OPEN LETTER TO MEN

My Dear Men folk,

You may know or not know, that your wife, your mother, sister or fiancée struggles to tally with your life bearing a very sensitive question in their minds - to be devoted or not to be is the question.

Are we really allowed to raise our voices against you? Stand against on wrong actions by very many men? And simply are the majority of men ready to come out from the male ego of dominating women?

Yes, many will raise their brows against these questions. One may argue that Sri Lankan women generally enjoy a higher degree of gender equality than many women in other countries in the region.

But is it really true? Yes, only to some extent. Don’t you agree?

In terms of education levels, women holding management positions, women in professions and even in normal social norms, Sri Lankan women enjoy a better position than those in Pakistan, Bangladesh or India. But still the tragic stories of violence against women have been continuously reported in nowadays media.

Of course, the modern generations of men are broader in their views in dealing with women and they have come in to terms with equal rights for women and many men are ready to take woman as a partner not a worker under him.

But there is need to awaken some of them who does not have the modernized overview on women and do believe they are blessed to have their own way with women. Thereupon, I would like them to consider this, in short my purpose of this letter is for them to stop and think and to other who believe in women’s equality to broaden their view on the violence against women.

When I mean violence, there are many actions attached to it. According to UN conventions, ‘violence against women’ takes a dismaying variety of forms, from domestic abuse and rape to child marriages and female circumcision. All are violations of the most fundamental human rights.

The flight of Sri Lankan women in this regard has been named as both a public and private matter in Sri Lanka by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, a body of global experts which monitors whether governments are honouring their commitments to the 1981 United Nations’ Women’s Convention.

That is why it is very important to clarify to those who do not believe on this aspect of gender equality of the meaning of gender and sexuality and the balance of power between women and men at all levels of society.

Therefore, combating violence against women requires challenging the way that gender roles and power relations are articulated in society.

Changing people's attitude and mentality towards women will take a long time - at least a generation many believe, and perhaps longer. Nevertheless, I personally believe that awaking men against their own short comings, (sometimes committed unknowingly) might add some importance to an issue which is larger than what can be expressed through words.

Let us take a closer look at the Article 2 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to comprehend more on what it suggests as violence against women.

"pursue by all means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women" "refrain from engaging in any act or practice of discrimination against women and to ensure that public authorities and institutions shall act in conformity with this obligation" and "take all appropriate measures including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women." These are some of the obligations against the violations against women suggested to be referred by the authorities.

Sri Lanka as signatory to the CEDAW is obliged to ensure that the rights of women are protected and promoted. Yet, a study of the national legal framework clearly highlights that "the law" continues to discriminate against women in many aspects.

Where violence against women is concerned the lack of specific domestic violence legislation and the law on rape which leaves unprotected certain groups are just some of the legal provisions which need to be repealed.

This is a major reason which leads me to raise the questions in the beginning of this letter to you all. Well, what are these holes in our legal system?

Domestic violence and the divorce law are some of the main fragments in Sri Lankan legal system which requires tougher laws to prevent the violence faced by women in Sri Lanka.

Down here, there is not specific legislation on domestic violence and the Penal Code too does not criminalize domestic violence. Prosecution of domestic violence therefore has to be undertaken under other general sections such as Section 324-assault or Section 311-causing grievous hurt.

When we consider the domestic violations in Sri Lanka, Many Sinhalese Buddhist and Tamil Hindu women rationalizes their predicament in terms of destiny. Many women do this because, conventionally they are made to believe that a marriage as a private matter; the common perception is that men are superior and their sexual urges indomitable.

That is a major reason that other than changing the legal aspect, a cleansing should be brought up for the general overview of the society.

In her study on violence against women Ameena Hussein has pointed out that the remaining legal provisions are rarely used as social conditions to prevent women from reporting incidents of domestic violence and even when they do, the complaints are not taken seriously by the authorities or informal mediation mechanisms are utilised to settle cases.

Also the effectiveness of any proposed domestic violence legislation will be dependent on amendments to the laws relating to divorce. As the concept of "no fault" divorce does not exist in Sri Lankan law, those seeking divorce have to prove malicious desertion, which has been interpreted to include cruelty, adultery or incurable impotence.

