Dalada Wathura

This is very rare photo of "Dalada Wathura" in 1928. During british colonial era english ruler banned Exhibition of Sri Dalada (Sacred Tooth of Relic). In that time drought was occurred and and Buddhist Monks instructed rulers to allow Exhibition. After the Exhibition there was a huge rain which is considered as miracle of Sacred Tooth of Relic.

This photo is taken from the album of Mr. Janaka Keerthi and I am very grateful to him for this photo.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1543163880&v=info#!/photo.php?fbid=160389624001512&set=a.142820489091759.19202.100000914277534

Political Solution and Resettlement of displaced Tamils and Sinhalese

Though I normally don't discuss political issues on my blog, I decide to write this article seeing some others articles regarding this problem. Before the war began minority Sinhala community was in the Jaffna and most of them were businessman such as bakers. Even it is stated that Sinhala students entered to the Jaffna university. But situation was changed after 1983 and many incidents were taken place due to unrest groups in Jaffna. After war began between LTTE and Army and one of major strategies used by LTTE was ethnic clearance. As a result of this displaced Sinhalese of jaffna flew to other areas and after escalation of hostilities of 1980's minority Sinhala community was removed. However not only Sinhalese but also Tamils and Muslims were also displaced as a result of war. This was the brief description of incidents taken place with last decades.

Now war is in the history and displaced people are resettled. Though there are many NGO's who speak about Tamil IDP's said nothing about displaced Sinhalese and they now settle down Railyway Station of Jaffna and no body is caring. There are many barriers of their resettlement. One of major barrior of law of Jaffna - "Thesawalam" which gives priority to Jaffna citizens when lands of Jaffna selling or buying. But no such law is enforced any other part of country. Legal System is Jaffna also questionable. Courts conduct their work in Tamil or English and the situation of offices such as Land Registries and other government offices mostly used Tamil language so that if someone don't know Tamil it is very hard to do get their services. Though some displaced Sinhalese have proofs of their lands they don't get any other support of officers. Thus due to many barriers their resettlement process is hold on.

On the other hand Tamils who were suffered from this war must be resettled as well as Sinhalese. Next priority should be given to fulfill their basic needs (foods, houses and etc ) and next infrastructure of conflict area should be rebuild. In that side government is able to achieve progress to some extend but however his tast should be speed up. Thus Tamils must be assured that they are vital part of national reconcilation process. It is a must to ensure equility of law and they must be persuaded that contribution of them is important to the development of country.

Now I wish to focus your attention to topic of political solution. Tamil Attorney George R. Willy who settled down in USA delivered speech and whole speech can be read from this link. The only important thing the speaker repeated is that " Tamils should not be treated as second class people" . However he used several comparisons which make his speech more interesting. The basic theme of his speech was that "political solution" should be implemented immediately. Not only he but also many others emphasize suggestion of "political solution". Situation of then (before war began) and now(year 2010) is completely changed. People who left country in 1980's or 90's cannot say problems of that time is also effected in this era too. If anyone has enough talents he can climb up the ladder and every good example is Former Foriegn Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar who held top ministry one time.

What is a need of hour is not political solution but independency of social regulations. If anyone can get fair solution to their problems through social mechanisms he will never become a second class citizen of country. Unrest of minor communities can be stopped through enforcement of existing regulations. Thus through equility reconcilation can be implemented.

On the other hand though people in Colombo or abroad demand so called " political solution" can they guarantee that of the problems of effected people can be satisfied? If displaced IDP's are in hungry can they satisfy their hungry with political solution? Can they predict the response of people who are really live in war effected area? If poeple in those areas would not accept so called political solution what can be done? We must remeber that we should fulfill only needs of people but not the wishes of people who is hundred kms away from Motherland. Even now nobody is treated as second class people and opportunities are available for any citizen. So finally I would like to state that before any kind of solution it is a must to fulfill the basic needs of effected people otherwise unrest would be remained in their minds whatever political solution is implemented.

Quality of Higher Education in Sri Lanka

In recent time several new developments can be noted in higher education sector in Sri Lanka. Among them most important news was that Sri Lanka prepares to open doors for private universities. I wish to discuss about private universities little bit later and let we see some issues in current context. Before start this article I would like to say that I'm not interested on either "Anthare" or government or any other concerned party.

