By Tisaranee Gunasekara –
“…understanding how the past has turned into the present helps us understand the present and presumably something of the future.” ~ Eric Hobsbawm (On History)
Sri Lanka, despite her soaring developmental ambitions, spends less than 1% of her national budget on research and development, an anomaly which was highlighted at the recently concluded symposium, Science and Technology for Society Sri Lanka 2016. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Ajith de Alwis, warned that “Sri Lanka is paying a heavy price in overlooking science in decision making.”[i]
And this symposium on science began with a two minute video on religious observances, a piece of tragicomedy symbolic and symbiotic of Sri Lanka’s dangerous romance with politicised religion and her willing embrace of superstition.
The Buddha in Samaññaphala Sutta categorised astrology, demonology et al as ‘animal arts’[ii] (The extensive list mentioned in the Sutta includes palmistry, reading omens and signs, interpreting celestial events and dreams, making predictions for state officials, chasing demons, casting auspicious times, predicting life spans, forecasting political or natural events and casting horoscopes). But in Sri Lanka, said to be repository of the Buddha’s teachings in their purest form, Sinhala-Buddhists treat astrological predictions with the reverence that adherents of theistic faiths accord to the words of their particular god or prophet.
In the second decade of the twenty first century, it is not uncommon to hear of pious Sinhala-Buddhists dying because they threw ordinary commonsense to the four winds and obeyed the orders of an astrologer, an exorcist or some other practitioner of ‘animal arts’. The latest such example comes not from a rural backwater, but from the urbanised Piliyandala, a town close to Colombo. An artist died after drinking a concoction given to him by an exorcist as a cure for a skin ailment[iii].
The exorcist has been arrested. It is to be hoped that he will be charged formally and tried in a court of law. Perhaps the publicity garnered by such a trial would make at least some Lankans – including the country’s current leaders – understand the idiocy of trusting one’s future and one’s life to dabblers in ‘animal arts’.
Most Lankan leaders were slavish believers of stars and their untutored interpreters; but none of them went as far to use state power and resources to reward or persecute astrologers as the Rajapaksas did. Astrology always played a prominent role in the private lives of most people including most politicians. But under Rajapaksa rule, astrology was accorded a prominent place in the public sphere as well.
Not only did astrology play a prominent role in persuading Mahinda Rajapaksa to hold a presidential election two years ahead of time. Everything he did during that election, from the moment he handed over his nomination papers to the Election Commissioner from an auspicious side, was dictated to a large extent on the advice of astrologers. During the election campaign, astrologers played the part which is accorded to opinion polling and statistical analyses in less superstitious countries. The state television, for instance, aired many election forecast programmes featuring astrologers, an execrable practice the private TV stations were quick to follow.
One of the most satisfactory outcomes of the defeat of the Rajapaksas was the relegation of astrology from the public to the private sphere.
Recent media reports indicate that the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration might have taken a step back to that silly past.
Past in the Present
The Rajapaksas made history when they got an astrologer arrested for making a prediction which did not fit in with their agenda. Chandrasiri Bandara, an astrologer known for his pro-opposition views, made an unfavourable prediction, the regime reacted with ferocity. Mr. Bandara was arrested, taken to the CID and grilled.
This unprecedented act of repression had its desired effect, in the short term. Mr. Bandara came out of custody in the safe guise of a born-again Rajapaksa man. During the run up to 2015 Presidential election Mr. Bandara predicted a resounding Rajapaksa victory and pledged to shoot himself if proven wrong – on live TV.
Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni, an astrologer known for his anti-government views, has been summoned to the CID over a prediction he made about the future of President Maithripala Sirisena. (According to his Wikipedia page, Mr. Wijemuni rose to national prominence as the naval rating who hit Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with his bayonet. He subsequently contested elections from Sihala Urumaya)[iv].
While violent crimes are rampant, the Criminal Investigations Department is busy chasing astrologers – because political leaders still regard the prattling of astrologers as truth and nothing but the truth.
Fortunately 2016 is not 2009. The current government is not immune to superstitious cures or dictatorial solutions. But thanks to changes of post-January 2015, the space for such cures and solutions has shrunk.
In 2009, the astrologer was arrested and grilled. In 2016, the astrologer informed the CID that he has already given one statement, has no intention of giving another and will complain to the Human Rights Commission if harassed any further.
In 2009, the astrologer came out of custody with his political sympathies changed from anti-Rajapaksa to slavishly pro-Rajapaksa. In 2016, the astrologer has not changed his political colour or deleted the video which drove the CID out of its collective senses.
That difference is due to the democratic transformation brought about by the regime change of January 2015.
Sri Lanka is not a paradise of good governance. But it is indubitably a better place for its people today than it was under the Rajapaksas.
In 2013, Sri Lanka was one of the saddest places on earth, according to the (UN-sponsored) World Happiness Report. Of the 156 countries rated, Sri Lanka ranks 137.
By 2016, Sri Lanka’s rank has improved to 117[v].
A long way more to go, but the direction is the right one; more advances are possible, unless economics intervene.
The Rajapaksas placed absolute faith on superstition and none on science. That is why they paid no attention to one of the earliest warning signs about growing discontent in their own electoral base.
