ground.

Tamil Tigers neither forced us nor did we exaggerate casualty figures,”

So they only sent food and medicine for 80,000 people.

There was no blood and no anesthetic. Many wounded died as a result.”

26 March 2014 – Channel 4 https://www.channel4.com/news/sri-lanka-war-crimes-inquiry-doctor-varatharajah-thariajah

‘I cried every day’: inside Sri Lanka’s ‘No Fire Zones’

They attacked the hospital.

They refused to send medicine. They refused to send food” (They implying GoSL).

Blood was not given at all.

Most of the time during surgery we used the patient’s own blood”

We gave some pain injection, and we thought he would die within about one hour –

but he took a long time to die”

The reversal of Dr. Varatharaja must be taken with the 10 May 2012 affidavit by the other doctor who served in the war zone – Dr. V Shanmugarajah. To date he has not reversed his affidavit or claimed he was forced to do so.

https://thuppahi.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/dr-veerakanthipillai-shanmugarajahs-affidavit-description-of-conditions-in-the-vanni-pocket-in-refutation-of-channel-four/

1. Fourth Phase of Dr. Varatharajah is an amplification of joining an international network of a money generating nexus of Tamil and international personalities making a living out of Sri Lanka’s conflict to live luxury lives lying for a living. 

So the only doctor to be given asylum by the US begins a life of globe-trotting to tell a version of the conflict he keeps changing to his advantage and he’s found haven in teaming up with others doing the same. This has culminated in venturing to the film and book publishing circuit where in May 2019 Dr. Varatharaja’s ‘Memoirs get written by Kass Ghayouri A Note from the No Fire Zone” which unsurprisingly gets nominated for a Nobel peace prize. Look who is also present at the launch the former UNHRC head Navi who has exposed her bias and hypocrisy finally to the world.

His career in films started with the screening of The Lamp of Truth” screened on 30 Nov 2019 in Toronto, Canada.

The latest venture is teaming up with EU employee who instead of looking into the interests of South Africans is 24×7 busy going after Sri Lanka’s President & military on behalf of her comrades in the LTTE who are domiciled overseas. Her anti-SL entity plugged into the NGO that is paid to look into South Africans has been preparing over 70 reports since 2014. Now who is sponsoring these tours & events? The latest venture is in partnership with this obsessed LTTE ‘comrade’ whose latest reports quotes Dr. Varatharajah against yet another Sri Lankan military personnel.

https://itjpsl.com/assets/press/English-PRESS-RELEASE-1-june-2020Suresh-Sallay-promotion.pdf

Dr. Varatharaja left for US in 2011 and has been living overseas since but he remembers only in 2020 that he was tortured. Leaving aside his period in Sri Lanka or even the interview in July 2009, Dr. Varatharajah had enough and more time and occasions to add the torture fairytale to his talks across the globe. He could have done so in Geneva in 2014. He has been visiting many countries delivering talks on human rights – he could have easily brought up his own example of torture if it had happened. Why is he doing so only in June 2020? Is there an auspicious timing for these revelations?

There is much that does not tally and raises suspicions about these latest revelations and when it comes from the reports of an obsessed LTTE comrade, these tales are only good for the bandwagon of people using LTTE to make money & secure global positions and fancy lifestyles for themselves through lies. If only, Prabakaran was alive you can be sure that none of these people and parties will be doing what they are doing including Dr. Varatharajah.

Shenali D Waduge

By Senior Lawyer

It was  heartening to see the Deputy Survey General’s advice  given in the Daily Mirror. He says  the new law  is  that Originals will be of no value,  but I  strongly recommend the owners to retain the original deeds, extracts and the certified copies of their deeds,”  http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/District-Bim-Saviya-offices-asked-to-report-issues-to-main-office/108-189216

Deeds – should we get rid of them?

This is   crucial  advice  to all land owners and lawyers ,  as the owners need  documents to establish their rights in a court of law. The  law of foreign origin applicable to the e register; it says original documents of ownership will be of no value. The foreign law is referred to as Bim Saviya, this law annuls the fundamental right of a citizen to access court, if affected by fraud. The absence of deeds and paper documents is the main feature in the e register. Act 21 of 1998 [Bim Saviya  in section 53 has   statutory provision    to  destroy notarised conveyancing documents submitted to the land registry [ notarised sales gifts mortgage bonds etc ] without returning them  to owners .  

Questions often asked,  will these laws reduce poverty ? Or will they be beneficial to  fraudsters to steal land from the  poor ? Is Sri Lanka  prepared   overnight to introduce laws and electronic  systems  developed  in nations that have sped in the last three decades with law reforms  to sustain the system and the  integrity of the registry  .  It must be remembered unlike in other  countries ,  we have not revised the old register. Names of owners   are  entered to the e register from the  old  register that   dates back to  1864 . The pages are badly damaged and according to the Registrar   50% of the entries are fraudulent entries.    

The Torrens Law  referred to as Bim Saviya  govern  the e register

This is how  the  Torrens law practiced in developed nations , which we refer to as Bim Saviya found its way   to govern the e register.  Sri Lanka is  not alone,  the conversion to Torrens law   is  happening in several countries, especially in  Commonwealth nations,  the   vacuum left by the British colonialists  tentatively filled  by the Global organisations such as the World Bank.  With  aid  programs  laws working well in other nations and in operation for over  100 years are   haphazardly introduced to our countries repealing the laws practiced for over 100 years  as a ‘one fit for all solution ‘. 

  It is therefore evident that   Sri Lanka  has sufficient literature to follow as Judicial interpretation of the law has commenced in many countries where victims of fraud are demanding their lands to be returned. A day will arrive    when the Judiciary  will be called upon to interpret the  Torrens Law  which   we conveniently refer to as  Bim Saviya [which it self  a misnomer.]   Until then the  advice given by the Deputy survey General is  important as the owners need  documents to establish land rights in a court of law .

Remedy for fraud victims, Government promises to pay compensation

The public in the meantime   look in horror at the development of land law in this manner without publicity , where rights acquired under forged deeds could be justified under Bim Saviya subject to section 59 of Act 21 of 1998

Section 60 of the Act 21 of 1998 provides the    remedy available to land owners who are   affected by fraud.  That   is  to obtain compensation from the Government for the  loss of  rights. The Government has set up a fund to compensate owners called the Assurance Fund .

 Has this important matter   ever been discussed in parliament ? Has the Government considered whether it has funds to reimburse a sum equivalent to the value of land to owners.

 The much hyped Globalisation agenda , tales of   liberal free markets and  logic of mercenary economists  make us believe the  falsestory    that  poverty will end  with  the introduction of   western laws, technology with western design .  It is  proved beyond doubt that this argument is  fake , as the foreign law Bim Saviya was introduced 20 years ago and , has  made us indeed more indebted with increase in levels of poverty not only economically but in  in terms of resources and services.

It is also worthwhile to note the lamentation of  Government officials who are vexed by the operation of Bim Saviya  The  Title Commissioner the officer in charge of Bim Saviya  in his 2017 report states as follows –   ‘only 1.1 millions of land parcels of 12 million  land parcels in Sri Lanka have been surveyed even after  19 years to operate Bim Saviya.  How  pragmatic is it  to supervise 9.5 million blocks of land  and manage an island wide office system for Bim Saviya I believe this is time to probe into the performance of Bim Saviya the current Act  21 of 1998 ‘.https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/documents/paperspresented/performance-report-land-title-settlement-department-2018.pdf

E register and Bim Saviya to be administered with legal immunity according to the MCC

 Despite  the 20 year period of   failure and opposition to Bim Saviya  by the people and the Bar Association, successive Governments’ have been lulled  into extending the law to the e register which will be funded by the MCC. The Government’s intention is clearly  stated in the MCC,  they will follow designs by the World Bank , USAID, US Embassy and US Actors .What about the local designs

According to the MCC   the E registry project and Bim Saviya  is  to be handed over to a  private company called the  ‘Agent of the Government’  named  MCC Private Limited for a period of 5 years .   The company and the   US officials engaged  in the land project in 10 land registries   will be  granted  legal  immunity   and will not be responsible for  any crimes of omissions , crimes of commissions or any crimes  committed by them   [please see section 6.8 of the MCC on the internet .]

Public ask many questions as their basic rights to access court is no more ? 

• Why is it that  US citizens are all exempted from Civil and Criminal actions  committed by them  during the  Transport and Land Project. Can we  trust that US citizens  will not commit  crimes ?
• Will we  donate access to  extremely  lucrative rich information about our lands under the MCC program.? 
• Are we not  concerned about ,  data protection   the right to software , hard ware and ability to  work  independently..
• Do we not require intervention  by Sri Lanka lawyers  to  set up the e register  .
• Are we not concerned    to train and provide  local programming experts to land registries prior to embarking  on such a revolutionary venture . 
• why are   conveyancing transactions destroyed under section 53  of  Bim Saviya   [notarised  sales , gifts agreements to sell mortgages ]   .
• what can be done for the  disability of  lawyers and owners who do not own computers and have  internet facility  
• What can be done for a registry without  protection for owners ,  specifically as the law of Bim Saviya does not offer legal solutions to owners for fraud and forgery 

The e register has commneced  with poor publicity and without  protection  to owners. Owners  are not aware of their responsibilities ,  that all unregistered interest have to be rgistered as they will lose their rights,such as rights on  agreemnts to sell, leasees, pending cases  , life interest  and other interest .

. E  regiser requires  protecion from fruad and forgery,   the introduction of  owner identification laws  practiced internationally . They are Biomertric  Bolck chain method  to detect owners . The latest method to protect owners in an E register is the Block Chain solution. simplest form, a block chain can be described  as a data file  with a collection of digital fingerprints and the names of  former owners..

1]                                                                                            2]

 The Government must achieve goals through pragmatic approaches ,studying and consulting local experts. Local research and advice contained in  1] Amendments to the Act 21 of 1998 by the  Bar Association, 2]Samarasekera Report , a report made on the advice of the President and 3] the Ordinance  No 3 0f 1907 specifically designed for land title registration which can be used for  e register

References—https://photos.state.gov/libraries/sri-lanka/577989/pdf/eLand%20Hub%20Project.pdf

US Embassy interest  Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are called from consultancy firms to develop an Electronic Land Hub for a National Land Titling Program in Sri Lanka.

Registration of Title –Arthur Samarasekera report

Ordinance  No 3 0f 1907 specifically designed for land title registration which can be used for  e register

World Bank Reports 2002 and  2007

Australian Principles of Property Law [ Torrens Law Bim Saviay ] Samantha Hepburn 

E mail –srilankstudy circle @yahoo.com —-

By Li Qingqing Source:Global Times 

US Republican Senator Marco Rubio File Photo: VCG

US Senator Marco Rubio, known for his extreme anti-China stance, announced the launch of the so-called Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a new coalition comprised of some 20 anti-China legislators from different countries to counter the “global challenge” by China’s rise on the world stage. 

Are they trying to form a new “Eight-Nation Alliance”? Rubio and the other lawmakers need to realize that this is not the year 1900 anymore. China is definitely not the country it was in 1900. They are trying to form an anti-China alliance in the globalized era of the 21st century, and they are doomed to fail. These legislators are still narcissistically staying in the old days of imperialism.

The so-called IPAC reflects these members’ panic and anxiety about China’s rise. They try to use the national security legislation for Hong Kong and so-called China’s “lack of transparency” in the COVID-19 fight to attack us, aiming at instigating the international community’s widespread criticism of China. 

However, they cannot impose any substantive influence on China’s development. As for the legislators who want to join in on the alliance, some of them want to increase their sense of presence, and some simply want to tag along. Instead of affecting China, they will simply make some noise truly showing their anxiety and powerlessness.

Some US’ partners and allies blindly follow the US’ hostility toward China, and this will harm their own diplomatic independence. For example, various politicians from the UK, Australia and Germany follow the US’ suit to criticize China in terms of 5G technology and the Hong Kong issue, and this is not in line with the concept of major power diplomacy in the new era. 

In the 21st century, simply choosing sides will only bring trouble for themselves, needless to say that the US has adhered to its “America First” policy and its attitude has been inconsistent in many issues. Is Washington really a reliable backer?

The US is gradually sabotaging its national image. It has been incompetent in controlling the epidemic, interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, roping in “like-minded countries,” assuming itself as world’s policeman and destroying world order. These have all harmed the US’ reputation. Such a country can never succeed in forming an alliance to oppose China. 

Besides, the US can hardly draw a broad alliance against China on IPAC’s so-called missions under the cover of safeguarding international rules-based order, upholding human rights, promoting trade fairness, strengthening security and protection of national integrity. Most countries know it all too well that Rubio aims at nothing but serving the interests of the US itself.

By forming the so-called IPAC, these legislators will only humiliate themselves. 120 years have passed, and as the second largest economy worldwide, China and its people will not let the shame of the year 1900 be repeated again on its territory. 

මතුගම සෙනෙවිරුවන්

           මහනුවර යුගයේ මෙන්ම කෝට්ටේ යුගයේ රදළයන්  බණ්ඩාර නාමය භාවිත කළ හෙයින් ලක තුළ බණ්ඩාරවලියක් ඇති වී යයි කියති. ඉංග්‍රීසීන්ට රට භාර දුන් පසු කාලයේ දී උඩරට බණ්ඩාරලා බණ්ඩා බවට පත් වී කොළඹ කුරුඳුවත්තේ බංගලාවල වැඩට පැමිණියහ.බන්ඩලා මෙන්ම මැණීකේලාද මෙලෙස කොළඹ බංගලාවල මෙන්ම සුද්දන්ගේ වතු බංගලාවලද සේවයට යෑමට සිදු වූයේ උඩරට ඔවුන්ගේ ඉඩම් වතු සමාගම් වලට යටවී සිදුවුණු නස්පැත්තිය හේතු කොට ගෙනයි.බණ්ඩලාට උපන් බිම අහිමි වුවද බණ්ඩාරනායකලාට  රටේ ඉහළ තැනක් හිමි වූයේ ගමේ බණ්ඩාගෙන් වෙන්වී ආගම් මාරු කොට තානාන්තර රැගෙන කවුන්සලයට යෑමට කෙටි පාරවල් සොයා ගත් බැවිනි.කෙසේ වෙතත් ගමේ බණ්ඩලාගේ ඉඩම් දකුණු ඉන්දියාවෙන් ගෙනා දෙමළ වතු කම්කරුවන් හට බුක්තියට සවිකරවන්නට ගමෙන් නගරයට පැමිණි බණ්ඩාරනායකලා සේනානායකලා මෙන්ම ජයවර්ධනලාත් කළ සේවය ඉහළය.පුරවැසි පණත අනුව ලියාපදිංචියෙන් ඔවුනට මෙරට පුරවැසිකම් හිමි වූහ.ජයවර්ධන ගේ කාලයේ දී දිව්රුම් පෙත්සමකින් මේ අයට පුරවැසිකම දෙනු ලැබූයේ අත්තා මුත්තා පමණක් නොව කිරි කෑමුත්තා ගෙන් ඉහළට පාරම්පරිකව මෙරට සිටි සිංහලයන් හා ලියාපදිංචියෙන් පුරවැසිකම ලබන අය ව්‍යවස්ථාවෙන් එක සමාන යයි සම්මත කරගනෙය. මේ නිසා ගමේ බණ්ඩාගේ අයිතිය නොලැබී කන්ගානිලාට මුට්ට කාසි කාරයන්ට උඩරට ගම් බිම් අයිතිය ලැබුණී.

         1960 සිට නුවරඑළිය ආසනය නියෝජනය කළ විලියම් ප්‍රනාන්දු මහතා 1964 දී පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ දී කළ කතාව හැන්සාඩ් වාර්තාවේ සඳහන් වීඇත. එය මෙසේය.ලාංකික ජනතාව අතර විශාල මුදල් අඩු නිසා වතුකරයේ ඉන්දියානු කන්ගානිලාත් අසරණ කම්කරුවන් සූරා කමින් වතුකරයේ ජීවත්වන ඉන්දියානු ව්‍යාපාරිකයනුත් ඒ වතු මිලදී ගන්නට පිළිවනි. එම වතු එයින් බේරා ගැනමටත් යම් කිසි සැලැස්මක් වහාම පිළයෙල කරන්නට ඕනෑ. ඒ සඳහා අප දැන් පිළියම් නොකළෙහොත් අපේ රටේ වටිනා දේපොළ විදේශිකයන් සතු වන්නට ඉඩ තිබෙනවා. එම නිසා එදත්අදත් කවදත් මේ විදේශිකයන් සතු දේපොළ රජය සතු කළ යුතුය. යන හඬ මා කීප විටක්ම ඇති කර තිබෙනවා. ගරු කතානායක තුමනි. අද ලංකා කර්මාන්ත සියල්ලක්මපාහේ අත්පත්කර ගෙන තිබෙන්නේ සම්මාන පුර වැසි කම් ලැබූ ලංකාව සූරා කෑ ධනේශවර විජාතිකයන්. සමහර කර්මාන්ත සම්බන්ධයෙන් දැනට ඒකාධිකාරයක් පවත්වාගෙන යනවා. එක පුද්ගලයෙකුට නැත්නම් එක සමාගමකට පමණක් මේ රටේ සුළු කර්මාන්ත කීපයක් කරගෙන යෑමට පුළුවන්කම ලැබී තිබෙනවා. ඔවුන් පමණක් ඒ සඳහා ලියාපදිංචිව සිටිනවා.

     බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය පාලකයන් විසින් රටට කරන ලද මහා වරදක් හරිගැස්සීමට තබන ලද පළමු පියවර විලියම් ප්‍රනාන්දු මහතා විසින් දියත් කරන ලදී.එනම් ශාන්තිපුරය නම් ජනපදයක් නුවරඑළියේ මීපිළීමානේ බිහි කිරීමයි. පසුව මහගස්තොට ගැමුණු පුර ධර්මපාල පුර සේන පුර සිරිසඟබෝපුර ආදී ගම්මාන බිහිකරන ලදී. මෙම ශාන්ති පුරයට සහ පසුව විවෘත කරන ලද කලාපුරයට පැමිණි ගමනේදී අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය සිරිමා බණ්ඩාරනායක මහත්මිය තබා තිබෙන්නේ මෙවැනි සටහනකි. කන්ද උඩරට ප්‍රදේශයේ සිංහල ජනතාවගේ අනාගතය අන්ධකාරවීමට තරම් හේතු වූයේ එම ප්‍රදේශයේ ඉඩකඩම් වැඩි හරියක් විදේශිකයන් අත්පත් කොට සිටි බැවිනි. එහෙත් එම භයානක උවදුරෙන් උඩරට ප්‍රදේශය ගලවා ගැනීමට නුවරඑළිය මහජන මන්ත්‍රී ටී.විලියම් ප්‍රනාන්දු මහතා විසින් ආරම්භ කරන්නට යෙදුනු සිංහල ගොවි ජනපද ව්‍යාපාරය සමත්වන බව අද ශාන්තිපුර උත්සවයට සාභාගි වූ මගේ එකම හැඟීමයි. මේ වෙනුවෙන් සෑම සිංහල දේශප්‍රේමියෙකුගේම සහය නොඅඩුව ලැබෙනු ඇතැයි මාගේ එකම බලාපොරොත්තුවයි

          නුවරඑළිය දිස්ත්‍රික්කය හඟුරන්කෙත වලපනේ කොත්මලේ සහ නුවරඑළිය මස්කෙළිය වශයෙන් මැතිවරණ ආසන කීපයකින් සමන්විතය. 1947 වර්ෂයේදී එහි පළමු මැතිවරණය පවත්වා තිබේ . ඉන්පසු 1977 වසර වන තෙක්ම නුවරඑළිය තනි මැති වරණ ආසනයක් විය. 1977 න් පසු නුවරඑළිය මස්කෙළිය නමින් බහුආසනයක් බවට පත් කළ පසු ගාමිනී දිසානායක අනුර බණ්ඩාරනායක මෙන්ම එස් .තොන්ඩමන් මහතා ද ජනතාව නියෝජනයට පත් විය. 1977 ට පෙර යටත් විජිත සමයේ නුවර එළිය යනු වතු කාර සුද්දන් සහ වතු කරයේ දෙමළ කම්කරුවන් බහුතරය විසූ කලාපයක් විය. නුවර එළියට සිංහලයන් ගේ ආකර්ශනය සිදු වූයේ එහි පැවති වෙළෙදාමත් ඉන්පසුව සිදු වූ වානිජ වැවිලි ක්ෂේත්‍රයේ දියුණුවත් සමගින්ය.නුවරඑළිය දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ මැතිවරණ සිතියම ගත් කල්හි එය 1947 සිටම ඉහළ ධනපති පංතියේ දේශපාලනඥයන් ගේ පොරපිටියකි. මෙය පොදු ජනතාව අතරට මාරු වූයේ 1960 මැතිවරණයේදී සිරිමා බණ්ඩාරනායක මැතිණියගේ නායකත්වයෙන් යුත් රජයක් පත් වීමෙන් පසුවයි. එහිදී නුවරඑළියේ වතුකරයට මැකනික් වැඩට පැමිණි දකුණේ පුද්ගලයකු වූ ටී.විලියම් ප්‍රනාන්දු මහතා එම ආසනයේ මන්ත්‍රීවරයා බවට පත් විය. 1960 -65 කාලය තුළ නුවරඑළි ආසනය විශාල පරිවර්තනයකට ලක් විය.. සිරිමා රජය 1965 දී පරාජයට පත් වූ පසු විලියම් ප්‍රනාන්දු මහතාටද ආසනය අහිමි විය. නමුත් ඔහු 1970 නගර සභා මැතිවරණයෙන් ජයග්‍රහණය ලැබ සිය පළමු අභිලාශයන් ව්‍යාප්ත කරමින් නුවරඑළිය තුළ සිංහල ජනතාවගේ උරුමය තහවුරු කරවීය.ඒ පියවර මගින් මුඩුබිම් පණතෙන් ඉඩම් අහිමි වූ උඩරට සිංහලයන්ගේ අයිතිවාසිකම් යම් පමණකින් හෝ ස්ථාවර විය. 1960 දී නුවරඑළිය ආසනයේ තිබූ සමස්ත චන්ද දායක සංඛ්‍යාව දෙගුණයක් වන්නේ ඔහු විසින් පදිංචි කරන ලද සිංහල ජනතාව නිසාවෙනි. ඒ නිසාම ශ්‍රී ලංකා නිදහස් පක්ෂයට නුවර එළි ආසනයේ වැඩි බලයක් හිමි කරගත්හ.

        1977 වර්ෂයෙන් පසුව නුවර එළිය දිස්ත්‍රික්කය එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂයේ ප්‍රධාන බල කඳවුරක් බවට පත් කරවන ලදී. දිව්රුම් පෙත්සමට පවා වතු දෙමළ කම්කරුවන්ට පුරවැසි කම ප්‍රදානය කළ එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය ලංකා කම්කරු කොන්ග්‍රසය මත සිය චන්ද පදනම ශක්තිමත් කරගන්නා ලදී.මේ නිසා කම්කරු කොන්ග්‍රසය සතු දෙමළ චන්ද  වෙන්දේසි කරමින් ජාතික දේශපාලනයට පවා අභියෝග කරන්නට තොන්ඩමන් මහතා සමත් විය. පසුව කම්කරු කොන්ග්‍රසයෙන් කැඩී ගිය තරුණ කොටස් කොටි සංවිධානය සමග සබඳතා පවත්වමින් 1999 දී පමණ කඳුරට ජනතා පෙරමුණ බිහිකළහ. වර්තමානය වන විට උඩරට වතු කරයේ මෙම දේශපාලන බලවේගය ඉදිරියට පැමිණ තිබේ. නමුත් ඔවුහු කණ්ඩායමක් ලෙසට දිගින් දිගටම අසාර්ථක විය. මෙම කරුණු නිසා කවදත් එ.ජාප. යට පිටින් යන බලවේගයකට නුවර එළිය දිස්ත්‍රික්කය ජය ගැනීම පහසු කරුණක් නොවීය. එම බල කඳවුර යම් තරමකින් දෙදරුම් කෑවේ 1994 සහ 1999 ජනාධිපතිවරණ වලදී චන්ද්‍රිකා මැතිණිය ලබා ගත් මනාප හේතු කොට ගෙනයි. විජය කුමරතුංග මහතාගේ ජනප්‍රියත්වයත් කොටි බෝම්බයෙන් ලද පීඩනයෙන් ලද ජනතා අනුකම්පාවත් නිසා චන්ද්‍රිකා මැතිණිය අනෙක් අය අභිබවා ඉදිරියට පැමිණියේය. ඉන්පසු මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා රටේ ප්‍රධාන දේශපාලන චරිතය බවට පත් විය. මහින්ද රජපක්ෂ මහතා 2005 ජනාධිපතිවරණ චන්දය ජයග්‍රහණය කරන කල්හි ඔහුට එම දිස්ත්‍රික්කයෙන් ලබා ගත හැකි වූයේ චන්ද 99550  ක් පමණකි. නමුත් ඔහුගේ ප්‍රතිවාදියා වූ රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ මහතා චන්ද 250428 ක් ලබා ගෙන තිබුණි. පසුව මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා යුධ ජයග්‍රණයද ලබා ඔහුට ලබා ගත හැකි වූ චන්ද ප්‍රමාණය 2010 දී 151 604 ක් විය නමුත් ඔහුගේ ප්‍රතිවාදයා වූ සරත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතා චන්ද 180604 ක ගේ කැමැත්ත දිනා ගෙන තිබුණි. මහින්ද රජපක්ෂ මහාතා 2015 වසරේ පරාජයට පත් වන විට ඔහුගේ චන්ද ප්‍රමණය 145 339 දක්වා අඩුවී තිබුණි. නමුත් මෛත්‍රී පාල සිරිසේන මහතා චන්ද 272 600 ලබා ගනිමින් නුවර එළිය දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ ඉහළම ප්‍රතිශතය වාර්තා කර ගෙන තිබුණි.

         සමස්ත නුවර එළිය දිස්ත්‍රික්කය තුළ වතුදෙමළ ජනගහනය 355830 කි.එයට ලංකා දෙමළ ජනතාවද එක්වූ කල්හි 401896 ක් දක්වා එය වර්ධනය වේ. නමුත් සිංහල ජනගහනය 282621 ක් පමණකි. පැවති යහ පාලන රජයද වතමන් පොහොට්ටු කඳවුරද තේරුම් ගෙන තිබෙන්නේ මෙම යථාර්ථයයි.එම නිසා යහපාලන රජය පත්වූ පසු නව කඳුකර ගම්මාන අමාත්‍යංශයක් ඇතිකර වතු දෙමළ ජනතාවට පමණක් ඉඩම් හා නිවාස පිරි නැමීමේ ජාතිවාදී ක්‍රියාදාමය දියත් කරන ලදී.එයින් වතුකරයේ දෙමළ ජාතිවාදී නායකයන් අත්පත් කරගත් පහසුකම් බොහෝය.මේ වන විට තොන්ඩමන් මහතා නික්ම ගොසිනි. ඔවුන් පසුපසින් පැමිණි දිගම්බරන්ලා දෙමළ චන්ද මගින් සිංහල පක්ෂ තුළ බලය කේවල් කර ගැනීම දිගින් දිගටම කරති. යහපාලන සමයේ දී අඹගමුව ප්‍රාදේශීය සභාව නීති විරෝධීව තුනකට කඩා දෙමළ ජනතාව වැඩි වශයෙන් ගැවසෙන ප්‍රදේශ වල ජාතිවාදී පළාත් පාලන අයතන පිහිටුවා ගන්නා ලද්දේ රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ ගෙ පූර්ණ අනුග්‍රහයෙනි.ඒ අවස්ථාවේ දී මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා පවා එයට විරුද්ධ නොවීය.තොන්ඩමන් නික්ම යන දවසේ මහින්ද රජපක්ෂ මහතා නැටූ නාඩගම තුළින් අප තේරුම් ගත යුතවන්නේ පැරදී ගෙදර ගිය මහින්ද සිංහල බහුතරයකගේ කරපිටින් නැවත කරළියට පැමිණියද වෙනස් වී නැති ආකාරයයි.තොණ්ඩමන් වෙනුවට ඔහුගේ පුතා ආදේහ කරමින් දෙමළ චන්ද වලට කෙළ හැලීම මගින් සිදු වන්නේ දෙමළ චන්ද පදනම දිනෙන් දින වර්ධනය වීමයි.එලෙස වන්නට වන්නට සිංහලයාගේ බලය හීන වන අතර පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ තීරක බලය බවට මේ නායකයන් පත්වේ. 2019 දී හැටනව ලක්ෂයක බහුතර සිංහල චන්ද කෙරෙහි වත්මන් ජනපතිවරයා විශ්වාසය තැබුවේය.2010 දී මහින්ද නුවර එළියෙන් ලබා ගත් වැඩි චන්ද ප්‍රමාණයෙන් සහතික වන්නේ උඩරට වතුකරය තුළද එලෙසම කළ හැකි බවයි.ඒ සඳහා තොණඩමන් පරපුර ඔසවා තැබීමට වඩා උඩරට භූමි පුත්‍රයන් වන බණ්ඩාරලා ගේ උරුමය තහවුරු කර දීම වටනේය. උඩරට ගැමි පුනරුත්ථාපන කොමිසම පිහිටුවන ලද්‌දේ ඒ සඳහාය. නමුත් තව වෙනතුරු එහි අරමුණු සාර්ථක වී නැත. ගමේ සිටින බණ්ඩාරලා ගම කුඹූරු වතු පිටි අතහැර ආසන්නතම නගරයට හෝ කොළඹට සංක්‍රමණය වන්නේ දෙමළ වතුකරය තමන්ව වට කරමින් සිටින බැවිනි.මේ තත්වය වහා වෙනස් කිරීමට නම් සාම්ප්‍රදායික දේශපාලන තන්ත්‍රයෙන් ඔබ්බට වන පෙරළීයක් වහා සිදු විය යුතුය.

මතුගම සෙනෙවිරුවන්

by Varsha Thakur   (ETV Colombo) Courtesy ETV

Cricket is also known as the Gentleman’s Game. This British game is very popular not only in Britain but also in India and all over South Asia. Umpiring decisions in Cricket have been controversial particularly blatant errors due to their impact in producing a distorted result of the game. There have been a number of efforts to improve the Umpire decision making process from time to time.

Finally, the solution to this problem was found by the ICC via the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS or DRS), which is essentially based on the ‘Player Referral’ concept. It is a technology-based system used in cricket to assist match officials in their decision making. The UDRS or DRS was introduced for the purpose of reviewing controversial decisions made by on-field umpires as to whether the batsman was correctly dismissed or not.

Sri Lanka’s Senaka Weeraratna is known as the father of UDRS or DRS. Mr. Weeraratna is a lawyer by profession who has worked in Australia and Sri Lanka. Senaka Weeraratna was the first to suggest a player referral system for cricket in a letter published in the ‘Australian’ national newspaper on 25 March 1997. This facility allows players to request the Third umpire to review the decision of the on-field umpire by making use of slow play back Video footage at his disposal before announcing his decision.

The player referral system was first tested in the India vs Sri Lanka Test match in 2008, and was officially launched by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 24 November 2009 in the Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at University Oval in Dunedin. It was first used in a One Day International (ODI) match during the January 2011 tour of Australia in England.

UDRS or DRS brings the importance of religion(Dharma) and justice to cricket. It is a matter of honor not only for Sri Lanka but for all of Asia and Africa that a person like Senaka Weeraratna, a lawyer from a small developing country, has done the ground work of bringing the spirit of justice in cricket to the core. Since India has been the voice of developing countries on the international stage from time to time and has respected Nelson Mandela and many other persons fighting for freedom and justice, the contribution of a friendly neighboring country i.e. Sri Lanka, to the improvement of the Umpiring decision making process in cricket cannot be ignored by India.

A careful analysis of the essence behind Senaka Weeraratna’s UDRS or DRS is the spirit of religion, justice and Satyamev Jayate that constitute the foundation of the civilizational links between India and Sri Lanka since eternity. The time has come for the values of religion, justice and Satyameva Jayate to be spread to all corners of the world and influence the whole of humanity.  

Modi Government started International Yoga Day all over the world which was extremely successful. Elevating sports and honouring the people associated with ground breaking achievements in sports also signifies successful foreign policy. Therefore honoring Senaka Weeraratna and his contribution to the development of cricket rules, by India, the world’s leading country in cricket, will not only strengthen India’s leadership in world cricket but will further deepen Sri Lanka’s relations with India. Therefore, the Ministry of External Affairs of India needs to take cognizance of this matter immediately so that the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo can be directed to take appropriate and necessary action without delay.

Courtesy: ETV 

Courtesy Adaderana

Four more persons have contracted the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the Ministry of Health confirmed a short while ago.

Three individuals who had recently returned from Russia and a Sri Lanka Navy personnel have tested positive for the virus, according to the Ministry.

Accordingly, 13 cases of infection have been reported from Sri Lanka within the day so far. Previously today (06), 08 Navymen and a Kuwait returnee undergoing quarantine were reported to have been infected with the virus.

The latest cases bring the total count of coronavirus infection in the country to 1,814.

Sri Lanka’s recoveries tally escalated to 891 after 33 coronavirus patients, who had recovered from the disease completely, were discharged from the IDH (12), Welikanda Base Hospital (04), Colombo East Base Hospital (01), Homagama Base Hospital (07) and Minuwangoda Base Hospital (09) this afternoon.

The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry says 912 active Covid-19 cases are currently under medical care at hospitals.

In the meantime, 11 patients have succumbed to the virus so far.

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 infections hike to 1,810

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka have moved up to 1,810 following the detection of four more virus-positive patients this evening (06).

One of them is a returnee from Kuwait undergoing quarantine at the facility in Minneriya and the other 3 are navy personnel at the Pampaimadu quarantine centre, the Department of Government Information said.

Earlier today (06), five other navy men tested positive for the virus. Accordingly, a total of 9 infections have been confirmed so far within the day.

Sri Lanka’s recoveries tally escalated to 891 after 33 coronavirus patients, who had recovered from the disease completely, were discharged from the IDH (12), Welikanda Base Hospital (04), Colombo East Base Hospital (01), Homagama Base Hospital (07) and Minuwangoda Base Hospital (09) this afternoon.

The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry says 908 active Covid-19 cases are currently under medical care at hospitals.

In the meantime, 11 patients have succumbed to the virus so far.

Courtesy Adaderana

The World Health Organization (WHO) has changed its advice on face masks, saying they should be worn in public where social distancing is not possible to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

The global body said new information showed they could provide a barrier for potentially infectious droplets”.

Some countries already recommend or mandate face coverings in public.

The WHO had previously argued there was not enough evidence to say that healthy people should wear masks.

However, WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that in light of evolving evidence, the WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments”.

The organisation had always advised that medical face masks should be worn by people who are sick and by those caring for them.

Globally, there have been 6.7 million confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 400,000 deaths since the outbreak began late last year, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

What is the WHO’s advice?
The organisation said its new guidance had been prompted by studies over recent weeks.

Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead expert on Covid-19, told Reuters news agency the recommendation was for people to wear a fabric mask – that is, a non-medical mask”.

Fabric masks should consist of at least three layers of different material” in order to be effective, the WHO says.

However, those aged over-60 and with underlying health risks should wear medical masks in areas where there is community transmission.

At the same time, the WHO stressed that face masks were just one of a range of tools that could be used to reduce the risk of transmission – and that they should not give people a false sense of protection.

Masks on their own will not protect you from Covid-19,” Dr Tedros said.

This is a big shift in the WHO’s guidance on when the public should cover their faces, says an analysis by David Shukman, Science Editor at BBC. He says: For months, the organisation’s experts stuck to the line that masks would encourage a false sense of security and would deprive medical professionals of badly needed protective equipment.

Those arguments have not gone away but at the same time the WHO acknowledges that new evidence has emerged on the risks of transmission.

It points to recent research that people can be highly infectious in the few days before they show symptoms and that some people catch the virus but never show symptoms at all.

