King Sasanka – Sri Lankan Writer & Retired Aviation Professional.

The Royal Wedding was just concluded and it was a spectacle. Watching it I could not help thinking, when people of many faiths usually take their marriage vows and solemnized it at a place of worship (correct me if I am wrong) except the Buddhist. What is the most likely explanation for such a dearth? I think this is an issue the custodians of all Temples in the country have to look in to. Weddings are an expensive affair and many of those who are cornered in to that corner go beyond their means, just to keep up with the Jonas. If the Temple doors can be thrown opened for such ceremonies too, then it would be another step taken in the right direction.

They were here,  They were there  and  They were everywhere, They have woken up me in the mornings  and  Warned me of any visitors arrival, Strewn everything around and spoilt my tidy garden, They were an asset sometimes  and Nuisance too at times, But There are not here, there or anywhere else, When I needed them most. No need to wake me up  or To warn me of any visitors’ arrival, Come back again and even untidy my garden, But just take my humble offerings, At least on Saturday mornings.    

http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2011/04/16/religion-and-its-effects/

Make Buddha Jayanthi an occasion to ask, after 2600 years what have we accomplished as Buddhists ? Posted on April 11th, 2011 By Charles.S.Perera   The Queen Mahamaya Devi while on her way to  her parental home to have her baby  according to ancient custom, gave birth to a baby boy in the Lumbini Park in Kapilawattu .  The father  the Sakyan King Suddhodana  was overjoyed with the birth of a son.   But the king’s joy did not last long as  the Queen Mahamaya Devi died seven days after the birth of the Prince.   The baby was placed in the care of  his step mother Maha Pajapati Gotami, the younger sister of  the late queen.    The Ascetic Asita  Kaladevela  came to  pay respect to the King and to see the new born little Prince.  Having seen the baby the great Ascetic predicted that the Prince will  be enlightened  becoming a Buddha, but regretted that he would not be there on the  bliss...

Trying to predict the outcome of the World cup cricket final to be held on Saturday (02 nd April 2011) on a day like this (01 st April 2011) is not only suicidal but would be inviting unwarranted tags too. I am no “Paul” who had the uncanny ability to predict the outcome of the football World cup, but I have something which the (Late) Paul did not have in his armoury that the ability to reasoning. My prediction is that the Indians would walk away with the Cup on Saturday, not because they are any superior to their opponents in any way but the outcome of it has already been decided, not on the field but off of it. The word “Fixing” gives a very bad taste but if it can be replaced by “Pre-determined”, then it would not taste so bad, I hope. The extent of the Pre-determination was not only very much evident in the recently concluded Semi-final match in Mohali but in many of the other crucial previous fixtures too. Just try the fathom and or imagine the plight of the b...

Not so long ago, my daughter reached the voting age and so was the bank balance in her minor account, the six figure mark. When Union Bank of Si Lanka announced its share offer (IPO) recently, she wanted to invest some of her savings in shares. She did apply and now waiting to hear about the outcome of her first attempt in investment. The latest I read about this IPO was that it was oversubscribed by more than 300%. This is a healthier sign. Yet, I am clueless as to what type of modality would be used in determining the final spread of the spoil in a scenario like this but hopeful that small and young investors like my daughter would not be crushed by the big investors. The regulatory authority (hopefully the Colombo Stock Exchange), I am sure has the power to oversee, advocate and impose the most reasonable proration method to ensure that small and especially young investors   (like daughter’s)   interests and investments are duly protected. If such powers and or modalities a...

The Minkes were being chased by the Japanese whalers and they were being trailed and chased by the Sea Sheppard craft. At least for a while the Minkes can have a sigh of relief now because The Japanese have temporarily suspended their whale hunt. The Sea Sheppard is a Conservationist group backed up by one of the biggest meat exporters of the world. I do not think that it is irrational to wonder whether their real agenda behind all those protests and clashes is to protect and conserve an endangered species, namely in this instance the Whales or to protect and conserve their financial backers lucrative market share?   The truth will be known soon! The Nature has its own checks and balances. Trying too much to meddle with them too has their own negative consequences. Like humans, the animals too have a right to live and roam freely and enjoy their lives to the fullest. Sooner We undersatnd this, it is better for both!