As the CPA’s Top line survey revealed, in 2011, a mammoth 70% of Sinhalese thought that the general economic situation will get better in the next two years. In 2013 only 38.5% of Sinhalese thought that the general economic situation will improve in the next two years – a decrease of 45%, in just two years.
Had the Rajapaksas heeded such findings instead of clinging to astrological predictions, they may not have lost in 2015.
The current government can launch any amount of propaganda blitzes about the necessity of the VAT bill; it can scream to high heavens declaring that the VAT increases will not affect ordinary people. But people will feel the pinch, when they make a purchase, take a call or channel a doctor.
And they will begin to lose hope, as they did between 2011 and 2013.
This government can make its share of mistake and survive. But if it repeats the mistakes of the Rajapaksas as well, the future will be like the past we escaped from in January 2015.
Take two steps forward and one step back, you can still head to the future. Take one step forward and two steps back, the past will be the unavoidable destination.
Staying the Course
In the same week pollster Nate Silver warned about a dangerous decline in Hillary Clinton’s once massive lead against Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders started to campaign in earnest for his recent rival. Mr. Sanders is no more a fan of Hillary Clinton now than he was during the democratic primaries, but he knows that ensuring a Clinton victory is the only way to ensure a Trump defeat. This is not the election to waste one’s vote on a third party candidate or stay at home, Mr. Sanders told his sceptical supporters; the only option is to mobilise, to defeat Donald Trump and push Hillary Clinton into becoming the best president she can[vi].
In 2015, we in Sri Lanka defeated our version of the Trump clan.
We didn’t get rid of corruption and nepotism and all the other horrendous practices which flourished under the Rajapaksas. But we have better governance than we did during the Rajapaksa years.
Take the constitutional making process, which is more open and more inclusive than anything Sri Lanka has previously experienced. Be it new constitutions or amendments to existing one, every past effort had been top-down ones where leaders decided what should be done and imposed their decisions on the people. In stark and commendable contrast, the new government is encouraging a broad public discussion about the nature of the new constitution.
This new openness has brought into the open issues which had languished in the outer darkness despite their seminal importance. One such case is secularism. The arguments made by Ceylon Rationalist Association in its 1970 memorandum to Minister Colvin R de Silva for a secular democratic constitution are even more relevant today than they were then[vii]. Incidentally, the provision giving Buddhism the preeminent place was a fairly recent addition, introduced in 1972 and reinforced in 1978. There was no such provision in the constitution until then, and Buddhism not just survived but also thrived despite the absence. In this context, it is apposite to remember that state patronage or special protection by rulers figure nowhere in the conditions mentioned by the Buddha in the Maha-parinibbana Sutta as necessary for the welfare and growth of the sasana[viii].
Another encouraging instance of hitherto taboo issues coming into the open in the new enabling environment is that of the campaign wages by progressive groups such as the Women’s Action Network (WAN) against Article 16.
Article 16 of the 1978 Constitution upholds, in its entirety, the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act of 1951. One of the many egregious results of this is that Muslim women and girl children are, denied by the constitution, several key constitutional rights and protections enjoyed by non-Muslim women and girl children. For instance, though the minimum age of marriage for Lankan girls is 16, a girl child from a Muslim family can be married at 12, or even below with consent from the Quazi courts[ix].
According to media reports, traditional Muslim political and religious leaders are opposed to any change in the Article 16 even though many Muslims countries have enacted laws criminalising child marriage (according to UN sources, in Algeria, Bangladesh, Jordan, Iraq, Malaysia and Morocco, the legal marriageable age for a female is 18; in Tunisia it is 20[x].). This issue has now been placed on the public stage, not as a divisive slogan or a racist slur, but as a serious topic of discussion, thanks to the open and inclusive nature of the constitution-making process.
This week Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa met the Chief Incumbent of the Malwatte Chapter with a tale of horror about a new constitution. The Mahanayake reportedly advised the parliamentarian not to succumb to paranoia or propagate phobia since the constitution-making process has been open and transparent so far.
Mr. Weerawansa cannot heed the advice. He and his Rajapaksa masters have a future only if Sri Lanka succumbs to the ills of the past. It is only if Lankan people return to the mire of paranoia and phobia and Lankan leaders ignore science, abandon sense and embrace superstitious cures and dictatorial solutions, the Rajapaksa dream of regaining power can become reality.
[i] http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160918/news/dream-big-major-science-forum-urges-govt-209002.html
[ii] http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html
[iii][iii] Lankadeepa – 14.9.2016
[iv] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijitha_Rohana
[v] http://worldhappiness.report/http://worldhappiness.report/
[vi] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/09/16/bernie-sanders-this-is-not-the-time-for-a-protest-vote/
[vii] http://groundviews.org/2013/06/14/ceylon-rationalist-association-1970-memorandum-on-a-new-constitution-for-sri-lanka/
[viii] http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html
[ix] http://adaderana.lk/news/36624/wan-seeks-repeal-of-article-16-of-lankan-constitution-as-it-hurts-muslim-women
[x] http://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/MarryingTooYoung.pdf
K.A. Sumanawathie / September 18, 2016
A well written piece again Thisaranee, well done and more power to you pen.