So where distancing is not possible, such as on public transport and in locations as varied as shops and refugee camps, it is suggested that faces are covered with homemade masks to avoid passing on the infection.

Over 60s with underlying health conditions should go further, the WHO said, and wear medical-grade masks to give themselves better protection.”

Source: BBC
-agencies

By M D P DISSANAYAKE

Those who represent the symbol of old Telephone or Jathika Samagi Balawegaya  petitioned to the Supreme Court with its legal position that the Consolidated Fund and Other State Controlled Funds  which are under the direct control  and supervision of the Parliament cannot be activated at a time when there is no functioning Parliament”. The Learned Judges rejected the  strongest arguments by the Petitioners  and refused to  take it  up for further consideration.

(Man with a Mission and Vision)

This decision has now provided an excellent opportunity with Executive Powers  to the President Gotabaya Rajapakse to embark on new  projects and/or continue the existing previously neglected revenue earning small, medium and large scale capital investments.    Mrs Anuradha Yahampath, the Governor of Eastern Province and Mrs P S M Charles, the Governor of Northern province have turned the two provinces to improve the unemployment problems and living standards  of Tamils, Muslims and minority Sinhalese. The    neglected private  and State Corporations as well as new industries have been started, those who did nothing but created hatred against minority Sinhalese will have their days numbered. 

Mr Wimal Weerawansa, the Minister of Industries is one of busiest Ministers performing difficult tasks, especially in Northern and Eastern Provinces, in co-ordination with the Governors.

The President Gotabaya need uninterrupted free-hand to do what he plan to achieve.

On the other hand, though Mr Mahinda Rajapakse became the Prime Minister again in November, 2019 his new tenure as Prime Minister of a new Parliament has still not begun. Is this  a bonus period for him for 50 years of service to the nation?

(පින් සිදුවන්නේ අනේ බාල ලමුන්නේ,

මගේ කුඩා නිවස කඩා බිම නොදමන්නේ)

If Sri Lanka is to be developed, we need to create a new mold and pour molten metal  to obtain the desired patterns.  The Ferrous Scrap needed as raw materials can be found in the previous Parliament!

We wish the Election Commission will derive Wisdom and Courage not to hold the General Election for at least 2 more years.

Tamara Kunanayakam Courtesy The Island

Diplomatic immunity did not allow a diplomat to violate the laws and regulations of the receiving state, former Sri Lanka Ambassador in Geneva, Tamara Kunanayakam, said yesterday.

A US diplomat, attached to its Colombo Embassy, was allowed to enter the country, though he refused to take a PCR test.

Deputy Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Limited Rajiv Suriyarachchi said that the official was released as he had invoked diplomatic privileges.  The US official had arrived in the country around 1.30 am Wednesday, in a Qatar Airways flight.

Kunanayakam said: “The US is bound by both the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Diplomatic immunity only offers protection against criminal and civil jurisdiction, i.e., diplomats cannot be subject to legal proceedings in the receiving state. However, the Vienna Conventions set limits to immunity. They do not give diplomats carte blanche for misconduct. Under Art 41(1) of VCDR, diplomats must respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state. In case of persistent violations, the receiving state can request the Embassy to withdraw a particular diplomat or as a last resort declare a ‘persona non grata’. Under international law, the sending state has an obligation to comply with such a request.”

Meanwhile Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited Chairman Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri said that it was the first time that a diplomat arrived in Sri Lanka after protocols and standards regarding COVID-19 were implemented.

“We consulted all relevant government officials including the Presidential Secretariat and Foreign Relations Ministry. The diplomat had to wait for four hours at the airport,” he said.

In response the US Embassy in Colombo states that US Diplomatic Staff always complies with the Norms and Procedures outlined in international conventions on diplomatic relations.

The US is currently the epicentre for COVID-19 with 1.89 million confirmed cases and 109, 000 people killed by the virus so far.

Issued by The Sri Lanka Study Circle

We, the members of the Sri Lanka Study Circle in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, were shocked to learn from a reputed local television channel that on 04 June 2020, an American diplomat, brushing aside officers performing their duties, had forcibly and illegally entered our country, refusing to submit himself to the WHO approved PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) test for COVID 19. The incident had taken place at the International Airport in Katunayake.

We, as citizens of this country, condemn outright, the churlish and boorish behaviour of this ‘ugly’ American who has brazenly flouted our laws, undermined the authority of the executives of the Sri Lanka government and above all, endangered the lives of a 22 Million people.

We are acutely aware that America has lost its fight against COVID19, with thousands dying daily on their streets and being buried in unmarked mass graves. We are equally aware that Sri Lanka is successfully battling the virus, with just 11 deaths as at present.

If subsequent to this incident, there is an upsurge in infections and thousands were to die, we place this uncouth American and his Ambassador on notice for the deaths.

We take this opportunity to applaud and recognise the disciplined and committed officials who took a principled stand at the airport and expect your Excellency to commend them publicly for their actions and thereby give confidence to the people and all government employees that you stand by your subordinates.

The actions of this coarse American have denigrated our sovereignty and our National pride; he gives the impression that he has a mindset of those policemen who murdered George Floyd in cold blood.

We expect Your Excellency to take stern action against this uncivilised American who continues to remain in the country, illegally. We expect you to summon the American Ambassador, issue a warning to her and declare this ugly American, persona non grata in this country.

ඇම්  ඩී පී  දිසානායක විසිනි

පැරණි ටැලිපෝනය හෙවත් ජනතා සමගි බලවේගය ශේ‍ර්ඨාදිකරනයේන් අයදුම් කල එක් පෙත්සමකින් ඉල්ලා සිටියේ පාර්ලිමේන්තුවක් යටතේ ක්‍රියාත්මක වන රාජ්‍ය ගිණුම්, එය නොමැති අවස්ථාවක දී ක්‍රියාත්මක කළ නොහැකි බව ය”.

එම බලගතු  ඉල්ලීම රැගත් පෙත්සම අධිකරණය  විසින් ඉවත දමා ඇත.  රටේ ඉදිරි සංවර්ධන කටයුතු සඳහා දැනට පවත්නා අණපනත් අනුව මෙම කාලය තුලදි පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ මොරගෑමකින් බාධාවකින් තොරව ජනාධිපතිගේ අභිමතය පරිදි ආයෝජන  කටයුතු කිරීමට විධායක බලය මෙමඟින් තහවුරු කර ඇත.

(දුර දැක්මේ සංකේථය)

උතුර හා නැභෙනහිර ආංඩුකාර චාල්ස් සහ අනුරාධා යහම්පත් මැතිනියන් නව කර්මාන්ත සහ අතහැර දමා තිබු රාජ‍්‍ය සංස්ථා ජාතික සම්පත් නැවත පණගැන්වීමෙන්  දෙමළ, මුස් ලිම් සහ සිංහල සුලු ජන කොටස් වලට ස්තීර රැකියා අවස්ථා දැනටමත් බිහි කර ඇත.පැරණි දේශපාලන දෙමළ සහ මුස්ලිම් අංකූරන් මින් මුසපත් වී ඇත.   කර්මාන්ත ඇමති විමල් වීරවංෂ මැතිතුමා ඉතා අසීරු කාර්‍යයක් විශිට්ට ලෙස ඉටු කරමින් සිටී.

ගරු ජනාධිපති තුමාට මේ සඳහා පාර්මේන්තුවේ පඬරැල් අවශ‍ය නැත.

අගමැති වරයාගේ නව පාර්ලිමේන්තු නිල කාලය තවමත් ආරම්භ වී නැත.වසර 50 ක ජාතික මෙහෙවර අගය කරමින් මෙම කාලය එතුමාට ලැබී ඇති, බෝනස් කාලයකි.

(පින් සිදුවන්නේ අනේ බාල ලමුන්නේ, මගේ කුඩා නිවස කඩා බිම නොදමන්නේ)

අපේ රටහදන්න නම් අලුත් අච්චුවකට බහා උණුකර නව නිර්මාණ  රටාවක් නිපදවිය යුතුය.  එම ලෝහයට අවශ්‍ය අමුද‍ුව පාර්ලිමේන්තු වේ දැනට තිබෙන මලකඩ කෑ පරණ යකඩ උණුකර ලබා ශතයුතුවේ.

මැතිවරණයක් අවුරුදු දෙකකට වත් නොපැවිත් වීමට මැකෝ ට උඨ්ඨාණ වීර්‍රය සහ භාහුවට වඩ වඩා ශක්තිය ලැබේවා යයි පතමි.

By Garvin Karunaratne

It is heartening to note that action is being taken to resurrect the Valachenai Paper Factory. I have had the occasion to see the paper being made when I had used their Circuit Bungalow on my circuits in the Sixties. In fact on my visit to Batticaloa in 2019 I drove up to the gates  that were closed, gazed at the ruins of the great industrial complex imagining what a loss it was. The Government needs to be congradulated on its success.

In its hey days it was lorryloads of straw from Hingurakgoda and Polonnaruwa that were the raw material  for paper making. It was a boon- an additional income to the farmers.

I had highlighted several times in my books and endless Papers that paper making is an area where we can easily succeed. I have suggested that a few small scale paper making machines should be imported and set up in our colonies. This is a task that can easily be done within two months and we can get Paper using the straw of the Yala 2020 paddy crop.  The funds being used to import the machines and installatioin can easily be recouped within the first two years. It will be a massive saving on our import bill because today we do not make any paper. In my days acting alone as the GA at Matara I established the Boatyard with two months. I am certain that President Gotabhaya’s Government can do better.

All our paper is imported today.

Paper making needs the short fibre available in the straw to be mixed with the long fibre. Earlier Paper pulp was imported and mixed with the straw. May I suggest that immediate action be taken to collect all the waste paper from government offices, make them into pulp in Colombo and feed the pulp to Valachenai.

It is sad that perhaps Sri Lanka is the only country in the world that does not make paper out of waste paper. I hark back to my days in Bangladesh where when, I noticed some youths carefully collecting the cardboard covers on lunch packets served to the hundreds of youths that participated in the Training Workshops on my Self Employment Programme. They were using the discarded  cardboard to make paper and cardboard. Today waste paper is being exported to India and we earn some $ 4.6 million (2015). Then we import the cardboard and paper that India make out of the waste paper that we have sent to them for which we pay them double or treble what we got for selling the waste paper to them. That in a nutshell is the neoliberal economics we have followed from 1978 . We were foolish to have followed neoliberal economics. But in 1978 neoliberal economics was forced on us an we were provided with loans and grace period of non payment  periods on loans and the IMF enticed us.

 In fact under the Divisional Development Programme of 1970-     1977 the Divisional Secretary at Kotmale set up a small industry making paper out of waste paper.  That was a great success.  The key player in that was the Divisional Secretary at Kotmale. I am sorry I do not know his name. If he is found he should be put in charge of setting up a few paper making Industries. That is how giants have to be entrusted with specific tasks.

Many thanks to the engineers labouring to make Valachenai a success and to President Gotabhaya.

 It is also hoped that they will also  immediately take up my proposal to import a few small scale paper making machines and set them up in the colonies. This can easily be done and we will save on the foreign exchange being used to import paper. I can assure of success. These small scale industries will be a far easier task than the crayon factory I established in Morawaka in 1972. There I had to find the method of making crayons which took three months’ of experiments at the RahulaCollege science lab. In the case of paper making the art is well known and nothing can go wrong.

I wonder what is happening to the Industrial Development Board, the prime institute established by Minister Philip Gunawardena to set up industries in our country. My only contact with them was when I was Government Agent at Matara, when the Ministry of Plan Implementation sought their approval to my proposals to set up industries in Matara.   Instead of helping the Government Agents they  were putting up hurdles against us. They disapproved my suggestion to set up a Water Colour Paint Box Industry on the grounds that none of the ingredients that went into the manufacture were made in Matara. I had to remind them that if Japan can buy the cotton from Egypt, take it all the way to Japan, make textiles and sell the textiles back  to people in Egypt we too should be able to make water colour paint boxes collecting the raw materials from where ever, provided we made a profit and found employment for our youth. At that time we imported 95% of our water colour paint boxes. 

 I had to ignore both,  them   and the Ministry of Plan Implementation in establishing my Crayon Factory.- Making crayons was a great success and it was the show piece of the Divisional Development Programme with successful production and islandwide sales. It was so much of a success being run as Coop Crayon by Sumanapala Dahanayake, the MP for Deniyaya in his capacity as the President of the Coop Union that made President Jayawardena send a special investigation unit  under A T Ariyaratne, Deputy Director of Cooperatives, to audit and found fault with Sumanapala.  They found it a thriving industry and all books in order. Sumanapala was saved a soujourn at Welikada.

May I suggest that our President may call the Industrial Development Board and spur them to action at least to pay back something for the fat salaries that have drawn over the past decades.

Let me caution our leaders to take care. Paper Making is held within a small group of multinationals and they would go to any extent to sabotage any attempt because they stand to lose in millions when we stop imports. I can remember what happened to our milk food industry. Let me quote from my 2006 book:

It is interesting to note that the multinationals involved in supplies have even gone to the extent of sabotaging local production. Recently  the managing director of Kiriya a company that is trying to make Sri Lanka  self sufficient in milk production said  that he suspects a foreign hand  in sabotaging his attempts  to develop local Production.”(How the IMF Ruined Sri Lanka  and Alternative Programmes of Success:Godages:2006)

Sabotage is the motto of the multinationals  and we have to take care.

Garvin Karunaratne, Ph.D. Michigan State University   06052020

Author of : How the IMF Sabotaged Third World Development(Kindle/Godages) 2017

How the IMF Ruined Sri Lanka and Alternatiuve Programmes of Success,, Godages,2006

නීතිඥ අරුණ ලක්සිරි උණවටුන

The people’s voice against the brutal slaughter of George Floyd clearly shows that the Blacks in United States are a great deal ahead in Equality before the law…!

නිදහස් ප්‍රකාශය (Declaration of independence – 1776) නිකුත් කරමින් එක්සත් ජනපදය අමරිකානු විප්ලවීය යුද්ධයෙන් (1775-1783) බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය කිරීටයේ අධිකාරය අවසන් කරන ලදී. 1783 පැරිස් ප්‍රඥප්තිය මගින් එය නිදහස් රාජ්‍යයක් ලෙස පිළින්නා ලදි.

දකුණු අප්‍රිකාව, ඉංදියාව, ශ්‍රී ලංකාව මෙන්ම එක්සත් ජනපදයද ඇතුළු තවත් රටවල් බ්‍රිතාන්‍යය යටත් විජිතව පැවති අතර ඒ නිසාම බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයන් විසින් හදුන්වාදුන් බලවතුන් සහ දුබලයන් සදහා වෙන් වූ වර්ගවාදී නීති වලින් ඒ රටවල් පාලනය කෙරිණි.

බ්‍රිතාන්‍යය යටත් විජිත වූ අන් රටවල් මෙන් නොව එක්සත් ජනපදය, ආයුධ සන්නද්ධ විප්ලවයකින් බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයන් පළවා හැරි ලොව එකම රාජ්‍යය වුවත් බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයන් හදුන්වාදුන් වර්ග බේදය තහවුරු කළ නීති සහ පීඩිතයන් පීඩාවට පත් කරන නීති එහි ශක්තිමත්ව ස්ථාපිත වී තිබීම එරට සමාජයේ බරපතල ඛෙදවාචකයක් ඇති කරනු ලැබීය.

එහි ප්‍රතිඵල ලෙස ජනාධිපති ඒබ්‍රහම් ලින්කන් (1865), නෝබල් සම්මාන ලාභී මාර්ටින් ලූතර් කිං (කණිෂ්ඨ) (1968) වැනි දැවැන්තයන් වෙඩි උණඩයට සිය ජීවිත කැප කරණු ලැබූ අතර එවැනි ඝාතන නොනැවතී පැවතීම ඇමෙරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදයේ නීතියේ පාලනයේ ඇති අදුරු පැති කඩ ලෝකයට නිරාවරණය කරන්නට විය.

එවැනි තවත් කෘර ඝාතනයක් පසුගියදා ඇමෙරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදයේ මිනසෝටා ප්‍රාන්තයේ මිනියාපොලිස් හි පොලිස් නිලධාරීන් විසින් ද සිදු කළ අතර පොලිස් නිලධාරීන්ගේ වධහිංසනයෙන් ජෝර්ජ් ෆ්ලොයිඩ් (46) නම් කළු ජාතික තරුණයා 2020 මැයි 25 දින ඝාතනයට ලක්වීම සියලු රටවල ජනතාව අතර ප්‍රභල කතිකාවක් ඇති කිරීමට සමත් ව තිබේ.

ලෝකයේ බිහිසුණු ඝාතන කොතෙක් සිදු වී තිබුණද, දෙවන ලෝක යුද්ධයේදී නාසීන් විසින් යුදෙව්වන් ගෑස් කාමරවල දමා හුස්ම ගැනීමට අවස්ථාව නොදී ඝාතනය කළ ආකාරය සිහිපත් කරමින් ජෝර්ජ් ෆ්ලොයිඩ් නැමති කලු ජාතික තරුණයා හුස්ම ගැනීමට ආයාචනා කරද්දීත් එයට කිසිම අවස්ථාවක් නොදී විනාඩි 9කට ආසන්න වේලාවක් හුස්ම ගැනීම වළක්වා ඝාතනය කිරීම මානුශ්‍යත්වයට එරෙහි ක්‍රියාවක් බව පැහැදිලිය.

හුස්ම ගැනීම වළක්වා සිදු කළ මෙම කෲර ඝාතනය සම්බන්ධයෙන් නීතිය ක්‍රියාත්මක කිරීමේදී සුදු – කලු බේදයක් නැතිව සමානත්මතාවයේ අයිතිය ඉල්ලා ඇමෙරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදයේත්, ලෝකයේ තවත් රටවලත් උද්ඝෝෂණ පැවැත්වෙන අතර ඒ සියලු උද්ඝෝෂණ අතරින් නීතිය ඉදිරියේ සමානත්මතාවය අයදීමේ දී එක්සත් ජනපදයේ කලු ජාතිකයන්, බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයේ අන් යටත්විජිත ලෙස පැවති රටවල ජනතාවට වඩා බොහෝ ඉදිරියෙන් සිට ක්‍රියා කරන බව ජෝර්ජ් ෆ්ලොයිඩ් කෲර ඝාතනයට එරෙහිව ගෙන යන උද්ඝෝෂණවල ස්වභාවය අනුව මේ වන විට සනාථ වෙමින් ඇත.

