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There are 'Decibel Meters' which show/record the level of sound in
the environment. I have seen them being used in UK in 1969 by Public
Health Inspectors to investigate complaints of noise annoyance.
Loud noises of temple bells, calls to prayer from mosques etc. cannot
enhance religion.
Any religion should be practised with least annoyance to others.
From 1984 to 2000, I had to endure horrible noise from loudspeakers
used during the annual St. Andrew's Church feast along Aluthmawatte Road
for five whole days, day and night. I wore ear plugs the whole time.
I informed the church priest, who was helpless - he could not control
his 'flock'. I informed the police who too couldn't care less. Noisy
events are making life hell for citizens.
The ban should be from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. - as children study from 6
p.m. onwards. It appears that enjoyment of carnivals, 'music' shows,
religious ceremonies etc. depend on the level of sound/noise created.
Sri Lanka is the only country where this seems to apply. Religion,
music, drama, celebrations etc. should not be 'thrust' on others by
noise.
P. NATHAN
The news report in the Daily News of November 26 reporting a drop in
the sales of alcohol and cigarettes is welcome. According to the news
report, this is due to the stern regulatory measures taken by the
Government on public advertisements and scenes in films and teledramas
depicting the consumption of liquor and tobacco.
There is another area which is of serious concern to the public ie.
the murders and killings of all sorts reported every evening in the late
evening TV news and the daily newspapers.
Therefore, shouldn't scenes depicting the killings and murders by
poisoning, knifing, shooting and contract killings shown in our
teledramas and films too be banned.
These only give ideas to the sick, idle and warped minds and the
hooligans with no occupation. I am sure we have enough and more writers
capable of writing good film scripts and teledramas without these
killings.
They should be encouraged to do so, and Government should initiate
action to ban these scenes from films and teledramas as we are now
confronted with a grave problem.
The final solution may be to take that hard and bold decision to
activate the death penalty even for a limited period untill we get over
this problem. After all, being Buddhist or religious does not mean
turning a blind eye to these killings that are taking place daily in all
parts of the island.
Why are we sympathetic towards the killers who commit crimes and not
the innocent public whose rights and safety should be guarded by the
State?
ANANDA
PILIMATALAVUVA
It will be interesting to see the Peace Incorporated Foreign funded
(lucratively paid in Euros, Kroners or Dollars) present their views on
the Tiger attacks in Colombo.
Will they be as outspoken against these as they were when terrorist
leaders were hit?
They said it was wrong to attack terrorist leaders. And will the
Western media refer to these attacks as the work of 'rebels' or 'freedom
fighters' or simply the work of terrorists?
R. F. G.,
Mihirigama
"United we stand; divided we fall." How can the Sinhala race stand
when it is divided into no less than 26 castes vide Dr. Ananda
Coomaraswamy's 'Medieval Sinhalese Art.'
We should not sweep our social evils under the carpet but expose them
with a view to reform them.
For centuries, the so called low castes have been ridiculed, looked
down upon by the so called high castes and it is a pity that it is so
even in this enlightened age with only a few exceptions. Though the
Buddha, the Enlightened One, not only preached against the caste system,
but also practised it by inviting the low castes to be his disciples,
the Siam Nikaya admits only Goigama children into its fold.
The low caste people - a vast majority of them have been sewers of
wood and drawers of water and remain so even today in spite of
Government passing the Prevention of Social Disabilities Act No. 21 of
1957.
The Brahming of yore, in order to preserve the caste system in its
pristine purity, decreed that a man or woman should marry within his or
her caste. The best way to abolish the pernicious caste system is to
break that rule on a mass scale. But that is not possible as even the
low castes have their own caste prejudices. One swallow does not make a
summer. On the other hand, the high castes say that they cannot
sacrifice their birth-right for a mess of pottage.
In the circumstances, the low castes have no salvation unless all get
together and form an Association as the Dalits have done in India and
press the Government to reserve jobs for them in Government service,
make provision in the Budget to give substantial presents to couples who
have married outside their castes as in Tamil Nadu and other benefits.
Punchisingho,
Ratmalana
It is indeed a very good move by the Government to reactivate Capital
punishment related to children and women. I urge the same to be applied
to serious criminal offences committed by teachers, members of the Armed
Forces, judges, lawyers, doctors, priests/clergy etc. and sons and
daughters against their parents; and students against their teachers;and
anyone against the clergy.
All these groups are commanding the respect of everyone and their
betrayal of this respect and trust should be treated as the most heinous
crime and treated with utmost punishment.
RILA
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