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OCAL
WOLUME 25 No. 8 AUGUST
Registered as a News
 
 

İSE
99. RS. 5/-
EEKSHALL INHERIT THE EARTH
ultation on BAL THEOLOGY AND/POPULATION
Towards a realistic vision of earth bound EN traditional culture
─། ཡང་ས་ཡོས་ travails

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SOCIAL, USTICE 53
CONTENTS Page
Editorial note 2 Reaping the bitter harvest 3. Consultation oth
global theology of
land/population 5 Towards a realistic vision 9 || "Sanathana Suwada" - songs of
eternal fragrance 11 Repatriation of Asian workers 12 OverheaTid 13 Coral hul Inters threaten
Sri Lanka's reefs 14 Transoport system
in transition - in in 15 Know your rights 17 Present pattern of land use and
policy planning 18 Statistical data on land 19 Relative social status of women ... 21 Native prospect 22
EDITORIAL NORTE
PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COM
We commend strongly the proposal of Mr. M for the appointment of a Select Committee c 23/7/91 - p.3).
It has the advantage of bringing the Govern this issue. A Select Committee of Parliame decide its own working rules and procedure, Government (the President and his secretari
The two main political parties representative SLFP have not agreed on a peaceful constit past 35-40 years. This disagreement and po ethnic disasters since 1956.
The present proposal may be a way in which looking for political advantage for one's Parliament some initiative in the policy I provision for being in dialgoue with politic represented in Parliament.
The on going killings of combattants and ciri
Several other recent killings should impel all resolution of the national question.
 
 
 
 
 

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MITTEE ON NATIONAL CUESTION
Mangala Moonesinghe, SLFP Parliamentarian, of Parliament on the National question. (CDN
ment and the SLFP to a working dialogue on it would have the advantage of being able to unlike the All Party Conference, at which the at) decides the agenda, process and timing.
of the majority community, the UNP and the utional solution to the ethnic issue during the litical rivalry has been a major cause of the
agreement may be reached by them without own party. It can also help give back to making. The Select Committee could make al parties and groups that are not presently
willians at Elephant Pass - not to mention the concerned to give the highest priority to the

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Reaping the
... in the 5t
When the 15th Year of the UNP - CWC coalition care to power in 1977, after seven years of United Front and SLFP rule, there was great expectation among the people for a better future. The Government led by Mr. J.R. Jayewardena promised to usher in "a just and free society' (Dharmista Samajaya),
The Government unilaterally changed the Constitution to a Centralized presidential system to ensure itself adequate powers and a long period of power,
The Economy was liberalized, foreign travel made easy and Sri Lanka was opened to the cultural Winds Of the WOT.
Much has been realized in the past 14 years. Many projects have been implemented; the accelerated Mahaweli development, increase in hydro power, growth in food production, improvement of telecommunications, modernization with high technology, the FTZ, the rural development projects, new Parliament Complex, enhanced facilities at harbour, airport, hotels, distribution of lands to peasants, houses to slum dwellers, spread of university education.
However there are also many serious drawbacks. In the economy there has been hardly any industrial growth, other than in textiles. The free economy has encouraged Sri Lankan Entrepreneurs to be traders rather than producers of new goods, Our public enterprises are being privatized. As there are few Sri Lankans who can buy them, they are being foreignized - as in the case of textiles and Ceylon Oxygen.
The rupee has been devalued in stages from Rs.8/= per dollar in 1977 to Rs. 41 in 1991. The cost of living is rising. The Country's foreign debt has increased from Rs.5 billion in 1976 to Rs. 151 billion ( approx) in 1990, and correspondingly also the debt service charges. The IMF prescriptions followed more faithfully since 1977 have not improved the condition of the poor or the health of the economy. The few who are affluent have prospered more than ever before.
Fourteen years of the open economy policies have not led to any significant improvement in the country's productive capacity in industry. In 1988, at the end of the J.R. Jayewardena era, the UNP admitted large Scale poverty and under nourishment and hence proposed its poverty alleviation policy - the
 

bitter harvest
th year of the UNP
Јапаsaviya.
it will be argued by the apologists for the government that the ethnic crisis prevented the economic growth. Another View, that is not Without foundation, is that the Government's policies including the open economy and the 1982 Referendurn aggravated the ethnic disharmony leading to the i983 explosion. The anti Tamil riots of July 1983 were not without Government Support, of at least nonchalant tolerance of such violence, The political authoritarianism, centralization сf power and govвппmвпt iпterfereпce iпthe electoral process, have been major impediments to a peaceful
Solution of the ethnic Conflict.
Políticaly Pariament has been devalued.. The ConCentration of power and patronage in the Presidency leads to a sense of hero Worship and uncritical acceptance of the dominant Orthodoxy, until one President begins to debunk the sacred cows of his predecessor, long respected as the Oracle of Wisdom, The Country is paying heavily for the unwisdom of the presidential dicta as When he said
"Lette robber barOS COTE ......"
"If it is War, it is War,"
"I will roll the electoral map for 15 years....."
"They are animals, they deserve to be killed..."
Now the country stands badly divided, with a civil war that is draining its life blood and killing thousands of the flower of its youth. Several tens of thousands of youth, specially males, have been killed or "disappeared" during the past decade; over a million refugees.
In foreign policy non-alignment is being abandoned in favour of a pro-Western stance. The USA is expanding its controversial Voice of America station in the Puttalam District. The country is increasingly subserwient to the Western powers, so that it can hardly Support the poorer countries in a struggle against exploitation by the rich ones, or help develop SAARC into a more self-reliant regional body.
Fourteen years is a long period in the life of Todernisation in our very rapidly changing world, When the country has so much of trouble, disagree

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SOCIAT, JUSTICE 53
Tent and conflict after following a given path for 14 years, should Wre Tot ask ourSelves Wirthether there are some basic flaws in tha path taken, the models followed, the options made and in their underlying WalLES?
It is our view, expressed throughout the decades, that a path of development rust take the human person, all persons, as the end and objective of planning and economic activity. If profits are ads their goal and Criterion, humans are neglected, marginalized, alienated and even sacrificed for Toney. Capital, foreign exchange and loans - as the EMF/WB combine often obliges poor countries to accept - should not be the criterion of decision making.
The option for a market economy Should not Leave Cur industries defenseless against competition from abroad. Out industrialization policy II List EnCOLlage the growth of local enterprises. Over the past 14 years foreign companies have captured even our food and soft drinks markets, it is pitlable that We accept a policy of Liselective liberalization of imports, which has not been the background in which other Countries have developed. The USA. the Europeап сопппnunity, and Countris ik Japan and Korea have policies for protecting their dorestic Flarkets for local industries. An uncritical open market policy has not led to scoronic growth of our ind stries despite 14 years of it.
There should be Tore respect for Thoral and social values in economic policies. The Goverties it is DCW trying to defend the country against excesses that were earlier encouraged by it - thus the action against jackpots and casinos. The Government now assures us that it will not allo Av migrant workers, especially in the Middle East, to be exploited as slaves and harassed sexually. This too is 14 years too late - that is a SSLIIT ing the Government Will in fact, take strong action against local and foreign exploiters in this regard. The evils fron an uncritical openness are also in the drugs manace - again benefitting local and foreign drug peddlers. The State has been too lax on many such issues including prostitution - all for the sake of foreign exchange or in pursuit of an unwise openness. We pray that AIDS will not be widespread
Efe,
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION has been so controlled by the Government from appointment of Vice Chancellors to functioning of student societies, that there has been a breakdown within the Universities - alongside the greater disruption in Society. Much healing is required in this sphere too to provide for legitimate university autonomy and student freedom with responsibility.
We have allowed the pollution of the environment, soil erosion on a large scale and deforestation to do damage to nature that must be checked before it is irreversibly it powerished,

