Hundred or more Buddhist monks sat serenely on the front benches of the courtroom and the Chief Justice with two other Supreme Court Judges walked into take their seats on the bench. Tradition has it that all, including those defending and prosecuting lawyers stand up to respect the judges taking seat. The Buddhist monks sat through, most serenely and in silence. Yet it was a protest that all in the courtroom felt with a big bang. The CJ, most politely had advised the Defending lawyer to request the Buddhist monks to walk out of the court room and then come back to take their seats, as they should not break tradition in a court room. A compromise offered and not taken, the bench proceeded to deliver its ruling. A Buddhist monk, Ven. Pannala Pannaloka Theroaccused for violating the Supreme Court order on sound pollution, who did not present himself in court at the previous call and was thus arrested and remanded, was refused bail once again. A lesson learnt. Breaking tradition in defiance, serves no purpose in law.
The JHU thus made a statement at a press briefing held on Friday to say, there is no sound controlling law passed in parliament to break or violate. Their accusation is that a NGO, the Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL) has used the Supreme Court order to suppress Buddhist monks. No talk though of all those who were denied permission to use loud speakers after ten in the night. May be, they were not all Buddhist monks.
Buddhist monks were short of temper most of the week. Another Buddhist monk went to remand prison with no signs of guilt in the face, accused of vandalizing a Hindu kovil in Grandpass area. The monk, along with two other pious civilians was remanded till 09th September, on charges of vandalizing the Sri Muttuman kovil in Grandpass on Thursday night, last week. No NGO suppressing Buddhist monks this time.
Not to be outdone, soldiers who saw it right to leave the army on their own free will, were also in the media. The defense sources were quoted as court-martialing over 2,500 “deserters” as they are called. “What’s better?” asked Azadek. “Going to war, or, going to prison?” None asked them that question for sure. So they would all go to prison and some have, already.
Meanwhile there was one who would or should be in prison, but is unable to be located for now by the police to be produced in front of a Magistrate. That is Dr. Mervyn’s personal security guy who went on live TV the day Dr. Mervyn stormed the SL Rupavahini Corporation and was then admitted to the Merchant’s Ward of the Colombo General Hospital. This guy with that Lasith Malinga type tint in his hair is now accused of raping a poor female employee of a nightclub, but is not available for the police to even record a statement. Hope he would also appear in Court most voluntarily like his boss did, after his mess up with the Sirasa TV crew.
Prisons, arrests, remands and bailing out are not the only things happening in this “Dharma Rajya” as the JHU call this island nation. There is better and quality life growing amidst us outside all those chaos, notes Azadek with glee. The Health and Nutritional Affairs Ministry quoting a survey carried out by a project under its purview, ‘Knowledge and Behavioural Study Programme’ reported last Thursday that compared to year 2006, the year 2007 shows very good progress in curbing HIV/Aids and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) in Sri Lanka, thanks to a growth in numbers, using condoms. According to the report, “60.9% of Sri Lankans have used condoms in 2007”. Consumption does not necessarily depend on prices or increases in prices, for that matter.
Yet they matter when they come in tenders and quotations. So the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), or its CEO, has gone for hotel accommodation for their foreign coaches and the team, without calling for tenders or quotations, says the media. Prices should have nevertheless been attractive, is any one’s guess.
But media reports does not always give the exact truth say the big boss at Lankadeepa in a statement issued. He is sure; some media has definitely distorted facts about the attack on Lankadeepa and Sirasa journalists who were on assignment and was beaten by some rowdy medical students, near the Carey College, Colombo. That’s a lot about the sanctity of our media and the week that closed up while Azadek sat all alone, thumbing pages and reading at leisure. None around, but hope of a better week to come.
Kusal Perera