Congratulations, all round! We hail the victory of our nation! It is
a tremendous feat or, achievement!
Our President is Godsent. We think all, including our wise and
virtuous President, the second King Dutugamunu of Sri Lanka, the P.M.,
and the Chiefs of the three Security Forces, Police and all our dear
patriotic Veerodhara Ranaviru who participated in the war, to eradicate
the scourge of terrorism from our nation.
We have set a good example to the entire world. Sri Lanka has taught
terrorism, its first lesson! We hope that other countries too, will
follow suit. History, is in the making.
We salute, all our Heroes, who made the supreme sacrifice, in the
war. Sri Lanka has been liberated from the iron grip, of a bunch of
blood thirsty terrorists. The quisling and his treacherous followers are
no more.
At last, after a duration of 30 long arduous years of bloodshed,
tears and strife, peace has dawned upon a new Sri Lanka. Our golden
soldiers have done it. Thanks to our Forces we are a proud and brave
nation today.
They are our nation’s pride! God has heard our cries, prayers and
pleas, now we are one Sri Lanka, under one National flag! We regard the
Tamils, as our own brothers and sisters. All of them are our good
friends. Sri Lanka, welcomes, one and all.
We must also thank, the public, for their unstinted support and
encouragement given to the Security Forces, to fight the good fight to a
finish. It is because of those who sacrificed their limbs, that, we are
able to stand on ours, today.
Therefore, as was suggested in Thulava T.N.L., we should also
sacrifice a day’s wages on their behalf, in gratitude, for all they have
done for us and our nation. Some foreign countries have been helping the
terrorists in clandestine, which is very bad.
The Sovereignty, territorial integrity and the culture of our
country, must be safeguarded, at all costs. All communities should live
in amity and equity, in a united Sri Lanka, as one big family, devoid of
petty, narrow-minded, differences.
All of us, make mistakes. Let there be no animosity towards anyone,
as our multi-religions teach us, regardless whose at fault. Let’s think
positively!
The President, seem to have a foresighted plan for our country. And
he seems to be rather precocious. Let us give him a chance to prove it!
He worshipped the soil of Lanka, as he is a patriot. Let us unite to
help him.
Those who take the sword, will perish by the sword, cowards die many
times before their death. Let by gones be by gones. This is a good
lesson for all of us. A lesson in the school of life! May this lesson,
teach us better. Let us unite, to help the President, to uplift our
country, for the benefit of all.
C. Mohanlal de Mel - Moratuwa
Vasudewa Nanayakkara hails from Metaramba in Unawatuna. He walked in
the precincts of Richmond College, Galle in the 50s. By then Richmond
had produced many great personalities of whom few got elected to
Parliament and Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara and P. de S. Kularatne were
instrumental in formulating and introducing the free education, enabling
all sons and daughters of Sri Lanka the opportunity to study.
With this great heritage, Vasu entered Richmond, the great Missionary
School during the last decade of the colonial era. My late eldest
brother Lalith who was a classmate, once described Vasu as a ‘chap who
will enter the classroom through the window even though the door is
open’. That was Vasu ‘the Rascal’ in his early life.
Vasu who practised as a lawyer in the Avissawella courts, entered
Parliament in 1970 from the Kiriella electorate in the Sabaragamuwa
Province with a majority of over 6,000 votes at the age of 31 years. He
first experienced injustice in public life when in 1971 he was arrested
for the unfounded reasons of aiding and abetting the insurrection.
A question was raised in Parliament by another Richmondite the late
Dr. W. Dahanayake on how a member was arrested without the consent of
the Speaker? And the then Prime Minister, his own coalition leader, had
to apologise and the firebrand politician continued to reverberate in
the August Assembly till 1977.
Sincerity, truthfulness and patriotism, has always been the qualities
of Vasudewa Nanayakkara in and outside the Parliament. He did not
bargain his cherished ideals for personal benefit or glory.
He stood fast in the truth he believed in, which deprived him the
opportunity to enter Parliament in the last general election. Even
though his voice is not heard in Parliament, his recent successful
litigations in upholding fair play and good governance has made him an
icon for justice among the people of Sri Lanka.
This is an alternate and an honourable way of serving the needs of
the people in these times of rampant corruption at many levels of
government.
People value this very much and he along with Nihal Sri Ameresekere
are undoing the corrupt decisions taken through the legislator and the
precedence you are setting has a greater value to the country than being
a Member of Parliament of today.
His village upbringing and the qualities inculcated at Richmond are
truly paying dividends. You are a true ‘Richmond Puthra’ who will always
be remembered at Richmond and by the right thinking people of our
Nation.
As in our College song, ‘Battle ever for the right and with all your
might, Never mind a knock or two never fear the fight’. Dear Vasu! you
are truly playing your part exceptionally well and continuing the
Richmond traditions. We Richmondites are proud of you!
Noel de Alwis Edrisinha [email protected]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s love and generosity to all communities
are well known, clearly seen and loudly heard.
As another humanitarian gesture, it is a good idea to have the three
languages on name boards vertically written - Tamil first in smaller
letters as always there are many more letters than the other two,
Sinhala in the middle written in the usual larger type and English in
same smaller type as Tamil.
Horizontally too the same sizes could be adopted in the same order -
Tamil first etc. Then there need not be shifting of languages in
different provinces.
Sunil J. Peiris Moratuwa
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