Matakal land survey halted after fierce opposition from residents 20 September 2014 A scheduled survey of private lands in Senthankulam, Matakal, by government officials on Friday was cancelled after residents and local politicians raised fierce opposition to it. Several acres of private land in Senthankulam was due to be surveyed for possible appropriation by the Sri Lankan navy, although residents claimed that they were neither informed, nor asked for permission. Surveyors arrived at the area escorted by dozens of police officers, but were confronted by residents who were joined by TNA MP Suresh Premachandran and several other MPs and Northern Provincial Council members. After extensive arguments, the surveyors left without carrying out the planned land survey.

Mass grave found in Veala’nai off Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 September 2014, 20:14 GMT]
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) workers, who dug postholes along the wall of Ooraaththu’rai Civic Council secretariat situated in Veala’nai in the Ooraaththu’rai islet (Kayts) off Jaffna, came across human skeletal remains in all the seven postholes they had dug on Friday. The SL Police has immediately sealed off the site from public access, news sources in Veala’nai said. The residents in Veala’nai alleged that the CEB workers have discovered a mass grave similar to the one that has been recently discovered in Thirukkeatheesvaram in Mannaar. 

The SL Navy in the adjacent island of Ma’ndai-theevu has also been blocking the public from accessing some of the abandoned wells in the area as the military had dumped dead bodies of Tamil victims, they further said. 

More than one thousand Tamils were slain in early 1990s by the advancing and retreating Sri Lankan troops when the LTTE seized the Jaffna Fort from the occupying military, the residents said. 

The islands off Jaffna were de-populated for some time during that time as the people had fled the islands fearing persecution at the hands of the occupying SL military. Some of the victims slain by the SL military could have been dumped at the locality, they said.

The Colombo government and its military have blocked excavation of alleged mass grave sites that have been recently located in areas that were earlier SL military camps or so-called High Security Zones the Jaffna peninsula. 

Last year, resettling residents at Pallappai in Vadamaraadchi in Jaffna were warned by the SL military not to dig the abandoned wells at the locality, where the SL military had seized 52 houses for more than 14 years since 1999. 

Sri Lanka And China Entered Into A Currency Swap Agreement

By Hema Senanayake - September 20, 2014

Hema Senanayake

In early 1950s Sri Lanka was administered under a UNP government. In December of 1952, Sri Lanka and China signed the “Rubber-Rice Pact.” Anybody can easily understand the mechanics of the Pact; Sri Lanka exports Rubber to China and Imports Rice, it is simple and clear.

Sri Lanka is now ruled by the UPFA government. On 16th of September, 2014, i.e. a few days ago, Sri Lanka signed another landmark agreement with China; it is a Currency Swap Agreement. What is this? Unlike the Rubber-Rice Pact, most of us do not understand what this agreement is about. I wanted to write and explain the mechanics of the currency swap and its effects on Sri Lanka, so I tried to find out the specific terms of the agreement. I failed, because in the official website of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, I did not find any information about it. Then I searched the website of the Chinese Central Bank which is known as People’s Bank of China (PBC). In PBC website, I found only the following:

“PBC Signed Local Currency Swap Agreement with Central Bank of Sri Lanka. With the approval of the State Council, the People’s Bank of China signed, on September 16, 2014, an agreement on bilateral local currency swap with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The size of the swap facility is 10 billion yuan/LKR 225 billion. The term of the agreement is three years and can be extended with mutual consent. The signing of the local currency swap agreement will help promote bilateral trade and investment and strengthen financial cooperation between the two central banks.” (LKR means Sri Lanka Rupee, yuan is Chinese National Currency i.e. CNY)

Since the terms of the agreement are not known to me, I will be able to explain the most general effects of the agreement. Firstly, I like this agreement, it is a historical need of China and the world trade and Sri Lanka cannot avoid it but must be careful.                        Read More

Sri Lanka: IBAHRI calls for protection of lawyers following death threats

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) calls on the Sri Lankan government to take immediate measures to protect the independence of the legal profession in Sri Lanka, following concerns at an escalation of intimidation against lawyers and civil society members working on human rights and rule of law issues. In particular, the IBAHRI calls on the relevant authorities to undertake swift and transparent investigations into the reported death threats against Sri Lankan lawyers, Namal Rajapakshe and Manjula Pathiraja. 

