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Compassion to animals

Some bhikkhus say there is a shortage of elephants for Buddhist festivals and peraharas. They have appealed to the authorities to give a solution to this problem.

According to Buddhist teachings we have to be kind and compassionate to animals. Using elephants for amusement and entertainment purposes is not encouraged in Buddhism. We need to give serious thought to animals being kept in temples for various reasons.

Bhikkhus must practise the teachings of the Buddha. The Buddha never said we must keep chained wild animals in temples. According to Buddhism, one is not noble when he harms living beings. According to Buddhist teachings, no animal should be subjected to cruelty. All wild animals have a right to liberty.

Companions such as cats and dogs should not be abandoned. Animals should not be exploited for amusement. Let us be compassionate to animals according to Buddhist teachings.

D. Weeratunga
Nugegoda

Jayalalithaa’s Eelam dream

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha wants a ‘Tamil Eelam’ for the Tamil citizens of our country. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has no rights over Sri Lankan citizens. Her utterances amount to interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. My request, to satisfy her desire, is for her to declare a ‘Tamil Eelam’ in India and call upon the Tamil diaspora in other countries and settle down in her Tamil Eelam.

To stem the ‘Tamil Eelam’ calls, it is desirable to include in our country’s Constitution, legal provision treating calls for division of the country as Treason. Those found guilty of Treason should be sentenced to Life Imprisonment confiscating their property. India has such provision in her Constitution. So, why not we?

Upali S. Jayasekera,
Rajagiriya.

No reserved train seats to Galle!

Why is it that Galle, the third biggest city in the country has no First Class or reserved Second Class train service? This train also serves the tourist hot spots of Bentota, Hikkaduwa and Galle Fort.

I took the 10.30 a.m. train from Colombo Fort to Galle last week and about 1/5th of the passengers were tourists. Sri Lanka is trying to attract more tourists and foreigners to take to train travel. It is a picturesque trip when one leaves Colombo, as the train hugs the coastline for most of its journey.

The cost of Second Class travel from Fort to Galle is Rs 180. The Railways Department can easily charge double for a Second Class reserved seat and four times as much for the First Class, which is much- needed revenue for the Department.

The Rajadhani express charges Rs 990 one way and has just one service, six times a week to Matara. I urge the Tourist Board and the Railways Department to rectify this deplorable situation.The towns in the South including Galle deserve a better service.

Tamara de Silva
Australia