The politics of Akon visa denial have a wider impact on Sri Lanka and Buddhism
by Dushy Ranetunge in London
The Sri Lankan government this week has decided to deny a visa for the American rap star Akon, even before he had applied for one. The politics of this decision is obvious.
The electorate that listens to and will participate in a Akon musical is perceived as being overwhelmingly liberal, Colombo centric, affluent UNP voters. While the cabal that opposes the Akon musical, are perceived as being less affluent UPFA voters, many of whom would have not even heard of Akon.
If the government had granted permission despite the protests by the radicals, it would have antagonised a part of its electoral home turf, which consists of Sinhalese Buddhist radicals.
Although President Rajapakse himself may not be a Akon fan, there is a high possibility that his son educated in St Thomas's College, Mt. Lavinia, and later at Cardiff University in Wales and drives a BMW X5 may have heard of Akon. He may have even listened to his music at that nightclub in Horton Place, Colombo 7, above the Coffee house, as he like many of his generation aspires to the lifestyle of the Colombians.
But leaving aside politics, decisions of this nature have a wider impact on Sri Lanka and Buddhism.
Buddhism is perceived in the West as being a tolerant passive religion and Buddhist statues are perceived as creating an aura of calm and tranquility. As a result, the use of Buddha statues is somewhat different in the West.
Buddha statues are commonly used as garden ornaments and are found as a part of water gardens. In the Akon Video it is near a pool. Buddha statues are also used as a part of table lamps.
Tibetan/Chinese art also depicts Buddha in an erotic pose and could be found on the World Wide Web.
Buddhism is perceived and interpreted in different societies in different ways. Even within Sri Lanka Buddhism is perceived differently by individuals.
A few years ago, a visit to the Dambulla temple by a 11-year-old girl wearing just above knee high shorts was denied entry. According to the “Taliban” style dress code guard, shorts should be below the knee and shoulders cannot be exposed and should be covered.
They will not be visiting Dambulla temple again.
This year I witnessed another 11-year-old girl wearing seriously short shorts walking into Madhu Church for a service and there was no “Taliban” style guard stopping her from entering the church.
Later she walked into Tiruketisvaram kovil near Mannar. There was no dress code Taliban present to stop her and advise her on entry requirements to one of the five great Isvarams in Sri Lanka.
It was obvious that the Catholic Church in Madhu and the great Isvaram in Mannar were more tolerant in dress code than the Buddhist temple in Dambulla. Other than the issue of tolerance, there are financial implications. Those who wear shorts tend to be from the affluent classes in Colombo, and in this instance, individuals who are generous and make four figure donations.
The use of “Taliban” style dress code will merely drive this class of individuals away from visiting these Buddhist temples and reduce revenue.
More importantly, it will alienate them from Buddhism, increasingly reducing the participation of this affluent class and their future generations from Buddhist activity as is evident today.
The dress code and other rules and regulations increasingly demanded by Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka is a new phenomena, and follows a similar trajectory to the rise of Sinhala nationalism.
At the early part of the last century a majority of men and a significant number of women in Sri Lanka were topless and was widely photographed and sketched. Other than these photographs, which are found on post cards produced at the beginning of the last century, many of the prints published by travelers to Sri Lanka, such as the Russian Prince Alexei Soltikoff in 1841, depict these scenes all over Sri Lanka.
There was no “Taliban” to stop them or demanded a dress code when visiting Buddhist temples topless for most of our history. Therefore this “talibanism” creeping into Buddhism is a new phenomena, nothing to do with Buddhism, but recently introduced by present-day radicals and purists.
They argue it as being a present day requirement and point out that you cannot enter the Vatican or Mecca wearing such clothes, as they demand respect.
This argument is self-defeating as the attraction of Buddhism to the liberal and the educated is because it is different to the Vatican and Mecca. By bringing in rigid practices into Buddhism, they are in effect closing the doors to a certain segment of society, which cash strapped Buddhist temples could ill afford. It also destroys the reputation of Buddhism of being liberal and tolerant of all things.
In Buddhism we were taught that it was important to identify the thought behind the action.
Let us examine the Akon Video.
Akon has no known anti- Buddhist hostility. The film set with the Buddhist statue and pool where the Video was filmed would have been selected by the record company's artistic director and the video itself would have been funded and produced by the record label that has contracted him and in effect owns him.
Akon would be a small cog in a bigger wheel where he would have been driven to the set by the record company, and asked to perform to record the video. To Akon, the presence of the Buddha statue would have been as natural as seeing a Buddha statue at most garden centers in the West, where Buddhism is regarded differently to Christianity and Islam.
From a Western perspective, Akon would have not had any intent, in thought or action to insult or be seen to be hostile to Buddhism.
In this light, the actions of the Sri Lankan government are high handed and it damages both Sri Lanka and Buddhism. It creates a perception of Talabanism in Sinhalese society and the government succumbing to it.
It also damages the perception of Buddhism as being tolerant and understanding and being different to Christianity and Islam.
on the visit of Gen. Than Shwe ~ in Nov 2009 ~ by Vikalpa SL
The situation is compounded by the fact that this same government recently invited members of the Burmese Military Junta to Colombo. The Burmese Military Junta has been responsible for the death, torture and incarceration of hundreds of Buddhist monks who have risen against their tyranny in Burma.
None of these champions protested during that visit.
It exposes the hypocrisy of the present regime and raises more fundamental questions as to how the regime intends to provide space for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, when it is incapable of providing space for the English speaking Sinhalese in the Capital. In both instances, Sinhalese radicalism seems to have a veto over the cultural space of minority groups.
110 Comments
Look here Dushy Ranetunge,
"UK-Passport-Holding-NOBODY",
In Sri Lanka, we actually hold things sacred and have respect for our Religions and our Parents and our Value System. I know you enjoy being a "LITTLE-BROWN-NOBODY" with a UK PASSPORT, and have no Values or Beliefs anymore but the rest of us do.
Only SOULLESS NIHILISTS and LACKEYS of WESTERN SOCIAL DECAY (like you) would come out defending Akon over the Religious Sensibilities of our countrymen. This is of no surprise to me because people like you have slipped so far into the trappings of Western Decay and Immorality that Nothing is Shocking or Offensive to you anymore. And most of all, nothing is Sacred to you either as you have not only abandoned Morality for yourself, but you have also decided that your lack of Morality, and Spirituality are Admirable traits that others should have too.
Akon is just an Entertainer, he's in Sri Lanka to make a few Buck$$$, so if he wants to he should have been diligent to the sensibilities of the country he wished to perform in, and obviously he had no care or hesitation to use a Sacred Religious Image as Decoration in his Music Video... Have Scantily Clad women dance around a Buddha Statue is OFFENSIVE and INDECENT. Just like when Maddonna MASTURBATED with a CRUCIFIX on Stage Ten years ago. But hey, Our Politicians and Religious heads are the Ones who are Wrong to Take action against this sort of Stuff....
Is that Right Dushy?
So buddhism is supposed to bow down to the affluent? wow!
I'm just amazed by the ridiculous analysis by this Londoner.
Hi Devinda,
Here is something that many of you don't know.
Bikini clad girls dancing around Buddha did not originate in the decadent west.
It originated in the Mau Bima...your beloved Sri Lanka.
Several decades ago, the magazine of a popular state bank in Sri Lanka published on its front page a picture of buddha with a computer as his heart and two bikini clad girls on either side.
The person who was responsible for this is a Sinhala nationalist weeraya celebrity today and writes frequently to the press expressing your kind of view.
Hypocrites! What do you say, old boy?
regards
Dushy
I think the western interpretation of culture and religon is quite different from Sri Lanka or most Asian Countries. We do have some sense of modesty and shame although these are fast eroding. So prohibiting such behaviour and protecting the morals of society is something the government has to do. Ok we lose some $$'s but then can we put a price on our culture and religon. Would we want our children to imitate such people.
Of course there are contradictions right here in what is said and done. Perhaps it was the elections that forced the Govt to take action after going ahead and featureing the event.
Dear Mr Fernando,
Please pardon me for being this direct.
With your vituperation and insults you dont touch Mr Ranatunge. Instead you only lower your own standing.
Can we not - at least now - learn to disagree through the practice of civility than through rude and intolerant comment?
Has Mr Ranatunge got no right to express his views? And how would you feel if you were insulted by him likewise if you were to express yours?
Sri Lankans - from the very top downward - need to learn to accept a differing point of view to theirs, without having to turn to anger and insult as a means of expressing their disagreement.
We should not blame politcians - It's the voters,,,the world best idiots in Sri Lanka..this is the begining of the end of Sri Lanaka and people who voted the government must suffer!!!
Politicians can enjoy the luxury...all political games to stay in power...Go on Sri Lankan idiot voters..vote to finish the future of Sri Lanka...Economy and the Children....another sister country is on the way to break the records done by Zimbabwe/Libiya/China/Iraq/Myanmar..Go on ..its sad to see the begining of the end of our motherland...
I see a music video titled 'John Cena Ape Podi Ekata Gahala by one Amila Sandaruwan' which the signer laughs and sings. This song actually attempts to lighten the seriousness of Child Abuse and promotes this crime in Sri Lanka. Artists with little brains do harm, when they chose lyrics that are anti-social.
Its not AKON, but this song that should have been banned.
We have had many artistes of fame from the West before. But this guy - "A CONE" or somebody, is a lesser known artist. What is his rating on the charts? Does he sing naturally? These are my questions Dushy.
Don't you paint the less affluent, non-western preachers (such as the opponents of this money scam) to be all UPFA supporters. There are many people who love this country and yet vote for the UNP who don't care about this concert, and oppose him on grounds that this guy has nothing but to offer sexist, vulgar display in his songs/videos.
OMG - Devinda - people like you are such hypocrites - you have no idea what a lot of things you do in the name of Buddhisam which is totally against it - you are not supposed to kill any living thing be it even an insect! but alas you will kill your own brother for an inch of land - don't open this Pandora's Box!!
Akon is a very rich man and losing a few sri-lankan pennies is no skin off his nose - he just a great performer and wanted to visit this beautiful land (at least that is what he thought at the time!) just to please his fans - so boo hoo to you!!
Its very evident that this visa denial has nothing to do with Buddhism or Akon.
It is all done for electoral hoodwinking right now.
On the one hand Ministry of Tourism shows interest in promoting this even and then the Government wants to show they are the 'guardians of Buddhism.'
I agree that Sri Lanka has lot to loose by denying this visa for Akon, and the country will be viewed as in-line with the Taliban mentality by most folks. But I dont agree that the 'affulent people wear shorts and tend to give more, so we better let them wear tight shorts (or otherwise dress inappropriately) to places where modesty is expected, simply becuase they can throw in couple of thousands of ruppees.
The 11 year old girl, might be from an affluent society in Colombo (or elsewhere), but the people manage the Dambulla temple, simply doesnt care- becuase they are there to manage the temple, not to beg for money-
Dear Sinhalese, The Man is Senegalese, just let him perfrom. All mankind.