According to reports received by the IBAHRI, on 13 September 2014, two unidentified masked men entered the offices of Mr Rajapakshe and Mr Pathiraja. One of the men was armed and both lawyers were warned not to appear in ‘unnecessary cases’, or they would be killed. The lawyers reported the incident at the Peliyagoda Police Station, in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka.

IBAHRI Co-Chair Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, said, ‘The IBAHRI is deeply concerned by the reported death threats against Mr Rajapakshe and Mr Pathiraja.  The threats follow reports of intimidation and surveillance against the President of the Sri Lankan Bar Association last month, and together, these incidents paint a worrying picture of an escalation in increasingly overt threats against lawyers representing clients in politically sensitive cases, or who speak out on human rights and rule of law issues.’ She added, ‘For Sri Lanka’s citizens to have public confidence in the justice system, lawyers must be protected and the Sri Lankan authorities should ensure that there are effective and transparent investigations into reported cases of intimidation or threats.’

The IBAHRI’s 2013 fact-finding report on Sri Lanka highlighted a ‘longstanding official hostility’ towards outspoken members of the legal profession. More recently, the IBAHRI has spoken with lawyers in Sri Lanka who have confirmed that regular acts of intimidation, including surveillance and phone tapping, persist for the small number of lawyers still willing to take on politically sensitive or human rights cases. 

Recently reported threats to lawyers include:

• On 4 August 2014, Mr Lakshan Dias, Mr Rajapakshe and Mr Pathiraja, were intimidated by a group of men at the Maradana Police Station while making representations on behalf of their clients. Despite the incident reportedly taking place in front of the Head Quarters Inspector, no action was taken, or has subsequently been taken, by the police.
   
• On 15 and 17 July 2014, Mr Upul Jayasuriya, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), filed official police complaints regarding two incidents of surveillance which occurred shortly after the BASL issued a public statement criticising a Sri Lankan National Secretariat for Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) communiqué that prohibits NGOs from conducting press conferences, workshops and journalism training, and from disseminating press releases.

‘The United Nations Principles on the Role of Lawyers clearly state that governments must ensure that lawyers are able to practice without fear of external interference or harassment and that lawyers are not associated with the causes of the their clients’, said Sternford Moyo IBAHRI Co-Chair, ‘The IBAHRI urges the Government of Sri Lanka to guarantee these principles and to ensure that they are not rendered illusory by the inaction of the relevant authorities in their response to this extremely worrying situation.’
ENDS

Notes to the Editor

1. In March 2013, an IBAHRI delegation undertook a remote rapid-response fact-finding mission to investigate the impeachment proceedings of Chief Justice Bandaranayake, the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law in Sri Lanka.
   
   The report, entitled A Crisis of Legitimacy: The Impeachment of Chief Justice Bandaranayake and the Erosion of the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka, concluded that the removal from office in Sri Lanka of Chief Justice Bandaranayake was unlawful, is undermining public confidence in the rule of law, and threatening to eviscerate the country’s judiciary as an independent guarantor of constitutional rights. The delegation found there to be a systematic effort to intimidate and discredit lawyers and others who advocate and promote respect for fundamental rights in Sri Lanka. The report made ten recommendations, addressed to the Sri Lankan authorities and to the UN, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and Member Countries of the Commonwealth the delegation.
    
2. The International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, is the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Through its global membership of individual lawyers, law firms, bar associations and law societies it influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world.
   
   The IBA’s administrative office is in London. Regional offices are located in: São Paulo, Brazil; Seoul, South Korea; and Washington DC, US, while the International Bar Association’s International Criminal Court Programme (IBA ICC) is managed from an office in The Hague.
   
   The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) works to promote, protect and enforce human rights under a just rule of law, and to preserve the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession worldwide.

