Thursday 21st February, 2008 9 Congrats, Ranil: Auditor General overridden Addendum I wish to add a few thoughts to Durrand Appuhamy’s letter in your journal yesterday for the first time in history! (19/02) on the above sub- ject. I read your article in The Island of Secretary General for appropriate interesting to find out who gave this questionable practices involving certain A responsible Senior Monday 18 February 2008, titled Experts action in terms of perhaps reference for Committee the mandate to call into projects of Parliament. It appears that Citizen, above all, Committee rejects AG’s Report. I was investigating those responsible for cor- question the findings of the AG who is those who are responsible have con- Leader of one of two appalled to find that the Auditor rupt practices disclosed in the report is solely mandated under the Constitution spired to ‘play down’ and nullify these leading Political Parties General of Sri Lanka who is appointed now being overridden by a Committee to conduct such an investigation. findings by appointing such a and Leader of the main under Article 153 of the Constitution appointed by ICTA, whose members Your news item emphasizes the fact Committee to oversee the AG’s findings. Opposition violated the and whose functions, duties and powers themselves were subject to investiga- that for the first time in the history of It’s high time the President inter- law of the land publicly. Is he not aware are specified in the Constitution and tion by the Auditor General. It appears this country the AG’s findings are inves- vened to probe those responsible for that pasting posters on walls, parapet walls who accordingly audits certain projects that some interested, affected party in tigated and dismissed by such an ad hoc that high handed act. etc. is prohibited by law. in Parliament and whose report was Parliament is responsible for the Committee. A concerned citizen Then we saw an ultra rich politician available to the Speaker and the appointment of this Committee. It is The AG’s report has shed light on Via e-mail shedding crocodile tears for the public. What was he doing when he was a minis- ter? Did he bring down the CoL then despite agitations by the then Opposition? Appreciation Then who ruined the CWE where the poor used to buy their provisions and who engi- Conspiring neered the downfall of the State Trading Jayantha Saving Galle Fort Corporation? How many times has Ranil toppled this against government since last April? Certainly Fernando: over a dozen times. Johnston Fernando, Riaz Ismail, in his Lakshman Kiriella, Vajira letter appearing in The Abeygoonewardena, Tissa Attanayake, a tribute Island of 11th Sri Lanka Lukshman Seneviratne predicted the fall February, 2008 had of the government many times in the past Jayantha (Kithsiri) stressed on the necessi- and formation of a UNP government. They Fernando passed away after a ty to preserve the Galle Down Under even gave timeframes! What has hap- pened? Will the UNP, as a responsible and long illness bravely borne and Fort as the 38th World The Australian Centre leading political party, at least now stop was laid to rest on 7th Heritage site. When for Peace and Conflict such cheap gimmicks? Will they kindly February in the presence of compared with the Studies (ACPCS) is plan- tell the public how they propose to deal many Maristonians, young and other heritage sites in ning to have a seminar with the rising CoL and terrorism, what old. Sri Lanka, mentioned on Sri Lanka in collabora- they are going to offer the minorities, how Jayantha studied at Maris by him, i.e. Sinharaja tion with International Alert. they plan to develop the whole country Stella College, Negombo. He forest reserve, It was only the other day with special emphasis on the development of the North and the East and how they was one of the very few in his Ruvanweliseya, Sri that Australia apologized to are going to attain a sustainable and last- class to enter the University of Dalada, Maligawa, the Aborignal people and ing peace for all people of Sri Lanka? Colombo, graduating in Polonnaruwa, the government is attempt- Physical Science. He worked Dambulla Ran Vihara ing to reduce the pathetic Ranjit C. Dissanayake for the C.W.E. and eventually and Sigiriya, etc., Galle gap between the Aboriginal Battaramulla reached the highest echelon of Fort fades into total people and others in its management. In later years insignificance, in view respect of basic human he taught English in a leading of what is stated below. needs. Institute in Negombo. The most relevant With expense-paid stay Congrats, Ranil: Jayantha’s simplicity, ami- question to be asked is Galle Fort in Australia by IA, Prof. Siri able ways and sense of what are we trying to Hettige and Devasiri humour created for him a wide preserve and for whose bene- reminder to the citizens of four other places of invalu- Rodrigo, former head of Rejoinder circle of friends. Quite natu- fit. We are labouring some- this country of the damages able interest to the Chamber of Commerce will Ranil bashers would, no doubt, enjoy rally he was a popular choice what slavishly to preserve a so caused. Buddhists. be the Sri Lankan heroes the letter in The Island of Feb. 19 under for the Presidency of the site left behind by the Dutch, The Australian Prime Moreover, could anybody, at the seminar as they will the above caption, ridiculing the poster Parent Body of the OBA of during nearly 150 years of Minister has recently apolo- institution or organization be able tell the business- campaign launched by the UNP. One Maris Stella College in 2006 forceful occupation of this gised to the local aborigines point out a single World men in Australia that they whole-heartedly agrees that the UNP is and 2007. He led the OBA with country, much against the for the irreparable Heritage site in any other should stop dealing with Sri unable to generate the kind of anti-gov- ernment protests and often resorts to dedication and commitment in wishes of its citizens. The losses/harm caused to them country of the world, where Lanka until the Sri Lankan childish and laughable gimmicks. 