බ්‍රිතාන්‍යය යටත් විජිත ලෙස පැවති ඉංදියාව, ශ්‍රී ලංකාව වැනි රටවල ජනතාව මෙන් නොව ඇමෙරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදයේ කලු ජාතිකයන් මැනවින් ඉංග්‍රීසි භාෂාව හසුරුවන හෙයින් ඇමෙරිකා එක්සත් ජනපදයේ පවතින නීති සහ එහි ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණයේ නඩු තීන්දු කියවීමේ නෛතික සාක්ෂරතාවය ඔවුන්ට ලැබී ඇත. ඒ ඇසුරෙන් ලබන දැනුම භාවිතයට ගෙන තමන්ට එරෙහිව සිදුවන නීතියේ වෙනස්කම්වලට එරෙහිව ජයගන්නා ක්‍රියාදාමයන් වෙන අයෙකුගේ මෙහෙයවීමකින් තොරව ස්වාධීනව සිදු කිරීමට එක්සත් ජනපදයේ කලු ජාතිකයන්ට නෛතික සාක්ෂරතාවය ලැබී ඇත. ඒ ශක්තිමත් නෛතික බලය හේතුවෙන් ජෝර්ජ් ෆ්ලොයිඩ් ඝාතනයට යුක්තිය ඉටු කර ගැනීමට එක්සත් ජනපදයේ කලු ජාතිකයන්ට අවස්ථාව හිමි වනු ඇත.

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ බහුතර ජනතාව වන සිංහල ජනතාව, එක්සත් ජනපදයේ කලු ජාතිකයන්ට මෙන් නොව නෛතික සාක්ෂරතාවය ලැබීමට නිදහස හෝ අවස්ථාව අහිමි ජනකොටසකි. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ අවශ්‍ය සහ වැදගත් නීතිමය කටයුතු සියල්ල කරනු ලබන්නේත්, තීරණ ගනු ලබන්නේත් බහුතර ජනතාවගේ භාෂාව වන සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් නොව සුළුතරයක් භාවිතා කරන ඉංග්‍රීසි භාෂාවෙනි. මේ හේතුවෙන් ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ බහුතර සිංහල ජනතාවගේ නෛතික සාක්ෂරතාවය ඉතා පහළ මට්ටමක පවතින අතර ජනතාවට එරෙහිව සිදුවන බලවතුන්ගේ ක්‍රියාකාරකම් සම්බන්ධව නෛතිකව ක්‍රියාකිරීමට ඔවුන්ට අවබෝධයක් නැත.

එක්සත් ජනපදයේ කලු ජාතිකයන් නෛතික ක්‍රියාකාරකම්වලින් නිදහස අත් කර ගන්නවා මෙන් ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සිංහල ජනතාවට නෛතික ක්‍රියාකාරකම්වලින් නිදහස අත් කර ගැනීමේ ක්‍රමවේදය නොදනී. නීතිය නොදැනීම සමාවට කාරණයක් නොවුණත් (Ignorantia juris non excusat) නීතිය දැන ගැනීමට සිංහල ජනතාවට අවස්ථාවක් නැත.

නීතිය ඉදිරියේ සමානාත්මතාවය අයදීමේ දී එක්සත් ජනපදයේ කලු ජාතිකයන් බොහෝ ඉදිරියෙන් බව ජෝර්ජ් ෆ්ලොයිඩ් කෲර ඝාතනයට එරෙහි ‘ජනතා හඩ’ සාක්ෂි දැරුවද, ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ බහුතර ජනතාව වන සිංහල ජනතාව නීතිය ඉදිරියේ සමානාත්මතාවය ලබා ගැනීමට තව කොතරම් කාලයක් ගත වෙයිද කිව නොහැකිය.

නීතිඥ අරුණ ලක්සිරි උණවටුන –

චන්ද්‍රසිරි විජයවික්‍රම, LL.B., Ph.D.

හැඳින්‌වීම

<සිංහල පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලකයින් කිරි පෙවූ ලංකාවේ ඉස්ලාම් ව්‍යාප්තවාදය>, යන ලිපිය මීට පෙර ලිවීමට හේතුව වූයේ, සජිත් ප්‍රේමදාස විසින්, කොරෝනාවට සැඟවී, මුස්ලිම් ජනයාට සිදුවනවා යයි කියන හිරිහැර ගැන, හුදෙක් මුස්ලිම් චන්ද පෙරේතකම නිසාම, ඉංගිරිසියෙන් ලියූ මුහුණු පොත් සටහන් දෙකය. මොහු වැන්නන්ගේ නොසන්ඩාල ක්‍රියාකලාපය ඓතිහාසික වශයෙන් විමසා බැලිය යුතුයයි සිතෙන්නේ ජනාධිපති ගෝඨාභයට, මේ කළු සුද්දන්, ඩොනමෝර්/ඕල්කොට් බෞද්‌ධයින් නොහොත් ඇල්ලේ ගුණවංශ හාමුදුරුවන් විසින් ඕ මයි ගෝඩ් බෞද්‌ධයින් වශයෙන් හඳුන්වන, මේ යුද්‌ධය නම් කවදාවත් දිණන්න බෑ කියූ පිරිසට හා පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලකයින්ට ගොදුරු නොවී සිටීමේ විභව ශක්තියක් තිබෙන නිසාය. නොබෝදා හිරගෙදර ලොක්කන්ගේ රෙදි ගලවමින් ඔහු දුන් උපදේශය, මේ රට යළි ගොඩගැනීමේ සිවිල් සටනේ ආරම්භක පාඩමක් ලෙස සැළකිය හැකි නොවේද? බුදු අම්මෝ කියන, බෞද්‌ධ හිට්ලර් කෙනෙක් සිටිය නොහැකිද?

පාස්කු ප්‍රහාරයද, කොරෝනාව මෙන්ම, රටට ලැබුණ අල්ලා දෙවියන් ගෙනා වෙස්වලාගත් භාග්‍යයක් (වරමක්) වුවත්, එයට පෙරත්, පසුවත් යහපාලනකාරයින් හැසිරී ඇති, හැසුරුණු, නිවට-දීන-වංක ආකාරය මේ වනවිට එලිවන්නේ ඒ පිළිඹඳ ජනාධිපති කොමිෂම ඉදිරියේය. ඒ ගැන තැටමූ පාර්ලිමේන්තු කොමිටුව යනු මොන යහපාලන මගඩියක්ද යන්න දැන් ජිනීවා වලට පැනගොස් සිටින, යහපාලන-මාක්ස්වාදී මහදැනමුත්තාවූ ජයම්පති වික්‍රමරත්න දැන නොසිටියාද? අද රට මැද මුස්ලිම් පොකුරු කඳවුරු ස්ථාන වී තිබෙන්නේ උඩරට රජු ඉඩදුන් නිසා ආරම්භවුණ, සමහර විට ලෝකයේ ප්‍රථම, සරණාගත ජනාවාසය. විශේෂයෙන් මුල් ඉංග්‍රීසි පාලන කාලයේදී මුවර් ජනයාව (ඔත්තුකරුවන්/භටයින් ලෙස) සිංහල කැරළි කෝලාහල වලට විරුද්‌ධව යොදාගත්තත්, ඒ ඉතිහාසය නිසාම 1915 ගැටුමේදී, සුද්දා මුස්ලිම් පැත්ත ගත්තත්, සම්ප්‍රදායික මුස්ලිම් මිනිසා, බයිකලයේ බැඳගෙන හෝ හිස උඩ තබාගෙන ගම්වල තරුණ ස්ත්‍රීන්ට තොරොම්බල් බඩු වෙළඳාමේ ගිය මුස්ලිම් නානාලා මෙන් අහිංසක දිවිපෙවතක් ගෙවීය.

එසේ සිටි ජනව‌ර්‍ගයකින්, සහරාන්ලා, හිස්බුල්ලා, රිෂාඩ් බදිර්තීන්, අසාද් සාලි, මුජිබර් රහමන්, කබීර් හසීම්, අෂ්‍රාෆ්, රාවුෆ් හකීම්ලා වැන්නන් බිහිවුනේ කෙසේද? රිෂාඩ් මිනීමරුවෙක් යයි එස්.බී. දිසානායක පවසයි. කෝටිපති වෙළඳ ව්‍යාපාරිකයෝ ඔවුන්ගේ අල්ලා දේවියන්ගේ නාමයෙන් බෝම්බ පිපිරුවේය. සිංහල චන්ද ලබාගන්නා බොරු උපාසක කබීර්, දෙවනගල පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන් වලට, මුස්ලිම් ප්‍රාදේශීය ලේකම් හරහා කල විනාශය දැන් එලිවී ඇත. මෙම ලිපියෙන් සළකා බලන්නේ, ලිඳේ සිටි ගෙම්බන් මෙන් හෝ තම පුද්ගලික වාසිය සඳහා හෝ චන්ද කෑදරකමට හෝ ලංකාවේ, සිංහල ජාතියේ අනාගතය හෝ, ලෝක ශාරියා වාදයේ ආක්‍රමණයේ බැරෑරුම්කම නොතේරී, සමහර සිංහල බෞද්‌ධ යයි කියාගන්නා පිරිත් නූල් කළුසුද්දන්, දැන් 2020 දීත්, රටට, ලෝකයට කරණා ආත්ම වංචාවය. කකුළුවා දිය සැලියේ සිටීමය. පැස්බරා හිස වැල්ලේ ගසා ගැනීමය. මෙම කතාවේදී, විස්තර කරණ සෑම මුස්ලිම් ජයග්‍රහණයක්ම, සිංහලයාගේ කණෙන් විඳ රිංගායාමක් වන අතර, ඒ ජය සෑම විටම සිංහල ජනයාට අහිතකර (නෙගටිව්) විපාක ගෙනාවේය. මෙය දැන්වත් අප වටහා ගත යුතු නොවේද? දෙමළීකරණය වීමෙන් ගැලවීමට ගත් උපාය මාර්‌ග, අවසානවූයේ, රටේ ඉතිහාසයෙන් වෙන්‌වුණ අරාබි-ශාරියා පාරකට අවතීර්‌ණ වීමය. එය මේ දැන් පෙනේ, මේ දැන් නොපෙනේ අකාරයේ විෂ්මිත ගමනකි. සිංහල බෞද්‌ධ යයි කියනා පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලකයෝ ඔවුන්ට පාර කපා දුන්නේය.

දෙමළ බෙදුම්වාදය හා ශාරියා/ඉකුවාන් වාදය අතර වෙනස

මේ නිසා සිදුවෙමින් පවතින්නේ තිස් අවුරුද්දක් දුක් විඳ ගැලවුණු දෙමළ බෙදුම්වාදය වඩා බරපතල ඛේදවාචකයකි. පුදුම කරුමය නම් ඒ බව පෙන්‌වා දෙන හාමුදුරුවරුන් අතලොස්ස, අන්තවාදීන් ලෙස සමහර සිංහල පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලක නරුමයින් විසින් රටතුල හා රටින් පිට හංවඩු ගැසීමේ ව්‍යාපාරයක්, මානව අයිතිවාසිකම් නාමයෙන් ගෙනයාමට ඉඩදී තිබීමය. දැන් සුමන්තිරන් හා විග්නේෂ්වරන් කරගසා සිටින ඊළම් වැඩේ ආශාව වන්නේ වෙනම රටක් කඩා ගැනීමටය. එවිට, මායිම් යුද්‌ධ සමඟින් හෝ ජීවත්‌වීමට සිංහල කෑල්ලක් ඉතිරිවේ. එහෙත් ශාරියා/ඉකුවාන් වැඩේට අනුව, මුළු ලංකාවම ඉස්ලාම් (අරාබි කොලනියක්) කිරීම දිගුකාලීනය. ඉතාමත් ක්‍රමවත්‌ය. එය අරාබි තෙල් සල්ලි වල ඇමෙරිකන් මිශ්‍රණයකි. එය රටපුරා මුස්ලිම් ජනාවාස පොකුරු පිහිටුවීමේ ගර්‌භාෂ යුද්‌ධයකි. තට්ටු හතරේ ගෙයක ලමයි 86 ක්, ගෑණු 20 ක් හා පිරිමි 4 යනු බොයිලර් කුකුල් පැක්ටේරියක්ද? ඊළම කකුලේ තුවාලයක් නම්, ශාරියා යනු ඇඟ පුරාම විහිදුන ලේ විෂවූ භයානක ච‌ර්‌ම රෝගයකි. ගඩාෆි හා අර්ෆත් විසින් නිල වශයෙන් ප්‍රකාශකල ගර්‍භාෂ යුද්‌ධය ඉදිරියේ, පුංචි පවුල රත්තරන් කතා ඉදිරියේ, ෂාෆිලාගේ වඳ සැත්කම් ඉදිරියේ, ලමා විවාහ, බහු විවාහ, පහසු දික්කසාද ඉදිරියේ ලංකාවේ ඉස්ලාම් පිරිමියා ඒ කාලයේ ඇමෙරිකාවේ වහල් හිමියන් මෙන් අන්තඃපුරකාරයෙකි!

ඉතිහාසය යනු රටක අතීත භූමි (භූගෝල) විද්‍යාවය

ලංකාවේ මුස්ලිම් හා සිංහල බෞද්‌ධ ජනයා සාමයෙන් ජීවත්‌වීමට නම්, දෙපාර්‌ශය විසින්ම ඉතිහාසයෙන් පාඩම් ඉගෙන ගත යුතුය. මේ ලිපිය එවැනි ඉතිහාස පාඩමකි. මධ්‍යම ආසියාවේ සිට ගොඩබිමින් පැමිණ මෝගල් බාබර්ලා විසින් කඩුවෙන් ඉන්දියාවේ කල විනාශය මෙන් නොව, අරාබිකරයෙන් මුහුදෙන් ආ මුස්ලිම් වෙළඳුන් සිංහල ස්ත්‍රීන් විවාහ කරගෙන සාමයෙන් ජීවත්‌වූයේ, පෘතුගීසී ඝාතනවලින්, කලින් මහණව සිටි, සෙනරත් වැනි සිංහල රජුන්ගේ අනුකම්පාවද ලබමින්‌ය. මුස්ලිම් වීමට පෙර, බැමියන් බුද්‌ධ ප්‍රතිමා නෙලීමට පෙර, අරාබි මිනිසුන් බෞද්‌ධයින් වූවා විය නොහැකිද? මක්කම ගලයට තිබෙන්නේ බුදුරජාණන්ගේ සිරි පතුල හෝ බෞද්‌ධ විහාරයක නටබුන් යන මතයක් ප්‍රචලිත වන්නේ, බෞද්‌ධ සාහිත්‍යයේ එන තපස්සු-භල්ලික වෙළඳ දෙබෑයින්ට අමතරව, ත්‍රිපිටකයේ, සංයුක්ත නිකායේ පුන්න සූත්‍රයේ සඳහන් වන, පුන්න තෙරුන් හා සුනාපරන්තයත් (සවුදි?), පුන්න තෙරුන් සඳහා සැදූ විහාර වන, අම්බහත්ත පබ්බත (මළ මුහුදේ උතුරු කෙළවරේ ප්‍රාග් ඉස්ලාමික අම්‍රා දේවස්ථානය?), මකුලකාරාමය (මක්කම?), වැනි බෞද්‌ධ නටබුන් අරාබියෙන්, ඉස්ලාම් ලෝකයෙන් සොයාගෙන ඇති නිසාය (ඒ.ඩී.ටී.ඊ. පෙරේරා, ඩේලි නිව්ස්, මැයි 23, 2005, වෙසක් කලාපය). බැබ්‍රි මස්ජිත් යට තිබුණේ රාමා දේවාලයය. ඊටත් යටින් හමුවූයේ බෞද්‌ධ විහාරයක් නටබුන්‌ය. පොලොන්නරුවේ ශිව දේවාල යට තිබෙන්නේ අතීත බෞද්‌ධ විහාරය.

දෙමළ මෝසස්-අරාබි හිස්බුල්ලා

ලංකාවේ දෙමළ ගාන්‌ධි, ලක්‍ෂ්මන් වික්‍රමසිංහ පාදිලිතුමා විසින් (රනිල්ගේ මහප්පා) දෙමළ මෝසස් ලෙස හැඳින්‌වූ චෙල්වනායගම් අන්තිමේදී දෙමළ ත්‍රස්තවාදියෙකුගේ රූප කුළුණකට මල් මාලයක් දැමීමේය. 1923 දී සිට පොන්නම්බලම් අරුණාචලම් ආරම්භකල දෙමළ බෙදුම්වාදය කළමනාකරණය කරගන්නට, 1948 න් පසුව වත් කොළඹ සිංහල කළුසුද්දන්ට නොහැකිවූයේ, ඔවුන් ධ‌ර්‌මපාලතුමා රටින් එලවාගත්, ඇල්ලේ ගුණවංශ හාමුදුරුවන් හඳුන්වන <බුදු අම්මෝ> බෞද්‌ධයින් නොවීමය. ලිච්චවි පාලනය, දශරාජ ධ‌ර්‍මය තියා පන්සිල් පද පහේ නියම තේරුම වත් චන්ද්‍රිකාලා, රනිල්ලා, මංගල සමරවීරලා දන්නේ නැත. මුලදී සිංහල ක්‍රිස්තියානීන්, පසුව 1931 සිට ඩොනමෝර්/ඕල්කොට් බෞද්‌ධයින් දෙමළ ප්‍රශ්ණය අණාගත්තා මෙන්ම, මුස්ලිම් ප්‍රශ්ණයද අවුල් කර ගෙන ඇත්තේ, බෞද්‌ධ මධ්‍යම ප්‍රතිපදාව, හේතු-ඵල න්‍යාය අනුගමණය කිරීමේ අවශ්‍යතාවය ඔවුන් නොදත් නිසාය. මේ අන්‌ධයින්, ඒ කාලයේ 1930-40 ගණන්වල අනාගාරික ධ‌ර්‍මපාලතුමාත්, 1990-2000 දශක වල ගංඟොඩවිල සෝම හිමියනුත්, 2012 මැයි සිට මිලිටන්ට් බුඩිසම් (ඩිසිප්ලින්ඩ්-ගාන්‌ධි/මාටින් ලූතර් කිං/බුරුමයේ විරතු හිමි මෙන් විනයාත්මකව සංවිධානයවීම) යන සංකල්පය හරහා සිංහල බෞද්‌ධයින්ට හරි හමන් නායකයෙක් නැත යනුවෙන් රටට පෙන්‌වා දුන් බොදු බල සේනාවත්, වැරදි ලෙස තේරුම් ගත්තේය.

