Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Rohitha's 27 plus 973 more Golden years for Kalutara!

 Rohitha’s 27 plus 973 golden years for Kalutara.

Kalutara was a golden flower in country’s economic fabric brighter than Colombo a century before colonization. Beruwala had the capacity to receive world’s first ‘Blue Navy’ under Admiral Zheng He of China. From there spices, gems & Elephants etc. were exported to global markets. Tunisian traders operating in the island off Beruwala & many facts are recorded in ‘Selalihini Sandeshaya’. Beruwala still has roads & villages indicating the Chinese link. During colonial rule, local traders settled along the coast & 100 plus colonial era mansions in Panadura indicate the trade surplus. Arthur De Silva Wijesinghe resided at the ‘Richmond Castle’ impressing his in-laws from Panadura. The centre road at Kalutara town introduced by Cholomondeley Goonewardene (MP of the first Parliament & Minister of Public Works) was the first Sri Lankan experience of express ways. Sir Cyril De Zoysa re-invested trade surplus from transport in the human resources in Kalutara & his iconic sthupa indicate the influence of Buddhism. Though there’s no involvement of monks in managing the Kalutara Bodhi Trust, monks of Kalutara have historically been socio-politically active. Veedagama Maithree who crafted to replace Alakeswara of Bandaragama with his nephew was the most notable. Hence, Kalutara has been influencing national politics ever since. Ex Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena, MP of Kalutara celebrated his 27th year in politics & compared it to a century. Being a historic showpiece of ethnic & religious harmony which contributed to economic prosperity, Kalutara witnessed political harmony at Rohitha’s 27th. Despite different views, the event may have given space to ever conflicting Sri Lankans to think of the value of uniting for national economic development. Its proximity to Colombo, Galle & Hambantota ports via rail & expressway connectivity, can make Kalutara once again an economic miracle in the coming centuries. It has a huge potential to repeat history & benefit from China’s Belt & Road. At the event Rohitha’s bond with grass roots & ground reality was valued. The Hainan Province in China is a real world example people & politicians of Kalutara can study to accelerate contribution to national development.

 

Ground reality in Hainan

 

Since 2020 Hainan in South China has been making solid progress in building a high-level Free Trade Port. By December 2022, China's first business environment construction department was inaugurated in Hainan. The credit system it introduced lights up the "traffic light" in government services from project approval, enterprise supervision to protecting the rights & interests of investors. Hainan stats indicate a 50% reduction in approval time for construction projects since 2022. By the end of Q1 of 2024, investor entities have increased by 322% since 2019. Hainan’s global invitation to free trade zones (FTZs) in 2023 has so far attracted 34 FTZs from all parts of the world. Since 2013 China has reduced its investor negative list from 190 to 27. Hainan government recently inaugurated the 5200 meter deep geothermal well to source clean energy to cater to its expanding needs. The 108 meter tall ‘Bodhisatva Guanyin’ statue at Sanya port is taller than the statue of liberty at the NY harbour, USA. It is witnessing how the Chinese are attracting economic prosperity to the predominantly ‘Theravada Buddhist’ island. The Kalutara sthupa would also witness people of Kalutara attracting prosperity to the country as in 1400s if they act accordingly. They can then stand up to say “we are neither indebted nor afraid” (Api Nayath nehe, Bayath nehe).

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Nandasena, Mahinda and the Big Bull Elephant!

 

Nandasena, Mahinda & the Big Bull Elephant!

By Prof. Samitha Hettige

Approx 200 years after the Buddha, Maurya Kings chased King Nandasena & took control. Prominent among them was Ashoka the great. He was a man of action unlike those who spend precious time protesting under the Olcott statue at Fort Railway station. Across the street is the ‘Theosophical Society’ of Ceylon established by Henry Steel Olcott. Theosophists believe that Olcott was the reincarnation of Ashoka. There may be some truth since Olcott was also a man of action. He may have expected Sri Lankan Buddhists go global with his action (the Buddhist schools). Whether Sri Lankan Buddhists kept to his expectations can be analysed by those interested. It is good to re-evaluate how Ashoka’s son Arahath Mahinda attempted to build Sri Lankan capacity on a ‘Poson’ full moon day.     

The Small Elephant.

The first sermon Arahath Mahinda delivered to introduce Buddhism to Sri Lankans was the ‘Chullah-Haththi-Padopama-Sutta' (Aanalysis of the small Elephant’s foot print) (Ref  Mahavansa). It indicates how Mahinda implemented the system to train Sri Lankans to prevent conflicts & be resilient.

He preached; suppose an Elephant hunter was to enter an Elephant forest & see a large Elephant footprint, long & broad. A skilled hunter would not yet come to the conclusion, 'What a big bull Elephant!' Why is that? Because in an Elephant forest there are dwarf female Elephants with big feet. The footprint might be one of theirs.

So he proceeds & sees another large Elephant footprint, long & broad & some scratch marks high up. A skilled hunter would not yet come to the conclusion, 'What a big bull elephant!' Why is that? Because in a forest there can be tall female Elephants with prominent teeth & big feet. The footprint might be one of theirs.

So he proceeds & sees a large Elephant footprint, long & broad, with some scratch marks, tusk slashes high up & broken branches. He sees that bull Elephant at the foot of the tree or walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. He comes to the conclusion, 'That's the big bull Elephant.'

"In the same way, when a Buddha appears in the world, he teaches the Dhamma admirable in its beginning, middle & end. He speaks in season, what is factual, with the goal Dhamma & discipline. His words are worth treasuring, seasonable, reasonable, circumscribed & focused on the goal.

He would teach his followers;

  1. Abstain from damaging life.
  2. Not to take what is not given.
  3. Refrain from sexual act that isn’t ethical.
  4. Abandon false speech.
  5. Abstain from addictive substances.

To his disciples he would say;

  1. Eat once a day, refrain from evening meal & food at the wrong time.
  2. Abstain from dancing, singing, instrumental music, & from watching shows.
  3. Abstain from wearing garlands, from beautifying self with scents & cosmetics.
  4. Abstain from high & luxurious beds & seats.
  5. Abstain from accepting gold & money.
  6. Abstain from accepting uncooked grain, raw meat, women & girls, male & female slaves, animals, birds & fields & property.
  7. Abstain from buying & selling, dealing with false scales, false metals, false measures, bribery, deception, & fraud.
  8. Abstain from mutilating, executing, imprisoning, highway robbery, plunder, & violence.

Just as a bird, wherever it goes, flies with its wings as its only burden, he is content with a set of robes to provide for his body & begged food to provide for his hunger.  Were ever he goes; he takes only his barest necessities along (Ref. Buddhist chronicles).

2024 being an election year, Sri Lankans will have to be wise like the hunter. First they may follow Buddha’s advice to his followers to minimize conflicts within families & the society. They should wisely identify matured to manage the country. Indians & Chinese were exposed to Buddhism & travels of Xuanzang & Bodhidharma contributed to that. They acted like the elephant hunter & are enjoying welfare within market economics. If best managers are picked they shall manage welfare efficiently with South India & the Belt & Road. Those who know welfare but geopolitics may not be fitting.