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Dear reader, the Sunday Observer welcomes your letters. Letters should be brief, legible and contain the name, address and contact number of the writer. Mail your letters to: 'Letters', The Sunday Observer, 35, D.R.Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10. Email: [email protected]

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‘Nuts cracking nuts’

Hinduism is linked to the coconut-cracking religious ritual is being performed for wrong purposes by Buddhists, ignorant of the significance of the religious performance and is also unfortunately turning out to be a political tool, as well.

Coconut-cracking is a Hindu religious ritual, performed in the belief that the act helps to rid one’s egoism, jealousy and lust – a laudable exercise with good and pious intentions. Resorting to the ritual in the breach of those principles and intentions is an affront to the sanctity or holiness of the ritual, while disrespecting the religious ritual.

On the other hand, coconut cracking is no Buddhist religious ritual. It is a performance alien to Buddhist teachings. Nevertheless, business-oriented Buddhist temples, as a means of income generation, have shrine rooms for Hindu Gods and a place for coconut cracking. The so-called Kapuwas are taking misguided Buddhist devotees for a ride.

Buddhism-ignorant Buddhist devotees, unaware of the real purpose of the ritual, perform the ritual with intentions of taking revenge from those against them, gaining victory over enemies, to overcome ‘bad’ periods in life, win court cases, pass examinations and obtain favours from Hindu Gods. The Kapuwas pray on behalf of the devotees, on the payment of Panduru (payment), to obtain favours. This is hilarious!

Maha Nayakas and the Buddha Sasana Ministry should step in to correct the wrong purpose for which the ritual is performed.

Upali S. Jayasekera

How nutty can they get?

It is an understatement of the century that out politicians are not the brightest. But can’t they at least pretend to be a little normal?

The Opposition goes to crack coconuts and what does the government faction do - they also crack coconuts. Who paid for the coconuts and what happened to the broken coconuts is anyone’s guess.

To cap it all, there is this story about stealing someone else’s coconuts by these politicians too! Did they really think they will get away with it? Old habits die hard - stealing and robbing by politicians do not surprise anyone anymore; by and by the politicians’ skin becomes so thick like a cow’s hide - common sense is totally lost on them like the proverbial rain water, it just flows by.

And then a politician grinds chillies to incur the wrath of god on the one who accused him that he had not declared the assets. Surely! All what he had to do was to declare them! Did he? No one knows nor cares.

How does this grinding chillie get the blessing of god is anyone’s guess. Once again what happened to the ground chillie? Hope someone made use of it.

Politicians behaviour in Parliament does not need to be elaborated. Why can’t we have a strong, stern Speaker who will bring some decency and decorum to the highest echelon of our country? Is that too much to ask for with this top-heavy institute?

I remember visiting Parliament when I was a child and what a feeling of awe I felt – the decorum, dignity and eloquence held me spellbound! Nowadays Parliament has become the butt end of jokes everywhere - the radio, TV dramas, even among school children!

No one cares anymore about anything in this strange land of ours. We people also have become immune and lackadaisical to these acts of stupidity by our so-called lawmakers.

It is time we showed our displeasure and contempt we have for the behaviour of our politicians and roundly condemn them loud and clear repeatedly, until they get the message.

It is time the Parliament - our Country’s governing body becomes our pride and parliamentarians behave in a decent manner - if not, they should be booed out then and there. We get the government we deserve. Every one of us has a role in shaping them. Let’s not shirk our responsibility and let us insist that politicians behave!

Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai,

Dehiwela

Plaudits to the Govt

It is most welcome and appreciable that all party leaders have decided to drop the proposal to increase allowances of MPs with immediate effect. At this juncture all party leaders in Parliament deserve plaudits for their excellent decision.

It is my view that although Sri Lanka is a democratic country with the Westminster system of government and representatives elected to parliament by the people hitherto, the people do not benefit, only Members of Parliament and Ministers have been well off.

This has been the phenomenon since Independence. It has been the practice in Sri Lanka, that people elect their representatives and they enter Parliament and enjoy a sumptuous term of office and forget their constituencies and voters.

It is true that MPS too have expenditure and status to maintain but they have a responsibility towards the people they represent. Most of our parliamentarians accumulate wealth by illegal means and lead luxurious lives during their tenure of office and even after retirement.

They get a pension which is given after five years of being in Parliament, whereas public servants have to work more than 30 years.

Such a great discrimination prevails between the two. Apart from this, MPs are entitled to duty free vehicle permits, a luxury housing complex, free telephone facilities, allowance for sittings in parliament and expenses for personal staff.

Having obtained all these emoluments what is offered to the voters by parliamentarians is trivial. This scenario can be seen in an on-going TV program.We are perturbed over the sufferings of the poor people who have no water, shelter, roads, schools and food.

I wonder why Ministers and MPs don’t give a thought to the woes of the downtrodden in our country and provide relief, without always thinking of themselves and selfishly filling their pockets.