As the definition of constructive malicious desertion has been held also to include spousal abuse, it is possible to use this ground to apply for divorce, but once again the woman carries a heavy burden of proof as she will have to prove she was forced to leave the matrimonial home due to fear of harm to life and limb.

These aspects should really change, since these are some places where women do get a chance to voice against men.Rapes are another fragment of violence against women, of which many Sri Lankan girls under goes and their voices are subdued against the rapist for the fear and the thought that voicing against these issues may lead towards social infamy.

are another fragment of violence against women, of which many Sri Lankan girls under goes and their voices are subdued against the rapist for the fear and the thought that voicing against these issues may lead towards social infamy.

Here is the legal definition as in Section 363 of the Penal Code; as "sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent; or where her consent has been obtained by use of force, threats or intimidation; where she is judicially separated from the man; with her consent when her consent was obtained when she was of unsound mind, in a state of intoxication induced by drugs or alcohol; with her consent when the man knows he is not her husband and she is under the belief that she is married to him; with or without her consent when she is under 16 years except when she is his wife who is over 12 years and not judicially separated from him. There is no need to show evidence of resistance by the victim, penetration is sufficient to establish sexual intercourse."

Yet, there are many instances where the women’s mind is wounded in a way which could never be repaired. Some starts to hate the entire male population, some becomes mentally handicapped and very many drops in to prostitution hence at the aftermath of a rape; the society tends to look down upon the victims.

Many girls suffer from these kinds of mal beliefs of the society over them, mostly at the end people start to look at the victim as if she had done the crime to attract the rapist towards them and these negative egos are highly brought up in the case of entering matrimony.

The girls who were raped are looked down as non virgins and the marriage is always a hard topic for these girls. I have come across many marriage proposal columns in news papers, where to-be- brides seek for ‘waradata samawadena- excusing for past mis-conduct’ grooms.

This situation is pathetic, have we got to condemn ourselves this much for a crime that was not committed by our consent. Ironically, in the modern society, many men do have sexual relationships before they enter marriages, sometimes they may not end up with the girl they had courted, in that means the question is why don’t they ever crave for a bride who will be excusing for past mis-conducts which were done knowingly.

Sometimes, these things are not done by men with the mean of doing so, but they are also going by the trend, that is why programmes should be introduced to educate them on these kinds of social dilemmas. I assume, with the context society, young men do not rely so much on these facts, in that case with board knowledge on these issues, majority of men do have the possibility of changing their overview.

It is highly essential to take steps against this kind of negative beliefs and ban them from our society. On the other hand positive methods should be used to cure the wounds of the terrible experience and introduce the rape victims to a world where they will be able to breath freely, forgetting that once in their lives they were the lure of hungry wolves.

Most rapes are the precedent incidents of sexual harassment. Something which can frequently occur on the street, in the workplace, in educational institutions and on public transportation. At many occasions these kind of sexual harassment ends up with the objected women being forced out of the workplace or school, striking at the heart of women's economic self-sufficiency and disrupting women's earning capacity.

Sexual harassment is a personal attack on women's minds and bodies instilling fear and violating a woman's right to bodily integrity, education and freedom of movement. This is a situation which is commonly practiced by many men in our island nation.

According to the Section 345 of the Penal Code, A person who, by assault or use of criminal force sexually harasses another person or; by the use of words or actions causes sexual annoyance or harassment to another person commits the offence of sexual harassment. The explanation to the section states that unwelcome advances by words or actions used by a person in authority, in a workplace or any other place shall constitute sexual harassment

But the question is, are we allowed to voice ourselves against these? If we do, what would be the out come? Even the definition itself is unclear. It is without guidelines as to what constitutes sexual harassment difficulties might be encountered in determining whether sexual harassment has taken place. It has to be pointed out that the explanation by highlighting actions by a "person in authority" precludes sexual harassment by colleagues and subordinates.

The Constitution provides for equal employment opportunities in the public sector. Yet, we have no legal protection against discrimination in the private sector, where they sometimes are paid less than men for equal work, often experience difficulty in rising to supervisory positions, and face sexual harassment.

This is the time all of us as Sri Lankans should grow up on this issue. We are a country which had the honour of electing the first woman prime minister and the first women president in the world. Still, the plight of the women who were exposed towards the violence against them is still the same as it was in the beginning of the twentieth centaury. We, as women of Sri Lanka who represent a 35.7% of the Sri Lanka labour Force (2006). Do have the right to be treated as our male companions.

