Cardinal’s ‘Paranghi’ Comment

The so-called top brains in one group that formed the NJS consist of mainly the Viyathmaga guys who failed miserably to understand their man’s governing capacities, and told us the virtues of a Gotabaya- led rule, until the masses forcefully ousted the boss---and are now trying to hoodwink the masses

“You are a PARANGI ‘- Christian   PERERA’, a descendant of the 16th century imperialists who invaded independent nations with a sword in one hand and the Bible in the other.”
 That was how a racist ‘Sinhala-Buddhist’ reader responded when I wrote vehemently objecting to the inclusion of ‘Foremost status’ clause for Buddhism in our Constitution.  ‘Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence, Cardinal Malcom Ranjith’s comment on the idea of the Thriloka Pathra lady, [who is facing expulsion from Parliament over her foreign citizenship issue], on introducing ‘night life’ in the City, that,  “all religious leaders including the Maha Sanga should take the lead in preventing night life activities and thereby safeguard Sri Lanka’s culture,” provoked the Woman State Minister, when he continued, saying “Some ‘Parangiyas’ who have come to Sri Lanka….”. Responding to Cardinal, she made a sarcastic comment on the religious dignitary’s own ancestry. 

  As per ‘The Councilio Provincial,’ the State Gazette of Goa: an assembly of Bishops enacted a law on December 4, 1567 to give effect to a legislation that, ‘all non-Christian priests, teachers and holy men should be expelled,  All heathen temples in Portuguese-controlled territory should be demolished, and all their sacred books should be destroyed. Hindus and Buddhists were to be prohibited from visiting the temples in the territories and transit passage of Asian pilgrims was forbidden. A ban was also placed on rituals, a core feature of Hinduism’. That’s history. Today the Catholic Church and the Bishop’s Council is showing their unequivocal interest in preserving the Buddhist culture and heritage in the island; therefore talking on what Parangis did five centuries are no longer binding, and all concerned should refrain from arousing religious hatred among different groups.

Night life thrives in countries like Thailand [95% Buddhist, and Philippines 80% Catholic]. But in Sri Lanka, most tourist, look for simple life style, natural beauty, hospitality, and serenity in this island. It’s our businessmen who want prostitutes and drugs to flourish. Talking of night life, during the short tenure of UNP rule, in 2001-2003, Minister Ravi Karunanayake once tried the same prank and failed, proving the scared truth, that ‘Rome was not built in a day.’ It takes a long time to come that stage; and one should not rush, neither, it can be prevented, as the economy and hospitality industry advances, Bangkok [94% Buddhist] style multi-billion dollar sex industry would thrive.  The Gautama never look down upon prostitutes, but provided an opportunity for them to choose the rightful path.

Buddha Dhamma, is a philosophy that contains all the qualities and necessary essentials to eliminate injustices and racial, religious, caste, and class differences among people. It connects people across all cultures and religions and nations, thus preventing defamation or contempt of other people. However, it is advisable if the clergy Keep Religion out of politics and politics out of religion, the combination is lethal; the Maha Sanghas and other religious dignitaries, should stay out of economy and politics.  

Opposition Groups Fighting for the 6.9 mn 

The breakaway groups from Pohottuwa has formed rebel groups under funny titles, like Uttara Sabagiya, Nidahas Jathika Sabhawa - NJS, and a few of the old SLFP, the men who contested and returned to parliament as obedient acolytes, cronies, and became boot-lickers of the family while they amassed wealth by plundering the state coffers, took swift action to abandon the sinking ship, jilting the beleaguered Rajapaksa clan when the masses rose in protest against them. They are now fighting among themselves to attract the besieged SLPP voter to their side.
The so-called top brains in one group that formed the NJS consist of mainly the Viyathmaga guys who failed miserably to understand their man’s governing capacities, and told us the virtues of a Gotabaya- led rule, until the masses forcefully ousted the boss---and are now trying to hoodwink the masses. 

Reconciliation and Tripping

 It is in these difficult circumstances that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared his plan to resolve the ethnic conflict and bring about settlement without delay.  His target February 4, the 75th independence of Sri Lanka, is an unbelievably a tight programme.  On every occasion a political solution to the conflict was been proposed, the divided nature of Sri Lankans became obvious. The first major effort was in 1957, when SWRD Bandaranaike, who bungled with his Language Policy, then signed a pact with Northern leader SJV Chelvanayagam. However, it was abrogated following severe opposition by the ‘Maha Sangha’ led, ‘Sinhala-Buddhist’ and the main Opposition Party, UNP led by Dudley Senanayake and JR Jayewardene. 

While the saffron-clad monks invaded PM’s private residence, the UNP paraded streets from Colombo to Kandy. The next attempt at solving the issue was initiated by none other than the UNP leader, Dudley Senanayake. He signed an Agreement with Chelvanayagam in 1965, which was vehemently opposed by Sirimavo Bandaranaike-led United Front, paradoxically supported by the Marxist, LSSP and CP who were in coalition with SLFP. JR Jayewardene entered into a pact with Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1987, the result being the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord of 1987, which was passed in Parliament with a two-third majority, unfortunately it was only partially effected. Next came Chandrika’s turn in 1999, the constitution drafted by Dr. Neelan Thiruchevam and Prof. GL Peiris and presented in the House by CBK was burnt by UNP MPs in parliament. The rest is history. 

Constitutional Council 

TNA, SLPP rebels are battling for remaining Constitutional Council slot; unless they come to a consensus soon, which is very unlikely as parliament will meet again only in next year after a very deserving holiday. On the appointment of a CC member who does not represent the government, or those not affiliated with the SJB in Opposition. They met under the chairmanship of the Speaker on 8th, but they had to disperse without a conclusion when the TNA and Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya clashed over it.

The TNA has pressed for the slot on the basis of none of the six out of seven CC members, so far appointed in ex officio capacity, or nominated, included a Tamil-speaking lawmaker. However, the rebel SLPP group has declared that Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya, as well as other breakaway factions, should have the right to be represented as they no longer functioned as part of the ruling party. As proposed by M. A. Sumanthiran MP, it should go to a minority member, and the Uththaras who won their seats on SLPP ticket has no right to claim. The Speaker accepting rebel groups as recognized Political parties, is contrary to ethics. They can become independent or form various groups and switch sides, but the party under which they were elected should remain the officially recognized party for all intents and purposes.

This is a great opportunity for the President to go ahead with his plans. There would be no survival unless we make maximum use of this opportunity and a find a political solution

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