For further information please contact:

Romana St. Matthew - Daniel
Press Office
International Bar Association
4th Floor, 10 St Bride Street,
London EC4A 4AD

Mobile: +44 (0)7940 731 915
Direct Line: +44 (0)20 7842 0094
Main Office: +44 (0)20 7842 0090
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Website: www.ibanet.org 

Muslim Population Problem Sri Lankan 

Muslims at the cross roads - 17

By Izeth Hussain-September 19, 2014, 12:00 pm 

The statistical table given above can be interpreted in more than one way. Between 1981 and 2012 the Buddhist population increased from 69.30% to 70.19%, the Hindu population decreased from 15.48% to 12.61%, the Muslim population increased from 7.56% to 9.71%, the Christian population decreased from 7.62% to 7.45%. The Muslim population increased therefore by more than double the percentage increase of the Buddhist population. The magnitude of that increase can be better appreciated if it is seen in absolute numbers. From 1981 to 2012 the Buddhist population went up from 10,288,300 to 14,222,844 while the Muslims went up from 1,121,700 to 1,967,227.

Muslim Population Problem Sri Lankan by Thavam

“Rest assured Vaiko is our partner, not Rajapaksa.” – BJP

[P Muralidhar Rao, general secretary of the BJP]

BJP leaders urge Sri Lanka to resume dialogue with TNA

P Muralidhar Rao, general secretary of the BJP, who is also in charge of Tamil Nadu, told Express here on Friday, that he and his party colleagues are in Sri Lanka meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other leaders, because the BJP government at New Delhi believes that India needs to engage the Lankan government to solve the vexed Tamil question.

Asked to comment on the protests in Tamil Nadu over dealings with the SL government, Rao said that the objective of the protesters and those of the BJP are the same, which is to secure an honourable settlement of the Tamil question, but the difference is in the method of achieving the goal. “We in the BJP believe that constant engagement with all the stakeholders is needed to secure justice for the Tamils,” Rao said.

Allaying fears of the BJP cozying up to Rajapaksa, abandoning Tamil Nadu and his ally Vaiko of the MDMK, Rao said: “Rest assured Vaiko is our partner, not Rajapaksa.” The BJP general secretary said that Prime Minister Modi had set the tone by meeting Rajapaksa as well as TNA.

“Modi had also been forthright with Rajapaksa even at his very first meeting with him. If he was not committed to the Tamil cause, he would not have done so,” Rao pointed out.

Rao told Lankan Foreign Minister G L Peiris that India is not imposing anything on Lanka but only asking Lanka to implement its own constitutional provisions in regard to devolution of powers, and the promises made by Rajapaksa that he would implement the 13th Amendment. Vijay Jolly, Convener of the BJP committee for overseas affairs, said that the delegation will ask the SL leaders to begin talks with TNA. “It is better for the government and the TNA to talk to each other first before consulting others,” added Rao.(New Indian Express)

Elections Commissioner does a sudden U turn : changes duties

(Lanka-e-News- 20.Sep.2014, 9.30AM) The Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya , in addition to his present duties has acted as an editing advisor of Swarnawahini Television channel on last 18th. While his discussion had been taped , edited and was ready to be telecast by the channel , the Elections Commissioner himself had arrived , and censored that part of the proposed telecast in which he had criticized the government, according to reports reaching Lanka e news inside information division.

Strange but true , Deshapriya after carefully excising the parts of the edition that offend and provoke the government , had spent his time remaining within the editing division of the Swarnavahini until it was fully edited. This discussion of his was taped two days ago when Deshapriya castigated the government uncontrollably. The sneakers and sycophants syndicate ever ready to gain plus points aligned with Medamulanna MaRa who viewed this had sneaked on him to MaRa . The latter who seldom uses decent language when provoked had used his choicest foul language and berated the Commissioner furiously.

Mahinda Deshapriya who was baffled had then immediately rushed to the Swarnawahni and excised those parts of his speech which were critical of the government.

Meanwhile, according to unofficial reports , when the Elections commissioner and the IGP toured Badulla and Moneragala districts last weekend , one night they were met secretly by Medamulana MaRa at the President’s house in Nuwara eliya . What were discussed were not revealed or reported however .

Single Issue Candidate The Solution – Opening A Pandora’s Box – Let’s Think Of An Alternative

By Upali Wickramasinghe -September 20, 2014 

Upali Wickramasinghe

It was nearly a year ago that Prof. Kumar David made public the proposal to put forward a common candidate by the opposition at the next Presidential Election. He identified the possible candidate as Maduluwawe SobithaHamuduruwo. The good Hamuduruwo, on many subsequent occasions indicated that he will venture into the candidacy, subject to the parliamentary opposition being unable to field a suitable common candidate.

