More on exploring editorials

I was tempted to write this article after reading Dr Upul Wijayawardhana’s article on 10 March. He has expressed all the necessary appreciation of the profound The Island editorials. I have nothing more to say apart from the fact that I am overjoyed after reading Upul’s article. I must admit that I gave up reading newspapers after arriving in Sri Lanka from England after living in England for 55 years. I received all the news via TV CHANNELS or from my professional journals.

In Sri Lanka, I visited a friend of mine who is a retired chairman of one of the leading banks in Sri Lanka. Whenever I visit him, I used to look at his bundle of daily newspapers that he purchased and read daily. That is each and every English newspaper. After a few months I found that The Island had very informative feature articles and also profound editorials in the English phraseology that I was so used to in English newspapers. In The Island editorials, there is sarcasm directed at the politicians, using very appropriate puns. They showed the newspaper’s opinion without hesitation, expressed its irritation and displeasure, explored topics of current importance and combined facts and opinions in great depth.

As I have studied philosophy and am still interested in it deeply, I found that the articles in The Island were thought-provoking. During the last few years, I haven’t missed this newspaper and I get it delivered daily. In fact, I have managed to publish a few articles in it from time to time. My write-up on “Cruelty to animals and Lamentation of a Fish” on 13 Jan., 2022 was written after reading an editorial in The Island about animal rights around that period. I was influenced by this particular editorial.

Some of the editorials that I read and reread are pasted in my scrapbook. I would like to bring attention to a few of my favourite editorials that I read and reread: Mahadenamutta and his golayas (9 Aug22). Gota Coming (18 Aug22). Tough challenge for CB chief (25 Aug 2022). When thieves punish their victims (21 Oct. 22). Milk for Kids (11 Nov 22). I am sure, those of you who are interested will be able to access them on The Island website.

Finally, I am grateful to Upul for his article on the 21 March about casteism. How humble and modest for him to disclose his own suffering (his career) due to casteism. I was lucky as I did all my higher studies and worked in England until my retirement. I was chosen for jobs, irrespective of my colour. Sudddas didn’t ask me what caste I belonged to at interview panels. But as a schoolboy and a young adult I heard people commenting on my caste to insult me. It didn’t matter to me. I ignored it and so did my parents. Upul has suggested that all the Mahanayakas come together and abolish the caste system “The Nikayas”. One of my closest English friends, a professor of Philosophy who has studied Buddhist Philosophy in depth asked me seriously: “Are these monks Buddhists? He was unaware of the Nikayas based on castes. I leave the intelligent readers of The Island to draw their own conclusion.

I am grateful to Upul for his profound articles. I met him in London in the 70s as a young doctor and I was a young scientist. We used to meet regularly at that time, and lost touch. Thanks to The Island, we are in touch although out of sight!

Prof. Sampath Anson Fernando

Formerly University of The Arts London (UAL)