• The Pope's funeral
• Toast Masters - language and integration
• Universities fee levying Institutions
• Dambadiva pilgrims
• Ibbankatuwa tombs a neglected archaeological treasure

The Pope's funeral

As in other parts of the world, no doubt, many people in Sri Lanka too would have watched the live telecast of the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Many people here would have discerned the stark contrast of funerals in Sri Lanka for any dignitary, be it a politician, clergy, an artiste or anybody who is somebody or nobody and that of the late Pope.

The most striking contrast was the simple coffin, lying in the open, almost touching the ground - a cedarwood coffin as compared with the coffins in Sri Lanka, where the more tassels the better, highly polished expensive wood, polished handles and elaborate carving.

There were no blinking lights alongside the coffin or inside the coffin, like runway lights at airport, thousands of wreaths and canopies. The Pope was a simple man and died as one and will be remembered as a simple man. This is a man who was not only the leader of millions of Catholics but also a Head of State!

During an interview, someone was asked what was to happen to the Pope's personal effects. The answer was: the Pope had none, everything he needed for his day-to-day living was provided by the Vatican household. No bank accounts, acres of lands and houses in his country and abroad.

There were about 200 world leaders present, but not one made any speeches, contrast this with Sri Lanka.

At least one dozen must speak, and often it is a repetition. Messages of condolences are read and announcers will speak in sombre tones and say in a dozen different ways what they can say in one sentence - all meaning the same thing! Merely to be heard.

I hope that Sri Lankans will learn how to conduct solemn occasions in less ostentatious and outrageous manner and not make funerals public spectacles. Since we Sri Lankans are so good and fast at aping the ways of the West, I fervently hope they will follow this example too.

QUINTUS DE SILVA, Colombo 5

Toast Masters - language and integration

The Toast Masters have played a major role in meeting a serious lacuna in social communication by promoting English Language fluency in thought, composition and public speaking.

Among students executives and public at large, TM has been helpful to reinforcing English communication and in no small way has held together various groups and developed friendship among the younger generation. English speech is a skill confined to oneself unless encouraged in a pleasant and enjoyable surrounding in competitive ways where every one is encouraged to do better and better.

Those who have persevered in English would realise the vast professional and social asset they have acquired. The fluency in language opens doors and hearts of individuals, families, communities who speak the language.

The same is true if one acquires fluency in any language of other communities with whom one has to or wishes to interact. Such interaction with these communities in their language, opens the door to further interaction and relationship. The first step is to remove the barriers of prejudice unfounded suspicion or hate, or refusal to accept and respect differences, which after all enrich a multi-cultural society.

This strategy of promoting free communication in languages has been accepted and promoted in our neighbouring countries notably Malaysia and Singapore. The equal recognition, learning and use as many as four languages including English, has enormously contributed to their peace, amity and unbounded social and economic progress over past decades.

The Toast Masters have developed a core, rational paradigm for quick thinking, composition and clear expression of ideas in their meetings. Everyone is challenged to do his/her best, learn from others and move towards excellence.

Sri Lankans are known to have a skill in easy learning of languages, western or oriental. Recently the Toast Masters from Air Lanka distinguished themselves at an annual meeting which is now mulling an Asian Regional Toast Masters Association.

With these achievements of Toast Masters, I would pose for serious consideration the proposal of Prof. J.B. Dissanayake, Chief Guest at the recent All Island Young Speakers Contest to consider applying the Toast Masters principles and experience to learning and speaking Sinhala and Tamil with equal fluency.

This is a ground breaking proposal which many had considered for years. In the absence of acquiring universal knowledge of English within a short period which is beyond our scope, the next alternative is to acquire a rapid spoken knowledge of the two main languages.

Progress in this direction will open access to each other communities, facilitate communication, reduce tensions and suspicion. This would help in healing of memories, reconciliation and promote greater social interaction and understanding among ethnic and cultural groups and thus contribute to the peace process.

I would earnestly appeal to the Colombo Toast Masters Central high command to take the suggestion seriously as a national cause to which they could make distinct contribution.

This process of transference of methodology would itself be unique, fascinating, never attempted before but could be achieved in slow easy, thought out stages. I am certain Prof. J.B. Dissanayake an eminent, erudite and affable linguist whose TV presentations are distinctly absorbing, would readily assist in this venture.

The experiment of Sri Lnaka Toast Masters in this sphere would prove to be a model for other Asian countries to follow and a credit to Toast Masters International.