This announcement by Prof Kumar was followed by the news papers identifying some of the people backing and supporting this proposal. Of those identified were Dr.Jayampathy Wickrmaratne a lawyer of repute, another well known lawyer Mr.J.C.Weliamuna and Academician Dr.Nimal Ranjith Devasiri of the University of Colombo to mention a few.

I also happened to read a column by Dr.Wickramaratne on the same subject.

I am entitled to my view as a citizen. My reaction to the proposal was not appreciative at all. To my layman’s view it appeared unethical and not liable to be successful.

Ven Sobitha

Their road map require that there will be one candidate challenging the incumbent president (who by inference will work to get the Executive Presidency to continue) and that the whole of the opposition will back this candidate – the so called Common Candidate.(CC). The CC will present a manifesto with one item – abolish the Executive Presidency and go home. He will be replaced by a non Executive President with the powers held by the Executive President being transferred to a Prime Minister.

I am not a lawyer, but a simple citizen. I am using my right to examine these set of proposals critically, as it will adversely affect me and mine in the future.

Read More

Deputy Ministers Arundhika ,Sarana, Hemal assault Bandarawela UNP mayor within police station ; ‘toy pistol’ Hambantota mayor displays his hooliganism at Moneragala

(Lanka-e-News- 20.Sep.2014, 8.30PM) Deputy Ministers Arundhika Fernando ,Hemal Gunasekera and Saran Gunawardena who traveled from Colombo have launched a fierce assault on Chaminda Wijesiri the UNP mayor for Bandarawela while they were within the Bandarawela police station. The victim who sustained injuries was admitted to Badulla hospital.

These deputy Ministers who had come in black defender vehicles have been intimidating and threatening the UNP voters and chasing them away at the polling centers , when the UNP mayor along with the voters had gone to the police station to lodge a complaint. The three deputy Ministers had then stormed into the police station and assaulted the UNP mayor .Eye witnesses revealed, they saw there were hoodlums from Tangalla with the deputy Ministers . The public who were naturally and justifiably provoked had retaliated by attacking the vehicles of the Ministers.

In the photograph is Chaminda Wijesiri making his statement to the hospital police .

Meanwhile Hambantota ‘toy pistol mayor’ alias joker Eraj Fernando was seen intimidating and harassing the voters of Moneragala , and chasing them away from the polling booths, as reported by our LeN correspondents.

IMF says Sri Lanka's poor tax administration could cut economic growth

Fri Sep 19, 2014 

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka's continuing failure to strengthen its tax administration could force the its government to spend less, which would hit economic growth, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday.

Since the Fund extended a $2.6 billion loan in 2009, it has regularly called for the government to raise more revenue by broadening the tax base and reducing tax exemptions.

However, tax revenue as a percentage of gross domestic product has been declining. It hit 11.6 percent last year, from 13.3 percent in 2008.

In its annual report on Sri Lanka, the IMF said achieving Colombo's 2014 budget deficit target of 5.2 percent of GDP will be "challenging".

The global lender said a failure to increase tax revenue will cause pressure to cut capital spending "with possible adverse impact on growth."

After failing to reach past tax revenue targets, the island nation has cut public investment to meet its budget deficit and debt targets.

"Fiscal consolidation and debt reduction need to continue, but the burden of adjustment needs to shift decisively to revenue generation," the IMF said .

The Fund expects Sri Lanka's economic growth to remain at a robust 7 percent this year and 6.5 percent in each year from 2015-2019, well below the estimates by the Sri Lankan authorities.

On Thursday, a government document showed Sri Lanka aims to have .8 percent growth this year, and gradually increase that to 8.4 percent by 2017.

The IMF said it expects tax revenue growth to be sluggish and remain below 13 percent through 2019.

(Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Richard Borsuk)

Speaker Chamal dispatches groups to cast illicit votes; herein is the list of names of Port workers who arrived to cast hora votes

(Lanka-e-News- 20.Sep.2014, 8.30PM) It is now revealed that the hope of Sashindra Rajapakse becoming the Uva province chief Minister again is a day dream. According to a UPFA survey , even if the UPFA wins , Sashindra will not be able to go higher than the fourth or fifth position on preferential votes.

