With the rule of law breaking down and the crime wave increasing with an alarming number of rape cases involving children, the Government needs to go to the roots of this crisis and take effective and urgent action. Not only are moral values decaying, some speakers at the recent economic forum in Colombo also warn that sustainable economic development was not possible unless the rule of law was restored because only then would big-time foreign investors come here without fear.

The crisis needs to be tackled at different levels. To begin with, top priority needs to be given to religious education for children because the forces of evil and immorality are trying harder than ever before to draw the children away from the religious values of love, compassion, sharing and caring for others.



Recently the Government helped upgrade more than 2,500 Dhamma schools, starting from the Hambantota District. We hope the leaders of all religions will also give priority and more assistance to the upgrading of Dhamma schools and parents should take the responsibility to ensure that children attend Dhamma classes regularly. Parents and children need to come to the awareness that doing well at Dhamma classes are as important as doing well at GCE (OL) or (AL) examinations. Otherwise, as Mahatma Gandhi said the children might learn to fly like birds or swim like fish while forgetting how to walk like human beings.
Sometime ago, there was a proposal to ban tuition classes on Sundays so that the children will be able to attend Dhamma classes. Somehow the powerful tuition mafia which has become a big business in the market economy managed to undermine or sideline this proposal. President Mahinda Rajapaksa who has sweeping powers as executive president especially after the 18th Amendment needs to use these powers to ensure the younger generation grows up according to hallowed religious values instead of the selfish, self-centered and cut-throat values of a competitive world where children are encouraged to get to the top by fair means or foul. Another important factor on restoring the rule of law and curbing the crime wave is to ensure that those nominated to become law makers in parliament, Provincial Councils and other local councils are men and women committed to the values of honesty and integrity, accountability and transparency, sincere, selfless and sacrificial service to the people.

They must be men and women who will not get involved in corruption, fraud, or the abuse of public funds, and will not plunder the wealth and resources of the country. Democratic National Alliance MP Arjuna Ranatunga, said recently those with a questionable reputation or with links to the underworld should not be nominated for elections to parliament or provincial councils. With nominations now being made for elections to three provincial councils, we hope the major parties will bring forward honest law makers and not law breakers.