Taliban? LOL u have no idea what Taliban is how they treated women not allowing to see men... TEMPLE IS A RELIGIOUS PLACE you meant to go there dressed "appropriatlely" not like a whore... if a guy go there with a boxers on he would have got the same treatment...
you can't go to a club good club without wearing a smart casual... you will be turned away if you wear jogging bottoms what not... do you call that taliban rule? can you go to work without wearing properly? can you go to school to teach without dressing like a teacher? you call that taliban rule? can a girl go to school without the white dress? without the uniform (here ot in west) you call that Taliban rule
it's up to the priests and those in charge of the kovils/mosques to enforce that rule and guide them... not anyone else problem if they let people in wearing inappropriately
SO WHAT? if SL lost dollars of the Colombians... at least we didn't sell dignity to american dollars and british pounds like prosittutes do on the streets.... SL not built on the wealth of the Colombians... it was built on the sweat and blood the blood of the village soldiers, poor farmers, tamil tea factory workers of north, poor innocent garment factory girls, out caste fishermen etc... they are the ones who built this country without them so called wealthy Colombians be begging for food on the street
what we would have got by Akon coming NOTHING? why? because Colombians will be paying for all his and his entourage's expenses
"Show me a Buddhist,I`ll show you a hypocrite"
Mr. Fern-nan-do,
Do not date to touch Dushy. Unlike ignorant low class/caste idiots like you, he had done a great service for our country fighting LTTE from early days of 1999.
So please watch your words you lunatic.
You dont even have a Sinhalese Buddhist name. So please please go masturbate to the images in Sigiriya without telling our Dushy what to write.
Skunks are skunks
Funny how everyone is a voice of the 'village man'.
They harbor no such misgiving. They have greater tolerance. One Akon cannot do mimicry of damage to Buddhism.
What then of 2,500 years, the one who are defending RAJAPAKSA RASACLS in the name of the voice of ordinary man, shame on you.
Devinda Fernando,
Your Sinhala buddhist supremacist mahavamsa mindset monks are abusing boys in the pansalas and allowing foreign tourists to abuse beach boys sexually for money in srilanka.
And your Gov using the money obtained in this way to colonize Sinhala Buddhist in Tamil areas.Your are blind to this.
Very soon you will be forced to speak in mandarin.when the China take over you.
There is injustice every where in Sri Lanka!!! Murder, rape, abduction, child abuse, dissapearance, depriving food, medicine and shelter deliberately!!! None of the Budhists are worried about this!!! They are only worried about this video!! Have they not seen how the present day young sinhalese girls are dressed these days!!! How young girls are raped and dumped in the North and East? No one will raise a voice against these atrocities!!!
Devinda Fernando,
Buddhistes can rape,abuseboys,do crime against humanity, even buddhist monks can rape, have mistress secretly,and live in luxury and drive in bmw,bence cars You wan't see it and it does not go against buddhism but some one who has no idea who or what is buddha does a song it is abusive to your stupid religion what a hipocracy.
Fernando,
Tell me five things you have done against LTTE terror in international arena. Mr. Ranatunga had traveled all around for many years working against LTTE.
What have you done? You make more Tamils to support LTTE with your anti-Tamil hysteria and your anti Tamil porn websites like tamilnetv etc.
Shame on you and to the mother that given you birth.
COME ON GUYS, YOU WERE ALL SILENT ALONG WITH JHU, WHO ALSO JOINT THE MIGHTY GOVERNMENT TO SUPPRESS HON. MONKS IN KANDY , AND DARED TO BOBM SACRED PLACES.
do YOU SEE THIS RGIME DIFFERENT FROM LTTE.
I MEAN, MAHINTHA = PRABAKARAN OR MAHINTHA WORSER THAN PRABAKARAN.
SHAME ON YOU GUYS , WHO VOTED THIS DICTORIAL REGIME TO DESTOY WHOLE COUNTRY INCLUDING TEACHING OF BUDDHISM AND GOING AFTER AKON?
FEROZ
Dushy is playing Dushy here, pandering to the whims of power blocks. Just see how he puts the President's son on a MURUNGA GAHA by giving him a ppseudo-social staus and background even at the risk of alienating him socially from the father.Dushy certainly knows where his bread is buttered. "educated at St Thomas and later at Cardiff University, driving a BMW and relaxing in a Colombo cafe etc" do these things matter to the average Lankan? Who cares anyway? Get to the point Dushy and dont digress with your own personal agenda as your intention.
Hi Pissu Poosai
about your comment that sri lanka was built by the villagers and that the colombians are not relevant, you might find the following helpful.
"The Colombo Metropolitan Region (CMR) encompasses the country's administrative capital Kotte and Colombo. Found within the borders of the CMR is 80% of the country’s industries and over 60% of all vehicles plying Sri Lankan roads"
It is also a fact that almost 90% of Sri Lanka's wealth is in this region.
Perhaps the Colombians should ask for a separate state and tell the others to buggar off to hambanthota?
regards
Dushy
what does having Sinhala Buddhist name got to do with anything? your name don't make you sinhala or a buddhist... Lord Buddha wasn't a Buddhist when he was born does that make him a non-buddhist?
yes the same hypocrites are the ones who allowed to built Kovil's in buddhist temples, those are the same hypocrites who removed the cow from Sandakada Pahana out of respect to hindus... these are the same hypocrites who hid the tamils during tamil massacre
Who is defending Rajapakse? this got nothing to do with Rajapakse this is got to do with the greed of Colombians and selling their dignity(just like the crooks of JHU)... why should rest of the country succumb their dignity?
next time if your daughter want to go to school in a seriously short trousers and a tight top- please don't have a go at her support her... cuz why should she follow the Taliban/Sharia rule of the British Schools? if the school doesn't allow it make sure you take them to high court for violation of human rights... if that fails please try the EU courts
and if she want to go and see Akon when in town don't stop her? if she is underage there is always the option of fake IDs
and when you go to work make sure you wear something comfortable instead of shirt and trouser? may be baggy jeans hoodie and trainers? if you fail to get work ther is always the court :-) Britain is not under Sharia law so im pretty sure this is possible...
Don't you fight you people, and don't use foul language because that is a reflection of who YOU are. Leave aside religion and watch this video of Akon and decide for yourself whether he belongs on any stage anywhere.
http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2007/04/22/hip-hop-star-akon-dry-humps-14-year-old-onstage/
Thanks
I just want to know who is that sinhala nationalist weeraya. Really, who the hell he is??? ... Btw, that guy "protecting children" badly needs a brain transplant. That song "John Cena ape podi ekata gahala" has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with child abuse. When there are people who don't get the underlying meaning of that song, no wonder they hurled stones at MTV.
I just want to know who that sinhala nationalist weeraya is. Really, who the hell he is??? ... Btw, that guy "protecting children" badly needs a brain transplant. That song "John Cena ape podi ekata gahala" has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with child abuse. When there are people who don't get the underlying meaning of that song, no wonder they hurled stones at MTV.
Mr Ranatunga,
Your writing BS. So when a 11 year old is refused entry to Dambula temple because of a short dress that is Talibanism. Do you know that women are not allowed to enter St Peter's in Rome if they are wearing dresses shorter than knee length? My son who was 15 years old at that time was not allowed to enter the courtyard of Juma Masjid in Delhi because he was wearing a pair of shorts. Every religion has certain code and practices and Buddhism is no different. Stop trying to vilify everything Sri Lankan just because you live in London and you don't agree with the politics of the country.
well said pissu poosa! well said.
I think this writer is so much confused. Eventhough I agree with the writer about the Akon issue. But I don't agree with the writer to linking money and dress code in temples. It is important to maintain the dress code in religious or cultural places. It is just to maintain the cultural identitiy, it is nothing to do with tolerance. This writing is a result of misconception about tolerance.
*** What do you say, old boy? ***
LOL!
Dushy, Dushy, Dushy, I say your anecdotal rebuttal is WEAK at best. Your Logic is also faulty as single person ALSO insulting Buddhism in the same way does justify the actions of AKON either… so maybe when you can actually come up with a valid point to rebut mine I’d suggest keeping your mouth shut unless of course you want me to continue to embarrass you by picking apart your silly argument in public? But lets be frank… this is not about AKON insulting Buddhism, after all the man did apologize about it, but its more about you using this incident to Insult and mock Sri Lanka and the current government who have done everything against your Ideology of giving Tamils their own ETHNICALLY SEGREGATED land. Your comparison to the Buddhist authorities in Sri Lanka as the TALIBAN would be comical if it wasn’t Offensive in itself, but hey that is what you HACK writers do, try to vilify your opponents by making them out to be the Worst of the Worst… right? Sri Lankan Buddhism : The Taliban, SL Government: NAZI GERMANY and Mahinda Rajapaksha: Adolf Hitler…. And when a Tamil breaks a Toenail in this conflict…. Its GENOCIDE!
Stop me if I’m getting close?
*** Has Mr Ranatunge got no right to express his views? ***
Ofcourse she does, Justice…. and I have a right to express mine, in what ever way I feel. I have not prevented her in any way shape or form, but merely rebutted her. I admire you coming to her defense but I think you should see the TRUE IRONY of your statement which is that She condones the INSULTING of BUDDHISM, yet you say I should not INSULT HER for doing so… Try to figure out that?
*** OMG - Devinda - people like you are such hypocrites - you have no idea what a lot of things you do in the name of Buddhisam ***
Dear Shakira,
I am Not Buddhist. But thanks for assuming.
*** Akon is a very rich man and losing a few sri-lankan pennies is no skin off his nose ***
LOL! Then why do you IMBECILES Cry for him? Let him take his music show somewhere else. I’m sure there are plenty of other countries he can go GYRATE his HIPS and OBJECTIFY WOMEN for commercial gain in other than Sri Lanka…
*** Do not date to touch Dushy. Unlike ignorant low class/caste idiots like you, ***
*** You dont even have a Sinhalese Buddhist name ***
Wow Lakmal, you are TRULY a HIGH CASTE GENIUS! There’s no fooling the Likes of you! I prostate myself before you, your Highness.
*** "Show me a Buddhist,I`ll show you a hypocrite" ***
Show me the definition of IGNORANT BUFFOON, and I’ll show you the picture Daya Weerasinghe…
And in conclusion folks…
My suggestion to all you so-called AKON CRUSADERS is to actually go to YouTube or turn on MTV and actually WATCH one of his Music Videos… and then ask yourself whether you are on the right side of this issue. I’d love to see your faces if your Daughters, Sisters or Mothers behaved the way those SCANTILY CLAD WHORES did in his music videos. His Music is nothing more than a MARKETING GIMMICK to appeal to the base levels of HUMAN BEHAVIOR… to sell records and Merchandising. He is a CORPORATE PRODUCT....yet you worship this stuff like its your Religion! LOL! He's today's GIMMICK, and tomorrow it will be some other fancy dressed sparkly performer performing SIMULATED SEX with Bikini Clad Women with HUGE,... "career problems".