බොදු බල සේනාව රටේ සමස්ථ කළු සුදු පාලන තන්ත්‍රයටම අභියෝගයක් විය. මිසිස් චන්ද්‍රිකා, බලු සේනාව ලඟදීම බලුකූඩු වලට දානවා යයි වහසි බස් දෙඩුවේ මුස්ලිම් රැස්වීමකදීය! පිරිත් නූල් සිංහල දේශපාලකයින් (කලින් ඩොනමෝර් බෞද්‌ධයින් මෙන්) ගලේ පැහැරූ බළලුන් බවට පත්‌විය. මුස්ලිම් මෝසස් හිස්බුල්ලා සිතුවේ, කාත්තන්කුඩියේ රට‌ඉඳි ගස් සිටවා, අරාබි නම් ගසා, අරාබි ගොඩනැඟිලි සාදා, සවුදි අරාබිය ලංකාවට ගෙන ඒමටය. වසරකට 1,500 ක් මැඩ්‍රසා පූජකයින් බිහිකර දකුණු ආසියාවම ශාරියා කිරීමය.

සිංහල බෞද්‌ධ ශිෂ්ටාචාරය හිත හොඳ ගෑණියෙක්‌ කර ගැනීම (Tragedy of the Commons)

විශේෂයෙන් 1978 සිට දේශපාලකයින් ලංකාවට කල දේ ඉංග්‍රීසියෙන් හඳුවන්නේ, <ට්‍රැජඩි ඔෆ් ද කොමන්ස්> යනුවෙනි. මේ වනාහි, හුදෙක් අවස්ථාවාදී ලෙස, තමන්ගේ වාසිය සඳහා, තමන්ට අයිති නැති, පොදුවේ රටට, සමාජයට අයිති දෙයක් (පොදු දේපලක්?) කිසි ඉවක් බවක් නැතුව, අයුතු ලෙස පරිහරණය කිරීම නිසා ඉන් දිගුකාලීනව සිදුවන සම්පත් විනාශයට, මුළු සමාජයම වන්‌දි ගෙවීමය. පාරේ කෙළ ගැසීමෙන් දූවිලි වලට එක් වියහැකි රෝග විෂබීජ, ගෙදර තාප්පයෙන් පිටට පාරට කුණුකසල දැමීම මෙන්ම, සුළු ජන ව‌ර්‍ග වල චන්ද පෙරේත කමට මුග්‌ධ තීරණ ගෙන, ඉන් රටට, සිංහල ජතියට කරණ හානියද ඊට අයත්‌ය. බස්නාහිර ආණ්ඩුකාර අසාද් සාලිට දෙපැත්තෙන් බිරියන් දෙන්නෙක් කැටුව නිදහස් උත්සවයට ඒමට ඉඩදීම, ජාතික වස්තුවක් වන දන්නෝ බුදුන්ගේ ගීතය නිදහස් දින සැමරීමේදී හොර බැළලියක් පොරකන ශබ්දයෙන් ගැයීම, ජල පෝෂක උල්පත් විනාශ කරමින් පස් කැපීම, පැක්ටරි-හෝටල්වල කුණු විෂ ජලය කැළණි ගඟට මුදාහැරීම වැනිම පරිසර දූෂණය. ලංකාවේ සිංහල බෞද්‌ධ ශිෂ්ටාචාරය, මේ පක්‍ෂ දේශපාලක කළුසුද්දන්ගේ ගසා කෑමට ලක්‌වූ පොදු ජාතික දේපලක්‌වූ බව (සංඝ දඩයම) ලංකාවේ ඉතිහාසය, මොවුන් හා පන්සල අතර සිදුවූ නොනැවතුන අරගලයේ කතාව නොවේදැයි සළකන විට පැහැදිලිවේ. කෙටියෙන් කියනවා නම්, සුළු ජනව‌ර්‌ග වල චන්ද උදෙසා, දොල පිදේණි වශයෙන් කලේ සිංහල බෞද්‌ධ පදනමට හානි කිරීමය. එය හිතුමනාපයට ඕනෑම දේශපාලකයෙකුට දූෂණය කල හැකි පොදු දේපලක් විය. මේ දේශපාලකයින්ට, සිංහල බෞද්‌ධයා වනාහි, සමහර පිරිමින්ට හිත හොඳ ගෑණුන් සේ වැනි විය!

කොරෝනාව එලිකල ඉස්ලාම් ශාරියාවාදයේ හෙළුව

කලකට පෙර, <ඥානසාර මචං> යයි ලියා ඥානසාර හිමියන්ට (පසුව බොදු බල සේනා සංකල්පයේ නිර්‍මාතෘ) සරදම් කල සේපාල් අමරසිංහ, දැන් මුස්ලිම් පල්ලි 17 ම ක් තිබෙන, අටළුගම (බණ්ඩාරගම) නමැති කුඩා ගමේ මුස්ලිම් ත්‍රස්තවාදය ගැන යූටියුබ් වීඩියෝ කිරීම, කොරෝනාවෙන් කල සේවයකි. අපවත්‌ කලා යයි සැකකරණ ගංඟොඩවිල සෝම හිමියන් විසින්, ජාතිවාදී නොව, ජාතිකවාදී ලෙස, අපක්‍ෂපාතිව පෙන්වා දුන් සූත්‍රය, එනම්, <ජන සංඛ්‍යා ප්‍රතිශතය අනුව යම් අනවශ්‍ය බලයක් (දේශපාලන, ව්‍යාපාරික, එකට රංචු ගැසී නිවාස පොකුරු ලෙස ජීවත්‌වීම) යම් කිසි සුළු ජනව‌ර්‍ගයකට ලැබුණොත්, එතැන සමාජ, දේශපාලන බල අසමමිතික භාවයක් ඇති වනවා> යන්න සේපාල් විසින් දැන් අගයන්නේ ඒ නිසාය. ගර්‍භාෂ යුද්‌ධය මීට ඇතුලත් කිරීමට සේපාල්ට අමතකවූවා සේය. ගලබොඩ‌අත්තේ ඥානසාර හිමියන්, මඩකලපුවේ මංගලාරාමයේ සුමනරතන හිමියන්, හා මහසෝන් බලකායේ සුමිත් වීරසිංහ යනාදීන් කරණ ජීවිත පරිත්‍යාගය, සේපාල් විසින් පමණක් නොව, ලංකාවේ සියළුම සිංහල දේශපාලකයින් විසින්, ජීවිතය දන් දුන් හසළක වීරයින්ට කරනවා මෙන් නොව, ඔවුන් මෙලොව ජීවත්‌ව සිටියදීම, දැන් දැන් සමාව ඉල්ලමින් අගයකල යුතු නොවේද? සේපාල්ගේ අළුත්ම වීඩියෝව කොළඹ-නුවර පාර දෙපස මුස්ලිම් ඉඩම් ආක්‍රමණය පිළිඹඳවය. නුවර ඉතුරු වෙන්නෙ දළදා මාළිගාව විතරද් යන මාතෘකාව ගැනය.

කොළඹ මුස්ලිම් මුස්ලිම් මැණික් ව්‍යාපාරිකයාගේ වංක, හිතුවක්කාර හැසිරීම නිසා කොරෝනාව පතුරවා මියයාම පුද්ගලික සිද්‌ධියක් ලෙස සැලකිය හැකිය. එහෙත් වෙසක් පෝය දා මහනුවර මහයියාවේ ඉස්ලාම් පල්ලියේ මස්කඩයේ පොලිසියේ පගා ආධාර උඩ හරක් මස් විකිණීම, බණ්ඩාරගම, අටළුගමදී අදදෙරණ මාධ්‍යවේදියාට හිරිහැර කිරීම, දෙහිවල මුස්ලිම් ව්‍යාපාරිකයා ග්‍රෑන්ඩ්පාස් මුස්ලිම් අයට හදිසි නීතිය කඩකරමින් සල්ලි බෙදීමට ගොස් තිදෙනෙක් තෙරපී මියයෑම ඇතුළු මුස්ලිම් පල්ලි විසින් කල හදිසි නීති කඩකිරීම්, සජිත්ලාගේ, රාජිතලාගේ හා යහපාලනකාරයින්ගේ, ජේවීපීකාරයින්ගේ හයිය උඩ සිදුවන දේවල්‌ය. 2014 ජූනි මස බොස්ටන් ටී.වී එකට රාජිත කියා සිටියේ, 2009 සිට බේරුවල සංවිධායක වන ඔහුට මොහමඩ් රාජිත කියනවාට ඔහු කැමති බවය! අල්ලපු මුස්ලිම් ගමේ මිනිහෙක් රෑ 12 ට පන්සලේ හාමුදුරුවන් බදාගෙන මූණට කැසීම, ශාරියා විෂබීජය මුස්ලිම් මනසට කා වැදී ඇති තරම පෙන්වයි. 2012 දී ලංකාවේදී ගාල්ලේදී බස්‌එකේ මා ලඟ ඉඳගෙන සිටි තරුණ මුස්ලිම් ස්ත්‍රිය කිව්වේ මුස්ලිම් නිසා ඔවුන්ට වෙනස්කම් කරණ බවය. මෙවැනි ආකල්ප ආගම විසින්ම ඇතිකරණ විට බොදු බල සේනා සූත්‍රය වන දෘෂ්ටිවාදී අරගලයකින් මිස, දීපිකා උඩගම හෝ යස්මින් සූකා ක්‍රමය වන මානව හිමිකම් සිංදුවෙන් බංග කල නොහැකිය.

සිංහල මරික්කාර්ලා (1956), මොහමඩ් රාජිතලා වීම (2014)

මේ වන විට ලංකාවේ ව්‍යාප්තව ඇති ශාරියාවාදයට ඉනාබේත් කෑවාමෙන් හසුවී සිටින සිංහල දේශපාලක කළු සුද්දන් එවැනි ඉරණමකට වැටුනේ කෙසේද යන්න කෙටියෙන් හෝ විමසන විට පෙනී යන්නේ, දෙමළ බෙදුම් වාදය මෙන්ම මෙම මෝයකටට ඔවුන් පාවී/ගලා ගියේ හෙමින් හෙමින් ගත් අඥාන ක්‍රියා නිසා බවය. ඉස්ලාම් මුවර්‍වරු විසින් ඉතාමත් ශූක්‍ෂම ලෙස ගෙනගිය ක්‍රියාකලාපය නිසා, ඒ කාලයේ සිටි, සිංහලවුණා යයි සැළකූණු මරික්කාර්ලා හෝ මොහිදීන් බෙග් වෙනුවට, අද ලංකාවේ ඉස්ලාම්වුණු රාජිතලා, සජිත්ලා, චන්ද්‍රිකාලා, සිරිසේනලා මතුවී ඇත. ආර් ප්‍රෙමදාසගේ යාව ජීව කුළුපග සේවකයාවූ, අන්තිම කාලයේ ඔහුගේ කාමරයේ දොරලඟ නිදාගනිමින් ඔහුව මුරකල මොහිදීන්, ඔහුගේ ඝාතනයට කල කුමන්ත්‍රණයේ ඉත්තෙක්‌වූයේ, අරක්කු වලට තිබූ කෑදරකම නොව, ඒ වන විට ඔහුටද ශාරියා බලපෑම එල්ලවූ නිසා නොවේද කියා සිතේ.

යහපාලනකාරයින්ව නිරුවත් කල පාස්කු ප්‍රහාරය

මත්තල ගුවන් තොටුපලේ වී ගබඩා කලේ රාජපක්‍ෂලා ගැන තිබූ ඊෂ්‍යාවට රනිල්ලාය. එය රටටම කල අපරාධයක් නොවේද? එවැනිම ඊර්ෂ්‍යාවක් යුද ජය ලබාගැනීම නිසා තිබුණේ, තොප්පිගල කියන්නේ කැලයක් යයි කී රනිල්ලා ටය. ලංකාවට යුද අවි නොවිකුණන ලෙස රනිල් ඒ කාලයේ විදේශ රටවලින් ඉල්ලා සිටියේය. මේ ඊෂ්‍යාව නිසා රටේ ආරක්‍ෂක පද්‌ධතියම යහපාලනකාරයින් විනාශ කලේය. ශාලාව අවි ගබඩාව ගිනිබත් කිරීම, වටිනා අවි මුහුදුබත් කිරීම වැනි දුෂ්ට ක්‍රියාවලට වඩා ජාතිද්‍රෝහි ක්‍රියා වූයේ, ජනාධිපති සිරිසේන නැව් වලට තීන්ත ගාන බාස් කෙනෙක් ආරක්‍ෂක ලේකම් කිරීමය. පාඨලී චම්පිකලාගේ ව්‍යවස්ථාදායක සභා හුටපටය, පූජිත නම් නැට්ටුවා පොලිස්පති කලේය. මොවුන් නිසා ශාරියා කාරයින්ට හා ඔවුන්ට ඔක්‍ෂිජන් සැපයූ, අසාද් සාලි, රිෂාඩ් බතියුර්දීන්, හිස්බුල්ලා, මුජිබර් රහුමාන්, රාවුෆ් හකීම්, කබීර් හසීම් යනාදීන්ට රටේ කල නොහැකි දෙයක් නොවීය. රිෂාඩ් නිල්, කොල ආණ්ඩු අල්ලේ නැටෙව්වේය. ලැජ්ජා සහගත කරුණ නම් එසේ පණදුන් පාස්කු ප්‍රහාරයට පසු මුස්ලිම් මන්ත්‍රීන්ට සුදුහුණු ගෑමට යහපාලනකාරයින් ඇටවූ පාර්ලිමේන්තු කොමිටි ජරමරයය. මෙහි සවුත්තුකම කෙතරම්ද යන්න දැන් ඇති ජනාධිපති කොමිෂම ඉදිරියේ එලිවන ශාක්‍ෂි වලින් පිළිඹිඹුවේ. යහපාලනකාරයින්ගේ හැම පරිපාලන ක්‍රියාවක් පිටුපසම සිටි සෙවනැල්ල ඇමෙරිකන් තානාපති කාර්‌යාලය බව තහවුරුවන්නේ පාස්කු ප්‍රහාරයට දිනකට කලින් විශාල පාසැලක් කාත්තන්කුඩි අසල ඇමෙරිකන් නාවික හමුදාව විසින් සදා විවෘතකර දීමය. එය මිලේනියම් ගිවිසුම යටතේ එන ඇමෙරිකන් නාවික භටයින්ට තාවකාලික නේවාසිකාගාරයක් සැදුවා වැනිය.

බෞද්‌ධ බලවේගය

මෙම ඉස්ලාම් ව්‍යාප්තවාදයට යහපාලනකාරයින්ගේ කර ගැසීම තාවකාලිකව හෝ නතර කලේ අතුරැලියේ රතන හා ගලගොඩ‌අත්තේ ඥානසාර යන හාමුදුරුවරුන් දෙන්නා විසිනි. ඒ දෙනම ගැන එන්ජිිෝ-කළුසුද්දන්ගේ ඇති වෛරය, ඒ දෙනමටම මිස්ටර් රතන හා මිස්ටර් ඥානසාර කියා දරිෂා බැස්ටියන් හා මුජිබ් මෂාල් විසින් නිව්‍යෝර්ක් ටයිම්ස් පත්‍රයේ ලිපියක සඳහන් කර තිබීමෙන්ම පෙනේ! (ජූනි 3, 2019). හොරුන්සේ සැක කරණ මුස්ලිම් ඇමතිවරුන් දෙන්නෙකුට විරුද්‌ධ උපවාසයකට, සියළුම යහපාලන ඇමතිලා ඉල්ලා අස්වීමෙන් පැහැදිලි වන්නේ අහිංසක ලෙස 1920 ගණන්වල සිට ඉදිරියට හා පාරම්පරික මුස්ලිම් නායකයින් හා ජනතාව, අද වන විට අරාබි ශාරියා/වහාබ් වාදයේ ශාඛාවක් වශයෙන් වර්‌ධනය වී ඇති බවය. අබ්දුල්ලා මලික් යන අරාබි සුල්තාන්/රජෙකුගේ නාමයෙන් යෝධ අනාගත ශාරියා විශ්ව විද්‍යාලයක් සදන්නට මුල්ගල් තබද්දී, හිස්බුල්ලා පිටුපසින් සිටියේ ඩලස් අලහප්පෙරුම වීම මෙම මුස්ලිම් ව්‍යාප්තවාදය නමැති නයි පැටවුන්ට කිරිදීමේ වගකීමෙන් කොල-රතු මෙන්ම නිල් පාට පක්‍ෂයටද ගැලවිය නොහැකි බවට උදාහරණයකි. ඩලස්, ඥානසාර හිමියන්ගෙන් සමාව ගතයුතු වන්නේ, මුල්ගල තබා දින කීපයකින්ම, මේ අනතුර උන්වහන්සේ විසින් පෙන්‌වා දුන් නිසාය. දුටුගැමුණු හෝ ගජබාහු-විජයබාහු හෝ කියා විශ්ව විද්‍යාල නමක් ලංකාවේ තිබෙනවාද කියා ඩලස්ට නොසිතුනේ මන්ද?

මුස්ලිමුන්ගේ ඔටුණු නොපැලන් රාජිණිය!