Another facture is that, 50.8 % of the Sri Lanka’s population of 19 million populations (2001) is women, excluding North and East. Hence, it is important to introduce better living standards for them.

For their contribution to this world and to you my dear men folk, at the beginning as a mother, then as a sister, a friend, a fiancée, a wife and a daughter, they are the thread of your lives since your birth to death. There is a huge debt to be paid off.

Let us move forward and put a full stop to the long chain of violence against women, let us (the women) get a chance against what happens against us and give one second to consider whether your overview on women is the correct version. It is never too late.

Yours truly,

A woman.

Sacred Tooth Relic; a journey from Kalinga in India to Senkadagalapura Temple of Tooth.

Without any doubt, the Sacred Tooth Relic (Dâlada) of the Buddha is the most venerated object of worship for Buddhists.

Its present house, the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Dâlada Mâligâwa) in Kandy, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) is considered the foremost sacred place of worship in the Buddhist world.
It has come through a long and hard journey through all these years to rest in safety inside a sanctuary inlaid with silver and ivory, where the bell-shaped shrine that protects the Tooth is placed.

This sanctuary also adds in to the significance of the Tooth Relic with its two pairs of elephant tusks on either side and the six inner shrines inside it which are ornamented with precious stones of rare value.

Sri Lanka’s Sacred Tooth Relic is the left canine of Lord Buddha’s bodily remains. This worship of corporeal remains of the Buddha, as recorded in the Mahaparinibbana-sutta (the Record of the Demise of the Buddha), was sanctioned by the Buddha himself on the verge of his passing away.

The Buddha declared that four noble persons are worthy of their bodily remains being enshrined and honoured, the Buddha, the Personal Buddhas (Pacceka Buddhas,) the Arahanths (Buddha's disciples) and the Emperors ( Cakkavatti kings). The bodily remains of the Buddha, after their distribution among various states that claimed for the relics, were enshrined in the funerary mounds known as stupa.

However, the four canine Teeth were said to have been separately enshrined and worshipped. The right canine was worshipped in the heavenly domain of the king of gods, Sakra, while another was worshipped by the king of Gandhara in modern Pakistan. The third was taken away by the Nagas and worshipped placing it in a golden shrine room. The fourth, the left canine was removed from the funerary ashes by a monk and was handed over to the king of Kalinga in Eastern India, as recorded in the Digha Nikaya. It is this left canine which is now resting inside the Temple of tooth in Kandy.

Thenceforth, the Tooth relic of the Kalinga became an object of great veneration by generations of Kalinga kings until it earned the wrath of brahmanical followers. Other states attempted to possess the Tooth relic for personal veneration. Thus, from the beginning itself, the Tooth relic came to be considered as an important symbol of veneration. The last Indian ruler to possess the Tooth relic was Guhasiva of Kalinga (c.4th century AD).

However, at the region of Guhansiva in which the neighboring states reinitiated a war for the possession of the Tooth relic caused it to leave the Indian shores. By this time, Buddhism was well rooted in Sri Lanka, and the island rulers maintained close relations with the Indian states. After about eight centuries of its Existence in India, the Tooth relic was secretly taken away by Prince Danta and Princess Hemamala, said to be the son-in-law and daughter of Guhasiva. It is recorded that the prince and the princess donned the garb of ascetics and carried the Relic hidden within the coiffure of Hemamala not to be noticed by passersby. A twentieth century wall painting of the well known monastery of Kelaniya (about 5 miles east of Colombo), depicts this episode in a classic style executed by a local artist (Solius Mendis).

The Relic was reported to have performed several miracles en route on the ship itself, thus being venerated by human and superhuman beings. The Tooth Relic finally reached the Sri Lankan capital, Anuradhapura, and according to the Sinhala text, Dalada Sirita, the Relic was kept at the Megagiri vihara in the park Mahameghavana.