We are not advocating a closed economy of al wholesale return to pre 1977 policies. We need to care of our Well founded ECDOT hic de Veloporten based on the type of self reliance encouraged in the Janasawiya progrape. The religious flavour of public pronouncernets rust go and in hand with a concern for Thoral and social values in public policy,
The issue today is concerning the nature and extent of the openness of our patter of economy and society. What is the type of openness that makes for genuine economic growth and what stunts it and Takes the country subserviet and subject to S3Were exploitation as cheap labour, dumping ground for foreign imports. Not all openness is necessarily beneficial to the country and the poor people. We L00LS LL LLLL LL LLLLL S LLLLL L LLLLLLLLLLL S SL accepting a liberal economic policy,
LLLLLLL LLTLCLCCLCCCLC LL LL CLLLLLL LLLLLLLCC CLC0LCTLLLLLLL a in resolving the ethnic conflict by a generous devolution of power to regional units. The Government must take the initiative in this - 14 years is too long a time to fail to come forward with adequately Ileaningful solutions. The Govertiment should, if necessary, educate the Coultry, especially the majority Community to LT.derstand the need for effective power sharing, precisely for preserving the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka. The Country is paying dearly for the failures of all in this regard,
All these indicate Tajor flaws in the package of policies of the Government. Should not a representative and Libia Sed Commission inquire into these and recommend remedies for the common good of all - and even of the ruling parties themselves.
TISSA BALLASLUR TA OMA..
it's up to you LSL0LkLkLCL000LLL u Tu LLLLLL0LLLTT S0ekukL TkOGkuL0 TLLL0LLSSS CPoose fos,7779 – 77779 77áY77ýOA977. LLLCL LLTLk LTGLLL S LTOL Tk00C TLT00S Coase za A2/59Ero-zsesavgui. Coase roA227šse – 727779J77 77792S5Ž7. CAzvao se zo /Fe27V – A2Y77evTf7a7 VoLwzaz CA7oase fogviyes7 = Waffey fŽA7/747/25/2. L/José fr-FC - Sf/Fr FFF LS/EW. Claase aaray - ratheritan aesaal. Coase to forgive - are flata CerS2.
Rev. Norbert Weber, M.S.C.
= -

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The meek and
e inherit til
OWERVIEW OF A ON GLOBAL TI LAND/POPULATIO THE CSR FROM
Whenever two or three are gathered together in a spirit of collaborative goodwill and friendship there is a flow
of much positive and constructive thinking. The effect
is enhanced when the gathering is from many
different environments and geographical zones. At a
recent Consultation on Global Theology on Land,
organised by the Centre for Society and Religion, over
twenty seven participants (this may be considered
"two or three' in the international context), from Seven
Countries, both developing and developed, (India,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia,
USA) a lively airing and exchange of views took place.
This resulted in a cluster of very thought provoking
suggestions for further inquiry into the subject.
The meeting was held at the LaSallian Community Conference Complex, Scenically and peacefully located at the Modera Seaside - an erstwhile elitest location of the city of Colombo.
At an opening session held at the CSR auditorium Fr. Tissa Balasuriya, Director of the CSR, informed the participants of the manner in which the original Concept of Global Theology had surfaced at an international programme at the Maryknoll Centre, USA in 1988. The present meeting was related to it as participants from there were invited to it along with others to continue in the sharing process of VieWS and experiences. This exercise also enabled the CSR to widen and open up its own perspectives. A feature film depicting the theme of the Consultation, produced by the Media Unit of the CSR, further set the mood of the Consultation regarding the relative position of the have's and the have nots, and developing and developed countries,
The structure of the Consultation Was a Tix of for Tlal presentations, group and plenary discussions and reporting on findings at each progressive stage. Most of the participants came from organisations that had an in-depth knowledge of theological study and teachings. At the meeting these dedicated people set
 
 

the poor shall he earth 5,
CONSULTATION HEOLOGY AND N ORGANISED BY 5- 14 JULY, 1991
their minds to relating theological considerations to one of the major problems of the present times, namely land resource availability and sharing, bearing ir mind population growth, and ecological impact mot Only on national and regional scales, but globally.
To give one example of the proceedings, at a plenary session following group discussions, it was felt that the need for a sharing of land on a more equitable basis was necessary, but hitherto it had remained a vision. This must how be Thatched with a will to concretize that vision. Humans react strongly to both the taking and giving back of land - how can this be handled in the context of Spiritual teachings and

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religious beliefs Was a question that surfaced Constantly. It was also felt that the 'signs of the times and social realities needed to be taken into account in the process. Connotations of Justice and Charity were debatəd in the context of linguistic understanding. The necessity, not only of sharing, but of charging attitudes was mentioned, together with the vision of and as a means of production, Consideration was given to the changing ratio of land and population, and suggestions were made for International Land Reforms, Christian charity, it was felt, goes far beyond justice, in that it recommends the sharing of possessions albeit in a practical manner, not merely on basis of one's personal needs.
it was with ninds full of thinking into the future that the Group met for a final wrap up session at the CSR. Several observers joined the participants on this occasion, Following an introduction by Fr. Tissa Balasuriya, brief presentations were made by selected participants. Each presentation was preceded by the reading of relevant poems by Ms. Mar. L. Peter Raoul, of the Human Rights Prison Ministry, New York.
The first presentation by Ms. Katherine McCarthy, a Doctoral Student, of the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, called for new criteria, and a moving away from the concept of the Church as a raft
INTER-RELIGIOUS
No revealed religion separates or divides pe dividing walls.The original charisms and spir ized only after the first generation of discip impetus to this insititualization and this, in tu]
However, alongside such developments, the people to conversion to the original radicalis) the realm of Christianity, it was the Fathers
and emphasized the human and global fac teachings of the Church Fathers that strike : ethical code of our Asian non-Christian ri societies. Dialogues, therefore, from this sta Greek philosophical influences on Christianit on the basic needs of the human person to le God is the human person truly alive.” Coll. need to undermine the "other worldly elem ruling elites and their legitimating supporters
It is in this context that an inter-religious an to come to grips with the factors and trends of people : the increasing population pressur underpopulated areas of the land's surface; t deprived people of their homes, lands and communalist tends building around land righ religious pilgrammatic significance.

for supporting one's personal needs and desires. The Conference, she said, helped to identify the manner in which global theology related to particular issues, such as land, which were globally of topical interest and concert.
Dr. Dick Timm, CSC of the Commission of Justice and Peace, Bangladesh, and a Magsaysay Award Winner, spoke of the essential role and played in. human existence, and the quality of life, i.e., food, housing etc. Were We the faithful stewards of such a Gift of God? In the past, and has been sufficient in sustaining people, there were sufficient minerals and bounty of the earth, but now the situation was changing he said, There Was IBS and lesS fOOd fOf TOre and Th08 people; the green revolution had peaked and was plateauing, and by the year 2000AD. population would have increased by 60 percent, while food increse would be 30 percent. In one decade more Tassive financial inputs would be required to maintain an equitable land/population/food production ratio. He also referred to injustices such as the plight of the small farmer, the vicious cycle of money lending, and the decreasing availability of land for food production, the snatching of land from the indigenous population, degradation of land by multi-nationals, and inequalties of land distribution as the legacy of colonial regimes. Hope for the future lay in new approaches to
S. GROUP REPORT
ople. On the contrary, it abolishes the existing ituality of all religions have been institutionalles. The very historical need for survival gave Tl, generated separatism.
re have always been prophetic voices inviting m and universalism of the religious founder. In of the early Church who explored, interpreted :e of the charism of Jesus Christ. It is these | closer chord to the content, the spirit, and the aligious traditions as well as those of tribal rting point, in pre-dating the implications of , facilitate a direct focus on the here and now, ad a life that is truly human... for "the glory of 2ctively, on an inter-religious basis, there is a 2nt" which lends itself to manipulation by the to their own wested interests.
international morality of land can be evolved impacting the quality of life for large numbers 2 on land with little or no outlet to the existing le re-definition of state bou Indaries which have
national identity; the evolving disputes and ts among religious communities to land with a