2006 and I recall how he assid- irreparable damage caused by the previous such site has been construct- government invites the But, history may not necessarily uously followed up on to the places venerated by Governments. What is now ed by an invading nation ACPCS to save the LTTE judge him as an agent of western imperi- Prospective Sponsorships for the Buddhists and to their required is, therefore, is to who have done irreparable and have peace and pros- alism, appeaser and tie-and-dye Col .7 our Annual Dinner Dance. It culture during this illegal call for a similar apology damage to the said country. perity. They may even go politician who has not made a contribu- was a relentless pursuit until occupation is beyond from the Dutch, for all the Perhaps, the local UNESCO to the extent of asking if tion to the progress of this country. He he had a positive response. description in a short letter damages caused by them. office or their Head Office Australia can say sorry has yet to get into the hot seat as the CEO Unfortunately his second term of this nature. Thus, what The so called clamour to pre- could enlighten the readers after 200 years why Sri of Sri Lanka to prove himself or prove Mr. Appuhamy and others of his ilk in 2007 was dragged down by the responsible citizens and serve the Galle Fort as Galle on this aspect. Perhaps, Sri Lanka shouldn’t say sorry right. his debilitating illness. institutions of this country Heritage, when in fact it is a Lanka could enter the and hand over a part of the But, it cannot be denied that thou- He was a man with an should do is not to clamour Dutch heritage, is to say the Guinness book for the wrong country to the LTTE. sands have perished during the last two indomitable spirit. Despite the for the preservation of Galle least, very deplorable and is reason, i. e. the only country Will Hettige and years; many mothers are mourning for severity of his illness and the Fort, but to demand compen- an insult to everybody who in the world to glorify for- Devasiri ask for expenses their children who have died in battle or painful medication he was sation from the Dutch, for has some connection what- eign invaders, and preserve from IA and go to Hawai to been killed elsewhere. The masses are going through, he continued to the irreparable damages soever with Galle. Such their left overs for posterity. discuss how peace can be starving while a few are gormandising. direct the affairs of the OBA caused by them during their insult is further aggravated restored in Iraq and Ranil cannot certainly be blamed for that, can he? even from his sick - bed. The illegal occupation. Galle by the fact that Galle Fort D. H. Gunadasa Afghaistan? G. Mahen.P.Siriwardena last time I met Jayantha was Fort is only an eternal has been listed on par with Hikkaduwa, Malin Abeyatunge Kegalla when he presided over our OBA EX-CO meeting on 25th May 2007. We adjourned for fel- lowship to the Lagoon View - Inn. I sat with Jayantha on the verandah of this Inn overlook- What’s this fuss about an OBE? ing the Negombo Lagoon. We talked of the moments of fun, In your popular Opinion Page that the bhikkhu concerned was zas, clever in quoting from any the best of both worlds when he mankind. joy and laughter we had of 30/1 one reader has expressed a simple man who had given up part of the Tripitaka, or any such comes to Sri Lanka). America has both national- shared for over 20 years at the his disbelief and horror when worldly honours like the Buddha holy text, but a clever mind is a When you call yourself a ism and organised faith. So have various events that brought us Her Majesty the Queen of Britain who gave up the palace when he worldly mind because cleverness British citizen, as this monk Iraq, Iran and the whole lot. pinned an OBE on a bhikkhu. An took to the begging bowl. Begging is worldliness. We may have a must do to enjoy the vanity of Unless and until human beings Maristonians together. Charles OBE, according to my Oxford bowls, like the fans carried by monk who is clever in art or an OBE, he is identifying him- realise the stupidity of national- Fernando - arguably the oldest Dictionary, stands for officer (of monks are only stage props today architecture, anthropology, litera- self with British nationalism. ism and organised faiths man living Maristonian - and the Order) of the British Empire, like the axe carried by a Vedda to ture, languages and so on and Nationalism whether it is Sri will not live peacefully with man. Jayantha, backed by the guitar a medal that was available on the show who he is. No bhikkhu uses they have become clever through Lanka or British is the craving The OBE monk could not be strumming of Gladstone Dias recommendation of the ruling a begging bowl today to go beg- education in an overpopulated for attachment to a group, to a criticised for becoming an officer led us in our boisterous ses- party in this country until 1972 ging just as no Vedda uses race, to a country. The of the British Empire. To him, when we abolished the monarchy an axe! identification of a person such an identity will fill his sions of song and dance, spirit- and