JONATHAN V. THAMBAR, Colombo 4

Universities fee levying Institutions

Let us put an end to the ludicrous situation that exists in this country. Thousands of young men and women are given free higher education at the taxpayers' expense. Many of them are in addition to free education given financial grants to qualify ultimately as arts graduates.

Some others qualify as medical graduates and then (the younger generation) hold the State and poor patients to ransom (they even object to young students qualifying outside the State Universities - these young people consider themselves 'the cat's whiskers').

During their student period the majority of them become tools in the hands of scheming political groups and resort to strikes (Upavasas and Maranthika Upavasas), but of course without any of them in the South of Sri Lanka really dying as a result of these Maranthika Upavasas, thuggery and other criminal acts in addition to causing inconvenience to the general public.

Once these freeloaders pass out of the universities comes the next step in the charade.

Most private sector establishments do not want to touch them even with the end of a barge pole, preferring to recruit uncorrupted school leavers who can be trained to fit into the private sector. Then the majority of the freeloaders join the ranks of a category called the unemployed and under-employed graduates.

They recommece the Upavasas and the Maranthika Upavasas and the authorities hoping to scrounge some votes recruits these jokers into the already overstaffed 'White Elephant' State Service.

Why in heaven's name are we churning out unwanted and unemployable graduates at the taxpayers' expense?

Why are we permitting medical graduates to hold the poor patients and the government to ransom? Most of the office-bearers in the GMOA are young people. Should not some experienced seniors hold office in the GMOA?

Should we not limit free education upto and including secondary education making higher education fee levying? Any poor and really deserving student could be given Mahapola Scholarships.

Instead of so many unnecessary universities, let us have technical training institutes turning out qualified persons who would be an asset to our country. In fact, persons so qualified would even be sought after by other countries.

We say Hats off to Tara de Mel' for the firm stand that she is taking. A student's business is to study and not to try to dictate to the government on policy matters. He/she should realise that another child has been deprived of a place in the university in order to accommodate him/her.

MACK E. A. VELLI, Colombo 10

Dambadiva pilgrims

Pilgrims visiting places of Buddhist interest in India from Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam and from Western countries have been remarkably increased.

Pilgrims in groups are taken on conducted tours from one shrine to another, hundreds of miles apart over the vast Indian landmass for several days but they are deprived of any basic information of locations of shrines they traverse due to lack of any authoritative information and guide-maps a modern visitor/tourist, inter alia is catered to.

Tourist maps of general interest are available, but none of them have been brought out with specific references to spotlight places of significance to Buddhist pilgrims. Names of ancient places familiar to pilgrims mentioned in Pali canons, have varied over the years and need be correlated to present day derivations in use.

The Mahabodhi Society of India, best suited to this task is requested to step into fulfil this long felt need of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims visiting India and hopefully bring out an informative brochure with guiding illustrative maps giving factual historical sketches of each such shrine, its significance, location, and distances between them.

Pilgrims would be too willing to pay for such a brochure, to be treasured for remembrance, printed in English for a start and encouraged to be translated into other languages as desired by devotees.

May the Mahabodhi authorities make a note of this all crying need genuinely felt by Buddhist pilgrims visiting India and do well to fulfil this overdue lapse in the nearest future.

W. SAMARANAYAKA, Maharagama

Ibbankatuwa tombs a neglected archaeological treasure

Recently, this writer had the opportunity of visiting the 'Ibbankatuwa tombs' situated on the Kurunegala - Dambulla Road, in close proximity to Dambulla, while going on a cultural tour of the North Central Region organized by an innovative Travel Company, which is bent on promoting domestic tourism.

Two students of Archaeology from a local University had been included in the tour party for the purpose of explaining to the tourists, places of historical and cultural interest.

According to the explanations regarding the Ibbankatuwa tombs given by these students of archaeology, they date back to over 15,000 years. Similar to the Pyramids of the ancient Egypt, all the articles used by the deceased persons had been deposited in the respective tombs.

Such articles discovered during the excavations carried out in this location suggest that there had existed a pre-historic civilization in this area and since a certain variety of gems embedded in the necklaces found in these tombs are available only in India.

Archaeologists believe that there had been links between Sri Lanka and India even during the pre-historic ages. These tombs are undoubtedly of immense archaeological value to us.

However, it is surprising that this important archaeological site has not been adequately protected. The relevant authorities should take necessary steps to protect and preserve this site for the benefit of the posterity.

P. PREMADASA, Maharagama