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intensive Cropping and use of new technologies which Were urgently required to be implemented.
Mr. Philip Gain of the Coordinating Council of Human Rights, and HOTLINE representative from Bangladesh spoke on aspects of environment that were adverse, such as aforestation, deforestation, the WTOng use of technology, e.g. misuse of pesticides, poisioning caused by toxicides, and the counter productive effects of some proposed environmental projects, together with bio-degradation and loss of wild life, sources of fual etc. A contribution by Sister Gładys d'Souza, RSCJ of the Society for Education to Reality, New Delhi, India, centered on the population growth factors and their implications, particularly in Asia. She referred to population flows to and fro across the globe in various historical time frames, prior to and post World War II, in the context of the brain drain, cheap immigrant labour etc. She warned of new age structural trends in the population pyramid of Asia being further skewed by the exodus of skilled youth to Australia and Asherica. The Middle East followed this pattern by importing unskilled labour - illegal labour Was even cheaper . In fact, referring to the female labour, in future it would not be the girl child that is killed, she quipped. Sister Gladys also referred to the Sale of Commodities, with raw materials sent from the First World to be assembled in the Third World and returned, also to the introduction of industries damaging to developing environment, giving the example of Bofors. She warned that the implications of all these factors for both the physical and mental quality of life in the future must be taken serious note of. In this respect, she suggested another dimension to the Word MISSION, with the will to stand up to the threats of the have's taken into account. Are we making efforts to be informed or just having friendly chats over a cup of tea, was the question posed.
Fr. Peter Jacob of the Justice and Peace Commission, Pakistan, classified the population of the World as the POSSESSED and DISPOSSESSED. Religions teach the sharing of land but it is not often put into practice, he said, also advocating an inter-faith dialogue. He gave his own experience with an Inter-faith Group in Multan, Pakistan which had organised a successful Peace March. There must be a sharing of life among the millions and a trust built up that no one is trying to convert people of one faith to another. The dialogue must be at peoples level and поt пerely among the clergy.
Fr. Emanuel Asi of the PAKTABW E ANAWEEN, Pakistan, which had publications on contextual/global theology in national languages explained how human problems related to suffering and injustice, which are universal, but can be overcome by thinking globally While acting locally. He gave the example of his village

parish, at Maria Tabad, where a global Vision was Created by informing people about global issues, and global days such as Habitat Day, Environment, Women's Day, Workers Day, Population Day etc. Thought sharing was a fruitful exercise among village people who were open minded in their thinking, and appreciate theological dimensions being added to their global thinking. At this humble level global theology particularly in communication with factors such as land and population would take root effectiwely.
Fr. Dick Timm spoke on the role of the United Nations and its agencies, particuarly the FAO and ILO which have done useful work in helping small farmers and in suggesting Agrairan Reform, The role and function of the UN as a whole may be questioned as to its effectiveness, together with the part played by the World Bank, which gave "hard loans' and its partner, the IMF responsible for 'soft loans'. Money was often channeled into the Wrong sources or politicized, Sometimes these efforts were good, i.e. pressure to reduce military budgets, etc. Aso very effective was the UN Human Rights Commisssion, and NGOs are increasingly playing a positive role. He cited the South Asian Forum on Human Rights which was surfacing with a view to promoting right thinking and acting on global inter-related issues. The Un as a body is not empowered to bring about the required international

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land refoin, so that there may be an equitab distribution of land to population.
In open discussion that followed many views were pl. forward regarding related topics such as the univers: Concept of science and beneficial technology whic required an infra-structure of developing countr related research, if God worked through people'
SOME SUGGESTED STRATEGES LAND/POPULATION BASED ON .
"Strategies for global theology on land/populatio Church with the laity; the need for the availability networking, both vertically and horizontally, and refle since the Thain issue, namely land-population relatic justice and the understanding of global convictions of
"Land strategies called for more research into agra farmers; a more positive role for NGOs in promoting Cropping, Social forestry, and necessary SAARC inte issue, namely land-population is global.
"Land and Population strategies suggested were; th tacking the land/population ratio, educating the youn and rethinking on the fair minded use of land and hurt
"Strategies pertaining to development patterns caller of a few to control the use of land and capital globa With erTphasis On the rights of small producers an privatization and export Oriented economies.
* Development pattern strategies suggested Were: in and personnel by affluent country investors, underus trade and detrimental effects, such as prostitution agri-based production methods and marketing; use and the environment.
" Suggested strategies related to the United Nation Were, a more critical study of UN methodologies whi about reforms in the UN system; to be more respc humanity; the multinational corporations' policies of technologies; and nuclear toxic waste into Third Worl SAARC to institute organised protests and to alert pec
 

e hands and hearts, response to reality was envisaged, and the need to relate global to local issues mentidsled.
Much food for thought was generated at the Consultation which augurs well for a follow - up to Global Theology related action in the future. Co-operation among peoples in the future particularly in SAARC Countries may thus be brought about.
For Local Action RELATED To A GLOBAL WISION OF THEOLOGY
included suggestions for greater investment of the of more literature in local languages; better social ctive action rooted in a people's struggle for realization; Dnship is global: inter-religions study action for global
loCaliSSUES,
Arian reform, with the focus on marginalised and small an Guitable global distribution of land, new systems of Irvention, taking into cognizance the fact that the main
he right of individual countries to define their means of Iger cohorts as to the effects of rapid population growth TEIT FESOUTCES.
for a more critical and analytical view of the prerogative
Ily; the promotion and quality control of local products, d Fitz Workers; rethinking on approaches to tourism,
quiry into exploitation of developing country resources 2 of available skilled personnel; present nature of tourist and health hazards; a better organisation of local and misuse of natural resources as related to ecology
S its Agencies and other international organisations, ch favoured the big powers; Concerted action to bring 2nsive to the needs of the less privileged sections of dumping surplus and inappropriate products and d countries; the need for Third World people, especially ple to Such practices.

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/*ーK
One may consider the ordering of the PART T
Organisation of Society according to yyB GTGyyS S SuillyTl OMyll S TT A LAL and judicial. Such an ordering reflects stallment O. a realistic vision of man's social containing
nature, which calls for legislation Cap- losophical
able of protecting tha freedom of all. in the f To that end, it is preferable that each bstracts f power be balanced by other powers ''' and by other spheres of responsibility EN C Υ C which keep it within proper bounds, LETTER
This is the principle of the "rule of John Paul J aw", in which the law is SOVereign, and mot the arbitrary Will of individuals,
in modern times, this concept has been opposed by Citalitarianis Tn, which, li tits Marxist-Leminist formi, maintains that some people, by virtue of a deeper knowledge of the laws of the development of society, of through membership of a particular class or through contact with the deeper sources of the collective consciousness, are exempt from error and can therefore arrogate to themselves the exercise of absolute power. It must be added that totalitarianism arises out of a denial of truth in the objective sense, if here is no transcendent truth, in obedience to which Tan achieves his full identity, then there is no sure principle for guaranteeing just relations between people, Their self-interest as a class, group or nation would inevitably set them in opposition to One Eliother. If one does not acknowledge transcendent truth, then the force of power takes over, and each person tends to make full use of the means at his disposal in order to impose his own interests or his own opinion, with no-regard for the rights of others, People are then respected only to the extent that they can be exploited for selfish ends,
The culture and praxis of totalitarianism also involve a section of the Church, The State of the party which aims to be able to lead history towards perfect goodness, and which sets itself above all values, not tolerate the affirmation of an objective criterior good and evil beyond the will of those in power, since such a criterion, in given circumstances, Could be used to judge their actions. This explains Why totalitarianist attempts to destroy the Church, or at east to reduce her to submission, Taking her an instrument of its own ideological apparatus.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ic vision of manos ltural setting
HREE Furth Grimore, the totalitarian State tends to absorb Within itself the nation, final in- Society, the family, religious groups finsights and individuals the Tselves. In defendthe phi- ing har own freedom, the Church is thinking also defending the human person, who orm of must obey God rather than men, as Well as defending the family, the varirom the OUS Social organizations and nations - LI CAL all of which enjoy their own spheres of of Pope autonomy and sovereignty, 1.
Der Tocracy and the Law
Autheritic democracy is possible only in a State ruled by law, and on the basis of a correct conception of the human person. It requires that the necessary conditions be present for the advancement both of the individual through education and formation in true ideals, and of the "subjectivity" of society through the creation of structures of participation and shared responsibility. Nowadays there is a tendency to claim that agnosticism and sceptical relativism are the philosophy and the basic attitudes which correspond to democratic forms of political life. Those who are convinced that they know the truth and firmly adhere to it are Considered unreliable from a denocratic point of view, since they do not accept that truth is determined by the majority, or that it is subject to variation according to different political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates, a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism.
Freedom attains its full development only by accepting the truth. In a World without truth, freedom loses its foundation and man is exposed to the violence of passion and to manipulation, both open and hidden. The Christian upholds freedom and serves it, constantly offering to others the truth which he has known, in accordance with the missionary nature of his vocation. While paying heed to every fragment of truth which he encounters in the life experience and in the culture of individuals and of nations, he will not fail to affirm in dialogue with others all that his faith and the COrrect U.Se Of TeaSO haWe enabled hinn to understand,

