27 January 2023

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

 

INDO CHINA WAR IN SRI LANKA

• While the envoy of the atheist Chinese government has gone bare-chested to worship at a Hindu temple in Jaffna, the envoy of Narendra Modi’s anti-Muslim government in India has visited a mosque in Kattankudy, near Batticaloa. Politics doth make strange bedfellows and stranger practices. – ‘China courts influence in Sri Lanka via the Buddhist clergy’ by Tisaranee    Gunesekera

Chinese government’s move to tempt Northern Sri Lankans would have been registered at different levels by Sri Lankans. Some would have recorded the knowledge at emotional level; some others at intellectual level; A few at the root level through  their own truth. I am a believer in Nallur Murugan – the form of philosophy enshrined at the temple visited by the Chinese officials. My reception was as per my own belief. To that extent, I will use the current information for my own strength of mind. Likewise, Muslims in Kattankudy, in relation to Modi government’s visit.

 

Both groups have confirmed the global power of ethnic minorities in Sri Lanka. Tisranee highlights the past as follows:

‘Belt, Road – and Temple

China’s economic and political footprint in Sri Lanka grew dramatically from 2006, when Beijing offered to fund Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dream of turning the little harbour in his hometown of Hambantota into an international port (and name it after himself). Soon after winning the presidency in November 2005, Mahinda tried his luck with multiple potential funders, including India, and failed. China’s offer of bearing 85 percent of the cost, through a 15-year commercial loan for more than USD 300 million from Exim Bank, was eagerly accepted. So the port was built and hurriedly opened in November 2010 to mark Mahinda’s second presidential investiture and 65th birthday.

Though the project was a commercial failure, China’s loan spree continued. When the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, launched the Belt and Road’

 

The above identity lacks depth. through my book Different Beliefs, I share  my analysis of  how Buddhism upheld justice:

 

 

·       Buddhist remains at Kushinagar - Uttar Pradesh

·       1. The remains at Kushinagar are distributed in three sites the main site, Matha-Kuar shine, and the cremation stupa. The main site consists of the main stupa and Nirvana temple with the surrounding monuments.

·       2. On 20 October 2021, PM Modi officially inaugurated the airport during Abhidhamma Day celebrations at Kushinagar, stating that it would boost the aviation sector and help increase international tourism from Buddhist pilgrims around the world. On that day, Sri Lanka's Minister for Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa and more than a hundred members of the Buddhist clergy landed at the inauguration of the airport as the first international flight landing.

·       3. According to Bhikkhu Bodhi born Jeffrey Block, an American Theravada Buddhist monk ordained in Sri Lanka and currently teaching in the New York and New Jersey area,  ‘Abhidharma’ is an abstract and highly technical systemization of the [Buddhist] doctrine," which is "simultaneously a philosophy, a psychology and an ethics, all integrated into the framework of a program for liberation’

 

In March 2022, the Sri Lankan Sinhalese – largely Buddhists, became the medium  through whom the Buddhist heritage ‘Abhidharma’ manifested its Opposition to the Economic motive of Tourism. The protests began on the Ides of March . Wikipedia presents the following timeline of the Political collapse:

4. On 15 March, tens of thousands of supporters of the largest opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa, carried out protests in front of the President's office, demanding that the President resign

5.On 30 March, Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Namal Rajapaksa arrived for the opening ceremony of a sports ground in Bandarawela. During the opening, locals blocked the road and demanded fuel. This resulted in Rajapaksa avoiding the area and the mayor opening the grounds instead

6. On 1 April, Shashseendra Rajapaksa, nephew of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was forced to avoid a ceremony in Wallawaya due to protesters waving black flags

7. On 3 April, several Rajapaksa cabinet ministers submitted their resignations. Those who resigned included Namal Rajapaksa, who had criticized the social media blackout. Two ministers from the Rajapaksa family, Chamal Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa, also resigned.

8. On 9 May 2022, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa tendered his resignation to the President.

9.By 10 July the Presidential Residence had become a tourist attraction with large numbers of Sri Lankans visiting the building to observe the luxuries enjoyed by the president despite the economic crisis.

10.On the morning of 13 July, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives with his wife and two bodyguards

When we Sri Lankans seek through our respective religions, we would become global enough to discipline our respective governments. The question that needs to be asked is ‘why did the Indian government, not protest strongly against ‘Buddhism Foremost’ article in the Sri Lankan constitution?

Tamil politicians who are pushing for the implementation of the 13^th amendment are continuing to miss the global boat!

 

 

 

 

24 January 2023

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

 

SUBCONTINENT TO GLOBAL

True value in writing is realised when the reader completes the other half. One of my readers, was Dr. S. Chandrasekharan  of India’s RAW (Research & Analysis wing). I honoured Dr. Chandrasekharan, as follows in my book ‘Different Logics’:

[Highly respected Journalist of Indian origin - Dr. S. Chandrasekharan wrote in his article headed

Coronavirus and the Chinese Hypocrisy dated -September 27, 2020:

 

[I recall another saying by Gajalakshmi Paramasivam who said – I quote “Once we are true to ourselves – Truth does the rest”.]

 

 I feel that Dr Chandrasekharan believed in me and hence had shared ownership in my work. ]

 

Today I read with interest another Indian Mr P K Balachandran’s article ‘SL concerns over proposed Sethusamudram ship canal project’ in which the Indian highlights as follows:

‘On January 12, the Tamil Nadu State Assembly unanimously adopted a government resolution urging New Delhi to immediately implement the long-pending “Sethusamudram project” which envisages a canal cut through the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait to facilitate ship movement between the East and West coasts of India by the shortest route. 

The proposal to cut a canal in the shallow sea dividing India and Sri Lanka to save on coast-to-coast journey time and promote the development of South Tamil Nadu, has been objected to in India on navigational, environmental and economic grounds. Since the project will have an impact on Sri Lanka too, objections have been raised in the island also.’

 

Since last year’s economic collapse in Sri Lanka, the awareness of Indian Tamil power has strengthened. In one way, it could be taken as Natural Justice delivering its own closure to the ethnic conflict between Tamils and Sinhalese of Sri Lanka. But the more Tamils act to take advantage of the collapse, the higher the risk of mutation of the problem, which would involve global players such as Canada taking advantage as quid pro quo for accommodating Tamil refugees. Likewise, Tamil Nadu. If this were to happen – it would be another pandemic that Sri Lankans would be facing.

Mr Balachandran indicates redemption through UNCLOS UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

[Article 235 (1) of UNCLOS says that: “States are responsible for the fulfillment of their international obligations concerning the protection and preservation of the marine environment.” Art. 194(2) recognizes that: “States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that activities under their jurisdiction or control are so conducted as not to cause damage by pollution to other States and their environment and that pollution arising from incidents or activities under their jurisdiction or control does not spread beyond the areas where they exercise sovereign rights in accordance with this Convention.” ]

To the extent Sri Lanka respects global ethics, its own sovereign powers would be protected by global players. If we continue to play the game of local politics, Sri Lanka risks demoting its status to such a low level, that it would become the playground of immature global players such as Canada.

As appreciated by Dr Chandrasekharan, I have discovered that Once we are true to ourselves – Truth does the rest’. When Sri Lankan government is true to itself, Truth will guide it.

The Economic collapse is like the poison that came out when the gods and asuras churned the ocean of milk. Shiva, the power that transcended body consciousness swallowed the poison. Then came the nectar. If the poison (Economic collapse) is absorbed by ethical Sri Lankans and global leaders, the nectar of sovereignty at global level will follow. India’s Tamil Nadu needs to respect this, to preserve its own sovereign powers.