We need to make sure no more Rajapaksas will be able to come into Sri Lankan politics for the next 50 years – we had enough of this psychopaths.
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Sama / September 18, 2016
This can lie as a hope only, every second is easily manupulative by the political opportunist like Mahinda Rajapakshe, so long his mantra is mixed to a buddhist temple. Looking at the manner Rajapakshe made very recent public statements – all were being on a temple ceremony. No other leaders mixed the temple with his running political life as Mahinda has been doing. He even gets to discuss blatant lies but lies to accepted monks. Only key vocals like Dr. Dambar Thero the like make every effort to biring clarities to the nation.
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Ajith / September 18, 2016
The people of this sland should make sure not only Mahinda Rajapakse’s but also all those who took Buddhism to spread racism and violence over the six decades in this island. It is good that the Chief Incumbent of the Malwatte Chapter advised Wimal weerawanse not to spread lies and horror stories. This is a good sign for the country. This is the role that is expected from those religious leadership, rather than encoraging lies and violence as some did in the past.Malwatte Chapter should speak loudly and clear to the people to stay away from those who spread racial violence and advice all those monks to stay away from politics. Buddhism shoud not be the sole ownership of Sinhala people but it should extend to other communities as well. It is not difficult to reach other communities if true Buddhism get away from racism and violence.
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Sama / September 18, 2016
Yes the name of Buddhism, they make every efforts to spread in favour of their criminal Hegomany as no other leaders. Mahinda has been seen as the most abusive among the many sofar.
So I see it is not just good Mchapter to have disgreed with Wimal WEERAWANSE, but a huge leap helping us the neutral folks that long for permanent peace and harmony in this island.
Like some simple simions tempt to hang on big sharks for their political surivival but nothing else, Sharks seem to stay blind.
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shantha / September 19, 2016
And the uneducated Mahinda a catholic who met the pope?
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Anpu / September 18, 2016
Thank you Tisaranee.
“We need to make sure no more Rajapaksas will be able to come into Sri Lankan politics for the next 50 years “
We need to make sure not ever.
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Dunken Leutheuser / September 18, 2016
Quote
Not only did astrology play a prominent role in persuading Mahinda Rajapaksa to hold a presidential election two years ahead of time. Everything he did during that election, from the moment he handed over his nomination papers to the Election Commissioner from an auspicious side, was dictated to a large extent on the advice of astrologers. During the election campaign, astrologers played the part which is accorded to opinion polling and statistical analyses in less superstitious countries. The state television, for instance, aired many election forecast programmes featuring astrologers, an execrable practice the private TV stations were quick to follow.
Unquote.
It is just becasue he knows what huge harm he has deliberately done to the nation. Therefore, as a village man who is intoxicated, abused by THowil, bali thowil, and any kind of other beliefs that control mentally weaker, unlearnt, illiterate villagers, Rajaakshe too had to allow unlernt Royal astrologer from Galle to caricate as he thought was right. Just being bound to limited literiture, these Astro abusers have been doing a greater harm to entire nation today.
Lately, I heard one made porminent Astrologer insisting Prez My3 would have to die by Jaunary 2017, if he would not work to the manner he is astrologically instructed to do so – further saying that My3 PRESIDENT does not care the astrological prediction unlike his predecessor.
No secret that mentally affected abnormalities are still believed to have no found proper remedies yet inthe world, with much more researches based on the indications to be achieved.
Lanken politicians like Mahinda having paved the revenues such abusive Astromen to take the ground of the society today, by the once unknown making the prominent men through public media, innocient people have now been more addicted to astro prediction than had never been before.
Instead of searching for real reasoning but to rely on these men should be irradicated from lanken culture as malayria control is to have fully succeeded to this date wthin the island territories.
Each and every astro men in public damain today are individually supported by media men – media men are directly linked with Politicians of diverse kind. But mostly those who back Rajakashes are the media men that also promote astrology than anything else. This culture should be destroyed from the country basta.
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Amarasiri / September 18, 2016
Tisaranee Gunasekara
RE: Avoiding Superstitious Cures; Defeating Dictatorial Solutions
//Sri Lanka, despite her soaring developmental ambitions, spends less than 1% of her national budget on research and development, an anomaly which was highlighted at the recently concluded symposium, Science and Technology for Society Sri Lanka 2016. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Ajith de Alwis, warned that “Sri Lanka is paying a heavy price in overlooking science in decision making.”//
Thanks for highlighting one of the problems.
There is also another problem, which makes it more difficult. The low average IQ of the Populace, 79, and still lower Average IQ of the Elected Representatives, who were able to exploit that.
Wimal Buruwansa, MP and Former MaRa Minister says 2/2 =0, and he gets 300,000 preferential votes in the COLOMBO DISTRICT!
National IQ Scores – Country Rankings
The intelligence scores came from work carried out earlier this decade by Richard Lynn, a British psychologist, and Tatu Vanhanen, a Finnish political scientist, who analysed IQ studies from 113 countries, and from subsequent work by Jelte Wicherts, a Dutch psychologist.
http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html
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Funlover / September 19, 2016
Sumana, you forgot to add two zeros after 50.