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Сопcerп for Huпhan Rights
Following the collapse of Communist totalitarianism and of many other totalitarian and "national security" геgimes, today we are witnessing a pгеdomiпалсе, not without signs of opposition, of the democratic ideal, together with lively attention to and concern for hur man rights. But for this very reagon it is necessary for peoples in the process of reforming their systems to give democracy an authentic and solid foundation through the explicit recognition of those rights,
Among the most important of these rights, mention must be made of the right to life, an integral part of which is the right of the child to develop in the пnother's wмomb froпn the попnent of conception, the right to live in a united family and in a moral environment conducive to the growth of the child's personality; the right to develop one's intelligence and freedom in seeking and knowing the truth; the right to share in the Work which makes Wise use of the earth's materiad reSOUrCeS, and to deriva frontin that work the means to support oneself and one's dependants; and the right freely to establish a family, to have and to rear children through the responsible exercise of one's sexuality, in a certain sense, the source and synthesis of these rights is religious freedom, understood as the right to live in the truth of one's faith and in conformity with one's transcendent dignity as a person.
The Church respects the legitimate autonomy of the democratic order and is not entitled to express preferen for this or that institutional or constitutional solution. Her contribution to the political order is precisely her vision of the dignity of the person revealed in all its fulness in the mystery of the
Carnate Word.
Influence in Economic Sphere
Another task of the State is that of overseeing and Overseeing the directing the exercise of State but to indi human rights in the economic sector. However, primary responsibility in this area belongs not to the State but to indiwiduals and to the various groups and associations which make up Society. The State could not directly ensure the right to Work for all its citizens UneSS it controlled every aspect of economic life and restricted the free initiative Of individuals. This CdOESS Tot
 

1.
mean, hoWG War, that the Stata Faso CGTipetence in this donair, as was claired by those who argued against any rules in th economic sphere. Rather, the State has a durity to sustain business activities by creating conditions which will ensure job opportunties, by stirrulating those activities where they are lacking or by supporting thern in TorTrents of crisis.
Family Role
In order to overcome today's widespread individualistіс пепtality, what is required is a concrete commitment to solidarity and charity, beginning in the family with the mutual support of husband and wife and the care which the different generations give to one another. In this sense the family too can be called a community of Work and Solidarity, it can happen, however, that when a family does decide to live up fully to its vocation, it finds itself without the necessary support from the State and without sufficient resources, it is urgent therefore to promote not only family policies, but also those social policies which have the family as their principal object, policies which assist the family by providing adequate resources and efficient means of support, both for bringing up children and for looking after the elderly, so as to avoid distancing the latter from the family unit and in order to strengthen relations between generations.
Apart from the family, other intermediate communities exercise primary functions and give life to specific networks of solidarity. These develop as real Communities of persons and strengthen the social fabric, preventing Society from becoming an anonymous and impersonal mass, as unfortunately often happens today, it is in interrelationships on many levels that a person lives, and that society becomes more "personalized". The individual today is often suffocated between two poles represented by the State and the marketplace. At times it seers as though he exists
exercise of human rights belongs not to the iduals and groups
کاری ހ. (~ -ހައި

Page 11
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53
only as a producer and consumer of goods, or as an object of State administration. People lose sight of the fact that life in society has neither the market nor the State as its final purpose, since life itself has a LuriqLLE value which the State and the market must serve. Main remains above at a being who seeks the truth and strives to live in that truth, deepening his understanding of it through a dialogula which involves past and future generations.
Origins of Culture
From this oper search for truth, which is reng Wed in every generation, the Culture of a ation rderiveS ftS character. Indeed, the heritage of values which has been received and handed down is always challenged by the young. To challenge does not пеcessarily mean to destroy or reject a priori, but above all to put these values to the test in one's own life, and through this existential verification to make them more real, relevant and personal, distinguishing the valid Beппепts in the tradition from false and егтопеous ones, or from obsolete forms which can be usefully replaced by others more suited to the times.
Sanathana Suryada (Eternal Fragrance) is the title tj the first song album of Saminda Jayasiпghе, а уouП9 man whb sings of Society and Religion in eight meaningful songs recorded at the Media Unit of the CSR. The lyrics, music, compositions and singing are
all by Saininda.
Others who have Contributed lyriCS to San at haпа Suwada are Rev. P a | || e g a m a Hermarathna, Sri Tilmath Indrajith Liyanage, SarTiantha HErat and JOE Ranjith Gunasekara. The albLIIII design is by Prent Dissanayake and the photographs are by Asoka Sirivirardena. Sound өпgineers were Guy Halpe and Faridula Pathmasiri,
Susil Nonis, Shalika Aroshini Peiris, Anoma Jayasinghe and rangant Thilakaratne contributed to the singing.
"Let our smiling faces light up those in Tisery ar. sadness,
"Sanathana SUW eternal fr
l
1.
 

in this context, it is appropriate to recall that evangelization too plays a role in the culture of the WariOUS nations, sustaining culture in its progress towards thЕ ruth, and assisting in the work of its purification ard enrichment. However, when a culture becomes inward looking, and tries to perpetuate obsolete ways of living by rejecting ary exchange or debate with regard to the truth about man, then it becomes sterile and is heading for decadence,
Creating such conditions calls for a concerted Worldwide effort to promote development, an effort which also involves sacrificing the positions of income and of power enjoyed by the more developed economies.
This may mean making important changes in BStablished life-styles, in order to limit the waste Of environmental and human resources, thus enabling every individual and all the peoples of the earth to have a sufficient share of those resources. In addition, the new material and spiritual resources which are the result of the work and culture of peoples who today are on the margins of the international community must be utilized so as to obtain an overall human errich ment of the family of nations.
ada" - songs of agranCe Let us rise like the lotus flower out of the corruption and hate of this World,
Let us be sensitive to the sad plight of those WO speak no words, or are silenced.
Can we recognise their yearning in their silence and can we do something about it?
Let us see what we can give this world not What We can take out of it... a helping hand to a person who cannot stand on his own feet.
How can one sing or dance when some think that kitling is the only solution to problems.
Just as from the drought fresh leaves bud forth, ., may te
dry land bloom forth after many rains and storms of Tational disaStefS.
can killing be the only means to solve our problems?
Has Our Creative thinking power failed, gone blind, or dulled.
Tiny man born in a tiny Cave, living in a tiny village, dying on a tiny Cross showed a tiny way of living by dying",

Page 12
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53
Repatriation of
The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait generated a massive repatriation flow of foreigners working either in Kuwait or Iraq. Any accurate numbers for the foreign population at the moment of crisis is hardly possible. The closest approximations we have are based on estmates from the governments concerned, which, in spite of monitoring mechanisms, are unable to account for the irregular movements of their overseas Workforce; nor can they presentary accurate assess
Theft of the Situation.
The majority of returnees left for their homes from Jordan. However, many Pakistanis returned through adjacent Iran; Bangladeshis reached the border with Turkey while still others crossed over to Saudi Arabia.
Aside from overestimation by country of origin and people stranded in different countries, a proportion of overseas workers remained in the area; those living with their families, those hoping to recover their money deposited in the banks or owed to them by employers; those forced to remain for the maintenance and servicing of the infrastructure. Intermational Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that before the commencement of the ground war Over 1 million third country nationals Continued to Work in Iraq (mainly Egyptians, Sudanese, Palestinians).
Estimate of Economic loss Table 1. Retur
E. The impact on national econo- ת Iם - mies of the repatriation of ower- Country of Ori seas contract workers (OCWs) SS starts with the loss of remit- Bangladesh tances. In 1985 the officially Chin reported flow or remittances india - Korea, Republi from the Whole Middle East Pakistal amounted to approximately US PhiliPμίΠεa $6.6 billion. In 1990 that figure Sri Lanka Could have been slightly smaller, :
lar
because for Tost Countries foreign labour in the Gulf has been declining.
To the loss of Termittances one should add the loss of savings
Table 2. Estim (ኦ1ill
resulting from Iraq's abolishing Crוurוtr the Kuwait currency. Based om SS occupation of migrant Workers Bangladesh extrapolated from general data, #... ILO has calculated the estimated Philippines gross earnings of Asian Workers Sri La Tıklı in Kuwait and Iraq. Thailand
Total
SwJurce: 1L), B

Asian Workers
Graziano Battistella Scalabrini Migration Center
ASSUrming that each person lost the equivalent of three months of earnings, the gross loss for Asian Countries was 61.5 million.
Lessons fron a Crisis
While a crucially significant battle has been fough and won, the Gulf crisis is far from over. A peacefu settlement has yet to be reached and it will take some time for all the pieces to fall into place. Like earthquake disasters, a series of minor shocks occur before the telluric forces find a new adjustment Overseas workers are part of this settlement and no necessarily according to pre-existing terms. All in a Certain aspects have emerged which require addtional reflection.
1, Migrant labour is a Crucial element of the tota economic system. This awareness does not belong to the countries of origin only, but also to the countries of employment. For many years, migrants have been Understood as a transportable and disposable commodity which in times of economic prosperity could
nees from Kuwait and Iraq to Asian Countries from August arly December 1990,
in Contract Workers Returnee
90,000 62,000 60,000 GOOOO 18100) 170,000 : Col 4. 4) 95,000 90,000 -), D) X] 3000 1[] 1,0 X] 73,000 13,000 1,0)
É, CXX) 8,00)
ated Annual Earnings of Asian Workers in Kuwait and Iraq on US Dollars)
Workers Estimated Eurninge
9D, CXXU 32.8 181 CXIX) 55.8 95,000 35.5 M 1997 101 CXX) 323.6 12,000 38.7
438, XOXO 1847.1
ngkok, RAS/88/0259 / PUB010, 1990).

