Restoring social goodness a duty of all citizens

France has called for the abolition of the death penalty. I suppose after their history where they guillotined their king and queen and thousands of innocent people not only during the French revolution but for many years afterwards, I can understand their feeling of guilt and wanting to abolish the death penalty. But we have no such history and our situation is different and we need to find solutions for our problems.Not a day passes in our country today when we do not read of horrific murders-- at times of whole families-- quite often by contract killers or children being molested or a women being raped. Are we not ashamed that such things are happening and that situation is getting worse by the day?

No one can deny that there has been a complete breakdown of law and order in our country. We have never had such a situation before and this reflects badly on the government and it is a sad reflection on the people and the country which boasts of two thousand five hundred year old civilisation. Prof. Hettige had recently stated in the Daily Mirror that we do not practice the religions we profess to, though there is “an overtly visible religiosity the behavioral manifestations are quite contrary to the teachings of religions”. This is very true. Let us face the fact that we have to act and act now. Should not our government not act NOW --- “Appamado amatha padan” said the Buddha --- “Act now and do not postpone”, this should be the motto of the government if it wishes to make our country safe for us from criminals, but the government cannot do this alone. Religious leaders, school teachers, parents, social groups and the media should join in this war against crime. We have a duty by our country to close ranks and do this.

We hope our President and the Judiciary will act now without any further delay to save our country from disaster.