DAILY NEWS ONLINE


OTHER EDITIONS

Budusarana On-line Edition
Silumina  on-line Edition
Sunday Observer

OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified Ads
Government - Gazette
Tsunami Focus Point - Tsunami information at One PointMihintalava - The Birthplace of Sri Lankan Buddhist Civilization
 

 

 

Firm competence

The Government should be hailed for handling the recent private bus strike with utmost firmness, in the public interest. We also wish to thank you for the editorial in D/N of 10/08 for the candid expressions made therein on this critical event.

The people will be delighted if the punishment meted out for the following traffic offences are further enhanced.

(i) Driving against red warning.

(ii) Driving without a licence of competence.

At the same time, the Government will do well to formulate a scheme of training for all private bus drivers and conductors, with an emphasis on civility, and make it mandatory for them to possess such certificate on a future date.

We need hardly stress that the state bus sector needs expansion expeditiously.

The subject of unsatisfactory infrastructure is a long story. We are confident that every future Government will improve same in stages, depending on availability of funds.

Practical tests for music

It has been revealed that Department of Examination has decided to conduct practical tests for music in GCE (O/L) from the next examination to be held in December 2005. Due to the sudden decision by the Department, students face severe difficulties in preparing for the practical tests.

In the past as the practical tests were not conducted the students prepared only for written examination. Further the students never expected such an immediate decision.

In the case of practical for music, it is not only a time consuming exercise, it involves high investments. For example due to limited resources in schools one cannot expect to depend on the facilities available in schools and it is compelled to have own instruments for practical.

Pianos which needed for practical in Western Music are currently around Rupees 100,000 which is unbearable by average parents. In this situation, solutions are not available within a shortest period.

Taking into consideration of difficulties, attention of the Department of Education is drawn to re-think the decision to hold the practical tests for GCE (O/L) and request to postpone the decision for at least for one year.

Bhikkhu applying for driving licence

Reading the newspaper article on the above subject saddened me as a Buddhist layman. We know that Monks must strictly adhere to Vinaya rules (code of disciplinary conduct) if they are to remain as Buddhist monks possessing nine noble virtuous qualities.

Dr. Paragoda Wimalawansa as admitted is a teacher in a Government school receiving a monthly salary contributing to the (W&OP) widows and orphans fund. No true yellow robed Buddhist Monks who are supposed to be mendicants should receive such salaries, as it is a transgression of one of the precepts undertaken by them on entering the Order giving up all the belongings.

Buying and owning a car is not only a violation but also a negation of the primary objects of becoming a Buddhist Monk.

Further, the Bhikkhus are forbidden to touch money. Vinaya rules forbid enrolment as Bhikkus, persons who are in Government employment. To say that there was no legal or moral bar for a Buddhist Monk to obtain a driving licence, is not only a wilful misinterpretation of the disciplinary rules but also a misleading statement by an educated person in robes.

Buddha had never expected His disciples to sell knowledge or Buddhism to schoolchildren and earn money. Buddha also did not drive vehicles. Reference made to Ulapane Pangnananda driving a vehicle to practise medicine is an argument put forward by him in support of his application.

The Buddhist clergy who are most vociferous against unethical conversions should take up this matter seriously without allowing these so-called educated to ruin the unparallel noble doctrine of the Buddha and His Order of Sangha.

The Chief Prelates of the Nikayas to which these two Monks belong should take immediate action to disrobe these un-virtuous Monks and ensured the purity of Sangha. Buddhasasana Ministry also should intervene in this matter.

We Buddhist laymen are not prepared to respect or venerate drivers of vehicles. There cannot be a class of drivers called venerable drivers dressed in yellow robes going about in luxury cars according to the doctrine of the Buddha who only went about on foot for propagation of the Noble Dhamma.

What happens when such yellow robed drivers knocked down persons or crash into another vehicle injuring or killing other people or animals? What when police making on the spot fines for speeding up or other violations of traffic rules.

What if Police taking into custody driver monks, as law requires for infringement of road rules?

Aren't these drivers demeaning the other members of the Community of Monks. Do not Monk drivers in addition to other punishments meted out according to the laws, qualify to disrobe themselves if they happen to kill a man even by an accident?

FEEDBACK | PRINT

 

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sports | World | Letters | Obituaries |

 

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Manager