Page 13
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53 l
be expanded for controlling abour de Tands; and in times of econonic sluggishness could be retracted, to avoid surplus unemployment. While part of the Workforce maintains such a precarious quality, the bulk of migrant workers are indispensable to the functioning of abour importing economies. Because they reveal their importance precisely in time of Crisis, this equation provides vital terms for bilateral bargaining related to migrantwork force,
2. An international crisis of major proportions can cause such a displacement of people that goverth ments alone are unable to respond to adequately. Regulated export of labour contains provisions that make employers responsible for the round trip expenses of the migrant worker. However, when confronted with mass repatriation because of the crisis, employers have argued that such provisions be applicable only at completion of work contracts. The experience of the Gulf War suggests that a clearer policy should be adopted, which makes employers (and contracting agents) responsible for the travel expenses also on circumstances not applicable to the Worker responsibility. After all, employers and Contracting agents are the ones profiting most from the migrant labour and, therefore, should bear the responsibility for its safety, including energency circurStarCS.
3. The information system concerning migrant Workers has been revealed to be inadequate, Country of Origin estimates were far from accurate. The cry for better fOTato is Ct EW, but the Crisis as de TOStratedits recessity. Information exists, most of the time, but it is not organised among the relevant government departments, nor is it processed because of inadquate information systems. Our age of information has made relatively inexpensive machines affordable for any government. It is merely a matter of political will and co-operative administration, Slightly more complex is the organisation of information in Countries of employment (while some countries have identity cards for foreigners, other countries still consider such a system as an invasion of privacy). However, a better coordination anong countries could produce effective results,
KS LCC LLLLL LL LLLLLLLLMLLM HLCCLLCMLLLH LGGL LLLMLM LLL LLL LML LCLLH LMLL LGLTMCCLHH LLLLLL LLL MMMLL LHHLMLMSSS LL CLMMMMLG L L LLLL MLLLLLLLLM LMMLMMM CLC CLMLL L CCT CMLLTLOLMLLLLLCL LLLLLLMMMLL L TMM LS LkL LLk LLL LLCL LLL CLkmLM CeLLLLL LL LLLLL LCLk LkT LM LLLLCL LLL LGLLLLL LLLLLMT LCLL LLLLLL MMLLL LkLLLkLLLS LLLLLLL LLL MkMMLLLLLLLL CLLLLC LL highly effective in gathering and using international funds. Even if at the ting K L L LLLLL LLLLL LLLLLLLLMa L L CCCLCLM LCLC LTLMMMLOLLL LLLLLL LLLL L TTLLLLLT CLCLS LC LLLLLLL LLL MLLkLC TG LL0LL LLLLLL LLLLLLLLMLMLLLLLL LLLL LLLCCLCCLCLLLLLL CLLMLL TMMkT TMLMMMLT L thar times, particularhy. In the protection of "International" Partors Euth as CCL MaSL LHHLCLLL MeMLL LLLGLSS MMLMekLML LLLLLLLLMMLLL GLC LkLk LMLHuS kLk LMLS LCCLL LLLLLLLLMMLSS GLkLLLkLk MM LLMLLLLL Θ
00LLLLLL S SSL0LLL LLLL LLLSKS L0S

yet 2
No - I am trying to decide whether to join the forces and die for my country, or join a private van service and perish on the road, or just to stay at home !
LL LLL LLL LLLL LL LLLLLLLLS LL LLLLL Y LLLLLL LL LLL LLL LLLLLLLLS LLLLLLS LL LLL LLLLLL
job
What are you carrying in that parcel ?
Not a bomb, but my groceries for the week, which makes a much smaller package
Y LL LL ZYYY YY YYYY LLLLLL LLLL L LL L KL YY
Why are you dressed up like a perahera elephant ?
Because I hear they are short of elephants.
L L L L L L Y L Y LLLLLL LLLL L LL LLL LLL LLLLL Y
What is that CTB bus without a number 2
Don't you know - that bus is on its way to the Ambepussa farm which recently changed hands - the Koreans are now in possession I am told
Every rumour is not correct, but I give you the benefit of the
Readers a Te invited to contribute to this column

Page 14
SOCIAL JEJ55:ICE 53
Coral Hunters. Threaten Sri Lanka's Reefs
By Rohan Gumasekera 鸚
Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka:- "Destruction of Sri Lanka's Coral reefs has reached a critical stage with overexploitation threatening their disappearance in sоппе EEES Chunks from the very base of the reefs are being extracted by coral hunters along parts of the island's southern coast. This prevents the growth of reefs, which fопm the heart of a delicatв апd епотпоusly valuable marine ecosystem, because there is nowhere for IEW COT2Illa WaEA LO settle.
"We're losing the resources wery fast', warns Arian Rajasuraiya who heads the Coral Study Unit of the National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA), the organisation responsible for studying the island's aquatic Wealth and developing plans for its exploitation.
Rajasuraiya estimates that at least half the reefs along the 85 km stretch of coast between Tangale and Akuala, close to the tourist resort of Hikkaduwa have been destroyed in the last 10-15 years.
The damage is caused mainly by the villagers living оп the coast who піпe the coral to produce lime for building industry. Tough laws exist to prevent the mining and processing of Coral, but are rarely efforced.
The wested interest of local politicians in keeping coral miners employed may explain why time kilns continue to line the coast though the police are empowered to d'ETTOS thGT.
EWen in Hikkad Lu Wa, which is nominally a Tarine Sanctuary, boatmen can be seen openly breaking coral from the reefs to sell to tourists. It is ir Omic that the Teessa "El being destroyed in this sig way since they were one of the prime reasons for the area's development as a tourist Centre.
Tschaftare calitish
IInts Teira Chinks of Erol
To export Coral, a permit & is required from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Coral is protected under the Con
 
 
 
 
 
 

wention of international Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), but Sri Lankan exporters normally side-step CCitros,
NARA & Wildlife Department are considering employing special officials to enforce controls on coral exports, The government is also trying to Wean miners from the reefs by giving them land to cultivate, -
Reefs are under attack from other directions too, Deforestation for unplanned development of land in his results in soil erosion. Sit is Washed downstream to the Sea, especially during rains and smoothens the Coral which needs light to grow,
Dredging the reclaration of low-lying areas also blocks the Corals, Pollution has exacerbated the damage, Oil from fishing boats, chemical Wastes, plastics, and Other rubbish in the sea and floods all help kill the Coral and stop the renewal of the damaged reefs.
Fisher Ten shatter the reefs by tossing dynamite into shoals of fish to provide an instant catch. Fish population has also decreased in the reefs, Harvesting of young fish and Scuba-diving for short-teTIT gains in fishing catches have devastated the area.
le. Over-exploitation of lobsters has reached to harvest Gwen spawning feITales and under-size lobsters
is Lobsters are good export items, "Ten of fifteen years ago, you could catch lobster during the day in this area." Says. Rajasuraiya. The fact is that lobsters are noctural, and day-catch reflects their plentyfulness in the area. "But now If you swim for one kilometre at night and
T. (Continued EHF p ،16)
gri Ihn si, EüFlm
rathern
Carlshaciunterboat - ||Bh|Hicrotimed by Emilis Eliy klında gif|
in I naring palparalaisd to tha
illy-sh
- ছয়. இ :تیتانتینی
Ert
ఫ్రాస్త్రీ *、