At the time of its arrival, the Indian ruler Guhasiva's friend, king Mahasena had passed away and his son, king Kirti Sri Meghavanna (4th century AC), who himself was a pious Buddhist, had succeeded him. The Tooth Relic was well received by the king and placed on the throne itself with much veneration. The king built a special shrine and enshrined the Tooth Relic therein. This shrine has now been identified as the ruined edifice lying almost next to the great refectory known as Mahapali.

The next great ruler to build a formidable Relic shrine for the accommodation of the sacred Tooth and Bowl Relics was Nissankamalla (1187-1196). As recorded in his inscriptions, he had the Relic Shrine Hatadage built and this edifice lying almost adjoining the Atadage, represents a larger version of the Atadage.

At the end of the Polonnaruwa region of which’s glory was waned with the invasion of Kalinga Magha, the Tooth Relic and the Bowl Relic had again been taken away by the monks to a safer location in Kotmale in the central hills. Later, King Vijayabahu III, in the Dabadeniya period, is reported to have brought down the two Relics and enshrined them in a beautiful edifice built for the purpose on the hill top of Beligala.

After him the guardianship of the Relics was handed over to his elder son, who succeeded to the throne under the name Parakramabahu II (1236-1270), who was well known for the compilation of classical literary texts, including the Kavusilumina.

Parakramabahu II brought down the Relics from Beligala in a procession with great veneration and placed them in a shrine built near the palace at the Damabadeniya rock According to the text Dalada Pujavaliya, Parakramabahu conducted the Relics to Srivardhanapura, the city of his birth, and held a great ritual worship. He was responsible for the building of the Tooth Relic shrine at the Vijayasundararama at Dambadeniya, where the Relic was deposited and festive rituals were conducted by the king.

sacred Tooth Relic also had to under go more discomfort because of the invasion of Chandrabhanu of Java. However, the king was able to expel the enemy and bring back the country to a stable status again. It is recorded that during a severe drought, the sacred Tooth Relic was taken out of the shrine and a great procession held. He placed the Relic on the throne and having worshipped the Relic for seven days, offered the kingdom to the sacred Tooth Relic, which resulted in the termination of the drought. This incident indicates the esteem that the sacred Tooth Relic enjoyed as a symbol of kingship.

Yapahuva (ancient Subha-pabbata) comes into prominence around this time with the appointment of his brother Bhuvanekabahu as the sub-ruler of this province. This location, simulating the well known Sigiriya rock fortress, found itself to be a very secure place for the Relics. However, Chadrabhanu of Java invaded the country for the second time and after defeating the local sub-ruler at Yapahuva, demanded the Tooth Relic from Vijayabahu of Dambadeniya. Yet, the Sri Lankan ruler was able to defeat him and bring peace to the island again.

After Vijayabahu, Bhuvanekabahu built a shrine for the sacred Tooth Relic at Yapahuva with a grandeur stairway the ruins of which still portray the aesthetic achievement of the 14th century. As the chronicle records, he continued the tradition of paying homage to the sacred Tooth Relic daily.

With the end of his region there was again a devastation caused by an invasion from the Pandyan country in South India, under the great warrior Arya Cakravarti. He devastated the country and plundered much wealth and treasure, including the Tooth and Bowl Relics, which he handed over to the Pandyan king Kulasekera.

However, the next king, Parakramabahu III visited the Pandyan capital and after friendly discussions, brought back the Relics and initiated the traditional rituals.
According to Marco Polo, the well known traveller, the Chinese Emperor, Kublai Khan, sent a messenger to obtain the Tooth, Hair and Bowl Relics from the king. However, the king was able to please the Chinese Emperor by dispatching two fake teeth, which were graciously received by the Emperor who established ritual worship for the objects.

The next important scenario in this spectacular history of the Tooth relic is in Parakramabahu IV’s region in which there was a religious revival. He reorganized the rituals connected with the sacred Tooth Relic in a systematic manner as recorded in the text Dalada Sirita. Thereafter, Bhuvanekabahu V (1372-1408) shifted the capital to Jayavardanapura Kotte closer to Colombo. Although he did not bring the Tooth Relic to the capital, he is reported to have conducted many ritual performances for the Relic. It was his successor, Virabahu, who brought down the Tooth Relic to Jayavardanapura Kotte from Gampola.

The subsequent period, which saw the arrival of the first colonial power, the Portuguese, in 1505, brought about the deterioration of Buddhist activities. The calamitous situations resulted by their invention leaded to the Tooth Relic to be secretly carried away by the faithful monks to safer locations.

