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| Sunday, 8 June 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Set up body for LTTE to function democratically Press Release of People's Peace Front a National Coalition of Peace Organisations, Human Rights Organisations, Trade Unions, CBOs. Peasant Organisations and Artists. We as strong supporters of the peace process observed the trends and expressions of the conflicting parties over crucial concerns such as HSZ, Naval passage, Muslim concerns abstaining from attending the Tokyo summit. It's our view that absence of LTTE at the Tokyo aid group should not be considered as a failure but only as a protest over an important demand. Even though the economic development is very important we should not ignore bargaining power of the conflicting parties. We felt that people of the north and east were not the focal point of the discussion between the LTTE and GOSL in respect of HSZ, movement of cadres, JTF, SHRINE, American Aid summit, and Special naval zone. We see that the parties have not even developed a basic trust in each other. It's important to realize that bargaining is an important factor in peace negotiations either positional or of interest. We observed that ignorance of the civil interest in the entire peace process. After 15 months still reconstruction process hasn't even completed its initial targets. IDPs are still unsolved issues. Free movement and free life was not guaranteed for both Tamil and Muslim inhabitants by both parties. In that context an interim set up is an unavoidable reality with wider participation of all communities lest the people of north and east will lose their hopes on any future process. It is important that all conflicting parties build the trust and confidence of the north and eastern people including Muslims and Sinhalese of north and east. The State as a whole seems to be shaken by pressure from the chauvinistic hardliners. Both the PA and UNF failed to address issues with confidence. PA alliance with JVP will not give any positive signs to peace process and UNF lukewarmness over the important and urgent decisions also can be viewed as submissiveness over the JVP pressure and interest of the military. We would like to alarm all peace loving people that the State seems to be not fully convinced as they waver between military minded hardliners and actual partners of progress. We believe in this context a wider understanding between the UNF government and the main Opposition party to address the issues of North and East peoples, as both parties agreed on all crucial concerns in the past. The State must realize the necessity of an interim body where LTTE can function democratically. This target will never be reached if UNF and main Opposition continue with existing power struggle. At least both parties should come to a consensus on what both parties proclaimed in the past on crucial issues such as an interim body. ********** Two decades in Parliament Press release of Southern Regional Development Ministry Southern Region Development Minister Ananda Kularathne today completed 20 years in Parliament on May 18. He is the only MP, in Southern Region who has been in Parliament for 20 years continuously. On 18 May 1983, he contested Mrs. Nirupama Rajapakse and was elected to Parliament at Mulgirigala by - election for the first time. He was unseated by an election petition on 12th September 1985. He contested with Mr. Chamal Rajapakse and was elected to Parliament again. Mr. Kularathne once again polled the second place at District elections held on 15 February 1989 for the first time. He remained in the capacity of Minister of Highways during the period 1989-1994 and was elected to Parliament from Hambantota District at the general election held in 1994, 2000 and 2001. Mr. Ananda Kularathne, UNP's Hambantota district chairman and leader, a member of the executive board of UNP; the first chairman of National Youth Front of the party. ********** Delete myths, fallacies when rewriting History by Ranjit C. Dissanayake We in the Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhawa in particular and the general public of Sri Lanka in general hail the decision of Minister of Human Resource Development, Education and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, MP to re-introduce the subject of "History" as a separate single subject into the Schools Educational Curriculum from Grade I up to University level. We are singularly proud that our repeated pleas and requests have been answered by the authority concerned. Now to re-cap. "History" was taught in our Schools from the early stages to University levels since we gained Independence from colonial rule, until late 1972 when the subject was taken off the syllabus and replaced with a new subject called "Social Science". The subject of Social Science was a mixture of as they say, 'a little of History, a little of Geography and a little of Civics'. The main argument of those national traitors who showed the way out for "History" was that subjects such as History, Geography and Civics has no direct relevance to any vocation or job as such. We concede. But those pundits had conveniently forgotten that if you are born a human-being you should definitely have a history that of your country, your race and yourself and you should be knowledgeable of that whatever vocation, job or profession you may chose to practice. AT the same time, it is imperative that everybody has some knowledge of the Geography of the world and of his country of birth whatever the vocation you may involve yourself in. Sri Lanka remained a nation without a History for over three decades. I say this with authority as the 'pundits' in the educational sector had accepted that they teach 40% History in the subject of Social Science (the writer is in possession of documentary proof). Of what use is 40% of History in a country which boasted of a recorded History spanning over 2550 years, when countries like United States or Singapore which are no more than 250 odd years have given pride of place to teaching their 'History' not only in the primary Schools, but even in University Science faculties (e.g. subject of 'Heritage' in America). Here I recall what our Prime Minister said at the launch of a Book titled 'Sigiri Kurute Gee' written by our Minister of Justice and Buddhist Religious Affairs that 'if you ask a present day youth - who built Sigiriya, they will not be able