Page 15
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53 l
peoplisation
Transport syster
Till January 1958, the transport service in Sri Lanka was entirely in the hands of a few private companies. Among them were small as well as bigger companies. In most companies that functioned in remote areas, their structure was such that they had One magnate who claimed Ownership to several buses and a few more who Owned just one or two buses joining hands with him in forming the COT- 3. pany. In most instances, ultimately the magറates became നാre and more tra powerful while the small owners who joined hands with him got displaced and became just employees of the
Organisation.
In 1958 however, with the nationalisation of the transport service, the most Worthy change that took place was the displacement of the generation of the so called "bus mudalalis". This resulted in the Weakening of the influences on the political and economical aspects within the country which were to a certain extent promoted through them.
At the time that the transport system was taken over by the Government there were 76 different bus Companies functioning within our country. The employees of these companies amounted to 150000. The number of buses owned by them were 3400. Out of these about 2300 were on the roads each day. The distance Covered by these buses was equivalent to about 200,000 miles. They were able to cater to 100,000 passепgeгs each day.
The objective behind the establishment of the Sri Lanka Transport Board was to give a more modernzed twist to the transport service,
Theo CTB/SLTB was stablished only mhof han passing of theo Sri Lanka TMCLCTCCLM LLL L LLLLMMMLMMLLLLLL LGLLLLLLLS LLLLLLMMMMMMCLL LLLLLLLLMLMML T GGMCMLCL LCLLLL LLLLLLLLMMCGL LMLLCMLLLLLLLLCLLLMM LMMMCS TLS it Was understood that a change in the structure could follow only after a revision of the Law had boon Tade,
LLGLLS TLHH LLCL LMLC L MLLLMMLLTS LLLLLL HLCL GGCLL C LLLLT LMMC LMMMLLLLLLLL HL G L C CCLLL LLLLMMMMM LCLMMTL LLM L CCLLL LLL LL kMCCM LMLMS L TMLMS L CCLCMGL LLL LLL LLLL LL LCMMLCCCL LCC trafited by this service.
O Improvements for Maximum
Service
To render the maximum service to the public the Sri Lanka Transport Board was conscious of promoting the following as part of their services. They had to
 
 

n in transition -
supply buses that were comfortable enough for travel. More vehicles had to be added to their original collection. The adoption of a time table and promotion of its systematic operation was required. It was also
nd the travails of /ellerS
A VIEYMPOINT BΥ
Nandana
essential to open up Amerasinghe new routes for the
operation of buses,
A well disciplined and devout Work force was what was most essential for the Smooth functioning of a project of this nature. It was definitely so during that period. The employees during that era showed a deep affiliation towards this service.
Without assessing the outcome in rupees and cents, but giving priority to the comfort and convenience of the general public, numerous bus routes were opened, шпгаvelliпg a vast areа of teгтitory шпtouched before. However, it was only after the nationalisation of the transport service that those who had not even encountered a bus during their lifetime enjoyed the privilege of travelling in a bus to fulfill their duties and obligations in everyday life,
At the time of nationalisation, the mileage covered by the transport system was 200,000. This increased rapidly, and by 1977 it was 800,000. The objective behind the increase in the number of buses and the bus routes was not the earning of an extra income for the SLTB but it was in order to Cater to more passengers that would benefit by it. When the service towards the public is given priority naturally it becomes a profitless venture. From a commercial point of view, such a venture is supposed to run at a loss. But it is worthwhile remembering that whatever project is targetted at the public it turns out to be a service Worthwhile in itself though economywise it becomes Worthless. Consider the education and health services. Have they ever been profit making Ventures to a government? Can they do away with these services considering them to be a loss? Nobody

Page 16
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53
can deny the fact that the nationalisation of the transport service has been of immense benefit and a valuable service to the general public. It was undoubtedly more systernatic and organised than during the era of the bUS magnates,
It is obvious for a project as vast as this to have its shortcomings. The shortage of buses, the poor condition that the buses were in, certain shortcoinings in the operation of the time table, the passengers being harassed on and off by unkind conductors, Were some of these, Nevertheless, the general public and the employees together were determined to Safeguard this valuable service since its advantages were definitely more than its shortcomings. It could ewen hawe been identified as a Valuable faiti0al
TESOUTCE.
O Development Hands
Inspite of this situation in the nationalised transport Service, to convert it back to the private ownership by peoplisation, is a step that has been taken in keeping with the policies of the new government, it is clearly seen that the government has no faith in the fact that the "heights of development could be reached by nationalisation" - it is even proved by their numerous statements and actions. At the first stage, only the organisations that functioned at a loss to the govern. ment were privatised by them. However, later they dic not abide by any logical reason for privatisation wherever it was done the government moved in. A good example for this is the privatisation of the State Distilleries Corporation which was no doubt a profi making Venture. It clearly shows that according tic today's policy, "development is in the hands of the private sector".
Certain actions Within the nationalised bus Service like in any other nationalised service, was manoeuv red according to the whims and fancies of narroy minded politicians, The SLTB was made to be a to to support their worthy supporters who gave ther their full support at the elections. Thus, withol considering the number of employees that Wer actually needed of the qualifications that they shoul possess, not only Were they given employment, bl. even recommended for promotions and transfers an sometimes allowed to idle when they could not b Tade use of. The outcome of this was the SLTB bein excess-staffed and turning out to be a burden th: was too heavy to be borne by the government.
In 1980, the SLTB employees of all grades amounte to 65930. The Liber of buses that Were functionin that year Wre 5676. Thus according to these statistic each bus should accommodate a Workforce of 11.6.
However, though the SLTB ran at a loss they has

to report for duty at the correct time for no fault of their own, if while coming for work they undergo much torture in public vehicles, there is bound to be a
been of service to spпеbу гепderiпg впріоуппепt by fair or foul Tears.
Lost Opportunities
There was been a proposal oпсө by the Fia! Company of Italy to open up a factory to assemble buses in our country, it was turned down because a few had opposed it. If such a Venture had been established it would have supplied buses at low costs and also provided employment for a number under the sponsorship of the SLTB. Possibilities were there to establish a lorry Corporation which could have acco Todated the excess Staff of the STB and also could have been maintained as a profit making Werture to balance the OSS.
However, to promote development in a country there should be efficiency in the production sector as well as the Supplies in all fields. Such an efficiency could be brought about only on the physical and mental fitness of the Work force, if the ernployees are unable
certain annount of Tental unrest. In Such a state nobody cari expect the rate of production to improve. Carl efficiency be expected then? Can the supply rate be increased? If there is no possibility of increasing the rate of production and Supply can the target be achieved? Therefore it is no exaggeration if we do blame the SLTB for the all round deterioratio in all SECLOTS.
After the peoplisation in the transport service, the general public, school children and University students were even deprived of the monthly season ticket Which Were earlier issued at Concession rates. This is in itself is a great blow to the public. ()
MSMSMiSiSSiSiSSiSSiSDSASuLS SiSqSqSqSiMSMSiSiSiSqiSiSiS
Coral ... (Continued from p.14)
catch one lobster, you are lucky".
Rajasuraiya's unit aims to determine the condition of the island's coral reefs and to identify areas that can be preserved. It is also exploring ways of rejuvenating thern by transplanting Coral and re-introducing fish into depleted areas.
But even Nature is attacking the reefs now, The fast breeding Crown of Thorns Starfish, which eats only live coral, has recently appeared off the NorthWestern and Eastern Coasts of the island,
Since many of its natural predators have been killed off by tropical hunters, there could be an explosion in the number of starfish, And they can devour reefs even more efficiently than coral miners. (EEG/Panos
Features)
@ Source: IMPACT JANUARY 1991

Page 17
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53 1.
KNow you
POliCe
L0LTLCLCTLCLCCCLkLCL0LTL TLTT L0LLeeeLeL LTLL Ck0 CLTLTTLkTL0 LTCTC L0LS LLkLk LTHTT ELHLTT ST C LHLeO0LH aT TLTLT TTC EE L00L LL0000S LLkek LkekLkTCkTS TLTLT L0 LLeL0L SCLTTeL0L LHHLTT TLT CCLCS Cowraria Arirayawr aware you Wag saawaan ELkL LCLCLeL CLTS TLTLLTeT TCLC EH0 CT 0 CLT TT SCC CLLLLLL L0e0LTLCL CCCCHL LHHL0 TCL CHL LHHLHT LTLkeske eLCC CLC CHL 00
Here is a list of events where you, as a law-abiding citi by a Police offer:
1)accident in which you are involved as a pedestrian, p.
2)loss of valuables from your hole, or from your perSO any other valuable document
3)ary murder, homicide, suicide witnessed by you
4)апy hurt of damage caused to your person or propert
5) termination of your employment in circumstances that
6) departure of a person in your household and his/he abduction, kidnap etc,
7) matrimonial dispute when either you or your spouse I
There are many other gwerts, but the abowe list will si Column is about,
go PTOCEeCL Te
Go to the Police Station and inforIn the Officer at t complaint. Wait for your turn if there are others who h; give the gist of your complaint before the officer deci Complaints). The entry will be recorded for you (you language till recently) or in Tamil (if there is an officer have the recording done in your language, but Englis The most practical thing to do if you do not understant interpreter. After your statement is recorded, you will be it at the end of the last line of the record.
The date, time, page по., рага по., паппе апdгапk (wit be given to you on request so that you could ask for further purpose such as a civil action (in a District C provide a Rs.10/= stamp and a small copying charge W
CSR Attorne
ଦ୍ଵିଟ୍ଟିଅକ୍ସା
 

