Modi's visit to Pakistan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise, goodwill visit to Pakistan on December 25. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff was there to greet him at the airport. It was, the then PM of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee who visited Pakistan 12 long years ago. Then in 2012 Asif Zardari, became the first President of Pakistan to visit India in seven years.

PM Modi had tweeted that he had spent a warm evening with the Sharif family at their family home, celebrating Sharif's birthday and he was touched by Sharif's gesture of welcoming him at the airport.

PM Shariff accepted an invitation and attended the inauguration ceremony of PM Modi last year. This is undoubtedly an extension of that exemplary and historical event.

We hope and wish that the strained ties between the two big neighbours since 1947, will gradually become history with these gestures of the two prime ministers who have set classic examples for people down the line.

I urge both Prime Ministers to consider arranging a cricket series between their nations with the blessings of the ICC to carry on the impressive peace initiative commenced by them. Cricket lovers of both countries have been starving for such an occasion.

Cricket, no doubt, will cement the friendship further that was strained for very many unhealthy and unfortunate years that brought misery to both nations.

We hope and wish that in 2016, eternal peace will dawn to these two Asian giants.

Lalith Fernando, Panadura

Sex is a natural act

Sex is not a criminal act, it is a natural act. But if done against somebody's wishes or by force, it is a criminal act. In humans, if such an act is committed on someone who has not attained puberty or on elderly people who have no sexual desires,it is termed as rape. Rape is a crime in civilised society.

There are males and females in every society and it is but natural that to satisfy one's sexual desire that this act is performed. There is no harm in having sex with someone who needs it. It is no crime at all! If the heat in the body is not released then the body equilibrium is upset and illness sets in or one resorts to unnatural acts! Variety is the spice of life and if two people with each other's consent have sex, it is not a criminal act. One cannot be eating rice and curry at every meal! There should be a variety of food!

Look at the incident in Saudi Arabia, where a woman is supposed to have had an affair with another man. Now, it is but natural that her body thirsts for this act of sex as she is in the prime of her life and away from her family. It is no crime if she satisfies her desire. If people believe in god and if he created male and female, then why look down on a woman who has sex with a man.

From from time immemorial, women have been looked down upon women and stoning a woman to death for this natural act was a deterrent, primitive punishment. Today technology has advanced and there are other methods of punishment. This act is not a crime such as rape and murder. This was a case of consensual sex.

The sex act is enjoyed only when one is young and not in old age. One should not regret he or she didn't do what should have been done at that age. No doubt whatever is done, one has to fall in line with the laws of a particular country and be prepared to abide by the rules of that country.

During Jesus's time, when an adulteress was brought before Him to be stoned to death. He called on the people and said "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her"John8:7. All the complainants disappeared from the scene!

Our culture and our religion does not permit this - but who invented this culture, it was by man and these were brought about only to discipline him.

Who is the one who is sinless and has not done anything wrong? Now look if a pin pricks a man it hurts, likewise the pin hurts the woman as well. So, why mete this horrible inhuman, primitive act of torture to death on a woman while a man is given only 100 lashes. Why this discrimination against the woman? It would be far better to put a person to death instantly than engage in this primitive act. However, the woman who was earlier condemned to this fate has been sentenced to a prison term.

Let us take it that sex is not a crime but is a natural act!

Kingsley Durairaj, Pannipitiya.