Valentine’s Day related to struggle against cruel rule has been commercialized – SYU

TUESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2013

‘Valentine’s Day that is related to the struggle carried out by Count Valentine against the brutal dictatorial regime should not allowed to be made a day of selling goods and the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) will be launching a programme under the theme ‘A tomorrow that doesn’t have a price, dowry or differences of cast or creed for love’ says the National Organizer of SYU Bimal Rathnayaka.

Speaking at a media conference held at the JVP head office at Pelawatta today (12th) morning Mr. Rathnayaka said, “We thought of drawing the attention of the masses to the programme the SYU is launching on the 14th, the Valentine’s Day and the obstacles youths in the country are confronted with regarding love and romance. The theme of our programme is ‘A tomorrow that doesn’t have a price, dowry or differences of cast or creed for love’.

Valentine’s Day has been celebrated in Sri Lanka for nearly two decades. This day specially important for youths has drawn the attention of many. Media carries out various programmes. However, we decided to create a dialogue in the country regarding the obstacles for love as well as barriers youths in the country are confronted with. First we should know what this day really is. There is one significant reason that created ‘Valentine’s Day’. In 270 A.D. Emperor Claudius carried out a dictatorial family rule in Rome. He oppressed slaves as well as ordinary people. He exposed Rome and the colonies for a massive war for the benefit of his family. He wanted to enlist youth as soldiers for his armies. As such, be prohibited youths from getting married.

Valentine, a priest, opposed this move by the emperor who maintained harems. He carried out a struggle against the emperor and represented the rights of the youth to love and for marriage. Due to his struggle on behalf of the youth Emperor Claudius got him murdered and since then the priest Valentine is commemorated. Shakespeare in his famous play ‘Hamlet’ Valentine is mentioned. As the SYU we thought of having a dialogue regarding the obstacles that exist in this country for love and to show our youth how to overcome those obstacles. Instead of making this day a day for commercial purposes only it should be made a day of struggle against injustice.

Youths from poor families in our country are faced with many obstacles regarding marriage. The lives of youth are very pathetic. 2.2 million youths are unemployed. Employment is a very important factor in marriage. It is also linked with money and property. Marriage proposals have become an auction. Marriage is linked with caste, race, religion, property and money. There is everything except love. The marriage for Tamil and Muslim youths is more difficult than for Sinhalese youths due to dowry.

“Don’t plunder our dowry (EPF fund)” was a slogan female employees shouted during the struggle against government’s pension fraud for the private sector. The girls who seek employment in the garment sector work for 5 years to collect their dowry. Thousands slave in the desserts in the Middle East or get their heads severed looking for money for their dowries.

The ‘wedding culture’ in our country has made our youth debtors. The existing ‘culture’ makes them spend seven to eight hundred thousand for a wedding. What did the government give the youths who are entangled in this crisis? The marriage fee was raised to Rs.5400. The information we get from Registrars of Marriages is that the number of marriage registrations have decreased drastically. Recently, interesting information was reported from a school in Puttalam area. 32 families that had come to admit their children to grade one class did not have their marriages registered. The Principal had to get down a Registrar of Marriages and register their marriages before admitting their children to school. We can imagine what situation would come up with the increase in marriage registering fees. Our country is moving towards the past.

Government’s own statistics indicate that out of the 11 persons who commit suicide daily the majority are youths. The same statistics show that the number attempting to commit suicide daily is 220. It is nearly 100,000 for a year. Scholars say the number of suicides that is not reported is higher. The main reason that influences suicide is being discarded from love.

There is no programme in this country to calm down individuals who have been distressed or in dismay. The government has not paid any attention to such requirements.

What we have in the society today is romance corrupted by money. A society that marries beds, chairs and tables has been created. Sri Lanka secured the number one slot for searching the term ‘sex’ globally. It has been stated that 1/4th of those who surf the internet access web sites with sex scenes. Many youths have addicted to such behavior due to non availability of proper sex education. The regressive nature of the culture in our country has burdened our youth with various obstacles, and pressure. As youth do not have an environment for romance they have got addicted to a ‘guest house’ culture.

The concept this social system has created regarding the young woman is that she is a sex article. This is a massive injustice to the young women in our society.

As such, the real significance should be brought to Valentine’s Day and it should be made meaningful to our youth. It is a day to commemorate a courageous priest who fought against a cruel ruler, against injustice to the youth. It should not be made a day to sell goods. The SYU has organized distribution of leaflets to make the youth aware regarding social obstacle for love and romance, a poster campaign and several cultural events. The main programme will be held at Galle Face on the 14th at 4.00 p.m. Programmes will also be held simultaneously in Galle, Matara, Hambantota and Badulla.

Obstacles have been already placed regarding our programme to be held at Hambantota. Namal Rajapaksa and his associates carried out a big fraud when Hambantota port was being constructed that youths in Hambantota would be given employment in the harbor. This has become a dream only. The highest number of unemployed youths is in Hambantota District. This government has no programme to find them employment. No ships come to Hambantoata port. Two or three ships that come to Colombo are diverted to Hambantota. The port is used by youths for fishing. The government that brought about such a situation is now obstructing the programmes held to make youths aware of real issues.”