The Island OPINION Tuesday 8th June, 2010 Views LETTERS 9 Corruption: National disrespect is national disgrace The powder keg! A note to the President

t is an earnest patriotic display to have our national anthem sung Iand our national flag hoisted at all national functions attended by the high and the mighty of our land. But it is also a national disgrace when politicians and others fail to stand at attention while the anthem is being sung. One saw this national disre- spect for our national anthem on CBK crude display at the recent opening Mahinda ceremony of IIFA cricket match. The VIPs and many others were aimlessly orruption which is in the boiling pot wondering about while the national became a hot topic last week. It was anthem was being sung. These dregs Cmore in the news than the IIFA of our society did not have an iota of Awards because of statements made by patriotism in their bones. They ought prominent figures. to be banned from attending any We had the Sports minister, national ceremonies. The IIFA occa- C.B.Ratnayake, with his remarks on corrup- sion is not the first time this dis- tion. His comments at the Cricket graceful behaviour has taken place. Board press conference stunned the audi- Mr. President you need to take action ence. at least as far as the politicians are Bollywood We should admire his courage for saying concerned. Please view the video. stars in Sri this and for coming forward with his experi- Most members of our national Lanka ence by saying that a top cricket board offi- sports teams including our cricketers cial had offered him an all expenses paid appear to be tongue-tied and stand Caribbean trip for 3 days during the T20 like mute statues when it comes to World Cup. singing the national anthem. Why are The interesting part of this is the next they ashamed of rendering a full- day , he had re-appointed the Chairman of throated version in tune with the the Board, the Secretary and the Treasurer public address version being played? obviously to ‘weed out corruption’ ! It Mr. Minister of Sports, here is a sim- coepit habet” (well begun is half done The deep respect for our national insignificant functions. The breach of appears as if they are indispensable. In the ple and effective action you need to already). After all, they are repre- flag and our national anthem should this regulation should carry heavy past, we had Prime Ministers and Presidents take immediately. Get all our national senting the country and therefore start in our schools. All students from fines together with powers to the either due to untimely death or retirement teams to sing the national anthem at they have the solemn duty to project Grade One onwards must be trained police to charge sheet the offenders replaced by people who were found to be the beginning of all activities they the country in the sports they are tak- to cherish our national symbols and and remove the flags from the scene. more efficient. So nobody is indispensable. participate, at the appropriate ing part in. They should therefore respect both our national flag and our Our flag and our national anthem are This was followed by a comment made by moment. This should get their adren- participate in the singing of the national anthem. Then perhaps they powerful symbols of our nationhood. the former President Chandrika aline flowing and motivate them to national anthem when appropriate. A will not behave disgracefully later on They cannot be allowed to be belittled Kumaratunga in her speech at the annual make a greater effort in the sports compulsory test for selection to any in life. by anyone not even by politicians. prize giving at St. Bridget’s on 3rd May. She they are engaged in. As Romans national team should include the abil- Finally, the government should Durand Appuhamy had said, “... At present politics is the most would say, “dimidium facti qui bene ity to sing our national anthem! ban the national flag being used at Negombo lucrative of businesses in the country and 80 per cent of those carrying out political func- tions are corrupt...” May be because unlike other professions, in politics there are no barriers to entry. Well done Mr. Minister The A-9 and its significance A daily newspaper had a headline that an Opposition politician had received Rs. 48 he A-9 is one of the great trunk roads remains of ruined buildings. This road of Sri Lanka. It commences at Kandy which can be traced beyond the Jaffna million from an expat Sri Lankan business- s Sri Lankan citizens many Christians must also be Tand ends in Jaffna. Peninsula through the Vanni to the centre men in return for exclusive business deals, we are all proud and probed along with the vast sums This highway has a rich heritage and of the island indicates constant communi- luxury entertainment centre, a casino etc., Aadmire Mr. of money extravagantly spent many battles have been fought for it. cation during the time of the Chola occupa- in Colombo. Ratnayake the new Minister that night for why should only The religious importance of this road is tion. Thus as revealed by various sources for Sports who rightly and some be behind bars or in deten- that it connects the Dalada Maligawa in Parakrama Bahu was the son of amount to bribery and corruption and has courageously announced tion centres facing the music Kandy to the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna. The Buwaneka Bahu and it was he who undertook become a part of life and rampant in the publicly that the present with no forgiveness given. last King of Kandy,Rajasinghe alias the construction and restoration of the great country. It has become routine for people to Cricket Board was the third We are sure that many other Kandasamy,venerated and defended the large tanks of Sri Lanka. ‘oil the palm’ to get things done. The bigwigs corrupt institution we have. Rathnayaka Ministers will follow your Dalada Maligawa and Buweneke Bahu alias Clan names indicate that Jaffna once had get away while only the sprats get caught. Hats off to him! He example and expose publicly the Sapumal Kumaraya built the Nallur Kovil. a predominant Sinhala population. Kovias Despite the President’s message after the should have forthwith appointed a rogues, and culprits in the other Jambukola now Sambuturai was the (Govias) equal to the Vellalas, Nalavas a rem- war, the war on corruption had not taken Committee of Investigation to look Ministries as well, who have earned Port of disembarkation of the Buddhist nant of Sinhalese settlers proficient in climb- off. So The Island editorial of 4th May ends into the present Sri Lankan cricket migrants from Magadha during the time of ing palm trees. Tanakkaras were elephant huge sums of commissions in the by saying, ‘Long live the corrupt’! Interim Committee members