Exemplary conduct and ethical values

I was pleased to read the short letter titled “Hats off to honest conductor and driver” published in the issue of the Sunday Times of Oct 28, 2018, concerning two men who had returned a valuable new Mobile phone to its owner, and even declined a reward. I must congratulate the writer Suren Fernando for sharing this experience with your readers - if only to show us that all is not lost in our land and that there are good and honourable men, in lowly employment, who uphold ethical values, while eschewing “money based values” which today, appear to reign supreme in this ‘post-modern’ world we live in. They are indeed examples to those holding high office in Governance or in the Professions where greed for wealth, position and power are often seen to surpass all else.

Conductor Roshan Udaya Kumara and driver Nishantha Fonseka of this bus plying from Colombo to Galle, practised and exemplified the common ethical values taught in all the great religions, practised in our much-blessed land.

It is essential that today’s youth are guided in ethical and righteous living in their homes, in schools and by the teachers of their respective religions, as also taught to live in a spirit of “Live and let Live”. It is heartening to note that these two men have been nurtured by those who have passed on commendable ethical values to them. HEMAL PIERIS