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Sinhala_Man / September 19, 2016
Agree, about the psychopaths. But you do realise, don’t you, that this is a regular new voice?
K.A. Sumanawathie was born to tame her mate, KA Sumanasekera.
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Rarityminds / September 19, 2016
Be it in western world or in countries such as ours, there are still more people than appeared to be dependent on astrological predictions and witchhunting. We perfectly know ones such as Chandrasiri Bandara how they animate poor listerners for their abusive businesses….
To anyone s healthy knowledege (not among mad ones) astrology is related to probabities. And the affections being made by the stars and
This has been part and parcel of each cultures. We notice the swiss and few other european folks believe astro news than the others in europe. This has been passed from one generation to other. Like lanken DEVIL dance culture related healing methods though not well established in today s society, but older generations there are still significant numbers seen as patients that would seek the healing through invisible methods/shanthi karma – latter techniques are being practised by those witch hunting gurus of the society.
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Sam Fernando / September 19, 2016
I believe current rulers have learnt not to practise it too much as wa sthe case with Mahinda Rajapakshe, that is why some even attack Mr Sirisena not to have invited those Astro men to allow their UNEDUCATION stories about the probable deaths even if they are met with that. These two men may go to india or other kovils to have due blessings but they are not that much affected and controlled by the horoscope or the others as was the blind cases of Rajapakshes. This is very clear.
From the behaviours of Rajapakshe one could see it – that let so blindly to make him a caricature of astro men. That should be a very weak point of made king.
In my days in srilanka, there had been Ambalangoda rukada – artists that brought to the society were from that areas – they did it to that time, and the expressions came from them.. anythin would have been case similar to that of Raja, it was attacked by saying – like ambalangoda rukada
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Jagath Fernando / September 18, 2016
Let’s be honest that progress has been bloody slow under yahapalanaya. So much more could have been done in the first 18 months and that is time lost for good.
Last budget and some other initiatives proposed were very important but could not get them implemented.
1Fertilizer subsidy reforms
2School uniforms
3Government pension reforms
4Duty free car permit cancellations
5Restructuring state owned enterprises
6Recapitalizing bankrupt state banks
7Private tertiary education including medicine
8Labour reforms including linking pay increases to productivity
Hope the MP morons in govt and in opposition support these reforms in the future.
Unfortunately they are all good for economics but bad for politics!!!
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colin / September 18, 2016
Simple answer Jagath the coffers were empty and we were upto our eye balls in debt.First we have to collect revenue to repay the debts as the creditors are not going to fold their hands and wait till we get over our troubles. The monies from the lending institutions are just coming in and a good portion of this will have to be used to service the debts.We are just getting over the crisis stage and getting back on our feet so we have to show some patience and maybe by next year the promises could be fulfilled.Further Tourism is on the increase and could generate valuable foreign exchange together with the lifting of the ban on fish exports to the EU. Further hopefully by the end of this year the EU will give us back the privilege we enjoyed on GSP and that too will boost the garment industry and other exports to the EU drawing in further forex.
Jagath we have to be a little patient as there is light at the end of the tunnel
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Simon De Silva / September 19, 2016
You perfectly known Mastricht treaty did not fund the srilanken nation after the war is over – after the removal of MR… after the current duo started…. it was looted state they got – even today, they are out of information about some issues…. MR regime looted and ruined the nation similar to that of Zimbabwian man who is still in power after 30 yearsgone.
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Nimal / September 19, 2016
Jagath
How about?
1, Shorting the court cases that take decades,costing so much to the people.
2,Stop transferring people in their jobs.
3, Have a serious program to educate the motor drivers to drive with care and TOLARANCE to other users,where they must respect people crossing at the designated pedestrian crossing.Over taking from the left without a valid reason.Tooting the horn for no reason at all and show intolerance.
4, Corruption and go slow in government departments,just to get the work done for the public must be rectified.
5,Training the national police force to respect the public who pay their salaries.Cops should be there to serve the people but not to serve the crooked politicians and not be arrogant to public.
6,MPs must allocate time to to the people they represent in their area and give an appointment without Delay.GOVERMENT MUST SEE TO THAT EVERY MP Has functioning staff at one’s electorate that would better serve the people,locally.
7, Politicians must not play and devote too much with the main religion as it doesn’t serve the country but it is used to deceive the people.
8, politicians must change attire to modern times and they must not wear that silly dress to deceive the people.
9 Politicians must be honest and set an example others..
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Uthungan / September 21, 2016
Nimal
Number 10.
All government communications and letters to non Sinhalese proficient citizens in the island to be provided with translations of such communications and letters and official documents in their own language, or by using English as a link language.
In addition provision should also be made available for all citizens of the country to make or record statements in their own language or in English in police stations throughout the country.
Rehabilitation and reconciliation would be meaningless if it is otherwise.
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Patriot / September 18, 2016
Well all I ask this writer to do is to read the contemporary history of Turkey. The US and EU tried very hard to de-islamasize Turkey using the Army. The last coup attempt too happened with the US & EU blessing. The outcome is Turkey has become more Islamic than ever before and the people are defending it with chasing the army off the street. Sri Lanka is going in that same direction the more people like this writer try to de-sinhalaize Sri Lanka the Sinhalese will flock together. It is already happening and that is why the Yahapal leaders are shying away from an election. The trend is such anything proposed by this motley collection of incompetents will be rejected as anti Sinhalese.