RIGHTs
Entries
ELT ELCeTeL CLS eTLCCCLTS HaL LCTTT kekLTLLLLS LLL TLeLTLTLLLCS LLLLLLS Codigy pie Pofice Awasózreactavia Magistań93 eLeS LLLLe TCT TLTTL00 00 LLLLLCCCTTOT LE LTLC Lk00ueL C0 LkLk LT LCELeL CLTT TLCCCC0L L0L CCLL00LS S a |я ауто7Aж37е ау7 атty
Zen, should make a complaint which will be recorded
assenger, driver of travelling in a Vehicle
in (this includes loss of your identity card, passport or
у
you consider wrongful
f failure to return home, and possible "disappearance'
aves your marital home
uffice for general legal knowledge which is What this
he Reception that you have come there to make a ave come for a similar purpose, You may be asked to des to record it (to avoid having to record frivolous cannot record it yourself) in Sinhala (the only official
conversamt with that language). You hawe a right to h will be difficult in a country where only 5-6% use it, d Sinhala is to go with one who does who will be your able to read it or hawe it read to you and you will sign
h the no, in the case of constables and sergeants) will a certified extract from the Information Book for any 'ourt) or Labour Courts application. You will have to then you call subsequently to get the extract.
y-at-Law
හ්තක්ෂිතක්ෂිතක්ෂිතඤ%කෙර

Page 18
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53 l
Present Pattern c Policy P. S. Berug
Director, Lund Ua Policy Punning Division, Ministry Paper pesented at the Symposium on Land an
"Land is the source of all material Weath. From it. We gat everything that we use on value, whether it be food, clothing, fuel, shelter, metal, or precious stones, We live on the land and from the land, and to the land Our bodies of our ashes are Committed when We die, The availability of land is the key to human existence, and its distribution and use are of vital importance".
Thus to a great extent, the quality of life of man will depend on the degree of efficiency with which the available land is utilized by him. The need for efficient LS9 of land Will be felt more as the land/man ratio decreases, in Sri Lanka, the land/Than satio has decreased over the years as given in Table 1.
s செர்ரி: த 4: 3 eguatay
37 ஆார்ச
Table 1 — Land/main ratio Sri Lanka 1830-2001
Total land area : 65,000 sq.km.
(6.5 million Hectares)
Year Population land/man ratio
1830 962, 155 5.83. Hectares 1901 3,565,95车 1.84
1950 7,647,000 0.8
1981 15,012,610 0. 44
DD1 21,073,685 (). 3.
" (Projected)
The efficient use of land involves the utilization of land on the basis of sustainable development taking into account the needs of the future generations.
The present land use, land holding and ownership patterns are illustrated in Tables 2,3,4,
A consideration of the terrain of the land Will indicate that the area of land over 1500 metres (m) above mean sea level (MSL) announts to about 75,000
 
 
 
 

f Land Use and Lanning --
Oda
LL LLLLLLTTS TMTLTLLLLLT LLLLLL LLLCCL LLLLLLLTCLCLL i Land Use in Sri Lanka, AT THE CSR
hectares. A con- siderable area of land between the elevations of 1500 m -2000 m in the Nuwara Eliya District is already being used for various fortins o аgгiculture.
The following are some of the deductions that can be made from a study of the above patterns.
(a) The major land holder of the country is the state.
LL LLLLLLL MMkL LCLMML LGLCCLLM TMLC HLe LLL LLM LLLLL S CLCCMMLLLLLL L0LLM LLMM LLL LLL Lk LkLkLLMLLLSS CCL ML TTC CLLLLLL to LCMMLMLL LMLLLLLM LLL LLLLMMM CCLLLLL LLLL L LL LLLLLLLLSLkLHLLMLM LLLLLLLLe u്).
(b) Out of the area under agricultural holdings, rary 20% form estates Llder the control of the state.
(c)72% of tho aran Lunder agricultural holdings is in ths SITal holding
EST,
K00ze LLL LLL LLLLL LHHMLL LLLGM LkkLMLL LLLLLLL ML LLLLLLL MLMLMuLkLk LLL LL MMMMC LMLL LL LLL LLLLL L M LaLLLLL LL LLLLMMLLLLL MMLL TTLCL LMHL LMLMLL difficulty. (However this facility appears to get reduced with the issue of CLGLMMLLLLLLLLM LLTLLL L MLMLL LLMLLLLLL LLLLLLLLMMTLL LMMMLLLLLLLLS
SCLCL LLLLLLLLMLMLk 0Lc LLLL LL MLMLC LMLLLLLL LL LMM MMMMC GLkLkLL LLLL LLLLLL LMLCLkLLL HH LLLkLLL LLLLLLLLMLMMM LLLCLCLL LLLLLLLLmGBLL LL LMMLkLLCMMML ML LLLLLL plans due to the tenurial problems mentioned above.
O Concepts guide activities
Sri Lanka's position in land use management has been stated in the following Words:
"Ceylon is a good example of a tropical country with almost every advantage for good land - use management. There are Well developed technical services based on an advanced educational system, ..., a highly developed cash crop industry, ... great reserves of uninhabited land...With good Overall Water resources ... yet, inspite of all these advantages, Ceylon is caught up in a major struggle to control land use problems created by its violent population expan"חסSi
Therefore the Te is a reed for the CO-Ordination of the Several activities pertaining to land use planning being handled by Several institutions at present. The Land Use Policy Planning Division of the Ministry of lands,

Page 19
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53
懿
CAL
- 1.
蚤 - O.
Chena cultivation - 1.
Highland annual crops - O.
E. Grassland and Scrub - O.
Water bodies, )
Straup, harsh - O.
Tea, Tubber, Coconult - 1.
Paddy - 0.
リ 。 Table 3 - Land holding platt
Category NunboI
Нопс загdепа 1,333,07. Other high lands 521, 18. Orned by operators Other high lands 155, 73. owned by others
Paddy lands 534,13日 owned by operators
Paddy lands 265.15 owned by others
Unspecified 5, 29{
一、
Table 4 — Land holding. p.
S SSSLSSS SSSLSSSSSSLSSSSSLS S SSS S LSSS SS SSLSLSS S
Type of management NLL Liber of
2S La CE25
Total O291
Private - Total 7349 Private — individual 5革69 Private — сопрany 1880
Goverinent - Total 19乌2 S.P.C. 545 J. E. D. B. 483 1. R. C. 359
Others 444
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ܡ ܲ- ܝܨ
リ。
DATA
FI
s Land Use in Sri Lanka 1988
LAN
5 Dillion Hectares - -
t - l TT
2
r TT -
-
mm ammun –
er In - Saball holdings sector
Area in 富 Area in han :
la per Unit
358,829 25.3 ().3 542,098 32.车 O.9
11车,878 B. 1 O.
) 555,089 25. O O.7
129,679 9.2 O.5
711 - (). 1
ttern - Estates sector
Area in 宽 Area iп На HH per Unit
1OO 540,663 1OO 58
79 168, 6,44 31 23 59 91, 163 17 17 2O 77,482 1A A1
21 372,019 69 192 153,712 28 238 5 127,857 24 265 A. 20,235 4. 55
5 70,215 13 158

