Features
Road via Sinharaja and continuing squabble
Silver lining to the UNP cloud
Congratulations and celebration! “Karu ready to lead UNP” says headline of ‘The Island’ of Tuesday 25 August. “In a statement issued to media, Jayasuriya said that he had decided to inform the incumbent UNP leadership and seniors of his willingness to consider a large number of requests from various parties for him to accept the UNP leadership for the sake of the Party and the country.” Bravely he added: “I am ready to render all my services and take up the responsibilities of the Party for the benefit of the Motherland.” True, the country needs a powerful Opposition in Parliament and the oldest party cannot be allowed to die through pettiness and power hunger and factions.
Cass has been reprimanded by her greatest critic not to get personal in her Friday ramblings. Cass has to write true to her nature and her nature is ruled by gut feelings and appearance of her subject of attention. In the picture of Karu J that accompanied his declaration of readiness, we see a fine sincere face marked with lines of experience, no sardonicism or traces of political vanity. Remember Plato in his Republic approved and advocated as Head of a good Republic a statesman of many years experience, preferably over 70 years of age. (Not exactly a translation of Plato but the gist is what Cass quotes). Karu J qualifies according to the first Democrat of the Western World. Cass takes pride in that she verbally and in print strongly advocated Jayasuriya emerging from well earned retirement to help the UNP in its terrible death throes.
Scandal of road through Sinharaja Reserve
In the same daily on page 3 was this news item titled: Sinharaja Road Project: Yoshitha threatens legal action.” Cass asks – what pray is the legal action about? Is it to say, “He (Yoshitha) does not own a hotel in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve contrary to a claim made by the environmentalist to that effect? I strongly deny false accusations …” Is it Yoshita Rajapaksa’s pound of flesh that the all powerful lawyers, some fawning, who he will employ to get “a retraction of the statement, an apology and Rs 500 million damages” from the protesting environmentalist.
To us ordinary citizens of this country it is unthinkable that a road goes through Sinharaja Forest, one of the world’s few existing virgin forests, and a hotel built within or in close proximity. Cass very nearly wrote ‘existing and verdantly thriving virgin forest’. That is nonsense as vile folk have even timber-logged from this Heritage Site. On reading the news item referred to, Cass’ mind’s eye camera-ed the now raging forest fires in California. Didn’t you see the smoke that preceded the fire? Yes, the connection to the adage ‘no smoke without a fire’. It is unfortunate that California’s forests are being destroyed, but those are not uniquely virgin like our Sinharaja Forest. Cass’ sympathies are wholly with Sanjeewa Chamikara. He is an endangered sprat against the mighty political sharks that rule with all powerful father, doting mother, brothers, top lawyers and even some high ups on Yoshitha’s side. Sanjeewa is a gnat rubbing against a high stone wall.
Losing respect for the Buddhist Sangha
That is the opinion of many Buddhists, added to by saying they are ashamed, judging by one disgraceful fracas: the ongoing actions of the three principal monks of the Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya (AJBP), who still have not decided on the member to be sent to Parliament as Party representative. The decision is fraught with infighting, accusations of kidnapping and counter accusations of cowardly hiding with the purpose of high-jacking the MP position.
This shameful infighting highlights the travesty by three monks of the vinaya rules set down by the Buddha and followed diligently by so many monks in our land. There are excellent Bhikkhus in Sri Lanka and it is believed arahants are among them, mostly forest meditators, and even among those living right lives in temples.
This squabble brought back, cynically and sardonically it must be admitted, stories of the Scarlett Pimpernel created by author Baroness Orczy which Cass devoured as a kiddie bookworm. Why on earth compare men in saffron robes, supposedly Buddhist monks, to either French aristocracy marked to be guillotined by the peasant criers for liberty, egalite, fraternite or to the suave English saviour of men from the clutches of death – the Scarlet Pimpernel – nom de guerre for aristocratic English Lord Blakeny, with French wife. The comparison – monks are here, book characters were there in France and England – seems far-fetched. But there was/is intrigue in both and borrowed identities – the Scarlet Pimpernel in the books and warring, self centred, power seeking men in saffron robes. Scarlet P cleverly kidnapped and took to safety French aristocrats with their necks almost under the descending knife. The whiskered ‘Thera’ apparently self-kidnapped himself and the calm Ratana did not turn up at an inquiry to the disappearance at the Colombo DIG’s office. Vedinigama Wimalaratne Thera intrigues (you can substitute the verb disgusts) as he has such a hirsute face. If by chance he has an allergy to the shaving razor and cream, he should get into civvies. Not only does he go against vinaya rules and sticks out like a very sore thumb, he appears proud of his overgrown face hair.
The blood thirsty French peasants guillotined the aristocrats for sake of country; here these three monks say they are being national-minded and protectors of Buddhism and the Sinhala race. Tosh! Go back to your temples and live recluse lives, is what the public says.
So within the coming week we have three outcomes to watch for. Never a dull moment in this land like no other!