Thus, the Relic was shifted to the next kingdom, Sitawaka ruled by Mayadunne. According to Dathadhatuvamsa, prior to the bringing of the Tooth Relic to Ratnapura, it was taken as far south as the Mulgirigala Vihara and then to the Ridivihara in the Kurunegala District. The Tooth Relic was finally hidden in a coirn located in the Delgamuva Vihara in Ratnapura, and it was from this temple that the Tooth Relic was brought to its final and present resting place in Kandy by Vimaladharmasuriya I (1592-1603).

Still the Sacred Tooth relic has been resting in Senkadagala Pura for more than four centuries. It is considered as the palladium of kingship. No one can attain the power of Sri Lanka without owning a direct link to it. Presently, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the guardian of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The Diyavadana Nilame Hon. Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara (2005- to date) is the present representing warden for it.

Through out the years it has been regarded as a symbolic representation of the living Buddha and will be remaining in the same position until the time in which the Buddhist faith in Sri Lanka will reach its termination. Until that time it is our duty to safeguard it as our forefathers did.
sources- www.sridaladamaligawa.lk
www.fromoldbooks.org
www.wikipedia.org

Sri Lanka to totally eliminate drug abuse by 2010.

Government determined to effectively deal with the problem of drug abuse and, in the light of current development will be working towards the total elimination of the drug abuse from the Sri Lankan society by 2010. This goal will be pursued relentlessly by all drug law enforcement agencies; the government agencies directly involved in drug demand reduction including provincial and local administrations; other agencies which have a potential for contributing to the end objective and NGOs and private sector agencies Under the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s concept of ‘Mathata Thitha’, Government is conscious of the illicit production, trafficking and abuse of drugs in the country; adverse effects of drug use on health of drug dependents; the upsurge in drug related crime; the draining of human, natural and financial resources and the destruction of individuals, families and communities due to drug abuse. If we take a brief summery of the drug related statistics of Sri Lanka for the year 2006, the total number of cases of drug related arrests was 47, 298 in 2006. More than half of them were aged 30 years or more and a third of them were in their twenties. The man to woman ratio of drug arrests was 28:1. Of the drug related arrests, 12,551 were for heroin, 34,728 for cannabis. Most of the drug related arrests, (72%) was reported from the Western Province followed by the Southern province (8%) and the Central province (6%). The Colombo district reported (60%) of the drug related arrests followed by the Gampaha district (6%) and the Kalutara district (6%). The mostly consummated drugs in Sri Lanka are Cannabis, Heroin and Opium. When considering Cannabi, it is the only drug that grows in Sri Lanka. It is mostly grown in the dry zones of the country in the Eastern and Southern provinces. The estimated land area under cannabis cultivation is 500 hectares. Though Cannabis is the most consummated drug in Sri Lanka, the majority of cases of drug related arrests were for heroin. Before 1980s, heroin use was restricted to few locals who had traveled abroad and to some foreign tourists. Heroin use became more common among other social strata from early 80s. Thereafter the number of users had increased. Even though, its use was initially confined to Colombo city and few provincial towns, now it had spread to remote towns and rural areas as well. Also, it has become a major health and social problem in the country, cutting ethic, religious and geographical lines. With the return of normalcy, heroin use had reached the Northern and Eastern provinces as well. The other popular brand, Opium is used in the Ayurveda (indigenous) medical pharmacopoeia and the Government makes it available to Ayurveda Medical Practitioners through Government Hospitals. However, taking a much larger portion than the prescribed medical measures of this brand is also considered to have adverse impacts on one’s health. The average street price per kilogram of heroin in 2006 was 2.8 million Sri Lanka Rupees. For locals and it was rupees 4.0 million for foreigners. The street level price per kilogram of cannabis was between 6000-7700 Sri Lankan rupees for locals and 8500-11,000 rupees for foreigners. The average street level price of cannabis is 6816.67 Sri Lanka rupees for locals and 8208.33 for foreigners. The average street level price per kilogram of opium was 0.5 million of Sri Lanka rupees for locals and 0.8 million for foreigners. The average street level price per kilogram of hashish was about 12,000 Sri Lanka rupees for locals and it was about 19,000 rupees for foreigners. Considering this situation the Government has extended its concern to the illicit production, trafficking in and abuse of drugs in the country, and the adverse effects of drugs on the health of those addicted to them. In addition, drug abuse has led to the upsurge in drug related crime; the draining of human, natural and financial resources; the destruction of individuals, families and communities, and our cultural norms, all of which need urgent attention. Further, the Government has become fully aware of its international obligations, particularly those stemming from the Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs 1961, Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971, and United Nations Convention Against Illicit Trafficking Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988 ratified by the government. Thus, the Government has reaffirm its political will and determination to tackle the drug problem locally and internationally by reviewing the existing national policy, which was formulated more than a decade ago, That is the key facture