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K.A. Sumanawathie / September 18, 2016
never thought that Wimal Weerawasa a.k.a Pannikkayage Wimaladasa can write here in English, definitely a big improvement and keep going.
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Kumar R. / September 18, 2016
KAS,
Just shows that WW and DJ share identical ‘intellectual” capacities, but differ only in their language competence!
Indeed that at-par brainQ is a tribute to WW – his brain development had no privileges of education in the civilized world or paternal guidance that DJ was so very much privileged to!!
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Devil / September 18, 2016
What about the cricketers tying so many strings on their hands. Does the strings provide better batting and balling.
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Non PhD / September 18, 2016
Brilliant analysis and a sound advise to all the SriLankans ex and current.
Last 50 years in the name of wrong Buddhism the political leaders took the country in the wrong path.
Hope there will be a change for the better through fair and equitable measures so that real Buddhism prevails in SL with equal status to other religions.
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Lester / September 18, 2016
The author cannot admit Mahinda took the only approach possible to defeating the LTTE. He cut deals with a few key nations, bought the best weapons possible within the limitations of the budget, and cut down on opposition to the war. Even the predecessor to the LTTE – TULF – could not negotiate with them. All Tamil intellectuals who sought a “peaceful” solution were assassinated. Mahinda simply matched brutality with brutality, except for the suicide bombings. A simple approach that worked out beautifully.
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shantha / September 21, 2016
And gave the tigers $millions to stop votes for Ranil?
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Lester / September 23, 2016
He got the millions back after KP was captured in Malaysia. Do you know why KP was spared & given a nice villa?
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colin / September 18, 2016
Tisaranee its a well written article as you always do. I am making a study of the various laws that govern certain sections of Sri Lankan society like Kandyan Law,Thesmalai Law and Muslim Law. You say ” though the minimum age of marriage for Lankan girls is 16, a girl child from a Muslim family can be married at 12, or even below with consent from the Quazi courts”
Could someone in the legal profession kindly enlighten me what the Kandyan Law say about the minimum age of marriage? Is it sixteen?
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Uthungan / September 21, 2016
As far as I am aware the Kandyan Law and Thesavalamai Law is silent on the question of minimum age of a female for marriage. Probably the common law is followed in this regard.
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thrishu / September 18, 2016
Main stream religious teachings, philosophies, and esoteric fields of knowledge such as astrology, all of which progressed through history and mankind as belief systems, have always been abused by rulers, their so called (fake) practitioners to control and manipulate either the gullible or the fanatic masses. By modifying and twisting the process associated with these belief systems, rulers politically and economically controlled people.
However on analysis one could see that, embedded in the fundamental core teachings in these belief systems there are fundamental truths. One needs to dwell into the subjects and study them thoroughly to understand those truths, and not necessarily repeat the literal words, but to understand the meanings that have been encoded in the style of writing. Therefore it is at best unfair or at worst ignorant to condemn the teachings on the basis of populist reactions, just because we often experience the outcome of the abusing of such belief systems by rulers, and those fake and crafty practitioners that aid and abet crooked rulers.
MARA and Sumane were good examples of modern day abusers of such belief systems; between them, and all the other astrologers in Sri Lanka that jumped into Sumane’s bandwagon for either financial rewards or lack of their own backbone so that they would not fall into MahaRajas wrath, did manipulate people at the 2015 presidential election. But on this occasion one fundamental truth prevailed, and proved them wrong and caught them red handed: no matter what the human does, bad Karma is a devil; it will come round to you one day, find you and devour you.
On this occasion, both MARA and Sumane fell foul trying to deceive Gods, planets, religious teachers, goodness, and the very public. They have fallen into the eternal hell hole in their own lifetime because of their mischief; a salutary lesson for them and anyone else that twists and manipulates belied systems to suit themselves.
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Astrologer / September 18, 2016
Not only Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims also visit astrologers.
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Rarityminds / September 19, 2016
I spent my day in Srilanka until I moved to Europ in Late 80ties.
To that time, TV or radio senders were not that busy as is the case for weakened lankens of current day.
I think with time, people have met with higher disappointments with their day today life to seek such reliefs rather than working on the issues where they have gone wrong. LIke for example today s youth have not the least courage to respect to anyone. They dont even care even if their mother work die hard to run the family, but they hang on with the computer gadgets or hand phones not using their valuable time for proper learning. If average would have been asked, their common sense have gone to all appalling levels. Just subject oriented learning only they are focused to by the prevailing competitive Olvels and Alevels.
Having lived on the Europe, I dont think anyone have built their house respecting astrology over here. So nothing have happened to even high rises buildings that firmely standing wihtout being captured to even natural disasters. What the europeans have achieved over the centuries are relatively that much. Even today, western europe and even eastern european cities do their best in all possible areas to achieve more. Astrology has done nothing for them, eventhough the swiss the Swiss are somewhat into to it.
