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Recently an article appeared in the print media, sent by a group of
affected residents in the Moratuwa, Egodauyana area, highlighting the
severe stress the residents has undergone, for three consecutive days
and nights, as a result of the blaring of loudspeakers, from a temple in
the area, conducting a pinkama.
It has been repeatedly highlighted and questioned in the newspapers
by eminent Buddhist scholars, the logic of using loudspeakers for
various pinkamas by temple authorities.
Why we Buddhists desiring peace and tranquillity put residents in the
area in hardship and severe inconvenience, flabbergasts me.
The loudspeakers, are not stationed in the temple premises but,
spread over and fixed around an area of 2-3kms, and one can imagine the
extent to which the people are affected.
On inquiry, it has been revealed that in most of the cases, it is not
the chief priest who decides on these matters but, the Dayakas and some
elements in the vicinity, who rule the affairs of the temple.
It is also worthwhile to note, that Buddha statues and loudspeakers
disseminating pirith in the early morning and late evenings have been
set up by some characters, who hang-around street corners, three-wheeler
drivers, private bus drivers and conductors, who seem to have taken the
law into their own hands.
Pious Buddhists, eminent scholars and some chief prelates, have
vehemently opposed this but the elements mentioned above seem to have
overruled the former.
Is our religion, which espouses Maithri and Karuna on all beings,
including other followers, being dictated to, and virtually run by those
unscrupulous elements.
The recent ruling by the Supreme Court is indeed a great blessing,
but what about the noise pollution during 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m., When
pinkamas and other religious activities are conducted with noise and
hindrance, to other people in the area.
The pinkamas or pirith sermons should be conducted to the followers,
who congregate in the temple premises and why others are forced to
undergo stress and mental strain should be the main concern of the
prelate of temple.
Didn't we Buddhists, conducted pinkamas and all other religious
activities without any hardships to others, during the good old days?
And why not now?
A TRUE BUDDHIST,
Pannipitiya
Reference to the letter appearing in the Daily News of October 22,
2007. This letter made us very sad as it is a random statement showing
the opinion of a single person wanting to take revenge on the Directress
and Deputy Directress of the Padiruppu Educational Zone.
When the whole world is talking about women's rights and giving women
their due place in society, this statement has surprised the teachers
and the people of Padiruppu. The feat of astronaut Sunita Williams has
done women proud.
Her achievements have been appreciated by the whole world.
The Directress and Deputy Directress of the Padiruppu Educational
Zone are doing very good work.
They are great assets to the Padiruppu Educational Zone. They both
have the full cooperation and support of the teachers of the zone.
The Padiruppu Zonal Education Department was established in November
1998 and these two ladies have been doing an admirable job since they
took the helm in 2002.
Most of the shortcomings which plagued the Padiruppu Educational Zone
for a long time were taken care of as more attention was given to proper
administration, transfers and promotion. We are greatly indebted to them
for their dedicated and tireless services.
Teachers of Padiruppu Educational Development Society
A dedicated Minister just before the reshuffle of the Cabinet
recently did foresee much vistas and vast possibilities of the potential
of converting sugar cane into ethanol to meet our country's fuel needs.
This started by Brazil as far back as 1970. Why was not this taken as
an alternative by any Energy Minister thus far. Most of the smaller
vehicles in Brazil cuts short a fuel cost by nearly 20 per cent by
utilising this fuel.
Brazil exports raw sugar to the Arabian countries after tackling the
fuel needs as a priority. No extra fuel to run the many distilleries and
refineries is needed either as the squeezed out cane is put to the
furnaces instead of fuel or electricity.
The sugar extract waste is taken for fertiliser use. The exhaust is
eco-friendly and non-polluting. Imagine the avenues for employment on
the vast fields of the cane (known in Brazil as the emerald fields) and
also as personnel of the many refinery and distilling plants.
Why are the projects abandoned when Ministers are shifted about on
reshuffles?
W. MEADOWS,
Dehiwala
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