became a republic. The rul- Any bhikkhu is expect- with the greater, with empty hearty and it will give him ed by the Waters of Scotland!! ing party was influenced by vari- ed by the devotees to Britain, Sri Lanka etc. is that feeling of superiority which Jayantha’s lusty rendition of ous factors. Once, on the recom- observe simplicity, but a the craving for attach- our leaders will cement by confer- the perennial favourites of C. mendation of the leading planned simplicity is only ment to something of ring further, honours at his next T. Fernando and Priya Buddhist organisations in this a cunning adjustment to a greater significance than visit to this country. Suriyasena’s “Mage Lamada” island, Prof. G. P. Malalasekera, society that still believes the person. The OBE, the Evidently The Island reader will remain etched in our the President of the All Ceylon that men in robes are sim- British identify, all kinds who grumbled about a bhikkhu Buddhist Congress was awarded ple. Upasaka ammas fall of nationalism inevitably becoming an officer of the order memories forever. an OBE and the poor man was at the feet of a man in lead to war, sooner or of the British Empire is under A warm hearted and gentle harassed to death by Aubrey robes because they think later. When Bertrand the impression that the order of human being, Jayantha always Collette, our famous cartoonist, that such men are truly Russel refused to identity the Sangha is superior to all appeared happy and contented. by pinning a large OBE on every simple. Upasaka ammas himself with the Second other orders to the extent of He seldom complained about cartoon depicting the great and correspondents like World War, Britain jailed superseding them. That was dur- the vagaries of life. Deep in Buddhist leader! the one who wrote to your him! The crime was his ing the time of the Buddha when his heart he could never over- If the London Buddhist Vihara journal expressing horror unwillingness to kill, in a monarch was ignored in the did not appeal to the British at the sight of a bhikkhu the name of a country or presence of the Blessed One in come the trauma and sorrow of Government the Queen would not with an OBE pinned by The late Ven. Dr. Medagama Vajiragnana, receiving race or religion. protocol. Not any more. To our the tragic and untimely loss of have pinned the medal on a the Queen on his saffron But this OBE monk is monk the Queen of England his only son. But he reconciled bhikkhu. Then why blame the robe expect these holy the OBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II not as great as a Russel of supersedes the order to the himself to his destiny with a poor monk? Let him enjoy wear- men to be truly holy. course. The monk wanted Sangha. If not he would have sense of stoic acceptance. He ing it, very proudly! These are the same men and world where only the clever have the OBE because as an officer of refused to pay obeisance to a lived his life according to his This reminds me of a recep- women who send them to parlia- a place in society. Such cleverness the order of the British Empire monarch. The next medal may be college anthem. He was noble tion Prince Philip, Queen’s hus- ment in Benz cars! is worldliness and it is such a per- he is superior to other monks conferred by the Japanese band, attended. Decorations, civil A bhikkhu is a person whose son who will rise higher, and who do not have that additional monarch and the monk will add and gentle in all that he did. and military, were out in force at mind is conditioned according to higher in the hierarchy collecting label. Nationalism is also a reli- one more medal to his collection He was faithful and true to this reception. He asked one Buddhist ideology. His mind func- degrees and titles and medals. gion that can only breed hatred in his journey through Samsara. God and to neighbour. He faced much be-medalled guest: “Have tions at an ideological level, a Every title or medal is a symbol and havoc. No Sangha Council will dare to life’s trials bravely. To you got any on the back, too?” conceptual level, at a level he has of worldliness. The monk has not done any- admonish this bhikkhu as they Jayantha, “Life was nothing Every time this bhikkhu read in scripture. When one’s A man of religion today is a thing contrary to Buddhism for would then be insulting the but an occasional burst of attends a reception at mind is filled with an ideology man who lives in the past. All Buddhism is only another British Empire however defunct laughter rising above the Buckingham Palace he must wear that mind is a slave to propagan- thought is the past, Buddhist organised faith. Organised it is, and if our Asgiriya and his OBE. Otherwise it would be da of thousands of years. A mind thought, Christian thought etc. faiths and nationalism have set Malwatta Chapter hierarchy is interminable wail of grief”. considered a gross insult to the that does not realise this is a No OBE is awarded to a non- man against man ever since also requested to join the British May his soul dwell amongst monarchy. mind of great confusion, great citizen of Britain. So evidently organised faiths and national- Empire as Officers, any bet they the righteous. Evidently your reader who misery for himself and for the the Sinhala monk is a British ism began. Therefore through will accept! denounced the bhikkhu for the others. Such a mind may be very citizen as well (with dual citi- organised faiths and national- Jayatissa Perera, Merrick Gooneratne OBE was under the impression clever, clever in reciting Pali stan- zenship enabling him to enjoy ism there is no hope for Bambalapitiya.