Sannasgala proved last year the edcuation of the royal astrologer- he had not even Olvels, had only been on a village but to have worked as directors to 6 organisations -only because he was close to former president –
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Nimal / September 24, 2016
All the good you have seen or experienced should be brought back SL.Help to reduce the stupidity and backwardness of this country.
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Taraki / September 19, 2016
‘Not only Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims also visit astrologers. ‘
But only Buddhists are blamed for everything that is wrong with the nation.
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KA Sumanasekera / September 19, 2016
Yahapalana Batalanada Ranil the Elite Anglican and Vellala Faction leader went to Tirupathi Kovila soon after getting the PM gig.
Yahapalana President went even further sitting on the ground receiving blessings from Poosaris.
Batalanada , the chief dayaka at Malwatta, now only use the boss monk to issue “All Good” notices on Yahapalanaya.
Bodhi Sira on the other hand still prays at the feet of the Mahanayakas of the Dalits, hoping for longevity.
Specially after that Black Magic man’s silly prediction of Bodhi Sira’s demise in 6 months.
Bodhi Sira took it so serious that he issued a Yahpalana Presidential Press Release trying to rubbish the prediction.
Any way why do these eminent. kick ass writers still attacking the poor Sinhala Buddhists, their Leaders and their Monks?.
Although they are the great majority,, aren’t they totally F****** .
LTTE CFO ( ex ) Suren Surendran is part of the Delegation of the Batalanada’s emissary, FM Samaraweeran to represent the Federal Vellala Eelaam for the Jaffna Tamils at the current session of the UN..
What more these writers could give them by keeping these attacks on Sinhala Buddhists their Buddhism and their Culture?
Do these writers still have unfinished business?.
We know the War Trials are about to commence.
UNP Wijedasa whom I thought is a decent Sinhala Buddhist, after dobbing in that betrayer JVP Prince, now is issuing Fatwas against Weerawansa.
Who is one of the few Sinhala Buddhist Leaders who loves the Nation and is determined fight to the last breath to protect the motherland, and continue its existence as the ancestors and the fore fathers and mothers did for 2500 years.
Have Wijedasas now joined the NGO Dollar camp to help to finish off any opposition to the War Crime Trials , which will ring the death knell for any influence of the Sinhala Buddhist have in the Political Arena as well as the Srilankan Armed Forces.
It is not rocket science to understand that the Diaspora priority is to avenge the death of their Hero Pirahaparan more than Vellala Federal Eelaam for Jaffna Tamils..
Batalanada Ranil , the Elite Anglican and vellala Faction leader would love to clean up the Army Stables too, to put his thoroughbreds like his ancestors did, soon after the British.
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Mallaiyuran / September 19, 2016
“Kauthai thegnchu Kadderumpaanathaam!”. The hard worked donkey has become an ant by the abrasion of the work, but has not stopped its duty.
Our eminent political writer, Tissaranee Gunasekara took a vacation from CT and back again but with her astrology. In her vacation time
, she had spent enough time as she had run of LTTE source, what else can keep feeding for mythology writing.
Her astrology is telling that 70% (CPA – the Ayatullah Malwatta office of astrology)of the Sinhala Buddhist said the economy going to improve in 2011 and 2013 it came to 40% and 45% loss. First thing is why Tisaranee Gunasekara go for CPA math that she can not. If 75% of them they have had hope like to believe that Old Royals were there to increase the economic stability, then it is not the fault of Old Royals, it was the fault of Sinhala Modayas. If they had become the most intelligent race in the world in two years that is between 2011 and 2013, so be it. Aren’t they are one voted for rice from moon? But the truth is they voted to Old Royals in 2010 and they voted only to Old Royals in 2015 too. But what here Ms Gunasekara doing is bring out a pigeon out of burning hat. So, she is saying that VAT is killer of Yahapalanaya. I can not call this as plain astrology- I have to add an adjective to it- Don’t worry about the right wrong of i”Kaluthai theegnchu Kadderumpaanathaam!”. The hard worked donkey has become an ant by the abrasion of the work.
Our eminent political writer, Tissaranee Gunasekara took a vacation from CT and back again but with her astrology. In her vacation time, she had spent enough time as she had run of LTTE source, what else can keep feeding for her mythology writing. So now she is writing about astrology.