It is very famous fact that very small number of students are priviledged to enter national universities and others have to go for other options. Situation of universities are lower comparing other universities in region. As a result of this international ranking of Sri lankan universities go day by day. Several reasons which cause for the situation can be identified as follows. First lack of financial and other resources. All universities are funded by government and so all universities have to wait till treasury issues money to them. If any university wishes to keep its standards, it is a must to continue researches. But unfortunately contribution to researches are very low in Sri Lanka. Many Asian Universities open their labortaries even in night to conduct researches. But in Sri Lanka situation is completely contrast. Both lecturers and students should be responsible for this situation. Lecturers have big responsibility to encourage students to conduct researches and students also should conducts such researches because if they can conduct researches successfully it will cause to bright their futures. Organizations invite them to join witheir organizations and findings of researches can be contributed for the development of country. But sadly many students (except science, medicine, physical and engineering students) regulary conduct different kind of protests such as boycott of class and etc. This situation must be changed as soon as possible otherwise bad reputation will harm their future careers. Another fact is degree programs are not updated according to current context. Though their was a separate department in University Grant Commission to update degree programs it was closed in 1995.

Next I wish to focus attention for the external degree programs offered by some universities in Sri lanka. This is one option available for students who do not qualified to enter universities. Today many people start following external degrees. So thousands register for those degree programs. Number of exams have to be completed is lesser than number of exams taken by enternal degree candidate. This results to descrease quality of degree and there are many places which conduct classes for external degree candidates throughout the country. No any qaulity control mechanism is imposed. However University Grants Commision decided to limit number of candidates for external degree programs recently.

Let we see the situation of private higher education in Sri Lanka. There are several instutions that offer foreign degree programs in combination with foreign universities. However quality of these instutions are questionable. Some are registered with University Grant Commission but majority are unregistered. However no quality control mechanism is imposed and those intutions try to attract more and more students to earn maximum profit. When number of students who enter to those institutions are increased, the quality of the degree programs are descreased. For example when few students are in classroom necessary tutes, books can be given free of charge but number os students increased it is not possible. Thus the quality of those programs are questionable.

The latest topic in the field is to " open private universities in Sri Lanka". Though responsible people introduced them as private universities actually they are branches of foreign universities. For example Australian university - Monash may open a branch on here. Although local institutions which conduct foreign degree programs are not categorized as " Private universities" officially, they are a kind of private universities. It is sated that new act will be on parliament no details are available to refer. However it is clear that strong regulation is necessary to control the quality if private universities will be established.

Finally it is a must to mention that higher education is on fire and proper solutions must be implemented as soon as necessary otherwise future of youth of country will be questionable.

In Respect to Kalana

One of my closest friend Kalana Wattearachchi celebrated his 21st birthday on October 23rd and he is generous enough to offer party on following day at NIBM premises. He entertained all with lunch and WE ALL WISH HIM VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

The Colombo International Book Fair 2010

As usual in every year, Colomobo International Book Fair 2010 was held in September in this year too. Being an enthusiastic reader I also waiting till September to participate this grand event. This books fair provides an opportunity to buy every book with discount which causes to attract wide range of readers from little children to adults. It doesn't matter what kind of job you are doing, there is any kind of book to anyone of any age group. Thus thousands normally visit there and it is stated that this time more than a million visited. This create win - win situation to both readers and publishers. Publishers can sell more books where as readers can buy books at dicounted prices. Even some visited there to have a fun. One of my friend told me that although he visited there he couldn't find any suitable book for him ???????? However I visited there twice. ( There was a break down of blogging as I had lot of books to be read and I wish to sorry for my beloved readers.)

However there were some books which were highly demanded. One of them is Sinhala translation of "Harry Potter and the order of phoenix". (I wish to talk about that book in another blog. So I don't write more details about it now).

Buddhist Books are also highly demanded and there were several stalls which only includes Buddhist Books. Most intteresting fact I noticed is there many buyers who are in their twenties or thirties.

Psychological books were also prefered choice of many readers and it is notable thing that most youth bought Psychological books.

