Sunday, November 3, 2013

Of Monks And Dice And Dismal Sciences

By Kumar David -November 3, 2013 |

Prof Kumar David

Of monks and dice and dismal sciences: All things sans gear and tackle and trim

This piece is not about monks prancing with casino moguls; but that story, which painted Colombored last week, gives me my point of departure which is that things no longer are what they seem to be. Hopkinswould grumble that all things have lost “their gear and tackle and trim”. It was reported that some venerable monks, all bearers of great esteem, conducted a news conference one morning last week to lambaste the government’s stratagem of making Colombo Fort a casino den. Then at noon the same day, these worthies presented themselves at a posh Colomborestaurant to be fed and feted by a leading casino magnate. They departed the repast their limousines laden with gifts and goodies, no doubt showered by the mogul in his quest for merit in his dismal journey through samsara. These bare facts, to the best of my knowledge, have not been contradicted.

The incident evoked dismay since these august personages are held in high esteem and prized as learned men of high scruple; they are not nobodies in yellow robes. Clearly something was amiss; things were not what they should be. It would be impertinent to conjecture how Gautama would have dealt with the dilemma, were he to speak against a misdeed and then be implored by the wrongdoer to accept alms; but of one thing we can be certain, the Master would not have left the laity befuddled and confused. It would be an opportunity to teach right attitude, instruct in right understanding, and show right action in practice. The disciples, this time, failed the Master, they cross-dressed; robes at one moment, the raiment of seduction by temptation at another. Read More

Danger Ahead! – Local Govt. Politicians Running Amok

By Rasika Jayakody -November 3, 2013

Rasika Jayakody

Four years after the victory of war, the biggest threat to the existence of the Rajapaksa regime has come not from without the administration, but from within.

No, we are not talking about the Casino Bill that earned the ire of religious leaders, nor the recommendations of COPE report that call for monetary transparency and certainly not obtuse statements made by minister on crucial matters concerning people. The biggest threat to regime has been the conduct of local government politicians who represent the government at the ground level, effectively the bridge between people and regime.

The level to which the conduct of local government and provincial politicians has deteriorated needs no elaboration. Stories with regard to their unruly behavior are reported in the media almost on a daily basis and there seems to be no remedy to the problem. It is not clear whether the powers that be deliberately turn a blind eye to the issue or they find it extremely hard to come up with a formidable solution.

It does not require Einsteinian wisdom to understand than whenever a local government politician runs amok somewhere it creates a seriously negative impact on the popularity of the government at the ground level. The erosion happening at that layer is more disastrous that what is happening on the surface. For instance, the negative impact created by Casino Bills, lack of monetary transparency, bribery and corruption allegations can be mitigated, at least to a certain extent, by remedial action that can restore people’s faith in the government. But, when the government is losing its ground at the very bottom level it hits the very foundation of its popularity.