Like how MaRa moved heaven and earth to make his son Namal a hero, Chamal Rajapakse too left no stone unturned to propel his son Sashindra to the top slot at any cost. Owing to this satanic obsession, no evil or crime is being left alone from being committed by them because defeat is writ large on the wall for Sashindra. Since Chamal is the speaker , there are no workers of Institutions for him to do his sordid and unscrupulous biddings presently. He is therefore relying on the employees of the Port where he was the Minister , using them to stoop to all the unlawful activities and outrageous election malpractices.

In the photograph is a group of port workers sent by Chamal to Uva for election activities or rather election law violations on behalf of his son. While pretending that they are engaged in official work , these workers are in fact there to cast votes illicitly. In one photograph is the group that was dispatched by Chamal early morning to cast illicit votes (hora votes )while the other photograph depicts the name list of the Port workers who clandestinely arrived to cast ‘hora’ votes.

93 complaints today, Election not peaceful

SATURDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2014

A communique issued by the Network for Election Monitoring of the Intellectuals for Human Rights (NEM-IHR) with the signature of its Chief Executive Dr. Uditha Gunasekera states today, the day the election for the Uva PC was held, it received complaints of 93 incidents that include assaults, shooting, intimidation, distribution of goods and money as bribes for voters. NEM-IHR states there were 12 incidents of election related violence, 38 incidents of illegal propaganda, 35 incidents of undue influence or threats and 8 instances of transport of voters illegally.

There was a marked increase in incidents of violence that included shooting, intimidation, assault and threats. At Kaballawela North and Bandarawela Police Station there was a clash between Parliamentarian Arundika Fernando and his group and the Mayor of Bandarawela MC and his group. Three persons, including the Mayor have been admitted to hospital with injuries.

There had been a clash between Minister Lakshman Senevirtna and PC Member Nishantha Manjula at Viyaluwa area in Mahiyanganaya. The shops in the vicinity were damaged and UNP supporters Dushan Chamara Hettiarachchi and Gamini Dissanayaka have been injured and admitted to hospital.

At Athiliwewa in Wellawaya there had been a clash between an armed group and voters in the area. The armed group had fired into the air. At Hali-ela polling station two brothers supporting two different political parties have clashed.

At Katakalla in Badulla a UPFA candidate has assaulted a person called Chandana Geethakumara.

Several complaints have been received that Anura Vidanagamage and a group with poles and clubs terrorized voters at Girandurukotte in Mahiyanganaya.

Western PC Member D.V. Upul and his supporters have attacked UNP chief ministerial candidate Harin Fernando’s father and his group, damaged their vehicles and cut two persons with swords. The two persons injured have been admitted to Diyathalawa Hospital.

The JVP polling agent at Yahalabadda polling station in Haputhale Sunil Shantha has been assaulted by Parliamentarian Uditha Lokubandra and his supporters. Sunil Shantha has been admitted to hospital. Sunil Shantha had opposed Lokubandara’s mother from voting without an identity card.

A voter at No.7 polling station at Viyaluwa has been assaulted and had to be admitted to hospital.

The incidents that occurred today would not directly affect the final results of the election. However, NEM-IHR is of the view that the election was not free and fair due to the use of state power and state resources, deploying state officials in the election campaign of the ruling party and intimidation of the voters.

Army’s postal voting results leaked!

 

Saturday, 20 September 2014 

The postal voting results of the Army at the Uva provincial council election have been leaked, say internal sources of the Army.  That had happened because soldiers had exercised their postal voting rights openly. An officer who has told us about this said they had resorted to such action to prevent irregularities.

Accordingly, results at the Engineering Corps in Narahenpita are – total votes 19, UNP 17 votes and JVP 2 votes.

Officers and soldiers at several Army camps have acted in a similar manner.  They wanted to evaluate whether votes are being counted properly.

Dr. Rajini Thiranagama Commemoration Events Proceed In Jaffna Despite Restrictions By Authorities

September 20, 2014

Despite restrictions imposed by authorities to pressure the Rajini Thiranagama Commemoration Committee into cancelling the program they had planned, to commemorate her 25th death anniversary, the Committee proceeded with the program successfully today.

Rajani

The Commemoration Committee had planned a series of events to be held in Jaffna this weekend, concurrent to the 25th death anniversary of Dr. Thiranagama which falls today (21). However, the Committee circulated an email two days ago ( 18), informing of several changes in the initially planned program and venues of the events, explaining that the changes were due to ‘circumstances beyond the control of the commemoration committee’.

