Sound stance on religious freedom

Presidential hopeful and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse's clarification that he would uphold the freedom of worship of all the religions of this land could not have come at a better time. Religious rights are proving contentious currently with some sections campaigning for what is seen as the curtailment of minority religious rights in particular.

As is well known, such agitations have resulted in efforts to frame legislation which would have a substantial impact on religious freedoms, as these are commonly understood.

We do not wish to comment on the substantive issues in this debate except to say that the religions have from time immemorial respected each others beliefs and scrupulously observed each others rights of worship.

This has had the salutary impact of making Sri Lanka a land of religious tolerance and a haven of peaceful co-existence among religious groups. In fact, long before the UN Human Rights Charter enshrined "freedom of conscience and religion" as a fundamental human right, we in Sri Lanka were practising it vibrantly. It is unfortunate that this right is being viewed in a controversial light by some today.

Be that as it may, there is no denying that religious freedom constitutes a part of the kernel of the democratic system of governance. It is impossible to speak of democracy without referring to the provision of religious freedom: they are two sides of the same coin.

We are glad that Premier Rajapakse has openly and unambiguously expressed his support for religious freedom in Sri Lanka. It is certain to win for him the support of those who fear that this long-entrenched freedom is now under threat from some quarters who do not believe that religion and politics should not be mixed.

We believe that everyone who hopes to run for the Presidency should give the public an indication of where they stand on this issue. What has Ranil Wickremesinghe to say on it, we wonder. There cannot be any fence-sitting on this issue because unclarified standpoints on these matters tend to trigger social tensions. This should not be Sri Lanka's lot.

It is very opportune that these questions are coming up for public discussion now. They should occupy a prominent position in the national agenda on account of the grave importance they have for the country's future.

We cannot add religious friction to our already burdensome worries. Lanka has to be governed on the basis of religious amity and equality and those who take up this challenge would command public respect and support.

Teachers and discipline

Two members of our teaching profession from a prestigious school have been placed behind bars for assaulting a student allegedly on disciplinary grounds. The teaching fraternity is poised to go on strike in an act of solidarity with their jailed colleagues.

Today, hardly a day passes in this country without a trade union action costing the country severely in economic terms. To add to this baggage we now have school teachers and principals themselves trying to pull out children from their classrooms, all for the sake of two jailed colleagues who have been found guilty through the due process of the law.

The grievance of the teachers can be understood and they are within their rights to voice their concerns at the relevant forums. Besides the teachers have the right of appeal to a Higher Court for redress and all is not over for them.

Now the matter has assumed dangerous proportions with teachers and principals insisting they would ignore all disciplinary aspects in the classrooms and not strive to correct indiscipline and other infringements of their charges.

Precipitated by the teachers who are still looked on with reverence as guardians and moulders of the characters of the charges in their formative years, this is something the authorities should ponder seriously and nip in the bud. The teachers and their trade union patrons should be told in no uncertain terms that schoolchildren should not be used as bargain chips to win their demands. If not reined in at this stage the issue could snowball into serious proportions.

The authorities should take it upon themselves to ensure that young minds are not exposed to divisions and the rancorous chorus of trade unionism when they are on the threshold of stepping into civil society.