1994 දී ලෝනා ශ්‍රීමතී දේවරාජා විසින් ලියනලද,<ලංකාවේ මුස්ලිම්වරු-අවුරුදු 1000 ක ජන වාර්‌ගික සාමය, 900-1915> යන පොත ගැන හිල්මි අහමඩ් නමැත්තා, 2014 නොවැම්බර් 30 දා කලම්බු ටෙලිග්‍රාෆ් වෙබ් අඩවියට ලියූ ලිපියේ තිබු, ඉහත සඳහන් ශීර්‍ෂ පාඨය නිසා ලෝනා මුස්ලිම්ද, දමිළද යන ප්‍රශ්ණයක් පවා මතුවූයේ ඒ පොත දෙමළට පරිවර්‌තනය නොවූ නිසාය. සිරිමාවෝ වනාහි නබිනායකතුමාගේ දියණියය කියා මුස්ලිම් දේශපාලකයෙක් කල ප්‍රකාශය අල්ලා දෙවියන්ට කල අපහාසයක් යයි රැස්වීමේ සිටි මිනිසුන් ඔහුට සෙරෙප්පු දමා ගැසුවාය යන සිද්‌ධිය මෙම ලිපියට පලවූ එක් විරොධයක සඳහන් විය. ඉන්දියා-පකිස්ථාන් (බංගලාදේශ්) යුද්‌ධයේදී පකිස්ථාන් ප්ලේන් වලට කටුනායකින් තෙල් ගසා ගැනීමට සිරිමාවෝ ඉඩදීමද මේ ප්‍රකාශයට හේතුවන්නට ඇත.

පලස්තීනයේ මහින්ද රාජපක්‍ෂ කියා නම්කල පාරක් පවා තිබේ. එහෙත් සිරිමාවෝ ආණ්ඩුව දලයිලාමාට දළදා මාළිගාව වැඳයාමට දින දෙකකට සංචාරක වීසාවක් වත් දුන්නේ නැත. මෙවැනි සිද්‌ධි හා මෙහි පහතින් එන වසුන්‌ධරාගේ පොතෙන් එලිවන්නේ ලංකාවේ දේශපාලකයින්ට ඇත්තේ, එහෙන් මෙහෙන් ඈඳාගෙන, ගැටගසාගත්, අවස්ථාවාදී, ආත්මාර්‌ථකාමි අදහස් මිස, ජාතික නායකයින් වශයෙන් සමස්ථ පින්තූරය, රටේ දිගුකාලීන පැවැත්ම ගැන සළකා තීරණගැනීමේ ඥානයක් නොවන බවය. මුවර් නායකයින් ලංකාවේ සමාජ-දේශපාලන අවස්ථාවන්ට, අභියෝග වලට, මුහුණ දුන් අන්දම හා අන්තිමේදී සිංහල නායකයින් පඹයින් සේ අල්ලේ නටවන්නට සමත්‌වූ ආකාරය මැකියාවේලීගේ න්‍යාය අනුගමණය කිරීමකි. 2020 න් පසුව වත් මුවර් ජනවර්‌ගයේ මෙම අගයකල යුතු ඓතිහාසික හැසිරීමෙන් පාඩම් ඉගෙන ගනිතැයි අපට බලාපොරොත්තු විය හැකිද? දෙවනගල, කුරගල, දඹුල්ල, මුහුදු මහා විහාරය, විල්පත්තු ව්‍යසන හා අරාබියට ලංකා ස්ත්‍රීන් වහල් සේවයකට යවා රටේ මුළු සමාජ, පවුල්, සදාචාර පදනමටම හානිකර ගැනීම නතර කර ගෙන, අරාබි තෙල් වෙනුවට ඉර, සුළං, හා වෙනත් බල ශක්ති කෙරෙහි අවධානය යොමු කිරීමට ජනාධිපති ගෝඨාභය අසමත් වුවහොත් සිංහලයාට අත්‌වන්නේ අබසරණයයි සිතෙන්නේ මේ කාර්යය අභීතව කලහැකි වෙන කෙනෙක් රටේ දැනට නැති නිසාය. 2019 ට කලින්, 1948 සිට, සිංහල දේශපාලකයින් කල <ගොන් වැඩ> රැසක්ම තිබේ.

දෙවන කොටස:

මැකියාවේලි ශාස්ත්‍රය අනුගමනය කල මුවර් නායකයින්

වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම් ජයතුංග 

පුනරුදයේ පුරෝගාමියෙකු වූ ඩන්ටේ අලිගියරි උපත ලැබුවේ 1265 දී ෆ්ලොරන්ස් ජනරජයේ ෆ්ලෝරන්ස්හි ය. ඔහු මධ්‍යතන යුගයේ ඉතාලි කවියෙකු හා දාර්ශනිකයෙකු විය. ඩන්ටේ මධ්‍යකාලීන ලෝකයේ ප්‍රසිද්ධ විශ්ව විද්‍යාලයක් වන බොලොග්නා විශ්ව විද්‍යාලයේ අධ්‍යාපනය ලැබීය.   ඩන්ටේ , පෙට්‍රාර්ච් සහ ජියෝවානි බොකාසියෝ ‘ඉතාලි සාහිත්‍යයේ ඔටුනු තුන’ ලෙස ජනප්‍රියව හඳුන්වනු ලැබේ. පුනරුදයේ  (Renaissance- පුනරුදය යුරෝපීය ඉතිහාසයේ මධ්‍යතන යුගයේ සිට නූතනත්වයට මාරුවීම හා 15 සහ 16 වන සියවස් ආවරණය වන කාල පරිච්ඡේදයකි ) සිට බටහිර ශිෂ්ටාචාරයේ පදනම ලෙස රෝමානු-සම්භාව්‍ය ශිෂ්ටාචාරයේ අඛණ්ඩ පැවැත්මක් ලෙස  ඩන්ටේ  නිරූපණය වේ.  ඩන්ටේ  ලිබරල්, ‘ප්‍රගතිශීලී’ සහ ‘ජාත්‍යන්තරවාදියෙකු’ ලෙස අද දිනයේ සැලකේ. ඔහු ‘ලෝක රාජ්‍යයක්’, ලෝක රාජාණ්ඩුවක්, ‘මනුෂ්‍යත්වයේ’ එකමුතුව සහ සතුට මානව වර්ගයාගේ ශ්‍රේෂ්ඨතම  අභිලාෂය ලෙස විශ්වාස කළේය.  

 ඩන්ටේ  ෆ්ලෝරන්ස්  හි දේශපාලන හා හමුදා ජීවිතය තුළ ක්‍රියාකාරී විය. ඔහු තරුණයෙකු ලෙස හමුදාවට බැඳුණු අතර 1290 ගණන් වලදී ෆ්ලොරෙන්ටයින් රජයේ වැදගත් තනතුරු කිහිපයක් දැරීය.  ඩන්ටේ  දේශපාලන චින්තකයා අනිවාර්යයෙන්ම  ඩන්ටේ  කවියා සමඟ සම්බන්ධ වේ. ලතින් භාෂාවට වඩා ඉතාලි භාෂාවෙන් තම කාව්‍යය ලිවීමට තෝරා ගැනීමෙන්  ඩන්ටේ  සාහිත්‍ය සංවර්ධනයේ ගමන් මඟට තීරණාත්මක ලෙස බලපෑම් කළේය.  බොහෝ විද්වතුන් ඔහු ලියූ ඩිවයින් කොමඩි-  Divine Comedy (දිව්‍ය ප්‍රහසන)  මධ්‍යකාලීන චින්තනයේ සාරාංශයක් ලෙස සලකති.  ඩිවයින් කොමඩි මගින්  ඩන්ටේ  මධ්‍යකාලීන ලෝකයේ බොහෝ දේ, ආකල්ප, විශ්වාසයන්, දර්ශනවාදයන්, අභිලාෂයන් සහ ද්‍රව්‍යමය අංශ පිළිබඳ දළ විශ්ලේෂණයක් ඉදිරිපත් කරයි. 

ඩිවයින් කොමඩි යනු  ඩන්ටේ අලිගියරි විසින්  ඉතාලි භාෂාවෙන්  රචිත වීර කාව්‍යයකි.  සාරාංශයක් ලෙස, එය මරණින් මතු ජීවිතය හරහා සංකේතාත්මක ගමනක් විස්තර කරන වීර කාව්‍යයකි. මෙම කාව්‍යය මානව වර්ගයාගේ සදාකාලික ඉරණම පිළිබඳ දාර්ශනික ක්‍රිස්තියානි දැක්මකි. දිව්‍ය ප්‍රහසන තුළ දේශපාලන සංකල්ප කාව්‍යමය රූපවල පමණක් නොව බොහෝ විට වියුක්ත හා උපමාලංකාර භාෂාවෙන් ද පැන නගී. එය ලෝක සාහිත්‍යයේ විශිෂ්ටතම කෘතියක් ලෙස පිලිගැනේ. මෙම නිර්මාණය මරණින් මතු ජීවිතය සහ මධ්‍යකාලීන ලෝක දෘෂ්ටිය. දිව්‍ය ප්‍රහසනය ගැඹුරු අධ්‍යාත්මයක් සමඟ බැඳී පවතී.මෙම කොටස් පදනම් වී ඇත්තේ ඩන්ටේගේ නිරය, පිරිසිදු කිරීමේ හා පාරාදීසය හරහා ගමන් කිරීමෙනි. නමුත් ගැඹුරු මට්ටමින්, එය නිරූපණය කරන්නේ, දෙවියන් වහන්සේ වෙතට ආත්මය යන ගමනයි (සයර්ස්, 1949). ඩිවයින් කොමඩි  මධ්‍යකාලීන ජීවිතයේ සංස්ලේෂණයකි. එය 14 වන සියවසේ කතෝලික හා ඉතාලි දේශපාලනය තුළ මුල් බැස තිබේ.

ඩිවයින් කොමඩි මධ්‍යතන යුගයේ වැදගත්ම කාව්‍යය ලෙස සැලකේ. කවිය හාස්‍යයක් බව ඩන්ටේ පැහැදිලි කරයි. විෂයය, මුලදී එය අපායක් සේ භයානක හා අශිෂ්ට ය; නමුත් එය පාරාදීසයක් ලෙස ප්‍රීතිමත්, ප්‍රියජනක හා ප්‍රියජනක ය.  ඔහු 13 වන සහ 14 වන සියවස් අතර බුද්ධිමය ව්‍යාප්තියේ නව ආකෘතියක් මූර්තිමත් කළේය. තවද  ඉතාලියේ සාහිත්‍යය ස්ථාපිත කිරීමට  ඩන්ටේ  දායක විය. ඔහු ඉතාලියේ උත්තරීතරම කවියාය. යුරෝපීය ආත්මයේ පරිණාමය අවබෝධ කර ගැනීම සඳහා ඩන්ටේ ගේ කෘති උපකාර වේ.

ඩන්ටේගේ   ඩිවයින් කොමඩි හෙවත් දිව්‍ය ප්‍රහසන යනු දෙවියන් වහන්සේගේ විනිශ්චය පිළිබඳ නිරපේක්‍ෂ විශ්වාසය හා මිනිස් හේතුව අතර ගැටුමකි. මෙම කෘතිය බයිබලානුකුල කථා, තෝමස් ඇක්වයිනාස්ගේ මධ්‍යකාලීන දේවධර්මය, ග්‍රීක හා රෝමානු සම්භාව්‍ය මිථ්‍යාවන්, ඉතිහාසය සහ ඉතාලියේ දේශපාලන ප්‍රභූන් සමඟ  ඩන්ටේ ගේ ගැටුම් සහ සමහර වතිකානු නායකයන් සමඟ ඔහුගේ නීරස අත්දැකීම් සමග  පිරී ඇත. ඩන්ටේ සිය අතිමහත් අත්දැකීම් සහ චිත්තවේගීය වේදනාවන් ඔහුගේ කාව්‍යට එක් කළේය. 

ඔහුගේ දේවධර්මය ප්‍රධාන වශයෙන් ශාන්ත තෝමස් ඇක්වයිනාස්ගේ ය.  තෝමස් ඇක්වයිනාස් විසින් ඇරිස්ටෝටල්ගේ අලුතෙන් ලබාගත් කෘති ක්‍රිස්තියානි බටහිර දේවධර්මය සමඟ සංසන්දනය කරයි. සාහිත්‍යය තමාගේම පරිකල්පනයෙන් අර්ථ නිරූපණය කිරීම ගැන  ඩන්ටේ  සැලකිලිමත් වේ.   ඩන්ටේ  සහ ඇක්වයිනාස් සමාන අර්ථකථන අදහස් භාවිතා කළද,  ඩන්ටේ  එවැනි බහු අවයවයන් මිනිස් මනසක නිෂ්පාදනයක් ලෙස වටහා ගන්නා අතර, ඇක්වයිනාස් මූලික වශයෙන් දෙවියන්ගේ බුද්ධියට සාපේක්ෂව දේවධර්මානුකුලව අර්ථකථන රාමුව භාවිතා කරයි.  

මෙම කාව්‍යය ඩන්ටේ ලිව්වේ පිටුවහල්ව සිටි ඔහුගේ අවසන් වසරවල ය. ඔහුගේ කාලයේ පැවති ප්‍රධාන දේශපාලන සිදුවීම් සඳහා ඔහු අධ්‍යාත්මික අරුත සපයයි. ඩිවයින් කොමඩි ගවේෂක පුරාවෘත්තයට හොඳ උදාහරණයක් සපයයි . ඔහු තම කාලයට පෙර නෝවා, මෝසෙස්, යූදස් ඉස්කාරියොට්, ශාන්ත පීටර්ස්, ප්ලේටෝ, හෝමර්, මුහම්මද් නබි, තෝමස් ඇක්වයිනාස් වැනි ප්‍රධාන ඓතිහාසික චරිත ඉදිරිපත් කළේය. ඊට අමතරව  ඩන්ටේ  භෞතික විද්‍යාව, ජ්‍යොතිෂය, සිතියම් විද්‍යාව, ගණිතය, සාහිත්‍ය න්‍යාය පිළිබඳ සිය දැනුම මෙම කාව්‍යයේදී භාවිතා කළේය.ඔහුගේ කාව්‍යයේ මධ්‍යකාලීන මනෝ විශ්ලේෂණ” අංගයක් ඇත.  ඔහු දාර්ශනික හා ප්‍රාථමික මනෝවිද්‍යාත්මක සංකල්ප බුද්ධිමත්ව වටහා ගත්තේය. ඔහුගේ කවිය මධ්යකාලීන මනස ඉක්මවා ගොස් සියලු  සංස්කෘතීන්ට අදාළ වේ. 

ඩන්ටේ මිනිස් මනෝභාවය මනාව ගවේෂණය කරයි. ඔහුට ඇරිස්ටෝටලියානු තර්කනය සහ ස්වාභාවික දර්ශනය, දේවධර්මය හා සම්භාව්‍ය සාහිත්‍යය පිළිබඳව ඔහුට හොඳ දැණුමක් තිබුනේය. ඔහුගේ ලේඛන  මධ්‍යතන යුගයේ හා පුනරුදයේ දර්ශනය  අධ්‍යයනය කිරීම සඳහා ප්‍රබල මෙවලමක් සපයයි. 

ඩන්ටේ ට හොඳ වෛද්‍ය දැනුමක් තිබුනි, බොහෝ විට එය ඔහුගේ ශාස්ත්‍රීය අධ්‍යයනයන්ගෙන් උකහා ගන්නා ලද්දකි.   ශාරීරික ආබාධ සහ රෝග පිළිබඳ නිවැරදි විස්තර ඔහුගේ සියලු කෘතිවල දක්නට ලැබේ. හැචර් (1990) ට අනුව  ඩන්ටේ ගේ ස්වයං-පරාවර්තනය සහ ස්වයං අවබෝධය පිළිබඳ ස්වයං චරිතාපදාන ගමන මනෝ විශ්ලේෂණය පිළිබිඹු කරයි. සාජන්බර්ග් (2010) පෙන්වා දෙන්නේ  ඩන්ටේ ගේ ප්‍රහසන මනෝවිශ්ලේෂණ තාක්‍ෂණයේ පූර්වගාමී ලක්‍ෂණයක් දරන බවයි.. හැචර් (1990) ඩන්ටේ ගේ ලිවීම හා සමකාලීන මනෝ විශ්ලේෂණයේ අර්ථ නිරූපනයේ තාක්‍ෂණය අතර සමානකමක් නිරීක්ෂණය කළේය.     

ඔහු සිය කාලයේ පැවති පල්ලියේ දූෂණය දැඩි ලෙස හෙළා දැක්කේය. ඩන්ටේ පාප්තුමාගේ බලය මෙන්ම ඉතාලියේ ආගම හා දේශපාලනය එකිනෙකට බැඳී ඇති ආකාරය විවේචනය කළේය.  ඩන්ටේ  මුහුණ දුන් ගැටලු වූයේ දහහතරවන සියවසේ මුල් දශක දෙක තුළ ඉතාලියේ දේශපාලන නොසන්සුන්තාව හා ඛණ්ඩනය වීමයි. මේ නිසා  දේශපාලන මර්දනය යටතේ ඩන්ටේ  දැඩි ලෙස පීඩා වින්දේය . ඔහු තම උපන් නගරය වන ෆ්ලෝරන්ස් වෙතින්  සදාකාලික පිටුවහල් කිරීමකට ලක් කරනු ලැබීය.  ඔහු මධ්යකාලීන ලෝකයේ ඇලෙක්සැන්ඩර් සොල්සෙනිට්සින් ය. දේශපාලන අනාතයෙකු වූ  ඩන්ටේ මිනිස් වේදනාව ගැන අර්ථවත් ලෙස ලියයි.  ඩන්ටේ පවසන පරිදි කාලය නිරන්තරයෙන් වෙනස් වෙමින් පැවතුනද, සෑම පරම්පරාවකටම මිනිස් පැවැත්මේ අර්ථය, අරමුණ සහ වටිනාකම පිළිබඳ එකම මූලික ප්‍රශ්න වලට මුහුණ දීමට සිදුවේ. 