to answer same correctly'. Yes. He was absolutely right. How can the youth know, when they were not taught the Island's History in their school career ? That is the reason why the Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhawa, since its inception in 1999 continued with a vigorous campaign sending in appeal after appealing to Her Excellency the President, Former Prime Minister and former Minister of Education re-iterating in no uncertain terms the importance of re-introducing 'History' as a full time subject back into the educational curriculum. Not stopping at their stone silence, they continued with their campaign ever since the UNF Government was returned by several very pertinent letters to the print media by Academics, Scholars, Historians etc. fully endorsed with very apt Editorials until we were able to win the day. We were as much as the general public of the country, delighted and highly elated when the "Sirasa" news telecast Live @55 on 29/04/03 in the 9.55 a.m. news as well as the main news telecast at 7.00 p.m. announced that the Minister of Education has revealed at a public function that he had decided to re-introduce the subject of "History" to be taught in all Schools from Grade I to University Entrance Levels and to reorganise and revamp the already depleted History Faculties in our University network. Well done Mr. Minister of Education. This has been long overdue and a crying need in our society. We now request Hon. Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, M.P. not to relax after taking this important decision, but now he should take immediate and meaningful action to implement same. We forewarn the Hon. Minister and the Government not to rely too much on their sleepiest and lethargic bureaucracy and until and unless you give firm and direct Orders, they will surely sleep on it. Just one more important issue Mr. Minister of Education. As you are aware the History that was taught it us in School did contain myths, fallacies and lies. Hence please appoint a high-powered Special Task Force comprising some eminent Historians, Academics, Scholars and Buddhist Monks and request them to correct those myths and wrongs and re-write a series of books depicting our true and real History to be taught in our Schools and Universities. Thank you once again Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, MP for correctly and justifiably heeding to our facts-filled appeals ! You have done the Sinhalese proud ! ********** Our man wins South Asian journalism prize W. T. J. S. Kaviratne, the Ambalangoda correspondent of the 'Daily News' was the only Sri Lankan journalist to receive a certificate of commendation for his article 'A durable bridge between North and South' at the recent Journalism Prize for Tolerance in South Asia for Excellence in Journalism, Combatting Racism and Discrimination held in New Delhi. The winning article by W. T. J. S. Kaviratne appeared in the 'Daily News' of August 10, 2002. This prize for South Asia was initiated by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Mr. Kaviratne after receiving his secondary education at St. Mary's College, Elpitiya joined Revata Maha Vidyalaya, Balapitiya to continue his higher education on Science stream. After following a two-year training, he joined the teaching profession as a trained teacher of English in 1973. Later he followed a Higher Diploma on Teaching English as a second language conducted for experienced teachers of English by the HIEE - under National Institute of Education (NIE) in 1987. He worked several years as a Lecturer of English Language for Prinsett Teacher Training Programme under NIE. He joined Lake House while teaching, as a provincial correspondent of Ambalangoda in 1986 and again as a provincial correspondent, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. (Galle district). Amidst numerous challenges he formed 'Southern Province United Media Association' and affiliated to it 'Southern Province United Environmental Media Association' to convince the Media persons of the importance of exposing the 'Environmental Issues' affecting the Southern Province and the rest of the provinces of Sri Lanka. He was selected as the General Secretary of Sri Lanka Centre for Provincial Journalists affiliated to Sri Lanka Environmental Journalists Forum (SLEJF) in 2001 and Galle district co-ordinator. He has organised several workshops and seminars on peace in the South. Over the years he has written numerous features to Sunday Observer and Daily News on tourism, environment, development and ethnic harmony and peace. ********** Resumption of executions: a retrograde step Excerpts of press release of Amnesty International appealing to members of Parliament to oppose resumption of executions In the run-up to a parliamentary debate on a possible resumption of executions Amnesty International issued a call to all members of Parliament (MPs) not to support this retrograde step and pleaded instead for a holistic approach to tackle the rise in crime in the country. The Minister of Interior, who took the initiative for the debate, has identified the rise in crime as the main reason why he is proposing to reintroduce executions after more than 26 years of a de factoabolitionist approach. "By re-introducing executions, Sri Lanka would go against a clear international trend towards abolition of the death penalty and a moratorium on executions. More than half the countries in the world have now abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. Furthermore, over the past decades, Sri Lanka has set an example in Asia, by rejecting the death penalty. It would be extremely distressing if this tradition were to be broken with", Amnesty International said. ********** LSSP urges parties to take peace process forward The Lanka Sama Samaja Party recognizes that the 'peace process' has reached a point at which the direct parties to it and all those others who in the relevant lingo can be called 'stake-holders' need to take a hard look on what has been achieved and the way ahead. The LSSP has at all times urged the position that it is the responsibility of the government to initiate discussion with the opposition on the possible solution. In this the government has the advantage of the main Opposition being in no position to deviate from the Constitutional Amendment Bill which it had presented to Parliament in August 2000. |
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