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The Maldives situation

The cry for greater democracy in the Maldives, it seems, is rising to a crescendo, sparking off a spate of arrests of pro-democracy activists. Some of these arrests are those of regional notables who have even done SAARC proud.

Accordingly, it is quite natural that some of these developments should have the Sri Lankan Government worried. In fact, President Kumaratunga has conveyed her concern over them to the Maldivian authorities.

We hope greater clarity would be achieved over these developments through the contacts which would be established between the two governments over the next few days. Besides the perceived irregularities relating to the exercise of the Rule of Law, developments in the Maldives which have law and order implications should have Sri Lanka concerned because of this country's ties with the Maldives in particularly the investment, employment and trade spheres.

Gone are the days when Sri Lanka-Maldives relations could have been reduced to just Maldive fish imports and education, for instance. The Maldives' economy has greatly diversified and today she is a front runner in the South Asian region in the sphere of tourism and the travel trade. In fact, she is an eagerly sought after destination by South Asia - bound Western tourists and could stand on her own when it comes to generating an income from tourism.

The same is true in the sphere of garment manufacture. The Maldives' successes in these areas have been so tremendous that she has steadily drawn even Lankan investors to her shores. Some big names in the Lankan tourism and travel trade have invested in the Maldives in addition to Lankan garment investors. Besides a considerable number of Lankans have found employment in the Maldives, in a variety of fields including education.

Sri Lanka could, therefore, be said to have a considerable stake in the economic and social stability of the Maldives. Endemic political unrest in the Maldives could lead to an erosion of Lanka's economic interests, through a flight of Lanka's capital, in the hotel and travel trade, for instance, back home. Those Lankans who have found employment in the Maldives too could face bleak prospects if the Maldivian political situation degenerates.

It is our hope, therefore that wise counsel would guide the rulers of the Maldives. President Gayoom is a statesman of regional renown and his countrymen could rely on him to act wisely to resolve the crisis at hand.

'The revolution of rising expectations' is a phenomenon almost every Third World government needs to manage effectively and deftly. The Maldives is going through such a phase. History reveals that the answer to this problem lies in the direction of granting what is legitimate to the people.

Restoring temple-village links

The temple was the focal point of the village in the days gone by. It still is, in some parts of the country. Over the years, the excessive commercialisation of our lifestyles has driven many away from the temple. Blinded by the lure of money, many have given up moral and human values, leading to a spiritually diminished society.

Minister of Buddha Sasana, Public Security, Law and Order and Deputy Minister of Defence Ratnasiri Wickramanayake addressing a gathering in Anuradhapura last week pointed out that age old links that existed between the village and the temple had diminished over the years. This does not augur well for the future generation, he noted.

Today, religious values have been forgotten as people try in vain to seek happiness through the pursuit of money and wealth. They may physically attend a place of worship, but there is no genuine commitment to spiritual enhancement. The young generation is emulating the adults, carving their own path to ruin.

We must reverse this trend. It is essential that the temple-village link be restored. As the Buddha Sasana Minister has said, the temple should be made the centre of village activity again. The success of this quest will depend on the commitment and dedication of the Maha Sangha and patrons to devise programs and activities which would attract people to temples.

Ours being a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society, places of worship belonging to all religions must fulfil this obligation. There are many places in Sri Lanka where temples, churches, mosques and kovils are located next to each other. The clergy must guide their followers on the correct path. In this endeavour, it may be necessary to go to the people instead of waiting for them to turn up at the place of worship.

Religious schools must also strive to inculcate moral values in children. In this context, the decision not to permit private tuition classes on Sunday mornings will no doubt be lauded by all right-thinking citizens.

Moreover, the head priests of respective places of worship should maintain close links with the principals of schools in their vicinity. They should coordinate religious events at schools, so that students can learn more about the teachings of the great founders of religions.

They all advocated compassion towards other human beings. This seems to be lacking in today's society, judging by the number of murders and other heinous crimes reported daily. The long arm of the law alone cannot tackle this alarming situation. The active involvement of places of worship in guiding people along the righteous path is vital at this juncture.

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