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| Sunday, 29 February 2004 |
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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.
Coconut growers are experiencing a dearth of coconut pluckers who render an indispensable service to the coconut industry. The present generation of coconut pluckers are dropping out due to old age and ill health and there seems to be no willing hands among the younger generation to learn the trade hence the void is inevitable. A scheme initiated by the youth movement in the North Western Province was afoot to train youth as coconut pluckers, it is time for coconut growers to address their mind to this vexed question starting in their faces and give every possible encouragement and assistance to such a praiseworthy project for, the day may not be far away when we will have to train monkeys, for the job of plucking coconuts as in certain other countries. Merril Gunaratne, God and the earthquake in Iran Apropos Dharmapala Senaratne's letter of 25.01.2004 on the above subject, the aftermath itself is ample proof that God is omni benevolent based on the fact that some people including children were reportedly rescued from the debris even after 13 days. The children who perished in this calamity were innocent victims presumably meant for Heaven for they had not felt the presence of God. The believers in God have been tested even with the loss of their precious lives in order to strengthen their belief accordingly to Holy Quran but Heaven is their destination. The following verses well depict such sacrifices: A believer breathing his last lamented "The Heaven that I see not visible to my persecutors". SURA - 36, Verses 25 & 26: "For me I have faith in the Lord of you (all), Listen then to me". It was said enter thou the Garden "He said Ah me would that my people knew (what I know)". The above revelations make it crystal clear of the fact that believers persecuted will reach salvation. Hence, I would most emphatically state that the very same things is applicable to the victims of the earthquake in Iran. Qarun the wealthiest man in the world so described by God himself was buried in Egypt. This has become a living wonder because the heap of waste material put on this place is gradually going down. SURA 28 - Verse 81 States: - "Then we caused the earth to swallow up him and his house and he had not (The least little) party to help him against Allah. Nor could be defend himself". Therefore, the calamity is only on the down-trodden as claimed by Senaratne is nullified by dint of this penalty imposed on Qarun by the "all powerful God!" All what we are aware of, so far, are religious points of view and let us touch the Scientific data: Science page of The Island of 24th March, 2000 reported that some stars explode suddenly. This is called a Supernova explosion. In the process, a neutron star density is unimaginably high. A teaspoonful of neutron star material would weigh a billion tons - equal to 200 million elephants. What will happen if it is dropped on to the surface of the earth! could Mr. Senaratne explain as to who prevents this, could this not be omni benevolence on the part of God? History speaks volumes of the unbelievers on whom the wrath of God inflicted for their misdeeds. Mohammad Farook, Reference is made to R. Wickremasinghe's letter in the Sunday Observer of Feb. 15. All of us mortals remain susceptible to calamities. We often read or hear of catastrophies in many parts of the world, the like of which, unfortunately, are recurring phenomena. Earthquakes recur within the volcanic belt. We have heard of earthquakes in America, Japan, parts of India and Australia which are some of the countries in this belt. In our blessed country, which is in the tropics, we do not hear of such fearful catastrophies. We do experience disasters time and again, such as a major flood, a devastating cyclone or tragic earthslips in the hill country during rainy season, but they are of a lesser magnitude when compared with natural disasters in other parts of the world. Tornadoes are very common in America. A tornado could strike anywhere at any time in all its fury causing untold devastation. But in our country, we experience cyclones of a mild nature and the damage they cause is comparatively negligible. Do we attribute these catastrophies to the way of the world or to the wrath of a supernatural being? It is beyond human capacity to understand how much or how little a supernatural being has to do with tragedies in the world. As believers in a supreme being, our conclusion is that we live on in the face of unforeseen tragedy, hoping against hope, in the spirit of our belief, that we will always be safe. E.M.A., Great expectations for a free and fair election We are again today on the threshold of another General Election. The election is scheduled to be held on 2nd of April, 2004, but we know that, unlike those grand old days when our representatives were gentlemen-politicians, today this old order has changed yielding place to a new electoral system and a new category of politicians. During the past two or more decades, we have witnessed and experienced a significant degeneracy of the democratic process leaving a trail of terror and violence, both before and after elections. There have been instances where party men had celebrated their victories terrorising their vanquished political rivals and their coterie into permanent submission in a planned effort, more than mere political revenge. This regrettable situation in the electoral process is due to the legacy left behind by the inconsistency of the J.R. Constitution of 1978, which warrants an immediate revision. In the golden era of politics, election results were announced at the relevant Kachcheries and as a schoolboy, I can still remember how supporters of either parties were rejoicing outside Kachcheri premises peacefully until results were announced and how at the end, both the victor and the defeated candidates walk out of the Kachcheri with all smiles. In this backdrop, it is high time, that all political leaders should be cautious and far-sighted when nominating their candidates for their electorates. Leaving apart their popularity among the party, they should prove themselves to be honest, self-less with integrity of character and their political background and capabilities should be the main criteria in nominating them. The recent past parliamentary history reveals that among of our present day elected Members of Parliament, on