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Making the Rule of Law reign

It was only to be expected that law and order should figure prominently in the recent committee stage debate in Parliament on the President's Vote. Making a characteristically constructive contribution to the debate, UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya pointed to the need to ensure the safety, well being and integrity of the Lankan judiciary. He also highlighted the need for an impartial and independent judiciary.

These sentiments accord perfectly with the Government's position on the issues faced by the judiciary of this country. Close on the heels of the brutal slaying of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya the Government not only brought the killers of the judge to justice with lightning speed but also implemented special security arrangements for the security of judicial officers.

An intensified and qualitatively upgraded police presence around these officers is one of these. Besides, special security measures have come into force at our major courts complexes to render them invulnerable to criminal infiltration. Hopefully, there would be no let-up in the implementation of these measures.

We agree wholeheartedly with the view that the enthronement of the Rule of Law is the essence of justice. Justice, in turn, is the bedrock of social peace. This line of thinking brings into focus the need to create a climate which is conducive to the maintenance of the safety, security and integrity of judicial officers.

No less a person than President Kumaratunga has taken cognizance of these needs and has helped establish the institutional machinery which would contribute towards creating the relevant climate.

By strengthening the arm of the law enforcement authorities after the killing of Judge Ambepitiya, the President sends out the message that threats to the physical well being and lives of judicial officers wouldn't be tolerated. She has also decided to authorise the re-imposition of capital punishment, which is seen by many as necessary in the current context.

The National Police Commission and the Bribery and Corruption Commission are two other institutions which need to be strengthened in the days ahead if the Rule of Law is to take deep root in this country. These bodies may be hit by controversy but the national interest demands that they exist and are helped to operate more effectively. They should not be made the victim of current political divisions, for, the country as a whole would stand to gain from their empowerment.

We believe there is a wide consensus in the country that the Rule of Law should reign. This issue is also certain to win bipartisan political support. The parliamentary debate on the President's Vote proved it. Why couldn't our political parties put their heads together, then, and seek ways of making our law enforcement agencies more effective and impartial? The future of Sri Lanka crucially depends on it.

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A Night to Remember

It certainly was a Night To Remember. Ninety two years after a famous "unsinkable" cruise liner sank to the bottom of the ocean, we are still in awe of it.

Countless ships have sunk without a trace, but we remember only one - The Titanic. It hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York and sank on the night of April 14, 1912. Only 711 of the 2,200 passengers and crew survived.

The wreck of the doomed vessel lay undisturbed until 1985, when intrepid explorer Robert Ballard discovered it 3,600 meters below the ocean surface after a meticulous search. Now Ballard says the wreck, a priceless maritime treasure, is being gradually destroyed by people who "love it to death". Speaking on Tuesday at the National Geographic Society in Washington, Ballard said frequent submersible visits by tourists, salvagers and scientists have accelerated the ship's deterioration. They have plundered important artifacts and left trash at the site, he charged.

The Titanic saga is filled with emotion. It was the best, most luxurious cruise liner at that time. No one in their wildest dreams imagined that the Titanic would not be able to complete the voyage. But the tragedy that befell the Titanic, its crew and passengers still ranks among the worst-ever maritime disasters.

Opinions vary on exactly what should be done with the Titanic. Ballard and many others feel it should be left as a memorial to those who perished on that cold night. Others are quite comfortable with the idea of "preserving" Titanic items by bringing them to the surface. Salvaging the entire structure is out of the question due to technical and practical problems, but removable items are being taken out swiftly from the wreck. The Atlanta-based RMS Titanic Inc., has brought up some 6,000 artifacts from the wreck.

As Ballard says, uncontrolled visits and souvenir hunts could lead to the irreversible destruction of this immortal ship. Ballard has called for the installation of robot video cameras that could beam live images to computers worldwide without risking damage to the wreck.

International efforts are underway at last to address these concerns. The United States has signed an accord aimed at protecting the wreck from souvenir hunters and undersea tourists, joining Britain, Canada and France. Under the agreement, the Titanic would be designated an international maritime memorial. Ballard hopes that France and Russia - which lease many of the submersibles used on sightseeing trips to the wreck - will also sign the deal.

This is a step in the right direction. The Titanic must be preserved for the future generations. The less we interfere with this graceful beauty, the better.

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