Monday, 16 February 2004  
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Minimise pre and post election violence

Another General Election is around the corner. Whether an election is necessary at this juncture is a separate issue to be discussed in a different forum.

However it is of utmost importance to go down memory lane and refresh our memories of the behaviour of the supporters of the political parties in the pre and post election periods. Before the election they fight to win. After the election losers fight the winners and winners fight the losers.

Every step should be taken to stop this mayhem which results in blood bath, loss of life and property. The police must be alerted and put on vigil to arrest any wouldbe troublemaker irrespective of his political affiliations.

Precautionary measures must be taken to whither away the emotional momentum of die-hard supporters who usually indulge in revengeful activities against the opponents.

I would suggest that following action plan be implemented on a trial and error basis to minimise pre and post election violence.

Prohibit convoys and motorcades of candidates.

Prohibit poster printing and remand press owners for violations of the rule.

As the exhibition of posters is prohibited under the Election Law, the persons whose photographs appear in the posters to be taken into custody as they cannot prove that their photographs (mostly with clasped hands venerating the public) have been spirited away by their opponents. To declare two days of curfew from the date of election.

Not to broadcast or telecast election results on electoral basis the same day.

Publish the election results district wise after three days of the election.

The first three suggestions if implemented will avert clashes between rival supporters for removing and over pasting of posters. The last three suggestions will lessen the tempo of emotion and over enthusiasm of the supporters.

J.N - Nugegoda.

Late Vijaya's initiation

Today marks the 16th anniversary of the death of Vijaya Kumaratunga.

Late Vijaya Kumaratunga formed the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party before his death and his wife Her Excellency, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was also in the committee.

We cannot forget the fact that it was the late leader who initiated talks with the LTTE in Jaffna. He was given a heroes welcome by the public of Jaffna who considered him an idol. Should Mr. Kumaratunga had not sacrificed his life for the sake of his beloved country, I believe that the country would have had peace long ago.

It was ironical that late Vijaya also had to sacrifice his life for the sake of the country like his late father-in-law, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike.

Even his wife Her Excellency President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga almost lost her life in an assassination attempt. It was fate that saved her to serve the down trodden masses of this country.

We are very happy that just before the 16th death anniversary of the late leader Vijaya Kumaratunga the country can rejoice that Her Excellency had taken the correct decision of dissolving parliament and hold election soon. With the blessings of the three great leaders who gave their lives for the sake of the country, Her Excellency will succeed in bringing peace and tranquillity to our blessed country.

DR. M. G. M. S. ZURFICK - Colombo 11.

Good show by the Armed Services

After a long spell, the armed forces personnel belonging to the four Services and the Cadet Corp gave a good show at the Independence day parade, at Independence Square, much to the satisfaction of the spectators who were present at the grounds and also the lakhs of T.V. viewers.

I think the March Past took over ninety minutes to pass the rostrum where the President, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces took the salute. Almost every Unit of the Armed forces took part in this parade this year according to the TV commentator who did a splendid job, to give a brief synopsis to identify the particular Unit, the date of its establishment and the duties performed by each Unit.

The Platoons were in colourful ceremonial kits and were spic and span, and marched with ease to split second timing lead by the respective bands.

The Commander-in-Chief would have been delighted to see how her men and women who had come forward to serve the country did their bit at the 56th anniversary of our Independence, although it would have been somewhat of a strain as displayed on her, face to, have stood to attention all the time till all the Platoons went past her, saluting their Chief.

The young village lasses who participated in the Independence day March Past, proved to the nation that they, too, were competent enough to join their village brethren from the Provinces, to prove their mettle. The women soldiers from the various services added colour to the well organised parade. These men and women soldiers and their officers deserve the nations "Thanks" for the nice show they put up on this eventful day.

LIONEL L. LEANAGE - Ambalangoda.

A dog's life in Sri Lanka

One of the oldest discovered messages left by our ancestors, twenty thousand years ago or more, shows a four legged animal a dog, alongside human figures, an image painted on the surface of a cave in Europe in the dawn of human life on earth. There are other similar images in Africa.

Perhaps in Sri Lanka too, yet to be found.

The images speak to us, why else would they have been made? When human life was what would seem to us today merely a savage struggle for survival, a human being from then took time for something other, a voice a reflection, a record, to speak for ever of what they knew.

And what story does the image tell us? That when humankind was fighting to survive, the dog was the helper, the fellow hunter, the ally, to pursue and outdistance, corner and capture the prey, and bring home the catch. Without the heightened senses of the dog, its acute sense of hearing, of smell, of sight, its speed and obedience, the hunt would have rarely succeeded.

Our ancestor acknowledge this in his picture by placing the dog alongside himself. We owe the dog an incalculable debt. Without him we may not have come through.

And now? What of him now? Now we no longer have to take to the hunt. Now an exchange of money in shops gets us our needs. So the dog is abandoned, often left as an outcast on the streets to die of hunger or some hideous disease. Another betrayal. Unless of course the dog is a fancy breed import to be sold for rich profit and homed as a status symbol.

I do not need to be told that it is not only in Sri Lanka that many dogs have appalling lives. But at present I am here and my eyes see daily the wretched condition of street dogs. I also come across loving kindness too. I think of Sushila whom I found in Kandy taking puppies off the street to have them spayed or sterilised to halt the multiplication but then she has to return the puppies to where she found them because often she cannot find them homes.

There are several Animal Welfare Organisations here trying to cope with the problems.

I have eight dogs and twelve cats all rescued and all now beautiful creatures. With the help of everyone there would be no wretched dogs on the streets. Dogs need people because we once so needed them.

All dogs, especially native dogs, deserve our love, gratitude and care. There should be no stray dogs in Sri Lanka. All should have a home where they belong, loved and cared for by the descendants of those hunters with whom they once ran. Our ancestors were not helped by rats but by dogs, yet now they are often treated as if they were rats, vermin to be disposed of. We owe them better.

If every household in Sri Lanka took in one dog then justice would be done and we could read those messages from our past without shame.

G. BARBER - Negombo.

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