Assets Devanampiya Tissa. A trunk road seems to keepers. The opening of the A-9 and its envi- present set up of the other People celebrate certain remembrance and Wealth acquired by them during have been in existence leading from rons opened great opportunities for students the last few years, the trips they Ministries. Jambukola to the northern gate of of Anthropology and natural history to delve days every year as Mother’s day, Father’s undertook with their friends etc and We are proud of you Dear Anuradhapura. The road which passed over into the rich heritage of Sri Lanka. day, Valentine’s day, No tobacco day etc. At the huge salaries grabbed by them Minister and keep it up. Do not falter two stone bridges Malvatuoya and Motoring Associations could encourage the rate we are going with corrupt practices, along with their family circle, togeth- on the way. Pavarkulam is still known by the name of the installations of comfortable motels to we may also end up having a ‘corruption er with the ad hoc appointments “Mawata’. The existence of an ancient road enable leisurely exploration off the beaten day’ ! made by them. The Good Friday Duleep Casie Chetty along the eastern coast of Jaffna to track. P. A. Samaraweera Tamasha that was denounced by so Colombo Polonnaruwa can be inferred from the Elmo Alles Australia Lessons to learn from IIFA

he much hyped IIFA awards Fourthly, improvement of infra - Audience Award at the Locarno Fluency in English of Indian stars a respectable invitation for the Peries’ Nidhanaya, released in ceremony has come and structure to accommodate International Film Festival and is very high and this helps them to final awards ceremony . The so - 1972, is considered his master- Tgone. The high expectations immense events such as IIFA. The was nominated for Best Foreign communicate effectively with called work shop was a mockery; piece. It was praised for its skill- Sri Lanka had prior to the event objectives were worthy but both Language Film at the 74th international cinema goers and most Sri Lankan film artist’s not ful direction by Peries’ and the did not materialize on account of Sri Lanka government and Academy Awards, while Devdas to become popular stars. taking part. inspired acting by Gamini and the last minute boycott by the top Bollywood fraternity did not and Rang De Basanti were both “We’ve ended terrorism now. Indian cinema, as in all . It was another ranking stars of the industry.The expect that awful question of eth- international success for Peries’ boycott was more through compul- nicity to raise its ugly head winning the Silver Lion of St. sion than conviction. If not, there through “Tamilians” in South Mark award at the Venice is no logic in Mani Ratnam the India, taking the glamour out of International Film Festival and famed South Indian director not the event. In all probability the being selected one of the out- attended IIFA in Sri Lanka and Tamil Diaspora also has a hand in standing films of the year, receiv- proclaiming “no Indian should go this. ing a Diploma, at the London to Sri Lanka for IIFA festival” The Indian organisers of the Film Festival. while he had visited Sri Lanka two IIFA event have only two objec- There have been more inter- years ago as the chief guest of the tives. The first is to expand the nationally acclaimed films and festival of his films and to boycott market for Bollywood films which film directors in Sri Lanka since IIFA in Sri Lanka two years later. already is the world leader in the Gamperaliya. Dhramasena The war was raging when he visit- film industry.Secondly maximize Pathiraja, Nihal Singhe, Tissa ed Sri Lanka but he was received profits as a consequence. Abeysekara, Sumithra with great respect as a maker of Bollywood should not be under- Peiris, , good films from South India and stood as Indian, because are the most not as a “Tamilian”. Sharukh Bollywood is the name given to the prominent directors. Director Khan of course may have remem- Hindi film industry mainly con- became bered what happened when he was centrated in Maharashtra state in Scenes from Gamperaliya the first Sri Lankan to ever win here last time when a bomb went which the capital is Mumbai. the prestigious Caméra d’Or off at the venue he performed in The 2000s saw a growth in nominated for the BAFTA Award What fire is under the ashes? The other spheres in our country has award for Best First Film at the Colombo. Amithab Bachchan Bollywood’s popularity in the for Best Foreign Language Film. President of Sri Lanka said a great influence on our cinema 2005 Cannes Film Festival for his appeared briefly prior to the event world. This led India’s filmmaking The Hindi film industry has recently. We Sri Lankans have to and it is going to be so in the film Sulanga Enu Pinisa. and disappeared. to new stature in terms of quality, favoured films that appeal to all keep in mind that the mentality future too. There is much to I am sure some of the Sri The gains that were expected cinematography and inventive segments of the audience with of our big neighbour when it learn from them. However Sri Lankan film directors could have by Sri Lanka from holding IIFA story lines as well as technical dances, music, adventure, love etc comes to Sri Lanka affairs is still Lanka in its own small way has given some relevant tips about were firstly, worldwide Publicity improvement in areas such as spe- which are melodramatic and has the “Big brother” syndrome. It developed a film industry unique good film making to the about the normalcy in the country. cial effects, animation, etc. The resisted making films that target was reflected in the IIFA festival to us. It was Dr. Lester James Bollywood film fraternity and Secondly, the promotion of the opening up of the overseas mar- narrow audiences. It was believed too. It has been reported that Peiris’ Gamperaliya which won vice versa. Unfortunately it was country as a tourist destination. ket, more Bollywood releases that aiming for a broad spectrum many Indian stars that were in the Golden Peacock award as the not to be; probably the Indians Thirdly, interaction between the abroad and the explosion of multi- would maximize box office Colombo skipped the invitation best film at the third assumed there is nothing to Bollywood film fraternity and plexes in big cities, led to wider receipts. It is relevant to note here from the President’s House for International film festival held in learn from us. their Sri Lankan counterparts for box office successes. Among the the importance of English, espe- Tea. Moreover our film fraterni- New Delhi, India and the Golden Upali Cooray the benefit of both parties. mainstream films, Lagaan won the cially for our actors and actresses. ty was considered not worthy of Head of Palenque in Mexico.