ඩන්ටේ ගේ කීර්තිය ප්‍රධාන වශයෙන් රඳා පවතින්නේ දිව්‍ය ප්‍රහසනය මත ය. ඩන්ටේඑය කොමෙඩියා ලෙස නම් කළේය. සමහර විචාරකයින් දිව්‍ය ප්‍රහසන ඉස්ලාම් විරෝධී හා සමලිංගික විරෝධී නිර්මාණයක්  ලෙස සලකති. කෙසේ වෙතත්,  මෙම සංස්ථාපිත විරෝධී  භාවය අවබෝධ කර ගත යුත්තේ  ඔහු කාව්‍යය නිර්මාණය කල යුගය එම සමාජය තේරුම් කරගෙනය. 

ඩන්ටේ ඔහුගේ කාලයේ පැවති දේශපාලන හා බුද්ධිමය කාරණා කෙරෙහි දැඩි අවධානයක් යොමු කළේය. ඔහුගේ   ඉල් කොන්විවෝ (ද භෝජන සංග්‍රහය, 1304-1307) යනු ඉතාලි භාෂාවෙන් ලියන ලද නිම නොකළ කෘතියකි. මෙම කෘතියෙන් පෙනී යන්නේ ඩන්ටේ ට දර්ශනය හා විද්‍යාව පිළිබඳ පුළුල් දැනුමක් තිබූ බවයි.  ඔහු 13 වන සහ 14 වන සියවස් අතර බුද්ධිමය ව්‍යාප්තියේ නව ආකෘතියක් මූර්තිමත් කළේය; පසුකාලීන ලේඛකයින් හා විද්වතුන් කෙරෙහි ඩන්ටේ ඉමහත් බලපෑමක් ඇති කළේය. ජෙෆ්රි චවුසර් සහ ජෝන් මිල්ටන් ඔහුගේ කෘති අනුකරණය කළහ. ඔහු 1800 ගණන්වල හෙන්රි වැඩ්ස්වර්ත් ලෝන්ග්ෆෙලෝ, පර්සි බයිෂේ ෂෙලි, ටෙනිසන් සාමිවරයා, බයිරන් සාමිවරයා, වික්ටර් හියුගෝ සහ ෆ්‍රෙඩ්රික් ෂ්ලෙගල් වැනි ලේඛකයින්ට බලපෑම් කළේය.

වෛද්‍ය රුවන් එම් ජයතුංග 

Works Cited

Alighieri, Dante. The Divine Comedy: 1: Inferno. Trans. and comment by John D. Sinclair. New York: Oxford University Press, 1971.

Caesar, M. (1995). Dante: The Critical Heritage, Routledge.

Hatcher, E.R. (1990). Dante, psychoanalysis, and the (erotic) meaning of meaning. Bull Menninger Clin.  ;54(3):353-67.

Courtesy Hindustan Times

Ratnayake, a cafe owner in Ella, a former colonial hill station in Sri Lankan tea country, organized free food and shelter for dozens of stranded tourists.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The tourists came to see the magical waterfalls and mountain views of the lowland jungle and rainforest. But then the pandemic hit, and they were stranded in Sri Lanka.

When flights were canceled and the airports shut down, Darshana Ratnayake came to the rescue.

Ratnayake, a cafe owner in Ella, a former colonial hill station in Sri Lankan tea country, organized free food and shelter for dozens of stranded tourists.

We were totally blown away,” said Alex Degmetich, a 31-year-old American cruise line entertainment director.

It’s pretty remarkable,” he said. Coming from Western society, where nothing is really given to us and we have to pay for everything which is fine. But here, locals providing us — tourists — free food and accommodation, is really humbling.”

The Sri Lankan government imposed a nationwide curfew on March 20 to curb the spread of the virus, sealing off entire regions of the Indian Ocean island nation. Degmetich was among 40 tourists from 11 countries stranded in Ella, 200 kilometers (120 miles) east of the capital, Colombo.

Ella’s famous treks tend to draw a young backpacker crowd, and Darshana knew they’d soon be out of money, and the small bed-and-breakfast lodges out of food.

He was right: Many of the tourists had just enough money to pay for the trip, and broken supply chains meant the lodges were running low on provisions.

Darshana established his Chill Cafe as a juice bar with two tables 13 years ago. The business has grown to a full restaurant and boutique hotel with 72 employees.

Just after the curfew was imposed, Darshana prepared a list of those staying in lodges and began boxed dinner deliveries. And he convinced lodge owners to let their guests stay on for free.

Our livelihood depends on tourism. We must help tourists when they are in trouble. Money isn’t everything. We must help and share at difficult times like this,” he said.

He said he also donated 5 million Sri Lankan rupees ($27,000) to tour guides who lost their income when tourism came to a standstill.

Darshana said Sri Lanka’s bloody, decades-long civil war had a huge impact on tourism in Ella. Any time a bomb went off in the country, he said, tourist arrivals fell sharply. For 25 years, separatists from the minority Tamil community fought for a separate state. By the time government forces crushed the rebellion in 2009, U.N. estimates say some 100,000 people had been killed.

With the war’s end, Ella’s visitor numbers rose sharply, averaging a thousand people a day, he said.

Darshana has expanded his support to both lunch and dinner each day — without, he insists, sacrificing on quality or customer service.

Rebecca Curwood-Moss, a tourist from England, felt hopeless when Sri Lanka’s curfew was imposed. She said Darshana’s meals have done more than fill empty stomachs.

In the box, we didn’t just find the delicious homemade rice and curry, but we found hope,” she said.

Courtesy Adaderana

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka have moved up to 1,801 as another person tested positive for the virus today (05).

Accordingly, four infections have been detected so far within the day – two naval personnel under quarantine and two returnees from Bangladesh at the Rantambe quarantine centre.

Earlier today (05), a total of 19 coronavirus patients, who had recovered from the disease completely, were discharged from the IDH, Homagama Base Hospital and Minuwangoda Base Hospital. With this, the country’s recoveries tally escalated to 858.

Accordingly, 932 patients infected with Covid-19 are currently under medical care at hospitals, says the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry.

In the meantime, 11 patients have died due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

Courtesy Adaderana

Diplomatic staff and their family members entering Sri Lanka must submit PCR test reports obtained within 72 hours prior to their departure from respective countries, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

If they fail to provide PCR test reports, a mandatory PCR test will be carried out at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake.

The Foreign Ministry stated this in a statement issued today (05) on the revised instructions issued by the Presidential Secretariat on the PCR testing and quarantine procedures for the members of diplomatic corps based or attached in Colombo when they enter/re-enter Sri Lanka.

The Presidential Secretariat took measures to revise the instructions on Thursday (04), in order to prevent and minimize the risk of the spread of the Coronavirus in the country.

Accordingly, the Foreign Ministry has taken immediate action to convey the same to all Diplomatic Missions, the Representation Offices of the United Nations and its Specialized Agencies, International Organizations, Honorary Consulates resident in Colombo through diplomatic channels.

The revised instructions state as follows:

•  The respective Diplomatic Missions may inform the Ministry of Foreign Relations (MFR) by a Note Verbal, the details of the diplomats and their family members who are scheduled for entry/ re-entry into Sri Lanka for the diplomatic assignments well in advance in order to obtain the prior approval from the concerned authorities.

•  The members of the Diplomatic staff and their family members need to submit PCR test reports obtained within 72 hours prior to their departure from respective countries.

•  If the members of the Diplomatic staff and their family members are unable to provide PCR test reports, they would be subjected to a mandatory PCR test at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake.

•  Heads of Mission and family members will self-quarantine at the Official Residences.  All other arriving Diplomatic staff and their family members will have to follow quarantine procedures at a hotel, recommended by the Government of Sri Lanka (if independent/separate residences are not available), for a period of 14 days, subject to concurrence and supervision of the Heads of Mission.

•  The Diplomatic Missions/Representations need to inform the Ministry of Foreign Relations once the 14-day home quarantine is completed and submit the second PCR test report done by the Mission before the Officer resumes duties in the Mission as per the measures taken by the Mission to control and prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

•  The Diplomatic Missions/Representations have to forward the travel details of the Diplomatic staff and their family members at least 48 hours prior to their departure to the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry further noted that travel by Diplomatic Officers to Sri Lanka will be approved, subject to their concurrence to follow the above procedures issued by the Government of Sri Lanka.

H. L. D. Mahindapala

In these critical times it is necessary to scrutinise the public statements of our academics / intellectuals to understand the hidden political agenda they push in the guise of objective analysis for public guidance. Take, for instance, the case of two ex-Vice Chancellors, Prof. Savitri Goonesekere and Prof. Arjuna Aluvihare of the Friday Forum. In their latest outburst they raise a leading question that can evoke only hysterical laughter: So why is there demonisation of the old and the faith in the new?”

This is, indeed, an astounding question, coming as it does from two of the Vice-Chancellors of the two of the leading universities in the nation. If it came from a kindergartner one could accept it as infantile stupidity. But when two ex-Vice-Chancellors raise this question one is entitled to question the calibre of the intellect of some of our academics heading our universities.

They know – or, at least, should know – that the history of humanity has advanced by demonising the old and investing faith in the new. Nothing has changed without going through this process. Even science has advanced on this principle. Newtonian physics was replaced by Einsteinian physics on this principle. If humanity did not go through this process we would be stuck in the dead past forever. Even snakes slough their skins for new ones. So why can’t human beings?

But Professors Goonesekere and Aluvihare are raving and ranting against change which rejects the dead past and embraces the new – the eternal and universal law of nature. Of course, this question is raised by them in relation to the move of the Government to hold elections that would elect a new Parliament. However, the context in which it is raised is irrelevant because impermanence and change are universal laws applicable under all circumstances. Not even the two professors can stop it with their ridiculous questioning. Besides, democracy is based on the fundamental principle that everyone has the right to demonise” the past, and/or the status quo, and invest their faith in a new world.

It is apparent that the usual anti-Rajapakse litigants in the NGOs were desperately running around looking for heavyweights outside the courts to create a climate of pressure that would influence the thinking of the judges. In particular they were hunting for big academic titles to counter the weight of Vice-Chancellor of the Jayewardenepura University, Sudantha Liyanage, whose lawyer Aly Sabry argued convincingly that the President’s action of dismissing the old Yahapalanaya Parliament on March 2, as provided in the Constitution, was legal. There is nothing undemocratic or illegal in dissolving a dismissible Parliament, as laid out in the Constitution, and testing the will of the people for a new Parliament, even under the prevailing circumstances. So the two academic clones rushed into print for the second time to make their presence felt in the Supreme Court. The irony is that this entire gang was arguing for democracy by obstructing the holding of elections which, according to their arguments, would have to be postponed forever and a day as there is no vaccine in sight for the Coronavirus, as indicated in the best of scientific assessments. The worthlessness of their arguments were confirmed by the Court when it dismissed all their anti-Rajapakse concoctions.

These two academic pundits threw in their bit to obfuscate and mislead the public – not to mention the Supreme Court – with an inane question ever asked in the history of rational thinking. They went further and stated : Yet today, political leaders in the government and their assorted supporters, jurists, scholars, professionals, business leaders and opinion makers express views indicating they want to bury the Parliament – some for six months, some for five years, and others for all time.” The operative phrase is bury the Parliament”. The time period was left as variables – short, long or permanent.

However, what the two Vice-Chancellors imply is that investing faith in a new parliament would lead to the burial of parliament for all time. Translated into simple language, what they mean is that the new parliament, which is going to be in the hands of the Rajapakses, will bury parliament, courts and all other democratic institutions and establish a monarchy. This, they say, is against the trend of this country which has had no monarch since 1972. This is the stuff that these two academics produce to derail peace and stability in these critical days. These are two theoretical kattadiyas who could not solve the life-threatening ragging in their universities when they were Vice-Chancellors. Now they are writing prescriptions for the ills of the nation. What credibility can there be in their utterings particularly when they are seen as agents acting to promote an anti-Rajapakse agenda?

The two Vice-Chancellors are arguing that placing any faith in the new parliament” is a sinister political crime that should be avoided at any cost because it would bury the Parliament for all time”. But in any vibrant democracy burying the parliaments which had passed the use-by-date is a necessary periodical ritual for the survival of a healthy and functional democracy. In fact, the right to bury old parliaments” in order to find faith in new parliaments” is the ultimate test of a democracy. The alternative is to perpetuate the old forever.

These two academics are acting like political necrophiliacs with a maniacal obsession for the dead past which they can’t revive even with their best theoretical sorcery. They are also concerned that the dates for burial may vary. They say that some may want it buried for six months, some for five years, and others for all time.” How much nuttier can these two pundits get?  Yes, of course, considering that the old Parliament was the one that (1) handpicked and imported Arjuna Mahendra to rob the Central Bank, (2) refused to act on the  warnings given by the best of intelligence sources about the threats of Muslim terrorists that killed hundreds, (3) dabbled in some of the  worst corrupt deals,(3) covered up crimes through parliamentary procedures, (4) perverted parliamentary principles by crooked means of slipping into bills clauses not approved by the courts, (5) violated basic principles of appointing a leader of the opposition without a majority to back him, (6) allowed the MPs to feather their nests (7) engaged in Parliamentary and other privileges to avoid facing charges of corruption etc., who wouldn’t want to bury a Parliament that had abused power against the will of the people. It is all these factors and more that cries for the election of a new Parliament burying the old one. I personally do not mind if a Parliament that had passed its used-by-date is buried forever and ever.

Despite the debasing of the Yahapalanaya Parliament – undoubtedly, the worst Parliament that I’ve known since I was a lobby correspondent of the first Parliament opposite the Indian Ocean in the fifties –these two academics are against the election of a new Parliament. They are raising fears (unfounded, of course) of Parliament being closed down for ever leading to a permanent monarch. Quite plainly, the Friday Freaks are not fighting for principles. They are fighting to push their hidden agenda of perpetuating the old Parliament. But that hope was buried by the Supreme Court. The Court has, in its wisdom, written the final obituary note on the old Parliament. Amen!

Glorifying the Old Parliament is one way of avoiding elections – the only means of testing the will of the people, which in any case is due any time now. So why are they obstructing the holding of elections, given that the management of the Corona virus under the Rajapakse regime has received global commendation? Clearly, the anti-Rajapakse lobby is not aiming to preserve or protect democracy. They are targeting the Rajapakses to prevent them from winning the forthcoming parliamentary election, whenever it happens. In the absence of any substantial arguments to attack the Gotabaya Rajapakse government they have taken to fear-mongering as a last resort. Take the following examples as reported in the Sunday Times:

Fear 1: The Friday Forum (TFF) has questioned whether the Government is demonising the old Parliament in the expectations that the new Parliament it desired will adopt and enact a Constitution that will do away with Parliament and the courts.”

Fear 2: Is it possible, there is an expectation that the much desired new Parliament will adopt and enact a Constitution which will do away with familiar institutions known as Parliament and the courts (the two other pillars of governance in a parliamentary democracy? TFF said.”

Fear 3: The Rajapakses will take on the mantle of kingship.”

It is quite apparent that all these are imagined fears brewed in the addled brains of the Friday Freaks. They haven’t advanced even a subatomic particle of evidence to prove that their imagined fears are inevitable.  Raising fears does not amount to rational thinking or sober analysis of the ground realities. All the fears listed above add up to a veiled attack on the Rajapakses. They are raving because they fear that the new Parliament will disentangle and liberate the nation from the 19th Amendment – a constitutional knot that has tied and immobilised the nation. Like everything else that Ranil Wickremesinghe touched it was a disaster. It could not even sack the IGP, a handpicked nominee of Ranil, for the criminal negligence of his duties and responsibilities that led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Before examining any one of the fictitious fears of the two academic clones it may be necessary to examine their heads of these theoretical weirdos.  

The main thrust of their statement is summarised in the headline: Friday Forum questions Government motive behind demonising the old parliament”. Everyone knows that everyone, including some of the UNPers, have been demonising the old Parliament. Only these two academics from the Jurassic Park think that the Government is demonising the old Parliament”. Based on this fiction these two ideological clones proceed to declare that the new Parliament of the Rajapakses will abolish, the parliament, and the other two pillars of parliamentary democracy without a scintilla of evidence to back their claim.  In any case, their fear-mongering does not reflect any exceptional or original conceptual thinking.

The common tactic of the anti-people, pro-West ideologues located in so-called think-tanks has been to project fears, fantasies and fictions about the end of democracy each time a pro-national leader takes over the leadership of the state. I remember vividly how this gang, including the media allied to them, went berserk propagating these fears of dictatorship and denial of democratic rights when President Ranasinghe Premadasa was fighting two terrorist groups – one in the south and one in the north – within the democratic framework. Today the bomb-maker of the fascist JVP, Victor Ivan, who led the media attack against President Premadasa is elevating him to the ranks of a model leader who introduced and implemented innovative people-oriented programmes for the well-being of the nation.

I also remember how the media, the Churchmen, the environmentalists, the academics, the Lalith-Gamini duo went ballistic condemning the construction of Kandalama, the award-winning hotel designed by Bevis Bawa. Their hysterical cries predicted a dreadful environmental disaster for the scenic tank nearby and the forested neighbourhood. These doomsayers were silenced by Kandalama winning successive awards for preserving and maintaining environmental excellence shortly after it was constructed.

The campaign launched by these anti-national forces against the Rajakases is no different. Today they are running scared of the people who elected President Gotabaya Rajapakse. They fear that the same wave that elected the President will invest their faith in the new Parliament. Not knowing how to stop the next pro-Rajapakse wave they have resorted to scare-mongering about the Rajapakses doing away with the Parliament and the courts. The Rajapakses are seasoned political leaders who have been in and out power to know how far they could go with the power invested in them. The notion of running a government without parliament and courts can come only from putrefying brains going down the drain to a cesspit of political hate.

The Government, on the other hand, is waging a battle to keep democracy alive by holding elections. The underlying principle that keeps all democracies breathing and alive healthily is the power of the will of the sovereign people expressed through elections. In fact, the current battle of the Government is to have elections. It is the opposition that is attempting to postpone the election indefinitely under various pretexts. But Parliaments and elections are interdependent. One cannot exist without the other. Nor can democracy. Since the ultimate sovereign is the people it is their will that must prevail in a Parliament and that can function only if there is an election.

