The speech given by Dr Vickramabahu Karunarathne at the commemoration of Rev. Nandarathana, held at the Public library hall Colombo. Other speakers were Dr Sunil Wijesiriwardhana, Prof Carlo. Meeting was chaired by Rev Iddamalgoda & Weligama ammiswara. Elder brother of Rev Nandarathana described the incident and the background .Date 4th Sep 2007
"Rev priests. Comrades and friends,"
"We are going through a very sad period. Even priests are killed. Carlo mentioned that sadu was killed by evil men because the sadu was doing good things that will naturally expose their evil conduct. What are the good things sadu was doing, what are the evil things he inevitably exposed? Rev Nandarathana was living under very difficult conditions but accepting only what he really needed for his sparse priestly existence. He was devoted to communal harmony at that impoverished remote village in the war zone. He treated all in equality and became an example for others. Those who wanted division and hatred, to expel others in order to grab the resources, could not tolerate such a life style. He was not a pompous campaigner for equality but an ordinary village priest who conducted his life according to religious principles. Irrespective of the axioms of the religion all religions preach equality of humans. Whether in the name of the god or several gods or with disbelief in god, priest will spread the message of equality of humans. It is the unity of mankind that is most common for all religions. Genetic scientists say that variation among humans is unbelievably small for such a widespread species; as if we are the children of one woman lived at least 150, 000 years ago, born to a Homo erectus family. Of course there are different cultures, languages and traditions and we defend the right of self determination, never the less unity and equality of human kind has to be defended and it is the foremost duty of a priest. Human existence is a social existence. There is no human life without a human community. All ethical principles arise out of communal existence. One can have good behavior only within a social existence. When Devadatta wanted Buddha to make solitude forest life compulsory for monks, he was strongly rejected. Also Buddha emphasized the equality of humans irrespective of caste, creed or colour. That was 2550 years ago. Rev Nandarathana was doing the simplest duty of a priest when he preached equality and basic ethics for social existence. That means Kindness, tolerance etc."
"Of course there are priests who make use of robe for spreading the war. There were always misuses of religion. All religions were used onetime or the other for generating hatred. They were used as opium for misdirecting people. Then, so was the communist ideology. Stalinists used Marxism to propagate a monstrous unitary bureaucratic state. Even today in this country, JVP misuses Marxism to spread the evils of chauvinism. But Re Nandarathana, in this remote village with in poverty and suffering, was doing the simple duty of a priest in teaching the unity of humans. He was killed for that. If priests are killed in this manner, then we have come to the edge of social existence. Very society is under threat."
"We can understand killing for political reason. We call it a threat to democracy and civil life. But politics take the form of war and our situation politician is compelled to face violence. I faced violence continuously, and I could be killed. That is a political problem. But this is entirely different. A humble village priest living in poverty and serving the community on basic priestly functions is killed. State is silent though the Sinhala chauvinist terrorists are identified by the villagers. Have we have come to the end of social or community existence?"
"Sinhala chauvinism functioned as the ideology of class repression even in the time of colonial rule. Against catholic workers, Malayalam workers and Tamil estate workers Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism was used by the comprador ruling classes. Against Gunasinghe, or even before, against pioneer trade unionist and later against Sama Samajists, chauvinism was amply used. Bandaranayke used Sinhala only slogan with Buddhist revivalism to come to power. But having come to power he became liberal enough to sign Banda Chelva pact of language use and limited autonomy. Though there were extreme racist such as Rajarathne in his camp, they were not given the centre stage."
"In the entire modern history no ruler took Sinhala chauvinists in to the centre stage. But today it has happened. This the most tragic character in the present polity. It is more tragic, as the ruler is none other than a man who campaigned together with us, against disappearances and political murders. He shed tears for 60000 Sinhala youth disappeared but today the same is responsible 6ooo disappearances, mostly Tamil youth. Is it Gajaba
style revenge! He has created an environment for barbaric killings. We are told facetiously that war leads to some disappearances. Furthermore he has created a war which make in addition to the normal horrors of war thousands of refugees lingering in make shift camps in abject poverty. Their land, shore and other resources are plundered. Land and coast are to be given to MNCs for development. From ancient times war has been associated with plunder of land and wealth. This truth has been made naked more than ever."
"Can this violence frighten the LTTE into submission? It is national repression that created this instrument of vengeance and hate. More likely, it will become more ruthless and await grudgingly for the final blood bath in Mulative and Kilinochchi. Has the Sinhalese benefited by the war? Workers in Sinhala areas suffering under double digit inflation. Draconian emergency legislation is brought to suppress the fighting workers, students, peasantry and others. Education, health, traveling all is in disarray. In fact those who gave Dane at home with grace and respect, now take parcels to the temple. Is this the dharma rajya?"
"What are we to do? We have to do what we are doing now. We must keep on talking. We have differences and we believe in different ideologies. But we want to come out of this misery and war. We want to out wit hegemony and terror. For that we must speak out fearlessly. We must sacrifice and be humble to speak to small crowds at homes, streets, or any gathering. Of course we must prepare for strikes and mass actions. But we must, be open and freely discuss."
"This is what Buddha, Jesus, Mohamed or Gandhi did. Our understanding of the evil may be different. But we are against repression, plunder and war. Rev Nandarathana did the same in a poor marginal village in the war zone. That must be our example. All religions made mistakes when the free speech was abandoned. So did Marxism. Bolsheviks made a mistake when they abandoned debate and group right; and that made easy for Stalinism to rise. On this stage we said things from different angles but we are united against the evil of chauvinism and war. Let us take this platform through out the country."
