Once A Nuclear Power……!
Ravi Perera
Recently I read two newspaper articles, one in Sinhala and the other English, both on what one may loosely call historical subjects. Both articles have adopted the same form, that of a narration of an interview. In the Sinhala article the writer reports on discussions with several persons on a political event that happened about twenty five years back (Mawbima-20 July).This is recent history, most of the characters spoken about are still among us.
On 23 of July a main-stream English daily , the Mirror carried a full page exposition of the views of Dr.Mirando Obeysekera, apparently an authority on the mythical King Ravana.Like other such stories, the difference between fact and fiction in the Ravana saga is a matter for the reader.
Different people view things differently. What one may consider plausible another may dismiss as childish drivel. In the treatment of the subject of history we observe vast differences from culture to culture. From one perspective, scholarship demands critical analysis, with every effort taken to approach the subject objectively, investigation preceding hypothesis. From another view, an emotional tone, where the telling is more important than cold facts, pleases ; with any conjecture used as support for a pre-conceived notion. And it is just as easy for a culture to delude itself on the scholastic merits of the latter approach.
Is it history or mythology? Who is a hero and who is just a common bully? What is governance and what is abuse of power? Who is a leader and who is a mere adventurer? These are some of the questions that every society would have grappled with at some point or the other. But the answers will not be uniform. Different people look at things differently. And when it comes to taste and sensibilities, the range is wide in deed.
A Presidency Under Threat – Insecurity And Incompetence
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP
The last few weeks have seen much agitation about Non-Governmental Organizations, with threats to introduce new legislation to control them more effectively. The whole exercise seemed to me absurd, since existing legislation is quite enough to prevent abuse. If it is not working, it is because the personnel involved are incompetent, and even much stronger legislation or regulation will serve no purpose unless more capable people are deployed.
Unfortunately the President has been pushed into a position where he can only employ the second rate for this purpose, as he has realized was the case with Lakshman Hulugalle. The only qualification for the job seems to be total subservience to the powers that be, what Dayan Jayatilleka described as the Mafia lawyer syndrome when he first identified the breed, six years ago. He actually demonstrated the posture, hands held crossed behind the back, head nodding in acquiescence, claiming that the model derived from ‘The Godfather’.
How sad the situation of the present incumbent of the position is became clear when I attended the launch of the Roadmap prepared by the Association of Women Affected by War. I sat behind so did not recognize the attractive young lady who was in the centre of the front row along with a couple of envoys. It was only at the end that I realized she was Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, whom I had met a few weeks earlier at the Oslo Forum where I had been invited to debate against Mr Sumanthiran on the propriety of talking to extremists.
By then I knew that she had been instrumental in developing Security Council Resolution 1325 about the need to involve women in peace initiatives – and also that, though invited for the launch, she had been forbidden to speak. The press had also been barred from attending the event. Read More