As things stand there isn’t a better time than now to hold elections. The Government has proved that it has the capacity to keep Corona virus under control, or at least at manageable levels. There are risks no doubt. The London Independent (2/6/20) reported that four had died in Congo from a new attack of Ebola. This news warns the public about the dangers of viruses that can raise its head anytime, anywhere.  Since there is no certainty about a date for developing a viable vaccine (some predict the end of the year) are we going to wait indefinitely for the arrival of the antidote to hold elections?

All factors –including the Court decision — point to the option of fighting the election and COVID-19 simultaneously.  The choice is either to manage a likely spike in COVID-!9 (as we do now) with elections or live without an election with COVID-19 still hanging overhead at varying levels, since there is no vaccine to combat it. There is no guarantee of not having a spike of COVID-19 if we don’t have elections.  We will not know which is riskier until the elections are held. It is a gamble we will have to take since there is no cure in sight. Any doubts of not having an election has been removed decisively by the Court.

The nation should be grateful to the Supreme     Court for burying the Old Parliament and investing faith in the new tomorrow than postponing elections sine die on imagined fears.  

By Rohana R. Wasala

Let the Poson full moon dispel the gloom!

May peace, health, and content in the land bloom!

The first three months of the lunar calendar of the Sinhalese: Bak, Vesak, and Poson (roughly corresponding to the months of April, May and June in the Gregorian calendar which is in common use today) are each marked by one of their three most important annual celebrations. The month of Bak has the Sinhala Aluth Avurudda, an age-old harvest festival organized  according to traditional astrological beliefs based on the idea of the sun completing an annual circuit across the twelve signs of the zodiac from Aries to Pisces, and resuming another  (marking the end of one lunar year and the beginning a new year); hence it is also called the Surya Mangalyaya (Sun Festival); the Aluth Avurudda is a secular celebration marked by feasting and recreational activities that usually go on for days in normal times. The Vesak is an entirely religious  ceremony that pays homage to the Buddha, marking the full moon day of the month as the day that his birth, enlightenment and death are traditionally believed to have taken place; this is the most important religious celebration of the year for Sri Lankan Buddhists. Colourful illuminations and the unique dansaelas (alms centres that offer free food and beverages to all who are willing to accept them). The third most important annual national ceremony is held on the Poson full moon poya day, which, this year falls today (June 5, 2020). It is also a completely religious event that is hardly less significant than Vesak. If Vesak is dedicated to the Buddha, Poson is held for paying homage to Arhant Mahinda, who is revered as the Anu Budu or Surrogate Buddha, for it was he who brought Buddhism to Lanka and established it as the country’s state religion in the 3rd century BCE as recorded in the Mahavansa or the Great Chronicle composed in the 5th century CE, thus officially  initiating the still dominant Sinhala Buddhist civilizational foundation of the island nation. 

The social, cultural and political significance of these celebrations is inexhaustible, irrespective of the secular or spiritual nature of each ceremony. They are not  meaninglessly fun and frolic based. They create and consolidate solidarity within the nation and project its identity to other nations as worthy of their courtesy, friendship and formal and informal recognition (i.e., what is collectively called the ‘comity of nations’), something that was gravely jeopardised during the previous few years. They are mass national morale-boosters, so to speak. These three festive or celebratory occasions could not be properly observed last year and the year before and that  fact added to the collective gloom that enveloped the Sri Lankan society when the buoyant mood of the post-war years was deliberately squashed by an engineered regime change. (Foreigners and culturally alienated locals do not experience any empathy with Sri Lankans on these points.) November 2019 brought some respite. People were hopeful that the general election that was to follow would bring a permanent end to the gloomy anarchical state of affairs, and give them the chance to celebrate all three events making up for what they had to forego before. But the Covid-19 pandemic started wreaking havoc across the world. Yet, Sri Lankans as a nation still remain relatively safe from the deadly virus, and can look forward to a reasonably early easing of the existing oppressive situation.  This is largely due to the altruistic commitment to their duties and the selfless sacrifices of the health workers and security forces personnel tasked with the containment and control of the disease; they have been efficiently mobilised and managed under the current government; the process has been facilitated by the common citizenry empowered as they are by the characteristic moral attributes of resilience, patience, compassion, and discipline imparted to them by the dominant traditional culture.

Sri Lankan Buddhists are observing the 2267th Poson Full Moon poya day today, Friday June 5, 2020. Buddhists have been instructed by the Maha Sangha and the government to do the Poson devotions and carry out other observances associated with it, while being confined to their houses as required under the quarantine conditions. The state Poson ceremony is to be held  today at the Mihintala Raja Maha Viharaya under the guidance of the incumbent monk Ven. W. Dhammaratana in conformity with specific health guidelines.  We may now reflect on the special significance of Poson for the nation in this unexpected period of apprehension as well as hope. 

The Sinhala word ‘poya’ comes from the Pali ‘uposatha’ (which means ‘to fast’); in the Sinhalese lunar calendar, the full moon day of every month is considered by the Buddhist public as their main poya day or fasting day in each month, which they are recommended  to spend, as Buddhists, engaged in religious rituals and practices. The special  significance of the Poson poya day for Buddhists derives from the fact that  Arhant Mahinda Thera (son of Emperor Asoka Dharmasoka of Jambudipa/India) arrived at Mount Missa and stationed himself ‘on the rocky peak of the delightful and celebrated Ambatthala’ in the island of Tambapanni or Lanka along with four other bhikkhus, a samanera or novice bhikkhu named Sumana (young son of Sangamitta, Mahinda Thera’s sister), and an upasaka (a lay follower) by the name of Bhandu, who was a grandnephew of Devi of Vedisa in the Avanti country, who was none other than Mahinda Thera’s mother. This momentous event has been dated to 247 BCE in terms of information given in ancient Chronicles such as Dipavansa and Mahavansa composed respectively in the 4th and 5th CE, the latter relatively more sophisticated than the former. 

Chapter 13 of the Mahavansa deals with the arrival of Arhant Mahinda Thera in Lanka and Chapter 14 with his meeting with the ruler of the island king Tissa/Devanampiya Tissa, and the royal reception of the missionaries and their simultaneous introduction to the populace in the capital Anuradhapura. From the various incidental scraps of information that can be gathered from the previous and following Chapters, it can be inferred that this obviously formal introduction of Theravada Buddhism to Lanka was as much an instance of peaceful political intervention as a religious-cultural event. For example, Arhant Mahinda lived for some time at Vedisa visiting his mother and other relatives just before proceeding to Lanka on his mission. In Chapter 13 of the Mahavansa (contained in the first part of the book translated by George Turnour in 1836, which Mudliyar L.C. Wijesinghe added, with notes and emendations, to his own  Government of Ceylon commissioned translation of the Mahavansa in two parts published in 1889), we have the following detail concerning this brief stay of Arhant Mahinda in the Avanti country: ‘At this period (of Mahinda’s visit) she (the queen) was residing there, in Cetiyanagara (LCW emends this as ‘Vedisa’). While the thera was sojourning there, he thus meditated: The period has arrived for undertaking the mission enjoined by my father. May the said Devanampiyatissa, having already solemnised his inauguration with utmost pomp, be enjoying his regal state. May he, after having ascertained from my father’s ambassador the merits of the three blessed treasures (sent by my father), acquire a right understanding of them (the doctrines of Buddha). May he on the full moon day on the month of ‘jettha’ visit Missa mountain (Mihintale), for on that very day shall I myself repair to renowned Lanka”’. So, Mahinda Thera’s mission was a royal command to be carried out; the Lankan ruler, Devanampiyatissa, on the other hand, was required by Emperor Asoka to ‘acquire a right understanding of the three blessed treasures’ (which LCW interprets as the ‘doctrines of Buddha’) earlier conveyed to the former through ambassadors sent to him by the latter (i.e., Asoka). The fact that Mahinda Thera was his son also means something; that is, it indicates a relationship that was valued at a personal level (enhancing the political aspect of the mission). Mahinda Thera waited till the death of the aged king Mutasiva, the revolutionary Pandukabhaya’s son; he was waiting for Mutasiva’s son, Devanampiyatissa to ascend the throne. This suggests that Emperor Asoka had envisaged the introduction of a lasting change of order in the country by way of converting the ruler and the people to the new spiritual way shown by the Buddha. The old Mutasiva, being his father’s son, was probably too independent minded to give up his traditional ways.

Chapter 11 gives hints about the nature of the relationship that had existed between Emperor Dharmashoka of Jambudipa and DevanampiyaTissa of Tambapanni or Lanka. The chapter is titled ‘The Inauguration of Devanampiya Tissa’. Mutasiva dies an old man after a sixty year reign, leaving ten sons and two daughters. Devanampiya Tissa, the second son, is crowned king. He sends a delegation of ambassadors led by his chief minister Maha Arittha, his maternal nephew, accompanied by the Brahman of the Hali mountain, a minister of state by the name of Malla, and a retinue, bearing royal gifts to the court of Dharmashoka in Pataliputra (Patna today). They are well received there, and after a five month stay, they return to Anuradhapura, along with Dharmashoka’s own ambassadors bearing valuable gifts and royal advice to the Lankan ruler asking him to accept the treasures of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. Dharmasoka’s ambassadors also bring requisites for Devanampiya Tissa’s coronation a second time. What made that a necessity? It is possible that the relationship between the two monarchs was unequal. It could be that it was an empire vs vassal state relationship. Even the title ‘Devanampiya’ (Pali lit. ‘beloved of the gods’) belonged to Emperor Dharmashoka. It is found in his rock edicts. It could have been conferred on the Lankan king as a special honour or a special mark of recognition. This connection laid a firm foundation for the evolution of Sri Lanka as a celebrated centre of commerce and culture on par with the physically much larger and more powerful nations in the east.

The fact that the Mahavansa itself refers to this highly formal  exchange of deputations of ambassadors between the two kings prior to the arrival of Arhant Mahinda suggests that the story of the monk on the mount with his sacred mission surprising the monarch on the chase in the wilderness is a dramatic fictionalisation of a real historical event found in the ‘epic poem’ which the Mahavansa is according to one interpretation. Probably there was no better way of recording for posterity of a gradual profound process that must have spread over a long period of time marked with disputes and debates and even violence between the adherents of local animistic forms of religious belief and the ‘newfangled’ (so to say) Buddhists (the process here being the weaning of the rulers and the common people of their primitive modes of religion). The miraculous aerial passage of Mahinda Thera and group from Jambudipa to Lanka, and from Mount Missaka (Mihintale) to the capital (Anuradhapura) must be a similar piece of fiction. The ambassadors travelled between the two countries by sea and land. The missionaries must have used the same modes of travel. The famous ‘intelligence test’ given by the monk to the king could be a part of the drama. The diplomatic interactions between the two monarchs made it evident that Devanampiya Tissa didn’t lack intelligence. Could we say that bhikkhu Mahanama, the author, in this context, mythologised history to make it more memorable and popular, instead of doing the reverse as normally charged? 

The foreign missionaries addressed the locals in the latter’s own language (the ancestor of today’s Sinhala), which means that it had been a sophisticated enough medium for them to communicate the new doctrine, and that the audiences were intellectually advanced enough to be receptive to its message. So, the ‘introduction’ of Buddhism by Arhant Mahinda was not the case of a hardly civilized primitive people being led from total darkness to clear light in spiritual terms, but  an inspiring example of an increasing number of people of an obviously civilised community being rationally and compassionately persuaded to embrace Buddhist teachings in place of their less rational traditional beliefs. It is significant that Arhant Mahinda Thera began his missionary preaching with the profound Cullahatthipadopama Sutta or the ‘Discourse on the Shorter Elephant Footprint Simile’ (for a good English translation of which one may check out this link:  https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN27.html). The Mahavansa text contains similar references to other discourses of the Buddha. Reading them is essential for a fuller understanding of the book. The Cullahatthipadopama Sutta contains the story of how brahman Janussoni, while riding out of Savatthi, at the time the Buddha  was living in Jeta’s Grove near that city, sees the Wanderer Pilotika Vacchayana coming towards him after a visit to the great sage. Janussoni is greatly impressed by what he hears about the Buddha from Vacchayana, and he calls on him. The Buddha teaches him the rational way of his teaching. If an elephant hunter finds one big footprint of an elephant in the forest and concludes that it is the footprint of a big male elephant, he is not necessarily right. There are many other points to consider before arriving at the right conclusion. Janussoni is taught about the ‘footprints’ of the Tathagata (Buddha), which involves his teachings about virtue, sense restraint, mindfulness and alertness, abandoning hindrances, the Four Jhanas, and the Three Knowledges. Buddha in this discourse makes an incidental reference to ‘cosmic expansion and cosmic contraction’ (two thousand five hundred years before modern physicists came out with the theory that the universe expands and then contracts! We are now in the expanding phase of the universe according to this theory).  A ruler and a race capable of responding to profound doctrinal concepts and explications were certainly not an uneducated and intellectually too unrefined a people.

So, we were a civilized people even before the formal introduction of Buddhism. This is being confirmed by recent archaeological discoveries and revolutionary new methods of exploring the past. We can be truly proud of our long history that is distinguished in its various aspects, of our beautiful country, of our language literature and our multilingual legacy of the past centuries, the democratic system of government which is getting stronger by surviving unprecedented trials, and above all, of our humanistic and humanitarian spiritual tradition that eschews violent extremism, and that finally ‘aims at creating a society where the ruinous struggle for power is renounced; where calm and peace prevail away from conquest and defeat; where the persecution of the innocent is vehemently denounced; where one who conquers oneself is more respected than those who conquer millions by military and economic warfare; where hatred is conquered by kindness, and evil by goodness; where enmity, jealousy, ill-will and greed do not infect men’s minds; where compassion is the driving force of action; where all, including the least of living things, are treated with fairness, consideration and love; where life in peace and harmony, in a world of material contentment, is directed towards the highest and noblest aim, the realization of the Ultimate Truth Nirvana’ (The words within quote marks are from Ven. Dr Walpola Rahula’s ‘What the Buddha Taught’. The apt relevance of these sentiments to the conflict-ridden world of today including our country need hardly be pointed out.)

The historic event that the Poson ceremony commemorates today is the ever enduring cornerstone, buried in history though it is, that our hoary forefathers laid with great hindsight and foresight for building our unique island civilization. The Sinhalese built that great edifice in Lanka, their only historic homeland, disciplined by the Buddhist teachings introduced by Arhant Mahinda. Protecting the great legacy that forms the warp and weft of the most hospitable and humane cultural fabric of our country is the responsibility of, not only the Sinhalese Buddhists, but Sri Lankans of all ethnicities and religions. It is a common inheritance of all Sri Lankans.

Palitha Mapatuna

What is evident today in the face of Covid 19 is the sense of sheer helplessness even among those who may presume to be powerful.

To a discerning individual, this situation can bring into focus the essence of the teaching of the Buddha, namely the universal characteristics of existence.

The universal characteristics consist of the following relationships:

impermanence 

suffering in impermanence, and

not-self in suffering.

The following is a brief discussion of these characteristics.

Impermanence

Existence is a series of experiences and each experience consists of five elements: form (matter), feeling, perception, determinants (intention), and consciousness.

All these elements are subject to rise and fall and, hence, impermanent. They change and dissolve with the change and dissolution of the things on which they depend. 

Such change and dissolution are mostly hidden in the busy day to day existence, but a keen individual may vividly perceive it in the current circumstances of Covid 19.

Suffering in impermanence

Arising from impermanence is a sense of oppression of being relentlessly subject to it. No agreeable state of affairs can be relied upon to continue; it is accompanied by an underlying sense of insecurity, and subtle anxiety. This is the essence of suffering in impermanence. 

This sense of oppression is manifest in mainly aging, sickness and death, and the latter two are particularly evident currently.

Not-self in suffering

With regard to not-self, the term ‘self’ (or ‘soul’ or any other term representing it) needs definition; without defining this term will be meaningless.

Basically, the function of a thing defines it. The (supposed) function of ‘self’ is essentially that of ‘master’ (one who ‘owns’ or ‘dominates’). In the absence of this unique function, anything could be self!

However, a master requires mastery and, therefore, self requires mastery. In the absence of mastery, ‘self’ will be an empty notion, a mere sound.

The absence of mastery is emphasized in the sense of helplessness in the face of  Covid 19. 

In this way, there could be an insight into not-self in impermanence and suffering.

This is an insight into reality, leading to freedom from delusion.  

Palitha Mapatuna

Courtesy nitravelnews.com

Sri Lanka hopes to reopen to tourists in August, subject to new measures to guard against new coronavirus cases.

The country plans to open to small groups, staying in approved accommodation that meets strict Covid health and safety guidelines.
Kimali Fernando, Chair of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Promotion Bureau confirmed visitors would be required to provide a Covid-free certificate or test result before travelling. Entrants will also have to submit to temperature checks and additional rapid” coronavirus testing on arrival.

Tourists would be required to hold a booking with a Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority-registered agency and Covid-certified hotels, and a return air ticket.

Courtesy Adaderana

The government has decided to pay compensation up to Rs. 600,000 to all insured depositors of The Finance Company PLC (TFC) which is to be liquidated.

Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardena stated this during the media briefing to announce Cabinet decisions today (04).

This will solve the issue of 93% of the TFC depositors, Minister Gunawardena said, noting that there is a 7% of depositors who had made deposits more than Rs. 600,000. Accordingly, the balance amount of these depositors will be settled after the properties of the TFC are liquidated.

The issue of TFC was discussed at length with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Cabinet Spokesperson added.

In the meantime, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), in a statement issued today (04), said the compensation will be paid as per the Regulations of Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance and Liquidity Support Scheme.

The balance amount if any, will be settled after liquidation of properties belong to TFC. The compensation payments will be made through the People’s Bank as the agent bank appointed by CBSL for this purpose,” it read further.

The first phase of the compensation payment for the individual depositors having a single deposit, will commence on 07 June 2020 at People’s Bank branch locations where TFC branches were previously operated, the CBSL added.

The license issued to TFC to carry on finance business has been cancelled with effect from 22 May 2020, in terms of the provisions of the Finance Business Act No. 42 of 2011.