Bow before your NEW GODS! MONEY, EXCESS, and VULGARISM… bow down to it you “GOAT PEOPLE”… WORSHIP at the alter of NOTHINGNESS…
MOO! BAAAA! HEE-HAW, HEE-HAW!
LOL this is getting funnier by minute!
hypocrisy is not only inherited by Buddhists, so we should give up all we consider as values because some of them are hypocrites! so is the world, this guy whoever some of you are defending may didn't have any idea of what he was doing. i dont blame Akon for his unawareness, but people who try to defend him!SHAME ON YOU.
Dushy your article is fundamentaly crap.
Sl is free to decide who enters the country.
Living in the west I know the hypocrisy of theirs.
How tghey toture muslims in Gantanamo By, shoot innocent people in UK.
So do not try to lick their back side.
The Vikalpa video is excellent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_oF0VSyFRc
I watched this many times, and gives me hope, these are Real courageous Sri lankans - few in numbers here but representing the Silent Majority.
THIS WRITER IS COMPLETELY DELUDED- AS OUR BUDDHIST PROTEST AGAINST AKON IS SIMILAR TO THE WORLD-WIDE PROTESTS SOME YEARS BACK BY MUSLIMS, REGARDING THE CARTOONS OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD, PUBLISHED BY A PAPER IN DENMARK. ON THAT OCCASION, THE HEADS OF STATE OF ALL 27 MUSLIM NATIONS TOOK COMBINED ACTION AGAINST DENMARK- INCLUDING BANNING OF DANISH PRODUCTS. THE ARAB LEAGUE & THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC NATIONS TOOK VERY DECISIVE ACTION AGAINST DENMARK.
LET US NOW TAKE VERY DECISIVE ACTION AGAINST AKON. I AM READY FOR A PUBLIC DEBATE WITH DUSHY RANATUNGA ON THIS MATTER.
MY EMAIL- DINUKANUWANDESILVA@YAHOO.COM
Devinda and others,
Do you really think Akon was denied visa, because of his music and videos??
It is sad, past and present Sri lankan governments lacks of liberal values, humanrights and tolerance. This is now part of its religious culture.
Dushy , what have you done to proscribe the terrorists is realy appriciated. But , I can not stand up with your some of the views or the understanding of the nature.
For me, All these problems are misunderstood.Whether it is Ethnic problem or the Buddism ...... whatever you name it.
It's obviouse that somebody who doesn't know the facts or less understanding of the situation can easily be mislead to the wrong conclusion. But my biggest worry is , People who is said to be knowledgeable ( like Colombians according to you )and people who is very very keen about what's happening around them ( like yourself eg: Journalists ) , also have understood the situation very inaccuarately.
I don't know whether it is the misunderstanding or the incapability of the correct interpretation of a situation.
There is no Ethnic problem in Sri Lanka.
But , there is a class problem in Sri Lanka. We can not blame it for Sinhalese or Elite or whoever. Because it's the human nature. Infact It's not just confined to Sri Lankan but for whole living things.
Winner takes it all ( Obviousely very premitive, But it doesn't matter human race live another 10000 years . Those building blocks of the nature doesn't go away )
But , this sort of problem you simply can not lean in to merely Ethnic Problems.
Next the Buddhism. It is sad , this has gravily mistaken. Akon or visa denial is nothing to do with Buddism. Buddism is one thing and practice of the Buddism is another thing.
Please , Dushy
Don't try to make these 2 things into 1.
Because , as journalists you guys can create openion or can lead the mass into right directions or equially mislead the same mass into hell.
Another thing is the Colombian , you have mentioned.
you try to galvanized them as highly sophisticated , high maintanance breed . But when you look carefully only you realize how wrong your interpretation or the understanding is :
According to the cosmopolition measures , there is no city in whole of Sri Lanka can be called as a City.
Litterally there should not be any City in the Sri Lanka , including Colombo.
What if we don't have Cities ?
Sri Lanka consists of bunch of villages , including Colombo village.
As journalists you guys have a bigger responsibility how to use your language, not to give wrong understanding or discriminate any one , Because of the mere useage of their language.
When we see the language usage in Sri Lanka. It's very difficult to belive there are hardly any journalist in Sri Lanka , like Cities.
They have taken it for granted , becuase "villagers" do not sue them for discriminations or they donot know that they can do that.
Above all, you may well know ( Because you live in UK ) that if there is huge differnce in social or whatever aspects between people within few miles of distance . Really what a misarable/poor place we are all in.
At last , Can anybody tell me What Sri Lanka is all famous for ?
I think it is not for Colombian like Romans or the New Yorkers.
But for domestic prostitute women workers and for child pornography!!!!!!
This is the bitter truth.
Sorry to be harsh for my fellow country men , But in our genaration we could not change the image of our beloved country.
hi Du..shy,.....shy on you!
Buddhist places are more secred than socalled Hindu and Christian places.
You have a very poor knowlege on Buddhism. Why don't you Talk about Muslim?
Don't compare Buddhism with other religions please!
And don't publish this type of stupid articles agan. It is better to put your pen into than writhing article like this.
40 yrs ago, I went to Colombo from a village and my cousins took me for a long stroll along Galle Rd in a late evening. We went into a hotel for a refreshment and walked along its pool. I was shocked by the low-cut blouse and low-clad lungi of young Sri Lankan women serving cool drinks to the bathing foreign men in the dimly-lit area.
This attack is all to do with causing wilful damage to the MTV office -which is worse for Buddhism.
Mr. Renatunga,
By reading your analysis I feel you are an anti Buddhist. Remember we have certain values which we don't want to sell for $$$. Any woman with a decent dress can enter into a buddhist temple. But women can't step into some secred places even with a decent dress.
Hope you will understand.
Arun
Mavinda Gunesinghe, well said. I fully agree with you about.... oh that so high-class Dushy RanEtunga (look how he distances himself from the common Ranatungas with an E instead of an A in the spelling of his name))that too, writing "from London". Ha, ha, ha ... as if writing from London confers a special mystic aura to him in the eyes of the Godayas here. Or whether writing from London gives credibility to the topic under discussion. What matters it where he writes from. Nobody cares really .He can write from Alimankade or he can write from from Pamankade for that matter. But what eventually matters is what he says.I think this Dushy guy is suffering from a severe identity crisis and has to do some inner soul searching to come to terms with his own problems.Dont get me wrong, I still have not taken sides on the AKON issue that he has raised but am sort of peeved with his sense of social compartmentalisation and pseudo character embellishment of the Presidents son. He doesnt need to stoop so low but thats the nature of the sycohant. Good luck to him ......and to AKON.
Mr Fernando, You say you have the right to express your views any way you feel.
By extension therefore it may be said that everyone has the right to do what they feel including expressing their views any way they feel.
Similarly it may be said that anyone could dress the the way they feel notwithstanding where they visit. Going by the same token it may also be argued by others that AKON could decorate the surrounds of his video performance anyway he feels while singing whatever he sings, whichever way he feels he should sing.
If we were to accept your theory, please tell me, where would it all end?
But wait ! You may be right after all! This must be the 'cultural awakening' we have all been waiting for- the "in" thing among today's enlightened minds! After all, didnt some well informed and intelligent people recently go and unmercifully bray at a political figure within the Kelaniya temple precincts when he went there for some religious observance? They were after all, only doing what they wished, any way they wished wherever they wished. That's all!
The point I am making is NOT to question anyone's right to say what he or she feels but to question the manner in which it is said. Nothing more, nothing less.
I havent said for a moment that I agree with Ms Ranatunge's rationale partially or totally. But I dont think she or anyone needs to be personally humiliated or insulted just as much as I think I have no right to do so to you, simply because I may disagree with your style (or the lack of it). The reason is that I may in the process, offend another reader and I have no license for that.
Finis!
Finis
I have nothing against anyone expressing his/her views but I take exception when people become personal and abusive. The only reason why some dont, is because they have greater self control and feel no need to insult to get a point across.
Suicide bombers talking about riligeon...what a joke !
Taliban are experts on christianity often give its version of the bible. LTTE tamil terrorists always knows about buddhism a little bit more than the average man & always pay more attention to it than even buddists themselfs.
Here is a another loser interpriting buddism from london. HAHA.
MAY 19 is still fresh on the mind it seems and if this helps to ease the suffering...then as good buddhists we should tolerate this crap.
I personally know how much was contributed by Dushy Ranetunge against LTTE. He travelled all around the world to counter LTTE propaganda. For that we are thankful and of course, like him,we all were under the impression that after the LTTE defeat, we will enter in to a better period in our country - more tolerance, better governance and wider freedom. The core of this approach is seculariasm that will protect minority ethno-religious values and encourage harmony that we lacked for the past 62 years after independence.
What we see at the mement is a reversal of the course. While we are distancing ourselves from desperately need secular values, the authoritarian government in power is dismantling the fundamental pillars of the society that we protected for decades. This government is not following the orders of the highest courts in the country. They are openly attacking media with the blessings of the top political leadership. The police, armed forces and public servants are terrorised by threats and attacks. No transparency on public spendings - what happened to Mihin Lanka, Sri Lanka Airlines, Petroleum Hedging Deal. No one answers. All these agencies are headed by henchmen and close relatives of the President. No one can question.
The government is thinking that they have an open cheque. The forthcoming election will give them more powers.The Akon issue is connected to this harsh reality in Sri Lanka - it is a tip of the iceburg. Who is going to take this challange? Is the opposition ready under Ranil? Are we going to live in a country without freedom or diversity, under a dictatorship? We don't have answers Dushy. We can be in the audiance abroad until our death comes, dreaming of a better country, full of guilty feelings towards Tamils, who lost their everything in a fight that we supported this repressive regime.
Dushy is trying to relate the dress codes by the buddhist temples as of "Taliban",which could not be agreed.Talibans spread hatred but those who would want the pilgrims/visitors to respect a temple does not go to the extent of Talibans.
This dress code is to encourage the visitor to pay respect to where they visit.There is nothing wrong in it.Even in a court of law , there is a dress code that is expected to be followed by those who go in, that is to establish respect.and it is some thing distinguish.This is the same case here.Sri Lankans do admire their culture and they would want to keep it for generations.what is wrong with that?
According to his view,even though not directly told,affluent poeple phisically expose them selves more.So that should be their culture.
In any society,what should be respected should be what is believed by the majority.So this dress code,respect for religion and culture are the things that the majority of the people in the country respect and want to be respected.I think Dushy has forgotten/adjusted/more tolerance of what is Akon doing.But not us.Therefore,it does not matter where this Akon type buddha statute using started , it does matter in our culture.
