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| Sunday, 26 May 2002 |
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Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Buddhism in the Bible belt - a reply This refers to the article Buddhism In The Bible belt written by an American Bikku Ven. Jagaradhamma Thero. Reading the article and seeing the pictures I was surprised and my eyes could not believe that I was seeing pictures and reading a story of a place so dear and close to our hearts. My wife and I with my son Kapila and daughter-in-law Loretta (a Roman Catholic) together with the grandchildren visited the South Carolia Vihara. A special exposition of the relic of Lord Buddha, Pirith chanting had been arranged by the head of the Vihara Ven. Dhammaloka Thera. M.P.S. YATIYWELA,Ja-Ela. This is a letter written to express our sincere gratitude for publishing the appeal for adoption of our shelter dogs two months ago in your newspaper. The response was amazing, as it has always been following the publication of our earlier appeals (so many) in your newspaper, we were able to find loving homes for most of the healthy dogs (i.e. over 30) and this was a direct result of the appeal being published. So thank you very much. It is heartening to note that the media is sensitive to the issue of animal welfare and we are indeed encouraged and inspired by the support shown by you for our work. I have noticed that the issue of animal welfare is addressed in your newspaper very regularly with much prominence given to it and for that I am sure most people are so grateful. CHAMPA FERNANDO, Secretary, KACPAW Do AIDS patients get a proper deal A few years ago the AIDS program estimated that there were 7500 HIV patients living in Sri Lanka. We are reliably informed that very recently that a high-powered committee of this program estimated this to be only 2000. The Health Ministry should be congratulated on this achievement. We wonder what magic formula was used to make this estimate? Shouldn't the WHO be informed of Sri Lanka's achievement? Our concern however is that if there are only 2000 patients, cannot they be given treatment with anti-AIDS drugs. Not so long ago the Director of the Program had stated in an interview in a newspaper that these drugs were available from India at minimum cost and the Ministry was considering getting it down. If free treatment is given for other diseases why cannot these patients also be treated? Does the Health Ministry think that these patients are social outcasts or don't they have any policy regarding provision of these drugs for AIDS patients? Can the Patients Rights Group, please take up this matter? NGO , Colombo Act well thy part - there all the honour lies 'Hiawatha' from Galle, writing to your valued Journal an article captioned 'Wanton Waste in an Economic Crisis' in our country, undoubtedly, caught the eye of the Hon. Interior Minister Mr. John Amaratunga who wasted no more time in putting Galle District Prisons into 'Apple Pie Order.' A Big Bouquet for the performance of a remarkable feat awaits the Minister for his 'act of humanitarian service promptly rendered to 800 odd prisoners in Galle who underwent inhuman sufferings and hardships due to their being confined and holed-up in a congested prison cell meant only to house 175 men. The similarity being that of dumb driven cattle in a sardin packed slaughter house in this Buddhistic Isle where the preaching of 'Maithri' is relayed from almost every Hill-top in our land. The dedicated service of the Hon. Minister ordering immediate transfers of prisoners from a crowded prison cell in Galle to more spacious and almost empty cells in Boosa, is a Command in the right direction. It gives a sigh of relief to the much harassed prisoners as well as to all practising Religionists of all denominations in this pluralistic country. Time is opportune to consider appointing un-official Prison Visitors as in the days of yore to report prison short-comings where the prisoners have no say at all to obtain redress since in Law, Prisoners are only seen, not heard. C.L. TERENCE FERNANDO, Moratuwa. Our people, both Sinhalese and Muslims know how to share the grief of our fellow beings and express their sympathies to the family members of the victim of dastardly murder that took place at Marakkalawatta, Beruwala on the election day on 20th March 2002. When the sad news reached Dharga Town all shops, big and small, put up shutters. The pavement hawkers wrapped up their wares and went home. The vans and three wheelers deserted the main street. Hundreds of white flags flattered, signifying mourning, an innovation in a predominantly Muslim town. Ministers Rauf Hakeem and Imtiaz Bakeer Markar, the Provincial Council member Aslam Hadjar and members of the Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha and members of the Urban Council, Beruwala