both sides, are but part-time self-seeking gentlemen rascals in the guise of honest people's representatives. How could we voters expect such irresponsible persons to take part in legislative deliberations and pass Laws for the welfare of our society ? Let me here, remind Mahathma Gandhi's words - knowledge without character, is power for evil only, as seen in the instances of many talented thieves and gentlemen-rascals in the world everywhere". Underworld thugs, drug peddlers, rapists, murderers, gamblers, purveyors of prostitutes, punters, kasippu vendors, liquor merchants and political conspirators etcetera, should not at all be allowed to infiltrate into the political stream if at all our political leaders wish to maintain the sovereignty of this prestigious institution, The Parliament. Over an amount of 10 lakhs a day is being spent on Parliament out of public money. We, the voters, do have to be cautious not to elect such unscrupulous characters to parliament who are more concerned about their personal glory than their electorate. In this backdrop, wider powers should be given to the Elections Commissioner to discharge his duties to conduct a free and fair elections peacefully without any interference by any politician. The production of the voter's National Identity Card at the Polling booth should be a MUST before issuing a ballot paper. No supporter or any henchman of any candidate should be allowed to loiter in the precincts to canvass votes or intimidate voters. The right to vote and to be voted for is the essence and foundation of a democratic way of life and it is hoped that the Monitoring Agencies (PAFFREL) would do their utmost in their duties. Fifty six years of Independence and 73 years of Universal Franchise would be negated unless the present Leaders of all political parties act with mutual understanding and respect with integrity and independence of discernment and devotion to truth in keeping with the norms of both democracy and human decency in the conduct of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for 2nd April, 2004. Don Sarath Abeyesekera, Darwin's theory - only half the truth Sunday Observer of 15-2-2004 page 48 gave the startling news about the proposal to achieve international recognition for the Darwin Day on 12th February from 2009. It marks the bicentenary of the British biologist Charles Darwin who fearlessly put forward the theory of the origin of species that went against religions that declared the world existing in this present form is the work of a creator as supreme being. In this age of science Darwins theory covers only a part of the whole truth about the universe and how it came into being. But the Buddha 2400 years ago had revealed the complete truth about the creation of the world or the universe. It is the work of not only one Creator but four Creators jointly and separately which is referred to as nature in science. These four creators unlike the creator in religions are visible and tangible as four elements any time. This scientific discovery as the eternal truth is regarded as the greatest miracle in the world and it is possible only by a Buddha. These facts are fully explained for the masses in two books, "Buddhology" (2000) chapter 13, pages 58 and 59, which declares that Buddhism began as a science and not a religion, and "understanding world religions" (2002) chapter 10. S.C. Perera, Auditions for English relief announcers, a farce It was disheartening to note the manner in which auditions were held recently, in the studios of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. I have a strange feeling, that those whom they wanted were pre-selected. Even before I could complete whatever was given to me to be read, the red light was flashed and I was stopped in my tracks. This happened on two occasions. I appeared for these auditions on two occasions. The first was on the 25 April 2003, and on the 17 January 2004. They are very adept in adopting a ruse will let you know. The authorities concerned, never ever let you know, or inform you of what the outcome was. Is this the manner, in which these auditions are conducted? Why should initially, one be called for these auditions at all, and waste our time, if a candidate has already been selected. Over to you, Mr. Chairman George, W. David, Non-reply of letters by Govt. Departments It is very rarely the members of the public get a reply to their letters from any government department or even the Corporations. This is a clear indication that the officers concerned are not sure of what they are doing or not fit enough to hold any responsible position. Such officers very often fear they'd be committing themselves un-necessarily if they put things in writing. To overcome such fears sometimes they may come over the phone (if they are aware of your phone number) and give a verbal undertaking which very often does not materialise. At least they should have the common courtesy of acknowledging the letters they receive. Even reminders or registered letters are ignored. The other day I was talking to a very prominent media personnel who also expressed the same sentiments, i.e. some public servants do not have a backbone to take a decision which is very cowardly on their part. This sad state of affairs prevail when incompetent and irresponsible people are given responsible posts in govt. depts. and corporations. The result is such "cowardly" attitude reflects badly on any government and greatly contribute to the downfall of any regime. On the contrary, you write a letter to private sector and you are always assured of a prompt reply, or at least an acknowledgement until the matter is attended to. Because more qualified and competent officers are there who do not fight shy in taking decisions without which the organisation cannot function, unlike those in the public sector who are assured of a pay at the end of the month at the expense of the tax payer, yet not the least concerned about them - they are a big liability to the society, a redundant lot, or you can even call them parasites. Now that we are at the threshold of a new government, I hope whatever the government that comes into power it should send a directive to all public servants to respond appropriately to all correspondence received, or at least an acknowledgement if an immediate decision cannot be made. That is much cheaper and more acceptable than taking refuge on the telephone which some officers think is the easy way out. W. Athukorala, |
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