which lead to the insistence that, all the institutions that come under Government purview should adhere to this national drug policy. The concerned non-government agencies are expected to be active partners in the implementation of the government policy. Fulfillment of the social responsibilities of private sector institutions within the framework of this policy is also critical in drug prevention and control. The revised national policy which was approved by the Cabinet of Sri Lanka on 23rd June 2005 consists of the following strategies. a. Effective monitoring of imports, exports, distribution of drugs and precursor chemicals under control. b. Effective enforcement of law against production, smuggling, trafficking, sale, and use of illicit drugs. c. Preventing the use of drugs and reducing the adverse consequences of drug abuse. d. Supporting regional and international initiatives. According to this policy, the Government will adopt a broader approach to drug abuse control within the context of human development, focusing particularly on the links between drug abuse and poverty reduction, crime prevention, and improving health. The Government believes that the most effective approach to the drug problem would comprise of a comprehensive, balanced and coordinated strategy. In such a strategy supply control and demand reduction will reinforce each other. A high sense of shared responsibility will be the norm. Also the new National Policy for the Prevention and Control of Drug Abuse does provide an immense scope in regional and international initiatives It is accepted that no country can tackle its drug problem in isolation. The Government will encourage the relevant agencies to actively engage in formal international cooperation through bilateral, regional and international collaboration. Accordingly, all institutions concerned will support, assist, and participate adequately in regional and international initiatives recognized by the Government. Regional and International co-operation will also be encouraged through NGOs which have regional/international collaborative mechanisms. Apart form the involvement of the National Policy, in the process of eliminating drug use in Sri Lanka, another key role is played by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB). As per mandate given by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board Act No.11 of 1984, the Board will monitor and review the Sri Lanka National Policy for the Prevention and Control of Drug Abuse. The Board will function as the national focal point and coordinate the drug control activities of all relevant organizations. To uphold the role to be played by the Board, it will be emphasized by articulating and advocating evidence-based policies and strategies, catalyzing change and enhancing partnerships, managing information, conducting research, setting and validating norms and standards, and developing and testing new technologies, tools and guidelines. To make the widening role viable, the Board will secure necessary funds from the government and other sources, and encourage partnerships of government, private and NGO sectors. To combat the growing problem of drug abuse effectively, it is vital that all agencies of the government, provincial councils and non-governmental organizations join in a cooperative endeavour. The Board will co-ordinate the implementation action based on the policies and guidelines approved by government. To this end the NDDCB Secretariat will be expanded and will consist of the following substantive divisions. (1) Enforcement (2) Preventive Education and Public Awareness. (3) Treatment, Rehabilitation and after - care The Board will, in addition also have the following divisions (4) Research and Training, (5) Drug Analytical (to facilitate law enforcement, treatment, and research) Accepting that prevention is more efficient and cost-effective than either enforcement and/or treatment, the Government will facilitate better use of all preventive educational opportunities. Focus will be on formed curricula, informal and non-formal education activities and the use of mass media. Awareness and educational programmes will utilize all mass media. Measures will also be taken to impart relevant, facets of knowledge, positive attitudes coping skills, particularly to young people. The preventive measures are based through the Mass Media, Education institutes and workplace holds a highly important façade in the elimination of the drug use in our country. Through mass media, guidelines and ethical codes will be evolved with regard to the portrayal of drug abuse related incidents. In considering the education field, access will where necessary be made available for the testing for the presence of drugs in the body and for treatment and rehabilitation. Also in the work place, employers will publicize among the work-force the information regarding consequences of peddling or use of drugs. Employers "and workers' organizations will develop joint action programmes for this purpose. However, whatever the action taken to eliminate the drug use in Sri Lanka, would not be successful if the social reaction towards the former drug addicts are not changed positively. In other words if the after-care is not positive and supportive towards a new chapter in their lives, the rehabilitation process would turn out bogus. This means that in order that the process of treatment to be completed, the phase of treatment and detoxification must be integrated with the phases of rehabilitation and after-care. In achieving that target, the active co-operation and collaboration of the non-governmental sector is encouraged. Treatment / detoxification will be supported with counseling, educational and other social measures. Also the Legislation will be enacted and facilities will be provided for compulsory treatment where appropriate. Hopefully, let us hope that these joined ands of the Government and us as the civilians of Sri Lanka will concrete the aim of totally eliminating the distasteful and unorthodox use of drug abuse from our country forever.