WHAT THE ORGANISERS OF THE EVEN SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS TO,STUDY ANY ARTIST WORK WELL BEFORE THEY INVITE TO PERFORME ,BECAUSE NOT ONLY THE AFFLUENT COLOMBO CLASS BUT ALSO THE OPINON OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY MATTERS.
in one of the replies by Dushy,he referes SriLanka as "mau bima ,your beloved..sri lanka".So it is evident that Dushy is not Sri Lankan.if so there is no reason as to why any body should go to the extent that insults him.What ever the passport he holds does not matter.this is just another view....most of the time not accepted.because Dushy has insulted himself enough.he adores not buddhism /sl culure..but the affluent colombo class.Even then , thaks shold go to him if he did some thing to oppose separatist terrorism in our country.But what is done in the past alone can make a man /woman "some body"
/*… A girl wearing just above knee high shorts was denied entry at the Dambulla temple…*/
Welcome to the world of generation X and Y!
Foreign-born teenagers or pre teens that visit to villages in Sri Lanka first time would bring many good and uncomfortable social and economic side effects to both parties.
In future, each of these Sri Lankan origin young foreigners would directly or indirectly spend at least 100K $ by just visiting to Srilanka.
One interesting question is how a young and native tourist from West in almost bikini like dress at 40C temperature would be treated at the Dambulla temple!
This article is baloney. I also enjoy Akon music to a wider extent having grown up in North America. However I do see the perspective of the Buddhist when I paused the video footage to see a half naked woman that was dancing in front of a Buddha statue. I realized that how ignorant the people from the western world to the feeling and beliefs of those that are from other cultures and religions. Its true that in the western society most use Buddha statues as décor to their garden or household but the context in which it is used or displayed should have been more thoughtful as they were shooting a video to be displayed around the world and for the most part, music is one of the ways of setting the stage for a wider acceptance of cultural norm or behavior of a society or fans.
Besides, this whole scenario has a political rooting where Sri Lankan politicians were bullied for war crimes allegations by the USA and their allied bodies who are so called moral, ethical, democratic principle abiders. In a way, this is also a way of fighting hypocrisy with hypocrisy. Come to think of it isn’t democracy a concept that evolved out of hypocrisy. So in a way Sri Lankan government actions should be justified.
Also who knows, USA government recently had undertaken a witch hunt to set the tone with their public figures, as they see their behaviour has a wider impact in their society. For instance, Tiger Woods was recently accused for carrying out transgression or scandalous relationships. If they set the tone with their key figures it will have a pervasive impact to create a society that is more tolerant, moral and ethical.
I see there are a lot of positives that we can take from the Akon concert cancellation in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Devinda fernando,
What is wrong with you?
Were you drunk when you wrote your initial comment?
You are way off pal of with your criticism and it is totally ignorant.
Mr. Ranetunge has clearly stated how the video must have been made and AKON was the performer not the Artistic director.
Mr. D Ranetunge is right when he criticized the Talibanization of buddhist dress code.
Don't you see numerous "Mutant Ninja Turtles" from age 5 to 80, walking all over the Island since the early 2000's. That is alone is sickening enough and we don't want that to intrude in to our Sinhalese buddhist culture.
I neither believe you reside in Sri-Lanka nor has any knowledge about buddhism!
Whenever people accuse Moslems of being intolerant I just have to give a few examples of the vicious fundamentalism of certain Buddhists in Lanka, including those like Davinda Fernando with Portugeese names, who smash windows, throw handgrenades, destroy churches and defend burning Tamils alive all in the name of respecting their religion.
I am a Sinhala Buddhist coming from a traditional conservative family in southern part of Sri Lanka.
I agree with writers comments about denial of Visa. But I do not agree with his comments on dress code. When you go to a religous place, you should dress properly. Poeple dress properly when they go to church even in western countries. I seriously dobt this write is Buddhist.
I also think that government denied visa to Akon in order to please Sinhala Buddhist nationalist. By doing this, government insulted one of the main principles of Buddhism. That is compassion. buddha himself did not care about idols. But The best thing what the government can do was let him come and realize how compassionate Buddhist are. If he came, He would have realize what he did was wrong.
I used to work as a national tour guide of Srilanka.My work took me around our country at least ones a month for over 9yrs.
I accompanied groups over 25 tourist in most of these tours.I was a frequent visitor to most of the temples that had historical and religious value.And what I saw was a pathetic situation.
Monks of major temples are a law unto themselves.The henchmen or offspring of the monks man the entrances to these temples and make quite good money by renting sarongs to the travelers and tourists who has already paid a heafty sum to enter them.
To take pictures more money was demanded.To wipe the wet foot on a rainy day in Kandy temple ,the man charged 50Rs for a piece of carboard!!Dambulla temple is one of the most corrupt places in the whole country.Temple of tooth is no better.Pattini devale in Kandy, the same.
If you go at "thevawa" time to temple of tooth you most probably see how the local devotees venerate the paid tourist back sides as they keep taking pictures in front of the devotees.We used to call this the "buddha show".Money was demanded at every turn.Nobody complains as temple has charged a lofty sum for the photo permit.
I am a practicing Buddhist but I avoid local monks & temples as nothing is further than our so called Buddhists and their ignorant practices you see in Srilanka.
I totally agree with Dushy,we are nourishing a Taliban type Buddhism and Buddhists in Srilanka.
Being an island are we becoming self isolationists?
We are even not able to have a decent discussion on Internet without calling names.Is this the teaching of the Buddha?
Open your eyes people.Do not mistake the pointing finger to the moon it is pointing at.
Myanmar people have been made sought to a tragedy. We were not meant to be so in an 'isolationist' world;
this was not a culture nor heritage, just like the Sri Lankans; this is not what the people wanted, it was thrust on us by several factors, from friends and foe alike. :-(
Sri Lanka’s majority standing up for and protecting the respect of the Lord Buddha is perfectly alright.
If anyone made a music video with Virgin Mary clad in a bikini and dancing while Lord Jesus Christ was rapping a song, the ramifications, outcry and condemnation from the Vatican, Rome and all othr Christian nations would be far, far worse and more destructive beyond anyone can imagine.
When DaVinci Code movie was released, it was BANNED in Sri Lanka, as results of Catholic Bishops’ conference protesting about it with government authorities!!! Now, a Danish cartoonist was condemned and tagged with a price on his head for graphically depicting Holy Prophet Mohamed’s cartoon – This artist is in exile in an unknown location indefinitely fearing for his life (there was an intrusion recently to his house).
There are Muslim fundamentalists, and there are Fundamentalist Christians (Evangelical Church, Jehova’s Witmesses, etc) and the world is alright with that. But, when Buddhists get stronger to protect thier Lord Buddha’s respect, teachings, honor and dignity, that becomes the problem of Dick, Frank, and Puss.
The whole world is intimidating this small mightly nation called Taprobane, Serendib, Ceylon or Sri Lanka – Go pound on your sack some place else. This country just acieved peace after 30 years of fighting terrorists funded and supported by fundamentalist christians, so Akon or any other noise-makers are not welcome in this country. Afterall, all against the dumping of this (c)rapping sump oil can, think about if you saw a video with the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ as pointed out above just for 2 seconds, as well…. if you got offended, you failed the test. Remember, respect is a two-way street.
Think Bishop Malcolm Ranjit immediately made a statement denouncing and condemning an election poster with Jusus Christ’s fabricated photo. Ironical, is it not?
Can a respectable family ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD allow their children listed to the disgusting lyrics of this and many other songs of this man?
Besides, there is no charity involved - this entertainer wanted to sing in Sri Lanka and earn mega-bucks from the ignorant western-culture-hugging yuppies with tons of money, while making his sponsors in Sri Lanka (Maharaja Organization) also make tons of money. Since they all lost the chance to do so, they are spnding money to insult the cause of show cancellation.
Buddhists in Sri Lanka are always vilified, insulted, denigrated and pointed-out as the fault of everything happening in Sri Lanka. In case anyone has forgotten, Buddha's teachings are the only religious theme with NO omnipotent or superhuman God creating everything and everyone. There is no "Creation", but life is made of air, water, land and fire.... this applies to the whole universe. Perfect alignment with Darvinian Evolution, Newtonian and relativistic dynamics, fundamental particle physics and astrophysics (both theoretical and observational).
Now let's put the puzzle together: No wonder all countries with Church-driven political structures are against Sri Lanka's Sinhalese Buddhists.
Whatever its implications are, Sri Lanka defeated the worlds's most ruthless terrorists, and brought about peace. We did not have any bombs going off killing its citizens since May-2009!
University of Ottawa prevented Anne Coulter from speaking her ultr-conservative-White-Christian sentiments, worrying it may upset the multi-cultural society in Canada. The reason was justified well by world new media. But when Sri Lanks rejects visa to a money-making singer, the wole world including the thiw writer has to intimidate Sri Lanka's actions. If you were born, raised, fed, schooled and educated even partially in Sri Lanka, and mesmerized by the country's resplendent beauty, you are not very grateful to this nation to make a mountain out of a molehill of thisincident!! No race or religion was OFFENDED by this action. The Buddists tried to protect the serenity and respect of their teacher, the Buddha! It is no one else' business.
Sri Lanka belongs to Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, Malay's, Bohra's, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Ba'hais, and the rest untold. Not to Akon's money-making booking managers or its money-grabbing sponsors. Culturally rich, diverse coutries with long historical heritage will always defend itsself with tough actions against new invasions, after being battered for centuries by colonial slave-traders. Try sending Akon to Saudi Arabia and ask that punk to sing SEXY BITCH with half-nude whores in an open air theater there and see what happens next. That country will rightfully protect their Islamic culture and theire themnes. No one has a problem with that? Try relocating Acorn-munching Akon idiot's show there.
First I must tell you that the values of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka .It's the cultural heritage of the great hydro-civilization which spanned for 25 centuries.
Who are you Westerners to pass judgements on our culture and values?
The liberal Western culture that boasts so much about 'freedom of expression' can't tolerate the word
"nigger".Will Akon who is an African-American be comfortable with that word if someone used it on him."It's a taboo word",he would say!
Will a Jew be comfortable with the display of Nazy symbolism?How many famous people had to apologoze because they imitated the Nazi salute,in a pranky context?
Can you go to the free West and deny Holocaust in public?There are laws to put you in prison if you do!
"It's hypocracy",somebody might say."there are enough & more immoral things in Sri Lanka",somebody might say.Yes the Govt. of Sri Lanka is fighting Western hipocricy WITH HIPOCRICY!The guardians of human rights want to prosecute Sri Lanka for "war crimes",because some civilians got caught in the cross-fire when the LTTE terrorists were put to rest in peace.And it appears that we should believe that these guardians of human rights carried out their warefare in a saintly and exemplary manner where NO CIVILIANS GOT KILLED.
We are supposed to believe when Christiana Amanapour screems "Bloody Murder" on CNN that only Sadam,PolPot and Al-Basheer committed genocide.
