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Sri Lanka was a peaceful country with democracy and the rule of the
law prevailing all around. Corruption was at a minimum level and
Parliament exercised sovereignty of the people. The whole scenario
changed in the mid 1970s with almost dictatorial powers being centred
around one person and even Parliamentary powers reduced. With undue
pressure being exerted by India on Sri Lanka, amendments were made to
the constitution which paved the way for formation of Provincial
Councils, which have turned out to be a ‘White Elephant’. It need not be
said that large sums of money is today spent on maintenance of
Provincial Councils.
Colossal sums are spent on elections to Provincial Councils by
candidates and these are re-earned by hook or by crook. All this seems
to lead to corruption which have gone out of control. One former Chief
Minister went to the extent of declaring an independent state in the
East which was the start of the separatism war.
Even the preferential voting system introduced by a former government
has turned out to be a political misdemeanor, with politicos recruiting
goons to accomplish their vile strategems.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government is on the right track.
Government’s intentions were announced in newspapers that the 13th
Amendment to the Constitution will be amended. In addition, proposals
are that future elections will be held on a first past the post and
preferential (mixed) basis and that the preferential voting system will
be done away with. Coupled with the unprecedented development projects
going on country-wide, Sri Lanka is on the way to good governance.
HEMANTHA HETTIARATCHCHI
GANGODAWILA, NUGEGODA
I can vividly remember my mother saying how they as kids, travelled
to Ragala from Nanu Oya via Nuwara Eliya by the ‘Baby Train’, and this
prompted me to look for the abandoned rail track which I saw between
these two stations during my student days. This was when we often
visited our relatives at Coombwood Estate in Talawakelle, where my uncle
T. F. Mathew was the Medical Assistant and some others on tea
plantations at Nanu Oya. I also remember having seen the abandoned
railway line here and there on my way to Yatiyantota from Ruanwella,
passing Karawanella. My two younger brothers Rex and Neville were
boarders at St. Gabriel’s College in Yatiyantota at that time. I had to
take the Ruanwella - Karawanella route because we were residing on
Chesterford Estate, Waharaka where my father Aloysius was the Chief
Clerk from 1943 to 1968.
It would be prudent if these two railway tracks are resumed for
passenger transport, not only due to the increase in population but also
due to the influx of tourists to this country, especially after
terrorism was eradicated in 2009.
It would not be a white-elephant as in the past, because most of the
tourists are bound to make use of this railway service for enjoyment.
The same old ‘Baby Trains’ would be welcome, as this will also be
something novel when compared to the trains running on the broad-gauge
lines. Similarly, if due thought is given to re-commissioning the Kelani
Valley railway line beyond Avissawella upto Ratnapura/Opanayake now that
the broad line is available upto Avisawella, it would a boon to workers
travelling to Colombo for employment purposes. Needless to say the
transport of goods could also be undertaken at reasonable charges levied
by the railway.
Nobody will a have a grouse because the rail tracks that were
abandoned in the areas mentioned above are still be the property of the
railway. I hope this would catch the eye of the Minister of Transport
for implementation.
G. ERIC MUSCREEN
LUNUWILA
I chanced upon a newspaper feature article of historical importance
by Dr. B. S. Wijeweera on our legendary pious king, Sri Sangabodhi with
detailed account of his childhood and the circumstances that led to his
been enthroned as the King of Anuradhapura, although much against his
will. What is most important and the writer emphasizes in the article,
is how Sri Sangabo denounces kingship and power as it was beset with
ambition, arrogance, ruthlessness, corruption and tyranny among many
other evils associated with it. What attracted my attention however was
the conflict of opinion among various eminent educationists as to the
period of kingship of Sri Sangabo and of his friend Gothabaya who
usurped King Sangabo’s throne, out of sheer greed for regal splendour.
The writer elaborately articulates the stark differences in the
reigning periods of the two kings Sri Sangabo and Gothabaya as given in
the historical works of some eminent educationists, historians and
scholars of great repute.
The Mahavansa (Geiger) assigns to King Sri Sangabo’s rule, the period
300-302 AD and that to Gothabaya, the period 302-315 AD. Ananda Guruge
in his version of the Mahavansa assigns the periods 247-249 AD and
249-263 AD respectively. E.W. Adikaram in his ‘Early History of Buddhism
in Ceylon’ attributes to Sanghabodhi the period 307-309 AD and Gothabaya
the period 309-322 AD.
This I am sure would confuse students of history and place them in a
great dilemma, as it is quite obviously apt to render erroneous the
reigning periods of the entire chain of kings of the Anuradhapura era,
not to mention many other historical facts that have sadly been
distorted by many leading writers over a period of time.
This of course prompts me to ponder on the comment on the subject of
History made by French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) who said,
“What is History after all? It is nothing but fable agreed upon.”
Now quite ironically we are impelled to believe that Napoleon’s
assertion too is found wanting as we find that there is no ‘agreement’
even among leading historians on the nuances of history.
A.W.M. AIYOO
GALLE
Can you help the tenants on Swarna Road to escape from the daily
menace of garbage being thrown in front of their gates by the flat
dwellers living down Siddartha Road ? Though Swarna Road residents have
complained to the authorities concerned over the years, these complaints
seem to have fallen on deaf ears. With authorities harping on keeping
the city clean, this sadly is the state of things in a residential area
in the heart of Colombo. It will be great if you can help us.
A RESIDENT DROWNED BY THE STINK - EMAIL
I read the letter titled ‘Paper Money’ by M.C. Jayasiri of Blind
Citizens’ Front, Katubedda in the Citizens’ Mail column. Every right
thinking person will agree with the suggestions made by him therein. The
blind are not the only ones helpless with regard to identifying the
present currency notes. From pavement hawkers to commercial personnel
too with good vision, they are in a confused state.
Currency notes should be different in colour, size and features for
everybody to identify easily. The slightest similarity between low
currency and high currency notes could pave way to the public being
deceived easily by unscrupulous persons.
N.A. NAWAZ
COLOMBO 15
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