However, speaking to the media today a member of the Rajini Thiranagama Commemoration Committee Ahilan Kadirgamar has come out with the real reason behind the changes to the program and the venues of the events.

He said that two of the events in the program were scheduled to be held at the Jaffna University – a lecture in the Medical Faculty of the University of Jaffna and a conference at the Kailasapathy Memorial Hall at the University of Jaffna. However, he told the media that the venue had to be changed as the university administration had informed them during the last minute that the university cannot be allow them to hold these events within the university premises.

Meanwhile, the Police had declined to give permission to hold a peaceful walk that had also been planned as part of Dr. Thiranagama’s memorial program to be held during this weekend.

Dayapala Thiranaga who is visiting Jaffna to participate in the program has expressed his regret over these developments, while stating that it is a reflection of the state of democracy in Jaffna.

Despite the restrictions, the Committee took measures to hold the events in alternative locations and a large crowd had attended the events.

“People of Jaffna were very keen on proceeding with the program despite the challenges we faced due to difficulties in finding locations. They wished to commemorate Rajini who was a tireless crusader for democracy, human rights and women’s rights. So we decided to proceed with the program in a way that would not violate any laws,” Kadirgamar said.

Accordingly, this morning a commemoration meeting was held at the Jaffna Trimmer Church hall and in the evening a cultural show was held at the Veerasingham Hall in Jaffna.

Only the peaceful march has been cancelled. It is also learnt that the seminar, to be held at the Kailasapathy Memorial Hall according to the initial program and moved later to the Jaffna Public Library Auditorium has now been shifted to Trimmer Hall, No.9 Vembady Road, Jaffna, as the Commissioner of the Jaffna Municipal Council declined to give permission to hold the event at the Jaffna Public Library Auditorium. The seminar, ‘A More Just and Democratic Society’ will be held tomorrow, 21 September 2014 from 9 am to 1.30 pm at Trimmer Hall.

Observance of Five Precepts sine qua non for curbing crime 
By Chandra Edirisuriya-September 20, 2014 

It is of vital importance for Buddhist leaders, especially of the Sangha hierarchy in this country, to take effective measures to drive home to the Buddhists of all ages, the necessity to observe the Five Precepts. When we look at the Penal Code of this country and other laws relating to crime, we can very clearly and convincingly see that one who observes the Five Precepts in Buddhism will not break any of the criminal laws of any country. The Five Precepts in Buddhism admonish one to abstain from theft, killing, sexual misconduct, telling lies and taking intoxicants. 

Thus, we see that the Five Precepts embrace the totality of the criminal behaviour of man. We are badly in need of a thousand Anagarika Dharmapal as at this hour to accomplish the task of getting the Buddhists to observe the Five Precepts. So, let's make this the occasion, at the time of the celebration of the 150thBirth Anniversary of the Great Anagarika, to rekindle the flames kindled by this illustrious Son of Lanka!

Responsibility of Buddhist monks
There is no shortcut to achieve this onerous task. The Buddhist monks have to bear the sole responsibility to see that the people do not go on the wrong path. They should not give silly excuses such as that they too are caught in the currents of modern life. The other day I met a 15-year-old Samanera named Ven. Ranne Sudhamma, in the bus, who was from the Dharmashrama Vihara at Wanathamulla and studying at Padhanaghara Pirivena in Maligakanda, Colombo, in Year Five, the class equivalent to Grade 10 in a school, preparing for his GCE (Ordinary Level) Examination. He, hailing from a farmer family in Ranna, in the deep South, seemed to be un-spoilt and disciplined and it's a pity if he also moves with the currents reaching adulthood.
A very silly excuse is given that the Buddha did not force anyone to follow the Five Precepts. But the simple truth is that one cannot call oneself a Buddhist if he or she does not observe the Five Precepts. All those who claim to be Buddhists should give serious thought to this matter. Buddhism is accepted and valued by intelligent people all over the world as a philosophy that provides consolation to the mind.
 
When we read about them and their writings we see that they have acknowledged the fact that following the Five Precepts is a pre-requisite and
sine qua non for anyone who claims to be a Buddhist. So why are we, who say that we live in what was called the Dharmadveepa, lax in this matter? Chanting manthras like in the village, the temple and the dageba alone is hardly sufficient.
 