We have to believe that Eisonhover didn't commit genocide when he atomic bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki and killed 80,000 in one stroke.(as opposed to Saddam's chemical bombing of Kurds)May be those are not human beings!We also have to go by their statement
"We regret the human casualties,due to unavoidable circumstances",when the Western Sahibs razed two countries to the ground in their 'War against Terror'!
This is how we counter the Western hypocracy.We counter it with hypocricy!We send that message loud and clear to the hypocrites in the West!
In fact Akon or any other noise maker can even have naked dances around their religious symbols.Why is he coming to Sri Lanka?Can Ahamadenijaad go to Israel and deny Holocaust?
The author’s view that places of religious worship should ease-up on dress codes or patron behaviors on account of financial considerations is unhealthy to both, the patrons as and these holy places.
I know of no religious place of worship on this planet that does not allow entry to most anyone – including by some of the most rigid orthodox churches such as the Great Mormon Church of Salt Lake City, which I visited many times while living in that city for a brief period.
Be they Christian based churches, Jewish synagogues, Buddhist temples, Hindu kovils, Muslim mosques, or other places of worship, those who run and manage these have a moral duty to ensure that these holy places are not abused and/or disrespected by their visitors.
Accordingly, as they should, many of these have implemented rules for dress codes and behaviors and some like the Hindu kovil that my family occasionally visit in California suggests that patrons not attend it if they have consumed meats within the last 24 hours – fair enough!
The author’s justification that it is OK to wear provocatively to a Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka because our ancestors walked around half-naked is also irrelevant because the display of flesh in the two separate time frames depict different social meanings – then an accepted norm and the contemporary one, sexual provocation.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with sexual provocations as long as such behaviors are performed in an appropriate place, perhaps like a discotheque or nightclub – where Akon’s music is often blasted. However, with regard to this controversial matter the author is quite correct that this has hurt Sri Lanka’s image more than it has helped.
Akon’ matter is yet another example of Sri Lanka’s most persisting fundamental problem: her incapacity to integrate inevitable ‘new’ ways and values with those of the traditional ‘old’ ones – so that both can thrive alongside for the benefit of all Sri Lankans. The primary reason for this incapacity is the rigid conservative thinking of Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalists.
Their inflexible views were the key reasons that gave rise to the “Sinhala-only” policies of the 1950’s – which dumped English as a language of educational instruction in schools and made Sinhala the national language. These policies, in addition to alienating Tamils, also created a new generation of radical Sinhalese youth educated in the Arts but non-conversant in English.
The latter’s non-marketability in a English-influenced global economy led to a 10-year bloody uprising and furthermore, the Tamil’s alienation led to another 35 years of war with the LTTE; the common root cause for both: the inflexibility and intolerance of the majority Sinhalese Buddhists.
Going forward, the Sinhala Buddhists have a choice. We can either learn from our past mistakes and make the necessary remediations or continue to be rigid and stupid.
Until time we recognize that our survival as a distinct ethno-religious people is wholly dependent on our capacity to not only tolerate but embrace those who are unlike us – Tamils, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Catholics, Jews, the West, the East, Akon, and bikini-clad babes – we will only make sure the acceleration of our extinction.
Just ask yourself this simple question: has the rigidity of our Sinhalese-Buddhist nationalism helped preserve Sinhalese culture, Theravada Buddhism and made the Sinhalese people more spiritually enlightened and economically prosperous OR have our beliefs nearly bankrupted us in relation to other
Asian nations? A rational assessment to this should provide an honest answer and the incentives for change.
Akon and the videos producers have not done anything intentionally to desecrate Buddha or Buddhism. It’s the rigid Sinhala Buddhists nationalists who once again have over-reacted and the government mismanaged the incident making it a lose-lose proposition for the Lankans and the Americans.
Dushy Ranatunge is right - the world is watching, and this has hurt Sri Lanka in the eyes of Americans (and US companies planning with foreign direct investments there) than most Lankans would like to acknowledge.
hey guys who are living in western world should know Sri lanka is sri lanka. can not compare with any other screwd up nations. Sri lanka has one of the best fine arts from zero to very high iq s to enjoy endless. based on great hindustani arts developed by vedas in anciant India. not with drugs and alkohol.If you are in the west you go with the west my freind. Be a little brown donkey and enjoy rap rap rap. ha ha haa................
I hope Mr Dushy has great knowledge of Buddhism. If that so, you may remember this story about Buddha too. When Buddha was on his way to enlighten, mara duthikawo: Thanha, Rathi, Raga (sexy female dancers with music) performed dances in front of him to break his ‘Danaya’ (concentration) but Buddha was never obstructed by these dancers/events.
Why Dushy you and your so-called Buddhist hypocrates were so ignorant? Buddha is the one of the greatest philosophers/religious leaders who practiced and preached tolerance to the world. Please re-study Buddhism and be a good Buddhist who realizes that everything is in this world is momentary/ impermanent (siyalla anithayi).
“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? “
“To understand everything is to forgive everything”
Buddha
I hope people who defend the government actions have knowledge of Buddhism. If that so, you may remember this story about Buddha too. When Buddha was on his way to enlighten, mara duthikawo: Thanha, Rathi, Raga (sexy female dancers with music) performed dances in front of him to break his ‘Danaya’ (concentration) but Buddha was never obstructed by these dancers/events.
Buddha is the one of the greatest philosophers/religious leaders who practiced and preached tolerance to the world. Please re-study Buddhism and be a good Buddhist who realizes that everything is in this world is momentary/ impermanent (siyalla anithayi).
“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? “
“To understand everything is to forgive everything”
Buddha
Sri Lanka is becoming land of Taliban not only who destroyed Buddha Statues but also Buddha’s great teachings.
what some of the Sri lankans domiciled overseas do not realize is that much harm has been caused to our culture,and life styles by the unsavoury western influences that have infiltrated,over time ,on our shores.It is not their concern but we need to halt it even at this late hour. It is now or never.
The writers should be aware that sheer nakedness or bare bodiednes as depicted in old drawings have no vulgar strain about them and are not the equivalent of nudist clubs or nudist groups, hailed as mans' freedom of choice, in the West.
Hot pants? You can't go into a st.Peter's church in Vatican even with a skirt just over your knees. Not only vatican but any of the churches in Italy allow that kind of dress. Very TALIBAN STYLE dress code isn't it?
DA VINCI CODE film was banned in Sri Lanka by a taliban style buddhist government on the request of taliban minded buddhist extremists. Poor christian liberals were denied a chance to watch an exiting film about the church.
Dushy:
Look at the types you were trying to do some good.
How can we convince these troglos the publicity Akon's visit would have brought SL tourism would have meant many million dollars. Akon sang and wrote for Michael J, Eminem and is in the Super League of the global music industry.
He is one of the greatest and most sought after song-writers in the world. Sure you don't accept the JHU - self-claimed keepers of the Buddhist psyche and the conscience of us all - to know this reality.
All some of those Mullahs do is to put a tot every night and curse the Mathata Tittha. That night club down Horton Place you refer to is patronised by young so-and-so who watches Anar Akasha less scantily and...and..and.. worse things than the Akon video showed.
Surely, Achala, the tourist boss knows only street demonstrations and his deputy Mustapha - the young briefless barrister - know less about how to bring in the tourist traffic. Sometimes its best to let the rotters stew in their own soil.
As to Devinda, I might not like what he writes and stands for. But the guys got style and swagger.
He lights up these columns with his BS - a necessary evil as you say in those Clubs down Pall Mall/Mayfair.
ISS
First of all every article about this person is unnecessary waste of time. It was ok to publish them in the earlier stages just to aware the concerns and comments but for this such long time about this man what important about him more than mind your own business?
Denying or allowing some body to come to SL is completely a matter to be decided by the controller for immigration, just like we Sri lankans get blankly refused to enter western countries although fulfilling all neccessary criteria. So sorry Akon .try next time.
As for the dress code, any decent tourist will respect the local traditions and they are well warned before hand, so if they are turned down, buy a XL pair of shorts from across the road and come back. Whats the big issue.
The auther is simply trying to manupulate on an unneccessary issue. You cannot compare dress code 100 yrs ago and now, thats an absurd arguement. I am 100% sure that there's no problem what so ever with westerners regarding above, and only these kalu suddas who want to turn Sri Lanka in to Hippyland.
Ex-pat from UK
For Sinhalese Buddhist losers, the West and American pop culture, remain the single convenient scapegoat for all of their gigantic failures in every sphere of life, social, economic and political.
It is not the Western influences but the self-serving adoption of these that have caused the Sri Lankan nation its nightmares.
In politics, they have adopted a poor emulation of Jeffersonian democracy to create a dictatorial constitution that empowers the chief executive to be above the law of the land; in the economy, they have turned Keynsian economics upside-down to yield one of the most inefficient, counter-productive and corrupt economic system that has caused the once proud Sinhalese women to become the largest maid force of the world, their meager remittances being the 2nd largest foreign exchange earner component (35%) of the nation!
And in the 1st largest foreign exchange earner component, in the garment industry, the proud Sinhalese women toil as seamstresses tailoring skimpy bikinis for the likes of Akon’s models. In the social front, Sri Lanka is ranked as one of the highest alcohol consumption nations along with a high rate in suicides.
Let's not even talk about the sexual abuses of women that happen daily in public buses traversing in the Sinhalese heartland or the regular incidents of incest in Sinhalese villages.
These ills are not because of the West rather due to very un-Buddhist like policies adopted by successive Sinhalese-Buddhist dominated governments - that have economically and socially bankrupted the Lankans.
A nation that is already far behind rest of Asia, it is indeed now or never – for the Sinhalese Buddhists to take a good look at themselves in the mirror, and not repeat the same idiotic errors.
Pure Anti Buddhist Tamil views..
HEY FONSEKA
i AM BACK AGAIN TO WATCH YOUR
FLIP FLOPS ON WARCRIMES
THAN AKON.
IN RESPECT OF YOUR PAST
ADVENTURES,I DECIDED TO NAME
MY BACK ALLY BREW WHICH I USED TO CALL MOON SHINE,
SWEET FONSY.
16 OZ CAN JUST $1.34.
Mr Dushy
You may have become the voice of the westerners. But remember there are still lot of colombians (like me) who respect our culture and religions. Just because Buddhism preaches tolerance it does not mean you have to let every Tom, Dick and Harry mess around with our values.
At the moment because of journalists like you we are speeding towards disaster, very soon we would also be a country where AIDS will be a fore runner as the course of death and may be another Bangkok or Thailand where people will come to fulfil their sexual greeds for cheap money ( as this business is very expensive in the west).
We have to work together to save our culture and our society from being a victim of the open economy so that our future generations will still be able to talk about our proud culture with dignity hundreds of years later.
As a journalist it is your maoral duty to show to the world our rich heritage and culture and to show the entire world that just because famous people like Akon and his dancers strips naked and dances like animals we will not embrace it as a modern high class acts.