And there was a trend to buy which were nominated to "Swarna Pusthaka" awards. When I was selecting books one lady came and bought "Kandak Sema" not because of quality of story in the book but because that it was nominated.

There few facters which can be noted in the Book Fair 2010. First one is higher cost of books. For example Sinhala translation of "Harry Potter and the order of phoenix" was cost Rs. 1200. 00. This is huge cost and normally anyone think twice before spending such big money for one book if it was not a recommeded text book. Sinhala fictions were non second to translations. Late auther T. B. Ilangarathne's books like "Lasada", "Amba Yaluwo" and etc cost around Rs. 300. That was an only example and prices of books are high specially books that were published by reputed publishers.

Another good thing was that no stalls in upstairs of BMICH due to on going repairs of the building. In previous occasions many visiters were tired going up and down with huge bags. So that many visiters were discourage to go stalls which were situated oustside main hall of BMICH. Unlike previous times this time visiters visited many stalls. However the size of stalls is also questionable. Many stalls were full with crowd and it was not easy task to select books.
Sometimes visiters waited out of particular stalls till crowd is unloaded. The congestion made many problems and it was hard to select books that suit redears' preferance. Long queues at counters were normal seen and I must state that this situation really discourage visiters. It is not either secret or unexpected thing that large number of visited book fair every years. So that organizers must be ready to welcome large number of visiters in this years too specially under the situation of ending long ran conflict. On that side visiters were facilitated with least convenience. However it is a must to draw the attention of the organizers of this exhibition to this problem and I wish thta we would not have to face this problem is book fair 2011.
However we enjoy a lot in Book Fair 2010 which brought us many experiences and it would be nice experience to anyone who visited there. Finally I wish to state that although there were small problems the Colombo International Book Fair 2010 was very successful grand event and Book Fair 2011 would be a better one.

Manju Wanniarachchi - A hero of our time

Manju Wanniarachchi was able to bring a Gold Medal in Common Wealth Boxing Games after 72 years. I'm writing this article to both congratulate him and present my opinion regarding sports in Sri Lanka. In our context this was a great victory because Sri Lanka is a WONDERFUL country which offers lesser facilities to athletes who try to shine our motherland with medals. Therefore if someone plays for country he has to go his journey himself. Neither officials nor media pay their attention to those nascent athletes until he or she scores a medal in international area. So it is a really miracle if someone can bring a medal to country under thiis situation where as other countries provide maximum support for their athletes.

That is the situation before win any medal and when athletes win a medal situation is completely is contrast. Officials are waiting to take snapshots with medal winners and uncountable wishes are offered. Mass Media offers full coverage. Fortunately I was able to find out a Photo of Manju Wanniarachchi in which he is posed alone.

Next I wish to point out some issues in sports in our schools. Many in born talented athletes can be found on sportsmeets in schools but unfortunately they are not given proper guidance and most importantly they have no enough facilities to practice and enhance their skills. If a student shows his skills in a particular sports, from that point he has to face lot of difficulties. Many look him jealousy and if a child of teacher in same school plays same game, talented student has to stopped his journey. On that side Manju Wanniarachchi was lucky enough to study in Vidyartha College, Kandy which has a good reputation for athletes. Facilities that are required for most of games are limited to Colombo. If someone in rural area wants to continue his sporting career he has to migrate to Colombo. Manju Wanniarachchi is a rare example who does his practices outside of Colombo. There is boards, authorities for each game but unfortunately most of them are limited to their name and nothing has done to benefits of either athletes or sports in Sri Lanka. Being a Chess player I had experience this bad situation very well and it is hard to find anything done by Chess Federation of Sri Lanka to promote Chess in Sri Lanka and all other regulators of other sports repeat same story.

This is the bitter truth of situation of sports in Sri Lanka. This is the reason for not having a succeeding athletes after Sugath Tilakarathne or Susanthika Jayasinghe. As a result of this only few extraodinaries perfom in international stage represnting Sri Lanka.

However I wish YOU all the best for Manju Wanniarachchi for your GREAT VICTORY and wish U MAY BE ABLE TO BRING GOLD MEDAL FROM OLIMPIC TO OUR MOTHERLAND.