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Towards a peaceful poll

ELECTIONS Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has struck the correct note at the beginning of a crucial phase in the current electioneering by focusing on the need for a violence-free poll.

Needless to say, the "ordinary people" will be with the Elections Commissioner in his efforts to ensure a clean election, free of intimidation, coercion, power abuse, bloodshed and the misuse of public resources and facilities.

It is now left to the Presidential candidates - in their interests and those of Sri Lanka - to abide by the Elections Commissioner's regulations which are patently fair and well-intentioned.

Coinciding with these stipulated requirements by the Commissioner comes a massive cleaning-up operation in the country with all publicly displayed propaganda material of the Presidential hopefuls being swept off their pedestals and quickly disposed of.

The cleaning of this mess is pre-election requirement and we hope all Presidential contenders would cooperate with the authorities.

A clear, fairly conducted poll would be a pride of Sri Lanka and not simply of the State and we hope there would no be resistance in any quarter to the implementation of the polls-related requirements laid down by the Elections Commissioner.

We also call upon the law enforcers and the Police Department in particular, to cooperate most readily with the Elections Commission. As we see it, this is a testing time of the integrity and efficiency of the Police.

The challenge before the Police is to act with rigid impartiality and absolute fearlessness. The Police should not be seen as siding with this or that candidate or this or that party. On the contrary, the Police is obliged to implement the due process of the law.

The Police should not consider itself an appendage of any personalities and groups but should adhere to the word and spirit of the law while discharging its duties.

It needs to consider the National Police Commission - whose responsibility it is to ensure the integrity and independence of the Police - a vital source of strength and sustenance particularly at junctures such as these when the mettle of our law-enforcers is stringently tested.

As for the candidates and their parties, we wish to say - as we have often said in the past - that they should ensure that their supporters and the rank-and-file of their parties respect the law of the land absolutely and unreservedly.

We wish to repeat that codes of conduct need to be drawn-up for party supporters and campaigners and scrupulously implemented. Party leaders and the candidates themselves need to assure that these essential duties and requirements are met.

Besides, the candidates themselves need to enter into a non-violence compact and set the correct example by closely observing it. This too we have often said in the past and we hope our appeal to the candidates would not turn out to be a cry in the wilderness.

It has been Sri Lanka's unfortunate experience over the decades that election-time has proved a time for savagery and maniacal mayhem. Such times prove as no other that "life is nasty, brutish and short."

May this not be so this time round is our fervent wish. Those abiding by the Dhamma are protected by the Dhamma. Likewise, we believe that a country which abides by the law fully and absolutely is protected by it.

We are famous as a people for religious observances of numerous kinds. This is formal or organised religion only. The essential requirement now is to practise the core values of our religions - love, compassion and service to others.

Tragedy in Pakistan

ASIA is still recovering from one of the biggest-ever natural disasters - the December 26, 2004 tsunami that resulted from an undersea quake measuring 9.3 on the Richter scale.

Pakistan was mercifully spared by the tsunami, but Saturday on-ground 7.6 magnitude earthquake is reported to have killed up to 30,000 people there. The quake was the strongest to hit South Asia in a century.

Despite enormous advances in technology, we still cannot predict earthquakes with any accuracy. By tracing fault lines and inter-continental drift, we can vaguely say which areas are prone to earthquakes. But no one still knows where and when the next quake will strike.

With on-ground and undersea quakes occurring rather frequently, seismically speaking, Sri Lanka cannot afford to neglect the warning signs.

Sri Lanka and Indonesia bore the brunt of the tsunami and with another powerful earthquake occurring in the region, we have to realise that we are in an earthquake-prone zone. But are we really prepared for such an eventuality ?

Almost all of our buildings, except for a few that were built after the tsunami, are not earthquake resistant. No building will be safe from a 9.0 or 10.0 quake, but most of our buildings will not withstand even a moderate quake.

That has to be factored in in all building projects. Our Security Forces, Police and Fire Brigades must also be given appropriate post-earthquake search and rescue training.

A proper tsunami warning system that reaches the grassroots level is also essential. International efforts are proceeding to install a tsunami warning system for the India Ocean.

In the end, Nature will always emerge on top. We cannot defy its might, but we may be able to minimise the damage that it causes by adopting various technologies and strategies.

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