Buddhism - Being Truly Human

That monk who while young devotes himself
to the Teaching of the Buddha
illumines this world like the moon
freed from clouds.

Plane Crashes

Economic development of Sri Lanka and Economists and their statistics

After ceasing 30 years old conflict in Sri Lanka, Economic development is become primary objective. No doubt as dawns of peace are in the country, economical prosperity is focused by everyone. On the hand bloom of economy would be strong foundation for long lasting peace. As the main barrier of developing country is removed now, stage is set for achieving sustainable development of economy.

In the Sri Lankan context major problem is changing policies and obsolete procedures in decision making processes. Absence of strong programme for economic development is the major problem. Several economists and specialists draft various programmes time to time. Since there is no strong foundation for economic development, achieving such targets are extremely difficult. Although real situation is like this, it can be seen several economists show various statistics and say Sri Lanka successfully particular targets and more than 5% growth rate of economy............... Though they said like that, real situation is completely different and many of Sri Lankans have to fight to cover their day today living expenses.

Other fact is that whether we can approve all the liberal suggestions of economists. For example certain economists believe there should be unemployment up to certain level because then only investors come here and start businesses as they have more power to choice. But these policies cannot be accepted as the main objective is to achieve economical prosperity rather than satisfying few employers or economists.

Most importantly it is proved now that what economists suggested earlier is wrong and no prosperity can be achieved through facilitating few big corporations. Wider aspect of the economy should be taken in to consideration when programmes are developed aiming development of economy. This only proves that fundamental changes suggested by economists are now obsolete and economic development is not just filling statistics.

Now it is clear that if real economic development is expected what really should do is develop own plan and customization should be done as required for needs of local people. It is better to be away so called economists if real development of economy is needed.

Climate change and its effects on Sri Lanka

It is well know fact climate is changing rapidly and as a result many negetive impacts are being experienced by human being regardless whether you are in developed country or developing country. As a result of increasing of global warming, sea levels go up and glaciers reduce day by day. So some countries specially island nations would lose their land and big coastal cities may be vanished soon. However my main objective is to discuss how climate changing effects on Sri Lankan context.

These days we all experience unusual raining patterns and this is mainly because due to climate changing. As a result of this situation Sri Lanka has to get ready for flood in any time. Poor and deeefective drainage system in Colombo as well as other cities causes to create the whole town in to a collection of small lakes and ponds in a normal rain. Sometimes gutters in roads are as deep as 3 feet. many times this problem has been brought to relevant officers and regulations nothing is done. So now small rain can break down day to day activities in Colombo. Employees and the staffs of various organizations are mostly effected with this situation. Waters on the roads increase traffic and this delays to go offices on time. Wasting time in traffic is useless. For example if one person waste 1/2 hour on roads and if 1000 persons are on traffic queues 500 human hours are wasted on roads. This is one aspect of impact of climate changing.

Continuous raing falling is another result of climate change. It is become usual news that huge tanks are over flowed regularly. People who live around tanks have to be careful otherwise their lives are at risk. When tanks are over flowed other areas are in a risk of flooding. Not only that but also continuous rain fallings causes to destroy cultivations. Farmers spend lot of money to cultivate paddies and large effort is need to protect crops from wild animals. So that when paddies are cultivated it becomes whole of farmers and they spend months to get good crops. Entire family is maintained by the money which is gotten from selling their crops. But one rain can destroy whole crop in one day. This may cause to create a shortage of foods in near future.

Although only main two situations are discribed above ther are many other negetive impacts of climate changing. It is clerar that changes in climate effects normal lives of human being and it makes negetive impact on human beings. Though identifing reasons for climate changing and those problems must be addressed is a must, significant effort to do so, cannot be noticed. Major three countries who should responsible for this situation is USA, India and China and it is lamentable fact that those countries do nothing not to stop but to reduce the climate change. Instead these countries accuse each other and no activities are on stage to reduce climate change. However due to power struggle among those countries poor people in other countries (specially third world countries) are in stew. Global powers only start to act when they are suffered. This situation must be changed and all should act together to prevent possible disasters due to climate changing in recent future.

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.