We must show we still like our lasses to dress modestly and behave in the most feminine way and our men are more responsible than the west could ever be.
Hey Ranatunga, why don't you visit the Vatican. Still they ban and check the length of female dresses entering the Vatican. Decent attire is required to enter the Vatican. Get your facts first before condemning any religion. Buddhism (the philosophy) respects all religions. Thanks!
Henry
Dear Dushy,
I read your article and I found it very interesting, especially with the current Colombo elite mindset that strongly condemns Akon's rejection.
I too belong to that category, where me and most of my pals went to international schools and then to the States or the U.K. for our higher education. But off the 18-20million that populate our island, we are probably 2-3% of that. 12000 tickets were sold, a high percentage bought by foreigners and the rest went to the Colombo elite.
They bought 100-200$ tickets, equal to twice or thrice a common man's salary in Sri Lanka. We then go party it up with our girl/boyfriends, in the latest BMW and have blast. Yet, we fail to realize how soon that sense of the Sri Lanka identity we are loosing. My generation at least is losing its identity very fast. We have to accept it DushY, Sri Lanka is predominantly a Buddhist country.
It can also be labeled a religious country, accommodating whatever beliefs that people have. Buddhism or any other religious belief for that matter is sacred and regarded highly in our part of the world. Buddhists wear pure white clothes, kneel down and pray in front of this Buddha Stupa. Men and Women are both asked to dress appropriately, especially when attending a temple, because their stances when worshipping require descent clothing that do not show off unwanted parts of their physique.
This is not "TALIBAN" clothing. This is attire that suits an appropriate place-- "a place of worship". What happened 2000years ago in places like Sigiriya with the topless women is a part of our culture..but the during the early 19th century we were ruled by European colonist..What are you trying to bring out by comparing this to women in Bikini’s and a “SEXY BITCH” music video in the 21st century?
Unlike Americans or English for that matter our culture is a conservative one. We are brought up that way, respecting our elders and our parents with our own social norms and ideals about things. The Majority of our people do not head to night clubs or party like the Colombo Elite does. It is not whether the majority of the people have seen or know "AKON" .
It is more about ethics and how appropriate his actions with regard to our society. Please do not mix up certain branches of Buddhism practiced in the West with that of South Asia. If you are talking about Mahayana Buddhism then hats off to you, but that in Sri Lanka is Theravada.
Unlike some Jihadists who quote verses off the "Quran" please do not do that off the "Dhammapada" and twist a man's rendition of what is acceptable and what is not. Sri Lanka is the not the UK or the U.S.
If a Buddha statue is used in gardens in the West let them use it in such a way. But when any alien visits a country, that person has to respect its laws and views of that country. Akon probably is just a part of a bigger wheel, but he is the Image of this wheel.
Relations between the Burmese Military Junta and the Sri lankan Government is to do with politics. So is everything between Karuna Amann and the Government. Why do everyone mix politics with a pop icon?
So what…these “Champions” did not stand up against the military Junta. They also did not harm and Buddha Statues? The clashes between the government and the monks in Burma, were to do with their own internal problems. That is not relevant to our society. On the contrary, Akon is.
Thank you,
Ranga
*** For Sinhalese Buddhist losers, the West and American pop culture, remain the single convenient scapegoat for all of their gigantic failures in every sphere of life, social, economic and political. ***
So Dias, Let me get this right,... If we embrace the MTV Music of GYRATING SIMULATED SEX on STAGE and our Childred grow up like those of the WEST who now willingly Embrce the WESTERN VALUES that these MUSIC VIDEOS SELL US... such as:
FAST CARS,
FAST WOMEN,
PROMISCUOUS SEX and GROUP SEX,
DRUG USE,
CONTEMPT FOR THE LAW,
OBJECTIFICATION AND DEGRADATION OF WOMEN,
MATERIALISM,
and NIHILISM,...
Then will we be as "FREE" and "SUCCESSFUL" as these WESTERN COUNTRIES that used their Armed forces to CONQUER our people, subjugate them to SLAVERY and REAP our Land's Wealth and assets....?
Oh GOODIE! I can't wait....!
LOL! If you think its DEMOCRACY and FREE MARKET ECONOMICS that are holding our country back you are DUMB DOG CHASING HIS TAIL IN CIRCLES.
So-Called Industrialized Nations are the way they are now because of the CONQUERING EXPLOITATIVE EMPIRES they had before. They "DEVELOPED" themselves because our ancestors possessed the same FOOLISH NAIVE LACKEY MENTALITY that you do, and they bowed to the INVADERS instead of RESISTING them. They "DEVELOPED" themselves at OUR Cost! Now look at you, you are the same as your LACKEY Ancestors,... COMPLACENT OBEDIENT DOGS SITTING BESIDE YOUR MASTERS HEELS and BARKING FOR HIM on his command! Embracing the WEST TO YOUR BOSOM like a good COLONIAL LACKEY.... You sit there blaming your own people for not BENDING OVER AND GRABBING THEIR ANKLES in the manner which you do. You think the answer to success is to EMULATE the Culture of your WHITE MASTERS... as if what they did to get to where they are now came from their actions today????
Take a look in the Mirror Dias, See your EMPTY SOULLESS and MISGUIDED LIFE for what it is. You are a NOBODY in the WHITE MAN's LAND. You can only carry their PASSPORT, but you will NEVER be a part of them; not by working for them, not by living in their neighborhoods, and not by Marring their daughters...
That is the TRUTH, now call me a LIAR.
*** Akon's visit would have brought SL tourism would have meant many million dollars. Akon sang and wrote for Michael J, Eminem and is in the Super League of the global music industry. ***
Ah Good Ol' Senguttavan,
Once again you Willing BEND OVER and GRAB your ANKLES OBEDIENTLY in the hopes the WHITE MAN pays you a Visit. You and your COLONIAL LACKEY generation has past its prime in Sri Lanka. Face it you are a dying breed. Its time a more PROUD and ESTEEMED generation of our people take the Helm. INDEPENDENCE left you Poor HOUSE_TRAINED PETS of the British without a means to fend for yourself, so you hobbled back to try and find your Masters... instead of finding your own way.
and FYI... if you actually bothered to do your research you will see that most of the Hotels are FULLY BOOKED this season. And NEXT YEAR will be even better... So don't worry about the LOST TOURISM from your MTV IDOL not being allowed to grace our country with his GODLIKE PRESENCE... we're doing just fine.
(Oh by the way, just curious, do you have any daughters? Do they Listen to AKON? JAY-Z ? LUDACRIS? PUFF DADDY? or FIFTY CENT? I wonder if you would approve if they dressed like those women in those videos? Would you like your teenage Daughter getting "DRY HUMPED" on stage by this Self Professed "SPIRITUAL MAN" that AKON is...? )
I wait for the day an image of gods is printed on women's underwer and beach slippers, i wait for the day akon makes a video with his sexy bitches in front of gods, I wait for the day when gods head is fixed to an iron rod and keep it on a coffee table to decorate the living room, I wait for the day a picture of god is printed on a pack of condoms... not to insult gods or religions, simply to see how the reaction is...
"yes the same hypocrites are the ones who allowed to built Kovil's in buddhist temples, those are the same hypocrites who removed the cow from Sandakada Pahana out of respect to hindus... these are the same hypocrites who hid the tamils during tamil massacre."
Well, obviously the implication here is that the right-thinking Sinhalese should have let the massacre continue or assisted it.
The whole paragraph smacks of the worst kind of racism, and not many people even commented on it. Admittedly, it is a side-issue, but I would have thought somebody found it serious enough to comment.
Pissu Poosa, please go air your views in UN. and let your people deny genocide of Tamils the next day. The world will know the truth, and prostrate before the new super power Sri Lanka, and accept their right to genocide Tamils and lie blatantly about it. It is all very Bhuddist, naturally.
Dushy Ranatunga is right.This country that was very liberal upto the time of Dudley had changed.Lack of proper governance and economic policies had been replaced by purile acts.Go on pilgrimage either to Kataragama,Anuradhapura, you will find liquor and meat a sine quo non, among the pilgrims.Only once I was asked to declare that I had no liquor with me- that was going to Situlpawwa, and by the army.No body objects to liquor drugs women and boys for sex being found aroud places of worship.
I disagree with Ranatunga in the question of dress.The present culture had made the exposed tops ( the neck and the breasts) and the exposed bottoms ( the thighs) and the body curve of women an erotic signal.Thus expecting the pilgrims to cover is reasonable.I would not expect any young female to climb Siripada, Sigiriya in a short frock.
I have a friend, who told me that when he kneels on the pew, the exposed legs of the female in front use to energise him.
Having said that I say that the JHU is another Taliban.The Buddhist priests renounce worldly assets, but they travel about in the most luxury vehicle.In fact some of them have blakened out the glasses, which is against the laws of this country.
We are living in a fools paradise.The socalled Colombian and others will have to pay for all this as they did at the Tsuinami.Note the places that were not destroyed by the Tsuinami included Buddhists places of worship along the coast ( where there were no resident monks)the Seenigama Devale ( Hindu?),The Kali and Sooniyam Devale near the Galle Naval yard.At Ratgama, and at Hikkaduwa the old structures were saved but not the newer constructions.
Upali W.
I saw the workd Taliban 6 time in your document. do you enjoy provoking people or society?
And some one to be called "old boy"?
Whats you moral background?
The auther may never had visisted to Far Estern counteries like Thailand, Japan or even in China. There are certain rules might ofend or dislike of western people but some time thoese rules associated with the culture even. I beleive in case of Akon it is respect to some ones culture and religion. Let it be any other religion. Crossing that border I beleive it is one's dignity to be tolerated. So in many aspect the view of auther is not write. Especially in asia our culture and the history run for more than 2500 regardelss of what our religion is now. Non of our relatives would have tolarated such an action.
G'Day to you Mr. Fernando.
Mate I dont want to get involved in this AKON stuff where all you people against him performing in SL has no logic to your arguments. However please dont make personal comments against other users on this forum (A Little Brown Nobody?)
Mate our freaking tax money rescues your so freaking sacred ego. So how about have a little respect for Sri Lankans living in other countries such as Dushy. Besides (FYI) Western societies has a better culture than you people.
I doubt very much whether the Church or Kovil would have allowed the girl in if she was wearing a swimsuit or bikini. It is just a matter of degree you see. The standards of required dress at Dambulla are higher than those at Madhu. It's as simple as that. Nothing to do with Buddhist fundamentalism, Taliban etc.
Akon is a native born Senegalese (West AFRICA) and is a Muslim. As such, he had to know that his video was undoubtedly sacrilegious. I seem to remember that he was also accused of doing something that enraged Christians. If all this was done at the expense of his own Islamic faith, he knows very well that the result would have been a fatwa.