“Recent COPE report was only a sub- report,”- Member of UNP dissident group; Gamini Lokuge.

“Recent COPE report was only a sub- report,” stated the Minister of Sports, Gamini Lokuge today, briefing the media over the allegations on the United National Party (UNP) dissident group that they joined the Government to dissolve the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

Minister Lokuge stated that their joining with the Government was based on lively contributing towards bringing in peace to this country in accordance to the Government’s negotiating path.

Further he rejected the recent media reports that said Minister Karu Jayasooriya and Minister Milinda Moragoda are responsible for the privatisation deals and misappropriation carried out during the 2001 UNP regime, saying that the ministers were compelled to taken up those actions due to the ‘Economic Affaire Committee’ which was assigned by then Government under their ‘Yali Pubudamu Sri Lanka’ programme.

He stated that none of the members from their UNP dissident group did malpractice or misuse of public property during the UNP tenure from 2001 to 2004 and however if there are any allegations made through the COPE on them, their group have informed the Government to conduct the appropriate investigations.

Minister Lokuge assured the media that they would not interfere with the process.

The COPE Chairman Wijedasa Rajapaksa recently presented a damning report in parliament, giving details into corrupt practices in several privatisation deals and other malpractices in government enterprises during the 2001- 2004 UNP Government.

Minister Lokuge also stated that the certain reports which alleged that some of the 19 members of the UNP dissident group are re-joining with their party as bogus, saying that they joined the Government with the mission of establishing long lasting peace and the actions of the present Government headed by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa has proven to be significant in implementing peace through negotiation scheme in Sri Lanka. Hence forth non- of the UNP dissident members will leave it now.

Meanwhile he added that they are now carrying forward another project along with Government which pays compensation to those UNP followers who became disparate during 2004 to today. Under this scheme people from Health sector, Education sector, Ceylon Transport Board, Lake House will be compensated.

China and Lanka enters in to 8 MoUs.

Sri Lanka and China yesterday entered in entered in to eight key Memorandums of Understanding which concerned on areas which are important to both nations.

Subsequent to the bilateral discussions between the two countries, ministers and representatives of the Sino-Lanka delegations signed the agreements in front of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chinese President Hu Jinthao.

China and Sri Lanka entered in to their first bilateral agreement, the Sino- Lanka Agreement on Rubber-Rice exports in 17^th December in the year 1952 which was even before the two countries entered in to diplomatic relationship.

The centuries long Sino-Lanka inter relationships turned in to diplomatic relations in 07^th February 1957 under the Government of late S.W.R.D. Bandaranayaike in which he initiated ambassador relationship with the Republic of China.

In the past half a century, China and Sri Lanka entered in to many trade agreements and Memorandums of Understanding. In this recent past China has become one of the major investment promotion partner of Sri Lanka by providing financial aids in some of Sri Lanka’s major development projects.

Having been able to enter in to eight key Memorandums of Understanding during the President’s current eight day visit can be named as a vital point in the years long diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka.

Yesterday the two countries entered in to the following Memorandums of Understanding,

01. Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation Grant Aid from China between Sri Lanka Foreign Affaire Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Chinese Foreign Minister.

02.MoU on Urban development between Chinese Minister of Construction Vang Tao and Sri Lankan Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardana.

03. MoU n Friendship between Hambanthota District and Guaugzhou Cit between Chinese Assistant Minister on Foreign Affaires Tian Kai and Sri Lankan Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Palitha Kohona.