Her astrology is telling that 70% (CPA – the Ayatollah’s Malwatta office of astrology) of the Sinhala Buddhist said the economy going to improve in 2011 and 2013 it came to 40% and 45% loss. First thing is why Tisaranee Gunasekara goes for CPA math that she cannot understand? If 75% of them they have had hope like that the Old Royals were there to increase the economic stability of the country, then it is not the fault of Old Royals, it was the fault of Sinhala Modaya. Aren’t they are one voted for rice from moon? But the truth is they voted to Old Royals in 2010 and they voted only to Old Royals in 2015 too. But what here Ms. Gunasekara doing is bringing out a pigeon out of burning hat. That is not called astrology; it is called Ms. Gunasekara’s Jeopardy. So, she is saying that VAT is killer of Yahapalanaya. I cannot call this as plain astrology- I have to add an adjective to it- Don’t worry about the right wrong of it, Let me call it as the Sinhala Intellectuals Learned Astrology. But unfortunately, Ms. Gunasekara has not substantiated her astrology with any polls numbers showing that Sinhala Buddhist brought down the Old Royals because of the dissatisfaction of the economic performance of Old Royals. The truth is Sinhala Buddhist did not vote for CC. Tamils never accepted any Sinhala Leader. It is an original mythology, rather than astrology, saying Tamils voted (About a 43% voted) only because CPA had found out that they were not satisfied with the economic performance of the Old Royals. Saying Tamils voted for CC because of the economic issue is more rubbish than any astrology. The richest and educated part of the Island which has been losing its status from the freedom day and its map is now erases out of Ceylon. UNP CPA has benefit of bringing UNP to power, but for Tamils, they both are same, not just on economy, but in all issues. That 43% voted to CC only because Sampanthar’s false promises, those are within 100 days a solution, Army withdrawal, prisoners release, land release, inquiry on the war crime. After almost two years, not even 25% of any these are implemented. But if the VAT is hurting the UNP, it is not very hard to fool to Tamils to get the votes out of them, because the Yahapalanaya still keeping the 150,000 strong army ready to strike at them any time. The tricks is one of the tools of Saama, Dhana, Thanda, Petham.
Ms. Gunasekara cooks up things the way she wants. She wrote here on CT that leader Prabhakaran as a fool and took money from Old King and made Tamils to vote for him. That is beyond any astrology ever predicted in the world. The ruling Yahapalanaya Government has said money was paid to kill Kathirgamar. Though they said it in the Parliament, because Ranil hates Kathirgamar, that matter was never investigated. But one thing undeniable is Sampanthar clearly said to Chandrika and Sobitha Thero that if they select Ranil as the CC he would never ask Tamils to vote for him. That means Old King had a preference to Tamils when comparing Ranil. When Chandrika wedged between Old King and New King, Sampanthar went and sought the Tamils’ support with his false promises. Ms. Gunasekara’s astrology cannot override this true history.
Malwatta Chapter Ayatollah refused to support Wimal. But he has lot of other confirmed supports of senior Buddhist Monks. The Thero is completely irrelevant for Wimal. But, I do not see why it is important for Ms. Gunasekara a Buddhist Monk accepting and rejecting a politician’s (false or true) claims? Is he a Buddhist Monk or a King under whom the parliament runs? I can see well the reasons for some Buddhist extremist are drawing the attention to friction between Wimal and an Ayatollah. These extremist are Wimals’ enemy and they are happy to see an Ayatollah on their side. In fact, there is competition between Wimal and the Buddhist extremist in gaining the support of Ayatollahs. Wimal is not a Buddhist person; he is an ugly communist, opportunist. The real Buddhist extremists are nervous about Wimal because he is spoiling the castles they are building. This tug-of War has nothing to do with establishing a secular government in Lankawe. Any secular government build up process has nothing to do with any religious leader. One has to note the RSS Modi is running almost a good secular government. Those who cannot recognize the boundaries of the religion and government cannot do that.
Malwatta Ayatollah did not tell ” Wimalananda Listen to my words carefully child, the Brahminical Old Royals has destroyed the country. And The arguments made by Ceylon Rationalist Association in its 1970 memorandum to Minister Colvin R de Silva for a secular democratic constitution are even more relevant today than they were then. Incidentally, the provision giving Buddhism the preeminent place was a fairly recent addition, introduced in 1972 and reinforced in 1978. There was no such provision in the constitution until then, and Buddhism not just survived but also thrived despite the absence. In this context, it is apposite to remember that state patronage or special protection by rulers figure nowhere in the conditions mentioned by the Buddha in the Maha-parinibbana Sutta as necessary for the welfare and growth of the sasana” This is only the mixing and matching games played by Ms. Gunasekara. But the meaning of what the Malwatta Chapter’s chief said is “Wimal, you are seeking political revenge against your enemies. The intention of that is not to help the Buddhism to remain as the Island’s official religion. Your flashing action is going to invite the foreign involvement and in fact is going to have the Buddhism’s ruling status tumbled. The ruling status of Buddhism has to be ensured diplomatically, not by provoking or rebelling. I have received confirmations from the government that the official status of it will be preserved and maintained”. He did not advise to the communist clown anything about creating a secular constitution. Period! Tissaranee Gunasekara is completely out context in quoting the that here.
The Women’s Action Network is a known Women’s Anti Muslim Network. Knowing it is not disputable, Ms. Gunasekara stayed away from CT when the discussion of their statement of section 16 was going here. Our position is Human Rights, Humanitarian Issues and simple logic a layman can understand, not the national forecasting math which is solved by an array of supercomputers, not the Marx’- Lenin’s two millenniums old babblings, is the basis for the Land’s law. The hurting provision for minority is 6A. It is opposed by International Jurist Forum as a draconian law. That is the one provoked the war and created 90,000 widows in the North. The WAMN has not contested the 9A which is forcing the Buddhism on other religions.
