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Primacy to religion

The move by the Government to ban tuition classes on Sundays from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m, so as to enable the younger generation of Lankans to attend 'Daham Pasal' or Sunday School, is a progressive step which deserves a warm, appreciative applause.

The measure is likely to be welcomed by all those who place religion and spiritual progress above worldly advancement minus the core values of civilisation.

The correctness of this measure could be gauged by the steep decline registered by Sri Lanka in the realm of spiritual and cultural advancement. Our safest guide to this decline is crumbling law and order and rising crime and violence coupled with steep moral decay. It is apparent that Sri Lanka has been sharply veering towards immorality over the years, brazenly preferring Mammon to religion.

Regardless of age and generation most Sri Lankans have come to prize the lusts of the flesh above inner peace and the tranquillity of the spirit. The attraction of things material is so strong that religion has been relentlessly edged out of their lives.

So, it is time that this state of affairs was changed. The younger generation in particular should be induced into allocating some time for spiritual reflection, prayer and meditation. They need to cultivate vast reserves of inner peace and calm so that world transformation in the direction of value-based harmonious living would be greatly facilitated.

If sections of our younger generation are angry, agitated, disoriented, violent, and even suicidal, it is because they have been compelled to live in a world which is competitive, acquisitive and completely bereft of humane values.

Such a world is a creation of their elders, who themselves need to re-orient their lives in the direction of religion and sound moral values.

However, tuition is a many-sided phenomenon which needs to be handled on a priority basis. Besides helping in eroding the spirituality of the young, weekend tuition classes prevent teachers, in particularly the public school system, from giving of their best during school hours.

Most often than not these teachers neglect their responsibilities in school on account of the need to rush back to their home towns to conduct classes in the afternoons or evenings. Students are encouraged to follow these classes and their weekend sessions, which, of course, spin money for the teachers.

Tuition classes are, then, a prime factor in the decline in quality of public school-based education. This naturally leads to students' educational failure and contributes to the perceived importance of the tuition class among students.

So, if the authorities are to tackle the problem of educational failure at its roots, the anomaly which is tuition classes needs to be curbed. However, the older generation owes it to the young to create a better world for them - one that is free of the blight of mindless, fierce competition which blinds them to the need for spirituality and wisdom.

Past perfect

A museum is a repository of ancient objects. It is a window into history. But this does not mean that museums themselves have to look antiquated. They must be modern edifices that guarantee the preservation of their valuable contents for centuries to come.

Colombo's own Museum, established in 1877, is perhaps the most magnificent building in the City. Frankly, it has seen better days and modernisation is an urgent need. It comes nowhere near its counterparts in many other countries in terms of presentation and preservation of artifacts.

All culturally-minded citizens will thus commend the Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Ministry for taking steps to renovate the Colombo Museum at a cost of Rs.80 million. The Museum's 22 display rooms are reported to be in a very poor condition and the renovation plans could not have been announced at a better time.

In another positive development, a private bank has donated Rs.6 million for the rehabilitation of the Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura display rooms of the Museum. This is an example for the rest of the private sector. The State sector, the private sector and individual citizens all have to do their bit to ensure that our cultural heritage is preserved for posterity.

It is also commendable that the repairs will be carried out using local labour and raw materials, resisting the urge to bring in foreign experts and contractors. Nevertheless, we feel that they should study the presentation, climate control, security and conservation techniques used by world famous museums to ensure that the Colombo Museum would be second to none after the refurbishment.

For example, a touch-screen multimedia terminal will be able to tell much more about a particular exhibit than a traditional signboard. The Museum should also expand its shop, as there is a good demand for souvenirs from locals and foreigners alike.

As more funds become available, the Ministry should also turn its attention to regional museums, some of which badly need repairs. According to newspaper reports, Anuradhapura will get one modern museum to display artifacts recovered from ongoing excavation projects.

This is now being handled by three museums. Bringing all three museums under one roof will make it easier for visitors to learn more about the ancient glory of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first capital.

Theme museums (ex: gems, tea, transport, maritime) should also be developed to international standards. These attract tourists with a special interest, such as tea lovers and steam rail buffs.

However, all these efforts will be in vain if the authorities do not appoint the best curators to museums. They must be fully qualified professionals who ardently guard and maintain the priceless treasures in their care.

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