04. MoU on Two-way investment Promotion between Chinese Director of Investment Agency Liu Ja Jun and the Secretary of the Treasuary Mr. P.B. Jayasundara.

05. Agreement on Cooperation between Film Industries Chinese Bureau Director Tong Gang and the Sri Lankan Ambassador in China Nihal Rodrigo.

06. MoU for Donation of Eye Corneas between DCE China Red Cross Society Jiang Yiman and President of Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society Hudson Silva.

07.MoU on Agriculture and Agriculture Mechanization between Chairman of the Chinese CAAMS Chen Zhi and Sri Lanka Secretary of Foreign Affaires Dr. Palitha Kohona.

08.MoU for Student Exchange between Kelaniya University and Beijing Foreign Studies University between the Chairman of the Beijing Foreign Studies University Hang Ping and the Sri Lankan Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo.

SL army guides displaced students back to school.

More than 4000 students in Vakarai, who were displaced due to the brutal war created by LTTE in Sri Lanka, went back to school with the aid of Sri Lanka Army.

These students have been enrolled in to schools which have been specially opened for them under the security of Army. They are also providing transport for these students to and from Mankerni.

Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) reports that around 4206 students have been displaced due to confrontations between the LTTE and the Security Force in Vakarai. Out of this number, around 2228 students from Vakarai have been assigned to these special schools.

These students have been provided facilities to attend classes from 1.30 p.m. onwards. Special classes have been organized for Senior Grade students. Teachers from Vakarai and 17 other teachers displaced from Muttur are now attached to these special schools to coach displaced students.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has made arrangements to provide all the displaced students of Vakarai with uniforms and school equipment. According to the Director of Education in Vakarai, there is no shortage of text books in the area.

Meanwhile, students from un-cleared areas in Thoppigala who have also crossed over to Vakarai seeking security from the Security Forces have also been provided with temporary classroom facilities.

Though it is through them that the rights of the innocent Tamil children have been violated, LTTE is now ironically charging the Security Forces of disrupting the education of Tamil children in the North and East.

Today, out of the 80 schools in the Trincomalee division, 68 are functioning. 11 schools had remained closed since 1990. Students of these schools had been given alternative schools. Only St. Anthony's College at Kuchchaveli remained closed since 2006 for security reasons.

In the Kanthalai Education division, out of the 63 schools only 01 remains closed.

Contrary to widely held misconceptions, 102 out of the 114 schools in the Jaffna Education Zone continue to function. Only 12 schools remained closed temporarily. However the education authorities have allocated other schools for those children. The Union College despite being situated within the High Security Zone is open to students. It has become one of the most secure areas for school children to pursue their education without any hindrance.

It is also reported that around 70% of the students in LTTE active Kilinochchi had received government supplied free text books. However, the distribution of uniforms has been hampered due to obstacles placed by the LTTE.

Although the Government and the Security Forces have taken steps to restore normalcy and create a favourable environment for education in the North and East, the LTTE has not stopped its atrocities against children. They continue to abduct and forcibly conscript children to wage a war against Government Forces for the sake of Prabakaran's glory.

Thus, it is the LTTE who ruined the future of the innocent Tamil children in the north and east. They have simply robbed the innocence off these children and turned them into terrorists. Velupillai Prabakaran has to be held accountable for the atrocities against these children. The LTTE and those who support them have so far failed to realize that they are annihilating their own race in the process of this so called 'liberation struggle'.

President arrives in Beijing

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan delegates, who left to China, arrived in Beijing at 6.30 a.m in local time, the special news reporter of the President Media unit report from Beijing.

The President and the delegates were cordially welcomed by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Shuwei Tian Khai.

The team of Lanka envoys includes representatives from tri-secretion sects, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Petroleum A.H.M. Fawzie, Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardana, Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Cultural Affaires Mahinda Yapa Abewardana, Minister of Transport Dullas Alahaperuma, several other Ministers accompanied by Officials from Board of Investment (BOI) and Government Officials.

President and the delegates were marched off in a motor rally to the Diyotha Palace where the state heads are honoured.

It is reported that the President will donate the baby elephant ‘Migara’ born in Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka, to the zoo in Beijing.