t, Let me call it as the Sinhala Intellectuals Learned Astrology. But unfortunately, Ms Gunasekara has not substantiated her astrology with any polls numbers that Sinhala Buddhist brought down the Old Royals because of dissatisfaction of the economic performance of Old Royals. The truth is Sinhala Buddhist did not vote for CC. Tamils never accepted any Sinhala Leader. It is a original mythology, rather than astrology, saying Tamils voted (About a 43% voted) only because CPA has found out that they were not satisfied with the economical performance of the Old Royals. Tamils voted to CC because of the economic issue is more rubbish than any astrology. The richest and educated part of the Island which has been losing its status from the freedom day and its map is now erase out of Ceylon. UNP CPA has benefit of bringing UNP to power, but for Tamils, they both are same, not just on economy, but in all issues. That 43% voted to CC only because Sampanthar’s false promises, those are within 100 days a solution, Army withdrawal, prisoners release, land release. Now not even 25% of any these are implemented. But it is not very hard to fool to Tamils to get the votes out of them, because the Yahapalanaya still keeping the 150,000 strong army ready to strike at them any time.
Ms Gunasekara cook up things the way she wants. She wrote here on CT that leader Prabhakaran as a fool and took money from Old King and made Tamils to vote for him. That is beyond any astrology ever predicted in the world. The ruling Yahapalanaya Goverment has said money paid to kill Kathirgamar. Because Ranil hates Kathirgamar that matter is never investigated. But one thing undeniable is Sampanthar clearly said to Chandrika and Thero that if they select Ranil as the CC he would never ask Tamils to vote for him. That means Old King had a preference to Tamils too comparing Ranil. When Chandrika wedged between Old King and New King, Sampanthar went and sought the Tamils support with his false promises. Ms Gunasekara’s astrology cannot override this true history.
Malwatta Chapter Ayatullah refused to support Wimal. But he has lot of ther supports confirmed. I do not see why it is important for Ms Gunasekara a Buddhist Monk accepting and rejecting a politician’s (false or true) claims? Is he Buddhist Monk or a King under whom the parliament run? I can see well the reasons for some Buddhist extremist are drawing the attention to friction between Wimal and a Ayatullah. These extremist are Wimals’ enemy and they are happy to see a Ayatullah on their side. In fact, there is competition between Wimal and the Buddhist extremist in gaining the support of Ayatollahs. Wimal is not a Buddhist person, he is an ugly communist, opportunist. The real Buddhist extremist are nervous about Wimal because he is spoiling the castles they are building. This tug-of War has nothing to do with establishing a secular government. Any secular government build up process has nothing to do with any religious leader. One has to note the RSS Modi is running almost a good secular government. Those who cannot recognize the boundaries of the religion and government cannot do that.
Malwatta Ayatullah did not tell ” Wimalananda Listen to my words carefully, the Brahminical Old Royals has destroyed the country. And The arguments made by Ceylon Rationalist Association in its 1970 memorandum to Minister Colvin R de Silva for a secular democratic constitution are even more relevant today than they were then[vii]. Incidentally, the provision giving Buddhism the preeminent place was a fairly recent addition, introduced in 1972 and reinforced in 1978. There was no such provision in the constitution until then, and Buddhism not just survived but also thrived despite the absence. In this context, it is apposite to remember that state patronage or special protection by rulers figure nowhere in the conditions mentioned by the Buddha in the Maha-parinibbana Sutta as necessary for the welfare and growth of the sasana” This is only only mixing and matching games played by Ms Gunasekara. But the meaning of what the Malwatta Chapter’s chief said is ” Wimal, you are seeking political revenge against your enemies. The intention of that is not to help the Buddhism to remain as the Island’s official religion. Your flashing action is going to invite the foreign involvement and infact is going to have the Buddhism’s ruling status tumbled. This has to be ensured diplomatically, not by provoking or rebelling. I have received confirmations from the government that the official status of it will be preserved and maintained”. He did not advise to the communist clown anything about creating a secular constitution. Period!
The Women’s Action Network is a known Women’s Anti Muslim Network. Knowing it is not disputable, Ms Gunasekara stayed away from CT when the discussion of their statement of section 16 was going here. Our position is Human Rights, Humanitarian Issues and simple logic a layman can understand, not the national forecasting math which is solved by an array of supercomputers, not the Marx’- Lenin’s two miliums old babblings, is the basis for the Land’s law.
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KA Sumanasekera / September 19, 2016
Malwatte Ayotolla … Brilliant.. You are a genius.
Guess what… This Ayotolla is a main stake holder in the Yahapalana coup,, along side UNP London, English Tiger Forum -GTF, Vellala Sambandan, Wahabi Hakeem and Bunky Moon.
This is from the horse’s mouth..as reported in the Yahapalana Daily News yesterday.
And this the concoction which gave birth to Bodhi Sira .
How cool is that.
Poor Mrs B must be weeping in her grave, watching what is happening to her Pearl in the Indian Ocean, at the hands of the darling Daughter and the house boy…
Which even Mahabarathan Nehru couldn’t touch when she was calling the shots.
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Bensen Berner / September 20, 2016
It was not astrology that was the problem as it was the third grade astrologer. Astrology is an accurate science based on the study of the movements of the planets. Rajapaksa wanted to believe what he thought was most beneficial and convenient to him and fortunately he paid the price. Bensen
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