Having said all the above, Talibanism has definitely crept into Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and the religion heavily politicized. The writer does make a very strong point about the perceived disrespect towards the Buddha when tourists wearing shorts (men and women both) enter the dalada maligawa. I suppose the women depicted in the Sigiriya frescos would never have been allowed to visit a temple!
Dushy Dear Boy,
As a Liberal British subject would you send your daughters in the weekends to the Buddhablue Night Club in UK to gyrate in front of the large statue of Lord Buddha? But then what parents like you probably do not know were aspects like drug trading, drug taking, school girls being prostituted in this Club under the very statue. Here is the result: (visit: http://www.buddhablue.co.uk/ and read what happened to those who abuse the Buddha by such “liberal” activities. It says “Due to increasing pressure from local authorities, Buddha Blue has taken the decision to cease trading. Unfortunately, we became a victim of our own success after building a credible nightclub that attracted people from far to Milton Keynes together with internationally renowned names such as Ne-Yo. Unfortunately, this success was not welcome by those in charge who were able to use their power to make trading virtually impossible.
“Many people will be delighted to see the back of Buddha Blue, mostly those that never set foot inside the venue, but many of you will be as sad as we are. Therefore, I would like to thank you for your support, remember the good times and I hope we meet again sometime soon. I’m sure we will.”)
Oh! my heart bleeds for them. So now, where are British Liberalists' daughters going to have a good time? Will they be attending AKON concerts instead?
Stop treating Sri Lankans like an old Haamu from an old and decrepit Walawwe treating the village hoi polloi. Times are a changing Dushey. Get back to nursing the mentally retarded Britishers which was your previous job?
Leave Sri Lanka to us hoi polloi and I mean the real Sinhalese and the Tamils here. We will sort our transient problems. Help and patronage? No Thanks Podi Haamu.
As for your entertainment to the offspring of Liberal British parents you could start an Allahblue Night Club without alcohol but the Burkha as compulsory for women and the Hookah pipes for the men to watch the women dancing. You may invite AKON unless Shariya Law prevents such entertainers in the Muslim Night Club. Somehow the British public will not demand that it be closed unlike the Buddhablue Nightclub.
Fernando,
Tell me 5 things you have done against LTTE terrorism? You are silent.
All you do is make normal Tamils go against Sinhalese with your racists B.S .
I think you either being paid by LTTE networks to push Tamils further towards LTTE or you are a purely retardo.
Which one is correct?
The government banned The Da Vinci Code because it offended Sri Lankan Christians
The governmetn banned The Last Temptation because it offended Sri Lankan Christians
The government banned Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses because if offended Sri Lankan Muslims
The government deported a Tamil Nadu Muslim preacher because a particular sect of Sri Lankan Muslims found what he said offensive
And Akon was denied a visa because his video was offensive to Sri Lankan Buddhists
So, can someone tell me what is the big deal?
Try and understand the feelings of the Buddhists over this issue. Imagine if half naked women were dancing around a statue of gods... how would you feel? Each religion deserves respect and it was completely wrong of Akon to use the Buddha statue in this way. I think the government was correct in denying him a Visa. The right message was sent which resulted in Akon even releasing a press release.
Those who don't know Dushy, who was someone relentlessly fought against LTTE before some of you onliners, facebookers, twitters were born.
I am a Sinhalese Buddhist. I am proud about the Buddhist part, not the other.
Sinhala Buddhist culture is one of the most confused and hypocrite cultures you find around and I fight with that all the time.
Akon should have been banned due to poor taste in his videos according to good Sinhalese Buddhist (and even Tamil/Islamic) cultural values. Look how we degrade Buddhism today being Sinhalese Buddhists?
If our morals are bad, how can we expect good morals from outsiders?
Buddhism is a Religion in Sri Lanka and it has very little inspiration from Buddha Dhamma. That Buddhist religious culture is hypocritical. It can accommodate violence, corruption, stealing, thuggery, and you name it.
No one can insult Buddhism (rather Buddhist Philosophy). Buddhism needs no protection or guardians. Those who guard Buddhism have no idea what Buddhism is. If you have a laptop and don't have any idea, can you still guard it? Of cause. But, for what purpose?
No tourist ever complains about having to wear appropriate dresses when entering religious places anywhere, either they are in Sri Lanka, India or for that matter in Italy. They understand that one has to respect religious and cultural sensibilities of each society that they are visiting. It is our Kalu Suddas who after spending a few years in a place like London that suddenly becomes more more "western" than the native born. One wonders if this writer who suddenly erupted in outrage over injustice done to ARKON and his Sri Lankan fans has ever watched an ARKON video or even knew who ARKON was before he heard that Sri Lankan government has banned him.
Heaven forbid, Sri Lankan Buddhism is only a thinly disguised from of Talibanism and Mahinda Rajapaksha is Mulla Omar in a national dress. Spread the news! And by the way, I think the recent allegations of sexual abuse of boys by Catholic priests in US, Ireland and Germany is just a cunning scheme hatched by that Talabanic Buddhist government in Sri Lanka to discredit Roman Catholicism and undermine the western society. I am sure if one were to trace that back to the source, it would lead straight back to the rock temple of Dambulla in Sri lanka, where they don't even allow 11 year old girls to enter the temple premises with shot dresses.
Let's have a conversation about how to promote SL tourism from this controversial incident.
Can we promote SL tourism by not being a prostitute to the west?
Akon culture is not embraced by traditional American values. They are being mostly served by Country and Gospal music.
Sri Lanka should appeal to quality tourists around the world. The only way to do that is by creating a quality society within Sri Lanka. That has to come from developing basic human rights for most people. Let them come and experience us without altering our lifestyle. Why we need to be like Caribbeans to attract tourism? We have a culture (even though most of us are not practicing it) and we need to promote it from Top Down.
When an urban leader wins a seat and goes to the parliament, he is being absorbed by the corrupt and immoral Colombian culture. That culture will prostitute event heir parents and children to make money. We have created many Akon within us. We deeply care about our culture and don't really know how to fix it. If we care about our culture that much, we shouldn't be promoting tourism.
Perhaps it is time to adapt Bhutan model for tourism.
Devindra Fernando had been constantly abused by white guys for being a brown boy. THis is where his hatred towards whites come from.
The AKON episode has highlighted to us in SL that in some countries the Lord Buddha statue is used as garden ornaments and other decoration. This is what we should ban. The Theravada Buddhist establishment in SL should take ownership of the image of Lord Buddha and protect it from commercial exploitation and inappropriate use by registering it as copyrighted. Then it will not be used without prior permission, just like any other form of copyright, in any country. Then we will not have these arguments and misunderstandings.
In Sri Lanka, in the name of Buddha you can kill a non-buddhist and deny him/her the freedom and understanding he/she needs in difficult moments. But they can't tolerate Buddha's stute being used for any other purpose.
We call this a pure Buddhism not practices in any other parts of the world but only in Sri Lanka. We show love and kindness to all other living being either crawling, or walking on four legs but we can not like anyone who belongs to other race or religion.
….. Can we promote SL tourism by not being a prostitute to the west? ….
Good one by Lanka Guy!
Now we can understand the double standard of the policy makers. Government is just using this AKON saga for some unknown issues.
… Lord Buddha statue is used as garden ornaments and other decoration.…
For the guy who wants to ban using Lord Buddha for commercial purposes, well you might have to get permission first from your old friend India and then from your new business partner China.
For your information, all cheap 1$ statues of Lord Buddha are made in China.
It is sad (but obvious) how each and every news that has a negative impact on Sri Lanka is being amplified and redundantly debated by those who are filled with hatred but act as innocent gentlemen. It is equally sad that certain extremist fractions in SL also converted a peaceful protest into violence,probably for petty political gains.They are just giving excuses to those who want to condemn SL as a country and project
the images of Sinhalse Buddhists as culturally and socially intolerant group. Yes, there are those of with extreme opinions who commit stupid acts and they may find their voice under different political cultures, but if you have been in SL with your mind an eyes open, you'll see overall how people with different ethnic groups live in peace overall as a nation.In the areas where there is no mixing of ethnic groups,politicians and some religious leaders have resorted to extremism as a way of survival. Unfortunately the extremists everywhere are the most vociferous thus are able to tarnish the true picture and brainwash future generations leading to relentless conflicts.
Stop the hate.It leads to nothing. Be open minded. People are nice , caring and understanding when you are well fed and taken care of.Put these people in the shoes of those who are poor and depressed, you'll wonder where that good nature went. Let the country develop and people get more political power, you'll find very few people the extremists can manipulate.
Dear Ranga Wimalasuriya,
Your response to Dushy was well-written and far better than the rubbish dropped here by Devinda Fernando and others.
I'm not particularly upset that Sri Lanka lost the opportunity to host Akon and his "bitch/hoe" lyrics. If the protests concerned his poor use of language for women, then I think there would be far less reaction to his visa denial.
What is troublesome is the idea that a certain clique with political connections has the authority to determine what is Buddhist and what isn't. Contrary to what you claim, the Akon issue most certainly involved politics and therefore can be placed alongside the hypocrisy of hosting anti-Buddhist Burmese generals. There are slews of corrupt, violent politicians who excuse their behavior because they are devout Buddhists. Mervyn Silva is the best-known currently but 30 years ago it was Cyril Mathew who coordinated the murder of thousands of Tamils with JR's connivance.
Rejecting a nobody like Akon is one thing. But will we extend the same treatment to people who, for example, deliver honest critiques of Buddhism (or more likely how it is practiced in SL)?
Dear Dushy,
You clearly have never been to South India, where in most places Westerners are not allowed to even step foot inside temples. In Kerala they take things one step further by refusing to admit males who are wearing a shirt. I have been to other temples in N. India where women were not allowed at all.
Recently we were subjected to the revolting episodes of Mahinda and Sarath photographed in Nallur temple without their tops. The picture of topless Bogollagama was the most hideous (Mahinda at least had the courtesy to hitch up his vetti to conceal the lower abdominal problem area). Do Jaffna temples have the same requirement for males' attire as in Kerala?
India doesn't need to sacrifice its culture to cater to foreign tourists because its economy is booming. Perhaps that is the most valuable lesson to draw from this Akon episode.
Lankan_guy , WELL SAID BROTHER!
I don't know what the fuss is all about with AKON. One of the hurdles the Buddha had to overcome just before he reached enlightenment was to overpower the allure of dancing women (Niliyan ge Vikara)- one does not know if the women were scantily clad, but the principle is that he overcame it by personal and inner discipline. He did not banish the women!!!. To me this is the true essence of Buddhism and unfortunately our motherlnd seems to be ruled by persons who do not seem to understand this.
As I understand it Buddhism is about self discipline...if what AKON did angered some pople (unfortunately some monks as well) they might have done better to remember Niliyan ge Vikara and let Akon go ahead with his show, he might have even understaood our culture once he was in the country and apologised on his own accord..to me this is the path of Buddhism...I think all these angry comments come from people who are ignorant of the pristine teachings.
Naluwa!
