HEARSAY
It is almost three weeks since the dreaded Easter Sunday bombing and the entire population of Sri Lanka seems to be still in a panic. The Government has assured us that the Forces are working round the clock to prevent a reoccurrence and are following up on leads, taking suspects in for questioning, clearing up suspicious areas and seizing ammunition etc. However, the biggest problem that the country seems to be facing right now are the constant rumours flying around, which seem to spread like wildfire one way or another.
Owing to the rumours most people are terrified to get about, whether it is to market or shop, go to the movies, eat at restaurants, visit hotels and even places of worship. Owing to this fear psychosis every business establishment in the country is suffering one way or another.
Being racist is another issue. Recalling my youth and our era as children.
We had friends from the neighbourhood and school and others we met socially. It was never an issue to us what their ethnicity and religion were. In fact, we were very happy celebrating each other’s festivals, eating the prepared festive delicacies as well as meeting up with each other’s extended families when they visited the homes. During this time there seemed to be neither apparent nor hidden hatred towards others related to their ethnicity or religion. Life was certainly simpler and enjoyable. I cannot believe that many years later we have gone through so much and now come to this.
Owing to rumours I know many people who do not step out of their homes. Instead of staying put they spread fear by calling all and
sundry to spread the false rumours they have heard and kept them locked inside their homes. To each rumour that is passed on a bit more is added to scare the others.
We are living in a world there is hatred everywhere. Probably caused by peoples’ varying desires, ideas and philosophies and based on the circumstances they are born into they develop their mental environment.
No person can predict bombings such as what we experienced on Easter Sunday in any part of the world. Try living in harmony in very isolated places and you will find that somebody will want to intrude that space and cause disruption.
There is a lot of evil out there in the universe. The least all of us could do is to spread happiness amongst ourselves and not rumours.