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Five preceptsMaulavi, Niyas Mohammed’s timely advice (DN Jan 3) given in recent times for all citizens to follow Five Buddhist precepts is a laudable action made in the right direction with right vision. Non-Buddhists need not fear to observe or follow the five precepts as one does not become a renegade to his own religion instead become a pious citizen, a true follower of ones own religion. The Holy Scriptures inscribed on two tablets of stone, by Lord god/Allah in his own hand writing, given to Prophet Moses on the Mount Sinai is known as the ‘Ten Commandments’ (Bible) or ‘Guidance Mercy’ (Al-Qur’an), is comprised these five precepts as divine commandments. Lord Jesus Christ, son of Virgin Mary, having returned to Israel at the age of 30 years, preached beginning from the sermon on the Mount, nothing other than the philosophical rendering to these divine commandments that include “Thou shalt not kill, not steal, not commit adultery, not give false evidence” akin to Buddhist precepts, till he was crucified at the young age of 33 years by his own people who could not grasp the value or true meaning. If one analytically views these five precepts, one sees that all the Governing laws of a all Muslim, Christian, Hindu or Buddhist countries, are based on the five precepts or in other words, when all the prescribed offences are broadly classified they come under the five precepts. At present, only Buddhists realizing the consequential evil effects of breaking them, recite these precepts daily as reminders not to break them, in order to avoid punishments or going to prisons. When deeply viewed they are five invisible insurances coverings granted to those who follow them. Eg. one who observes the precept that ‘he will not commit adultery’ is safe from contracting AIDS. SITHI ARAWINDA P. MUTUCUMARANA – Moors’ plea: Prabhakaran please pardon policemenAll Ceylon Moors’ Association (Akhila Ilangai Sonaha Sangam), founded in 1921, together with the membership representing identification of Muslims exceeding a million interspersed in all of the provinces within mother Lanka, appeal to the LTTE Leader in respect of the subject matter. The President, Al-Haj M. Mohinudeen Rajabdeen and the members resolved to declare after reading a press statement from the LTTE Political Leader S. P. Thamilselvan followed by the expression of Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera, where both have declared a mutual statement that there will be no war. Heartened of the above undertaking by the duo, and in the wake of the Holy Haj, the Duruthu Full Moon as well as the Thaipongal, that we are presenting our appeal to enable your organisation, the LTTE, to consider the release of the policemen. In our appeal, we further wish to state that it is our view that the three Law Enforcement Officers, who are unknown to us to this day, are employees of the State, and in the course of their duties had been assigned to serve in the areas of the Northern Province. While we are unaware of the charges, and in justifying our plea we wish to add that the three policemen being sandwiched in the present stand-off, is primarily due to the violence that has engulfed our Nation, for which the very same policemen in custody are innocent and were not responsible nor being the accused of the origin of the issues of the conflict. In the light of the above facts, we kindly request your hierarchy to consider that the three men, who belong to our community they are our own inhabitants - Sri Lankans, and further in their personal lives, are brothers and sons, and if married are the husbands and fathers, of innocent wives and children. Acting independently and realising that the coming days are filled with three religious rites, please be kind to look at the issues on humanitarian grounds, and grant the trio a pardon, as such this act of gesture at this opportune point of time, will certainly have a change of heart and attitude in the vast majority of the people belonging to the various denominations. Since we have no access or direct communication with your organisation, we kindly request the SLMM as well as the ICRC, to convey our humble appeal to the LTTE, and further prevail upon the MPs the TNA, CWC, and UCPF to help secure their release. In conclusion, on behalf of the three police officers, we can safely state that there will be no retaliation by the trio, and should your officials require our presence in securing their release, we are prepared to bridge the gap, for the common ground and good of confidence building. M. F. Mohideen High cost of drugs and the doctorsMost of the drugs are imported to this country by multi-national drug importing companies operating in this country under various brand/trade names and are distributed throughout the country for sale at a very unreasonable price. below mentioned are two of fast moving drugs both imported by multi-national drug companies to substantiate what I am writing for the information of the general public and our doctors. (1) Angizaar 50 mg SPC selling price of a tablet: Rs. 20.30. Selling price at private pharmacy: Rs. 22.38. (2) 02 mg Rivotvil SPC: Rs. 15.75. At private pharmacy: Rs. 17.43.I understand even SPC buys these two drugs from the private importer for them to sell at the above price. Sometimes we find that there are 75-100 brands of the same drug is available under different company names for different prices, a glaring e.g. of this is Amoxcyline where there are about 75 brands in the open market at different prices. Hence the patients do not know which brand is more effective. We only buy what the pharmacy issues us on doctor’s prescription. Sometimes it can be the cheapest brand that the pharmacy is selling for a high price. We merely rely on the pharmacist, and most of our pharmacies do not employ qualified pharmacists. In addition to these imported drugs, our State Pharmaceutical Corporation also produces a limited number of drugs. The prices of imported drugs under various brand names are always expensive in the market when compared to our own productions of SPC. D. E. ABEYWEERA – Murder of Joseph Pararajasingham and five Tamil youthsI am writing on behalf of at least 22 Tamil people who had expressed their disgust at the way you reported the murder of Joseph Pararajasingham MP and the 5 Tamil youths, in a twisted manner. Being the organ of the Sri Lankan Government we would have expected a bit more sensitivity to your reporting than the manner in which you included the murdering of Joseph Pararajasingham MP in your report titled ‘America warns Tigers’ and your recent Editorial on the murder of the youths, lambasting LTTE when this is a case of State terrorism. I quote, “As we look at peace and prosperity we are at a point in the cycle when the furtherance of peace is perhaps the single most important thing that can push Sri Lanka along the path to further prosperity,” Lunstead said. Meanwhile Australia condemns the recent increase in violence in Sri Lanka, particularly the attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the North and East which killed at least 45 members of the security forces during December. Australia also condemns the assassination of Joseph Pararajasingham MP at midnight mass on Christmas Day in Batticaloa. Australia recognises the restraint shown by the Government of Sri Lanka in not retaliating against these latest attacks, as well as its determination not to allow the LTTE’s actions to undermine efforts to achieve a negotiated peace. The report is done in such a way that a reader would infer that the LTTE murdered J P. It is this sort of matters that make the Tamils’ blood boil and drive them towards Tigers. If you truly believe in bringing peace to the island please vet these articles which infuriate Tamils. When we read reports like these from a state owned media, we feel anger, desperation and a sense of no hope. It is my fervent hope that you pay attention to this matter in future. N. SIVARASAN - via email Editor’s Note: Thank you. We have published your letter in full. However we wish to inform you that we have published the stories correctly though you may have seen it differently. |
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