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SOCIAL JUSTICE 53
irrigation and Mahaweli Development (LUPPD) has been Created for the purpose of achieving that degree of coordination & for promoting & carrying out Scientific land U.Se planning.
The concepts that guide the activities of this Division. hawe been for Tulated after a Series of Studies, These concepts can be spelt out in the following words:
That the resources of the ratural ersvironment mLSt be seen to belong Ultimately to the whole nation and must be devoted to the national Welfare;
That there is an obligation on the social democratic State to erect an institutional structure by virtue of which such resources Tay be located, evaluated, Conserved and distributed so that they may be utilized On a sustainable basis and to the greatest national adwaintage,
That, as and provides the conceptual and operational plane of contact between nation and environmental LLaLLLLLLLS LLOL LLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLL aLLLLL LLL LLLLCLLL in terms of land policy and land use planning;
That land policy and planning should be rooted in Scientific knowledge of bio-physical processes and in a deep understanding of economic progress and of Socio-political change;
That they should be supported by reliable, qualitative and quantitative data;
That they should have a positive development orientation and that they should be comprehensive and closely integrated, but sufficiently flexible to permit and profmote the operation of state, corporate and private sectors in a mixed economy;
That the objective must be that the nation should learn to live in productive equilibrium with natural reSQLICeS;
That aCCess to resources should be widely and equitably distributed; and
That basic needs should be safeguarded for all CitizeIS,
O Future plans
The activities of the Presidential Task Force on Land Utilization and Redistribution envisaged distribution of a large extent of land which was - at the disposal of the state. The LUPPD provided certain guide lines for the identification of land for redistribution. It has been found that towards the end of the year 1990, all available and had been identified for redistribution.
Assuming that all land needs of the population as at end 1990 had been met by this exercise, an attempt

O
was made to study the sufficiency of the balance LOLOLTOOLLLLL LLLL LL LLLCLS LC LL0LLS S S LC0LLL LT LLL increasing population during the period 1991-2001. Only two basic needs (viz. housing and agriculture) Were taken into acCourt. The land needs Were Worked Out assuming that the present ratio of employment in the agricultural Sector and the present model of land reeds for housing Would contir Lue. A Study shows that the present models of employment and housing have to change in view of the anticipated shortage of land. So The of the solutions to remedy this situation will be diverting a higher percentage of the labour force on employment outside agriculture and promoting housing in forms other than detached housing units,
It may also be necessary to increase the output from the present extent of land devoted to agriculture without overlooking the need for introducing development on a sustainable basis, introduction of registration of title to lands is expected to help in this pro-CeSS by porOiwiding Stat9 guaranit9ed title and thereby increasing credit - Worthiness of such land. A further aspect that would need consideration in this respect is the introduction of procedures for land Consolidation (ie, rearrangement of properties) where пecessагу.
One of the very important decisions to be taken from a Conservation point of view will be on the locations for forest Cover. This forms one of the recommendations of the 1985 Land Commission, Apart from identifying the land required for the preservation of the Sources and courses of Streams and Canals, it will be necessary to leave steep land (e.g. those over 60% slope) permanently under forestry.
The development of the infrastructure to support the planned land uses will form an integral part of the land use planning and implementation process,
It will also be necessary to provide Supporting legislation to ensure co-ordination of this activity, Draft Action Plan of the National Conservation Strategy envisages such a procedure,
The above are only a few of the aspects that Will have to be considered in formulating land use plans to support development. The LUPPD will be following this activity as an exercise in integrated planning by multi-disciplinary teams Working at different levels and encouraging popular participation at each level.

Page 21
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53 2
Niri
Relative SOCial Sta
جسمجھ
يقف معه.
the East
WAWAF AFAFAF5FAFWY M5AMAWWSW AFAF3GW3MW 327 AWAG-M LWWW.WAFA73AAL CAZA AAWS, WEAFW
Behind each woman in power was a powerful man or an influential political dynasty. In their election Campaigns, Aquino and Chamorro Constantly reminded Voters that they were carrying on the work of their deceased husbands. Aquino is the widow of Benigno Aquino Jr., Ferdinand Marcos' most bitter rival, who was assassinated in August 1983; Chamorro is the Widow of Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, the newspaper publisher whose murder in 1978 led to the downfall of the brutal Anastasio Sonoza regime. During her 1988 election campaign, Bhutto never ceased alluding to the legacy of her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was executed in 1979 by the military government she was then fighting to succeed. She titled her autobiography Daughter of Destiny. Ousted in a constitutional Coup in August, Bhutto lost a subsequent election, even though she tried to rally her followers to the banner of her des Cent.
Political succession by pedigree, however, by no means precludes women from brilliantly exercising power, For most of history, it was the only path by Which WOTen Could COme to rule. The pattern is not
alien to the West, where potentates of genius included daughters of kings, such as Elizabeth I of Engand their Widows, such as Catherine the Great of Russia and their nothers, Such as Eleanor of Aquitaine,
In the 20th century, Te nost successful fenale ynast has been Indira Gandhi of India, daughter of Prie Minister JaWaharlal Nehru. Over a span of 16 ears, Gandhi proved her. self the Thost formidable
SRA
They live in a mar ital li Unable to dworca, According be granted a divorce without the Agumot (the anchored) ha Sasson, who has beеп tГуіпg mot married. I'm not a Widow,"
Earler this fear relief si demonstrations, in response, recalcitrarıt husbIändg be thr{ holding a driver's license, ultra-Orthodox parties whos politicians on this issue.
The nation's feminists chair"-Woman of the lGfael Wik them the power to threaten refuse to release their Wives See Thingly Sarie Proposal star
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

tus Of WOnen in and West
ዕዳዶቿ5ረፆPC£ ሥ4ö4ራWፌ5W ̆ - WOW COMWWE WOA SAPAEAWF A7VVV, AAW
ZZewge WA/CA,
\
" Prime Minister India has ever had, masterty melding the charisma of her family with the subcontinent's rich religious images of motherhood and successfully passing her office to her son Rajiv. Six years after her assassination, she is still idolized. Says Sudhir Kakar, an Indian psychoanalyst: "She is looked upon as the sacrificing mother of the joint family." Born to privilege, Gandhi believed she was born to rule as Well. She once quoted Robert Frost to Rajiv: "How hard it is to keep from being king, when it's in you and in the situation."
Though they hawe yet to match Gandhi's political acumen, Aquino, Chamorro and Bhutto share with the late Indian Prime Minister the same aristocratic Sense of destiny. No other politicians - certainly no men - were capable of leading their countries at the time of their ascendancy, Aquino and Chamorro united quarrelsome opposition groups. Only Bhutto had the charisma to overcome the puritanical appeal of Mohammed Zia ul-Haq's Islamic regime. But winning was the easy part. Ruling has proved problematic. ()
EL - Agony of the Agunot
Tibo, separated front husbands - sometimes for decades - but o Jewish religious law, which binds Esraeli Jews, a wife may not her husband's consent. At least 10,000 Israeli Women, known as fe husbands who are unwilling to give that per Tission. Says Ora to get a divorce for eight years: "I don't know where I stand, I'm
erred near after Agunot protesters made their voices heard at avulun Hammer, the Minister of Religious Affairs, proposed that atened with suspension of such rights as cashing checks and But HartmEr left office in June, arld since then the STäl| | leaders oppose change have faced little challenge from
still hope to end the suffering of the Agunot. Alice Shalvi, men's Network, Wants to strengthen the civil courts by giving usbands with financial penalties and even arrest them if they roTI broken Tharriages, in Israel's Wolatile pokolitical climata, that is little chance of success,

Page 22
2
SOCIAL JUSTICE 53
Native P
ls this your gift, O imperial Powers - ls this a laboured century's legacy? What dark horizons now beckons in all Who dimmed our lights to follow yours? is this the end or just another turning? Or just the way held out to "simple men. Half dewi and half Child"?
We are the garish ghosts of those gone before us Cold ghosts, painted ghosts-the pots of paint You sold us for our birthright Have made us tuppence Coloured. Yes We are The motley pantomime to humour both the peasant
The unchanging peasant, and the spirits of our dead
Now we know how wheels go round The engines hoot, the income tax and Wages The exchange rate, the market price Your old Waltz and your latest vice For we like you, have had our fill Of the tree that nurtures world-wise sages The Tree
Of the knowledge
of Good
Ad Ewil.
Have you renewed you
See details
HAWE YOU READ OUR SISTER
(In Sinh:

Let's hawe a Corferer Ce!
The Garish Ghosts and HolloW Men.
May the spirit of Aquinas and the Buddha Brood over our deliberations
Come Pragmatist, Logical Positivist Humanist, Evolutionist, Existentialect
Corne Marxists, Wise as serpents
Here we go round the great big Tree Under whose shade. We all came "free"
But then some fool
Let fall
The BOTO!
G. I.O. M. KUTUukLula Suriya
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