AKON's live program is a conspiracy aimed to tarnish the cultural purity, religious values and moral excellence of SL
The attempted cultural invasion is a grave threat to the unparalleled moral fabric of the great country.
As the sole custodian of Buddhism in its purest form, SL has every right to protect, defend and nourish the religious moorings.
Export of moral values to the caribbean island of Haiti stands as a mute testimony to the unblemished credentials of SL.
Hi everyone,
I appreciate All the comments. I mean it, ALL.
I have been told by several mothers in Colombo, that if they dress trousers and go to government schools to pick up their children, they are not allowed in, as the school insists that they wear sari.
Can you explain this madness.
I have been told by several ladies who work for government offices that if they go to work wearing trousers there is hostility and that they are forced to wear sari because of this behaviour.
Can you explain this talabanism?
Perhaps they should insist that the men abandon trousers and wear sarong? or even Amude?
regards
Dushy
dushy ,
Keepwrite these kind of second rate articles.you are soo rude to use 'talibaan' term.your intention is bit dirty.you know that.
Devinda Mahattaya
With respect to your comments to Dias mahattaya (see below)...I seriously recommend you try smoking ganja and group sex..it will help you relax..budu ammo..they way you write you sound highly strung and stressed..if this is not possible why don't you take the example from Madonna and try some masturbation??
(wouldn't advise the crucifix...but surely you have a good pair of hands!!)
Wela Point
"So Dias, Let me get this right,... If we embrace the MTV Music of GYRATING SIMULATED SEX on STAGE and our Childred grow up like those of the WEST who now willingly Embrce the WESTERN VALUES that these MUSIC VIDEOS SELL US... such as:
FAST CARS,
FAST WOMEN,
PROMISCUOUS SEX and GROUP SEX,
DRUG USE,
CONTEMPT FOR THE LAW,
OBJECTIFICATION AND DEGRADATION OF WOMEN,
MATERIALISM,
and NIHILISM,...
Then will we be as "FREE" and "SUCCESSFUL" as these WESTERN COUNTRIES that used their Armed forces to CONQUER our people, subjugate them to SLAVERY and REAP our Land's Wealth and assets....?"
Oh GOODIE! I can't wait....!
I can vouch that the temple in Dambulla is not 'Taliban-ish' by policy, but the incident referred to here may well have been an isolated one, due to the zealotry of the temple keepers who are mostly old age relics of the area, otherwise unemployable.
The temple itself is run by a priest with a mudalali attitude, who has no problem with the dress code of anyone with cash. These are facts about present day Dambulla well known to those who visit there frequently, and not as an occasional pilgrim or sight-seeing tourist.
The Rajapaksa's are riding the crest of a wave, that is for sure. How long or how far this wave will last remains to be seen, but for all intents and purposes there doesn't seem to be any oppostion to the momentum at the moment.
As ridiculous as it is, the remnants of the shattered opposition, on one side the obsolete relic Ranil and on the other frightening Sarath both demolish hopes of a convincingly effective opposition taking shape soon. In fact both these serve the same 'king' by defeaul, obstructing the emergance of any credible new leadership. The 'king' knows, given enough time, he will be able to groom his own 'Dear Leader' in pure North Korean style, perhaps backed by Chinese money and Burmese thinking and Indian bungling closet diplomacy.
To these people, the next best thing would be a resurgent 'Tamil terrorism'. Or to win the Indians over, a 'LeT terrorism' in the East. Any violence that justifies force projection on the streets will be more than welcome.
Sri Lanka still has the potential to become the next 'Asian Economic Miracle' and Rajapaksa the next Lee Kwan Yew. But we increasingly look more like the next North Korea or a Burma, neither of which should be allowed to happen either by the long suffering Sri Lankans, or the regional super powers.
All people who consider Sri Lanka their home, deserve better.
Sinhalese Buddist radicals are not voters of the centre-left SLFP (currently the major part in government). They vote for minor parties with Sinhalese nationalist tendencies. Although some of these minor parties are currently in the governing coalition, the UPFA, the SLFP is likely to gain a majority in it's own right in the April 8 General Election and will no longer need these extremist votes and the minor party MPs they elect any longer. It is not made clear in the article that hardliners are a minority group within the Sinhalese electorate. By the way, how can you say that centre-left (typically working class) Sinhalese have not heard of Akon? That is just not true. Modern popular culture has a presence in all levels of Sri Lankan society. Look, I understand that some elitist Sinhalese of conservative opinion may be frustrated at their prospects at the upcoming elections, but why not be a gentleman and refrain from tarnishing the other side? Take the high road next time, Mr. Ranetunge.
May I begin by asking that the monotheistic faiths not to be branded by the same "strict" ruling stick. Islam and Christianity (and Judaism) in their purist forms are welcoming, liberal and tolerant ideologies poorly understood by those who wish to follow media influences and dont take the time to understand the faiths for themselves.. Branding Buddhism as the only liberal faith is in it's own right, extremism.
What needs to be understood here is that everyone has a bit of extremism in them - no matter how you look at it, we are all extremists in our own capacity, whether religion, fashion sense, sporting bias, political stance. For Sri Lanka, the issue is that the government that has been elected (however one sees this is to be debated), and they speak for the country on such topics. Who they are influenced by is for the people to dictate. Build you're own future, don't rely on others to build it for you.
Nostradum:
Sri Lanka "as custodian of Buddhism in its purest form"??? Pray tell me, who authorised this custodianship? Were there other contenders too?
Or is it something like properties owned by Tamils in the Cbo area and elsewhere till 1983 where today men of questioable social standing are in their properties claiming ownership/custodianship with "documents" to thse properties. The owners are either "missing" or "left the Island for good".
I know of instances in Kasappa Rd/Cbo 5, Galle Road/Cbo 3 and several other.
As to our exporting out "moral values" to Haiti hundreds of women and their parents there may not agree. They complained to the UN of violent rape and kidnappings by our soldiers there. Have you forgotten?
I must add this may be a a few of the over-sized 200,000 men in our army. Nonetheless, the crime was not committed by individual soldiers as isolated incdients. They were pre-meditated gang rapes and the report issed neither served moral values or the standards of discipline and decency required of a civilised army.
ISS
"FAST CARS,
FAST WOMEN,
PROMISCUOUS SEX and GROUP SEX,
DRUG USE,
CONTEMPT FOR THE LAW,
OBJECTIFICATION AND DEGRADATION OF WOMEN,
MATERIALISM,
and NIHILISM,..."
If these things distract us from more spiritual endeavors like suicide bombing or ethnic pogroms, then I'm all for them!
I am tickled pink reading Mr Devinda Fernando's list of ills that anyone from SL, touching the shores of a western country will be afflicted with.
Just look at the list...
1. FAST CARS, : What is wrong with fast cars? Are cars meant to crawl?
2. FAST WOMEN,: You mean to say, there are no fast women in Sri Lanka?
3. PROMISCUOUS SEX and GROUP SEX, : I have no comment.
4. DRUG USE, : Plenty in SL. It is called Kudu, the panacea for all ills among many, pa5ticularly the poorer segments.
5. CONTEMPT FOR THE LAW, : Ha, surely, doesnt SL top the list??????? How many of our legislators suffer from this malady?
6. OBJECTIFICATION AND DEGRADATION OF WOMEN,: No comment.
7. MATERIALISM,: Isnt this what everyone (particularly our political leaders) who seeks wealth through politics in Sri Lanka is after???
8. NIHILISM,... Cannot comment as I really dont know what that means!
The classic symptom of a "nationalist" is the intolerance towards other nations and other races.
Found this by BalangodaMan on Groundviews relevant to some of the comments here.
Quote
There is a BIG difference between Christianity/Islam and Buddhism.
Christians/Muslims’ religions are primarily based on devotion. Therefore, their reaction to desecration is consistent with their belief system.
Buddhism is not a devotional belief system. It primarily teaches cultivating detachment from the forces that make us have negative feelings (eg. anger).
Therefore, a Christian/Muslim who gets angry at their idols being desecrated is correctly behaving like a good Christian/Muslim.
A Buddhist who gets angry is demonstrating that he is a failed Buddhist.
The Buddhist establishment in SL, if true to Buddhist teachings, should use the AKON issue and the reaction to it as an opportunity to demonstrate to the 70% so-called Buddhists what Buddhism is and how it can benefit us, rather than write articles that misrepresent Buddhism for political gain.
A Sri Lanka newspaper reported to day that a set of goons of Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekone have dismembered the head of a Buddha statue in Galewela and urinated on the statue over a dispute of providing an venue for a political meeting in the premises to one of his own party rival member!
The likes of Devinda Fernando who mobbed even the temple of the most revered tooth-relic would choose to look the other way in this case...because it suits them fine. Way to go Devinda. Keep up the good work.
These so called intolerant Buddhist including monks in Srilanka have no idea of what is Buddhism that is why they are behaving like this. these are the people even destroying other peoples culture willfully. In Jaffna they are promoting blue films and drugs culture and try to destroy Tamils culture also if you look at Nallur temple and its surrounds now you will see this . this hypocracy at its best.Butham saranam gatchami. Davinda Fernando is the prime example.
These so called intolerant Buddhist including monks in Srilanka have no idea of what is Buddhism that is why they are behaving like this. these are the people even destroying other peoples culture willfully. In Jaffna they are promoting blue films and drugs culture and try to destroy Tamils culture also if you look at Nallur temple and its surrounds now you will see this . this hypocracy at its best.Butham saranam gatchami. Davinda Fernando(mad dog) is the prime example.
*** In Jaffna they are promoting blue films and drugs culture and try to destroy Tamils culture ***
TAMILS are very good at the CULTURE of LYING... everyone knows if you want a Blue Film in Sri Lanka .... go to a TAMIL VIDEO SHOP.... these people not only have them but have CHEAP PIRATED COPIES too! Because that is the CULTURE OF TAMILS...
DRUG DISTRIBUTION GANGS, BANK FRAUD, HUMAN SMUGGLING, TERRORISM, CHILD PROSTITUTION, MONEY LAUNDERING, WEAPONS SMUGGLING, CREDIT CARD FRAUD, and a whole WONDERFUL WORLD of CRIME that has now BECOME TAMIL CULTURE.
THAT IS TAMIL CULTURE today... That is what TAMILS have become in their WHITE MASTERS' countries that they WILLINGLY enjoy SECOND CLASS STATUS.
Their BITTERNESS towards the SINHALESE people and their country of Sri Lanka has led them to DESTROY and DEBASE their own culture and Language and MORALITY ... all because they were HELL BENT on Revenge against the SINHALESE.
TAMILS WILL KILL THEMSELVES TO KILL US. THEY WILL KILL THEIR OWN FAMILIES AND THEIR FUTURE TO GET BACK AT THE SINHALESE. That is the Hateful, spiteful, vicious nature of TAMILS. That is what they have BRED into their MINDS and the MINDS of their CHILDREN. That IS their Culture....