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PM’S comments to shun racism in Sri Lanka applauded

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe lashed out at certain media organisations, in Parliament for fanning the flames of racism in the country. Racism in Sri Lanka took ground recently by a handful of politicians to gain political mileage.

Prior to Independence, Sri Lanka was united and the struggle for Independence was carried out by all three communities. It was headed by the late D.S. Senanayaka was followed by the Tamils and the Muslims. Sir. Ponnambalam Ramanathan, S. J. V. Chelvanayagam, G.G.Ponnambalam, Dr.Siddi Lebbe and Dr.T.B Jayah were among the Sinhala stalwarts who stood for Independence of Sri Lanka.

It was after Independence that the UNP was formed. Why was it named the UNP? Because patriotic Sinhala leaders such as D.S.Senanayaka, Dudley Senanayaka and S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike wanted the country to be united. They built the party with many minority personalities such as K.W. Devanayagam, Dr.M.C.M.Kaleel, M.H.Mohamed and Sir Razick Fareed.

The SLFP was formed under the leadership of late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. He obtained the services of the late Dr Badiudeen Mahmud as his close political associate and advisor along with the help of many Tamil leaders from the North.

In Sri Lanka, racism raised its ugly head after 2005, after the advent of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. Former president Rajapaksa did not receive much of the minority votes from the Tamils and Muslims. Voters of the Northern and Eastern province did not vote due to the threats posed by the LTTE leader. Rajapaksa believed that he or any other presidential candidate could win if they worked for the majority community and sought their support. Hence, he covered predominately Sinhala populated rural areas providing infrastructure, employment and other essential facilities. After the war he developed the Northern and Eastern provinces to appease the international community but did very little for the down trodden Tamils and Muslims.

Sidelining the minorities, made Sinhala extremist groups to emerge against the minorities. The Bodu Bala Sena was one such organisation which unleashed racism in Sri Lanka and they spread the notion that the only leader to protect the country was Mahinda Rajapaksa who was a faithful Buddhist and could be the leader of the country forever.

Mahinda Rajapaksa blindly followed these notions and lost in the presidential election. I appreciate Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s comments in parliament and hope it would refresh the minds of those who promote racism and shun it in the future !

Z.A.M.Shukoor,
Aranyaka

Save our animal sanctuaries and bird parks

The government should take immediate steps to stop the human-elephant conflict. Humans can be told to move on, but one cannot speak to the pachyderm. They are used to a certain environment, which humans have invaded - mainly for slash and burn Chena cultivation.

The politician does not get a vote from the elephant, though it may be his election symbol. Thus naturally he turns a blind eye regarding animal rights.

The result is that in another decade or so, the animal parks will be encroached and forest cover will dwindle.

This little island has the largest population of Asiatic elephants and the most beautiful bird in the world, the peacock. Often our sanctuaries are depicted on television in popular programs such as ‘Animal Planet’ and on the Discovery channel, which amounts to free advertisement for the country.

Avian life in wildlife sanctuaries such as Kumana and Bundala, deep down south will be affected by the airport in the jungle.

Modern jets at a few hundred feet, landing or taking off sends out a deafening scream that ‘flying friends’ are not used to. A hen bird sitting on her clutch will fly away when it hears the thundering noise and the eggs will not hatch.

Save our animal sanctuaries and bird parks.

Mahendra Samarasinghe,
Dehiwala.