and many others too many to mention by names - called at the humble dwelling of the victim to convey their condolences to the bereaved family. Who was the victim of this dastardly murder? A politician? A successful businessman? None but a humble driver of a three wheeler, one Abdurrahman Fasmy, a young man of 23 years of age and the bread winner of the family. Minister Rauff Hakeem bemoaned the murder of a supporter of his party and demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident forthwith. But the thousands who walked behind the cortege on its way to the grand mosque burial ground, though they were from different ethnic groups and from different strata of society, had one sentiment uppermost in their minds, i.e. the young victim was one of them. His death was not in vain, for it forged a unity among our people, both Sinhalese and Muslims and stirred a noble sentiment to the effect how sacred and precious a human life is, to whomever it may belong. This new awakening or enlightenment has helped man to see his brother in every man and his sister in every woman irrespective of his or her social status or whatever race he or she may belong to. This enlightenment that stirred such noble sentiments in human hearts is a key to human personality which reveals that ordinary souls could rise up to a higher spiritual level as expected by the religions of the world. This enlightenment or awakening should not be allowed to consume itself before it sets aflame the heart of every Sri Lankan and establish brotherhood among men, professing various religions and speaking in different languages, so that when peace dawns in our country, our children - Sinhalese speaking Buddhist and Christian children and Tamil speaking Hindu, Christian and Muslim children - may mingle with one another with brotherly feelings and a citizen of Sri Lanka living either in the north or in the south or in any part of Sri Lanka, should be stirred by similar noble sentiment that he is a brother unto other. The Centre for Performing Arts, which conducts a cultural program called 'We are one family,' seems to be inspired by similar sentiments. I wish their endeavour be crowned with success. I appeal to the learned readers from religious sector and laymen to offer their views on how to make this vision a reality. I.L.M. ASHRAFF, Dharga Town. Twin menace of drugs and 'Kasippu' The heartening news item appeared in the Sunday Observer of 3.03.2002 quoted the Interior Minister, John Amaratunga as having announced that his ministry would launch an intensive campaign to eradicate the drug menace, which has been plaguing the country for so long. This was hailed as a laudable gesture by every one, who has a concern for the health of the nation at heart. Smuggling of heroine is so rampant that the so-called 'Kudu' is freely available to the addicts in every part of the country. Therefore, if the envisaged campaign has not already been launched, it is imperative that it be put into effect forthwith before smuggling of heroine into the country escalates further and assume intractable proportion. Admittedly, it is rather a difficult task to combat a monstrous menace of this nature, which has taken root in the society, yet not impossible to at least curb it to an appreciable extent if only those responsible for spearheading the campaign pull their weight together undaunted and make a genuine effort with commitment and great zeal to clamp down on smuggling of heroine in the country. There is no gainsaying the fact that drug trafficking by and large is an outrageous crime against humanity, more heinous than a crime of murder. Unlike a criminal, who commits a murder, drug traffickers ruin several thousands of valuable young lives slowly but surely. Hence it is high time that drug trafficking is classified as a capital offence. Provisions should also be made to confiscate the movable and immovable properties of the convict, so that it may serve as a deterrent to others. Kasippu is the other long standing vicious and baneful menace, which the Hon'ble minister cannot afford to overlook. As manifestly clear, this poisonous and baneful illicit kasippu industry is thriving manifestly because of the indiscreet taxation of the lawful liquor industry that led to the demand for kasippu. It has since flourished vigorously and proliferated like mushrooms to such a stupendous magnitude that a kasippu den is found in every nook and corner of the country. In this context the Minister would do well to implement the above mentioned proposal in respect of kasippu simultaneously with his campaign against drug abuse, in a bid to rid the country of this twin menace of drug abuse and kasippu and safeguard the health of the nation, which is a sine qua non for economic revival and progress. P. HERBERT MENDIS, Boossa. |
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