Reform the Angulimalas
Buddhist lay leaders, who observe the Five Precepts, should visit every Buddhist home and prevent Buddhists from committing crime. The Venerable Buddhaputras must get more close to the people, emulate the Noble One and reform the Angulimalas. My humble father, who was a headmaster of government schools and was also managing the village cooperative store, in the 1950s, reformed a man of a respectable family in the village, who hardly got any income from his land through neglect, and was up to distilling illicit liquor, by purchasing for him the monthly provisions worth about Rs 100, and in time the man realized his folly and went to Mannar to be employed in making dried fish. When my father died he rushed from Mannar and wept in gratitude. It is time our Venerable Prelates realized this and thought about a way out, because it is the Sinhala Buddhists who commit crimes quite out of proportion to their numbers!
 
There is no other way to save the Buddhists. It is heart rending to read news about the various crimes such as murder, abduction and kidnapping and rape committed in this country daily. Those who commit these crimes do not seem to have been guided by the tenets of Buddhism. The most recent two cases of kidnapping of children, of a boy to get a ransom to save a house mortgaged to the bank and a girl, by a mentally deranged person, goes to show the helpless situation of the people, and how unsafe young children in this country are.
 
The fact that crimes relating to money increased after opening of the economy in 1977 is indicative of the moral bankruptcy of unbridled capitalism that promotes consumerism. When people get accustomed to a life of luxury they try to make more and more money by hook or by crook. So much so there has emerged a school of thought advocating socialism as way of minimizing crime. When the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter are available to all and poverty is minimized, as happening in China and a proper education, inculcating values, is imparted to the children, there will be less crime.
 
However, not stopping at making children go to the temple with the parents, sending them to Dhamma Schools in addition their being taught Buddhism in school, as a subject for public examinations, the youth should be made to lead religious lives rather than allowing them to imitate alien life styles, living a life out of tune with the indigenous culture.
 
Thailand and Myanmar
In Thailand, every young man is encouraged to ordain as a Buddhist monk as a qualification for marriage. In Myanmar, every young man and young woman is required to don yellow robes and may disrobe if they want to marry. I happened to talk to a young Myanmarese monk who said that he is studying Buddhism in the English medium at the Pali and Buddhist University in Homagama. He also said that Buddhism is not taught in the English medium in Myanmar. He said there are over one hundred young monks, along with him, who have come here for the same purpose, staying at the Buruma Pansala at Maligakanda and that he hopes to propagate Buddhism in the West, after completing his education. It is said that in Myanmar, in time to come, there will be more people who have attained higher mental planes than in any other country in the Buddhist world. This is clearly evident from the manner in which they conduct themselves.
 
When we look at the life of the Buddha, as ordinary men or laymen, we can see that the Buddha never condoned misbehaviour or crime and was diligent in tactfully showing the correct path to the misguided. The story of Angulimala is the best case in point.
The motto of my Alma Mater, Ananda College, Colombo, is Appamado Amathapadan, meaning 'diligence is the ambrosial expression'. This institution that could be equated to a university, in my time, diligently spread the word of the Buddha to the four corners of the world. Those who correctly understood the philosophy of Buddhism, while being students of this premier Buddhist educational institution, emanate its fragrance and shine in whatever they do in the service of humanity.
The Buddha exhorted the Sangha to propagate the Dhamma, travelling the length and breadth of the then known world purely for the good of the many and not to set up a Buddhist empire.
 
The penal laws of a country discourage and deter the people from committing crime, inculcating virtue in them in a negative way. The Buddhist philosophy makes people virtuous in a positive manner and has the potentiality to create a world free of crime. So the Venerable Sangha, have a big role to play in minimizing crime.

Fifty years ago the Venerable Sangha was more close to the Dayakaya. The Chief Incumbent of the temple, in my village, visited our home very frequently to offer advice, not only on religious matters but also on temporal matters. My father had a very close association with several erudite monks and took delicacies, which they did not usually receive as dana to please them, treating it as a highly meritorious act. Buddhist leaders observing the Five Precepts should also be fully awakened to this fact. They must rise to the occasion and take appropriate action without delay to create a righteous society in this beloved land of ours.