The third world war......??????????????????????

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

Albert Einstein 

Well it’s not that Joseph Stalin or Winston Churchill that stopped the Second World War. It was bunch of quantum physic scientist that ended the World War II. Since 1942, more than 100,000 scientists of the Manhattan Project had been working on the bomb’s development. At the time, it was the largest collective scientific effort ever undertaken. 

It involved 37 installations across the US, 13 university laboratories and a host of prestigious participants such as the Nobel prizewinning physicists Arthur Holly Compton and Harold Urey. Directed by the Army's chief engineer, Brigadier General Leslie R. Groves, the Manhattan Project was also the most secret wartime project in history. At first, scientists worked in isolation in different parts of the US, unaware of the magnitude of the project in which they were involved. Later, the project was centralized and moved to an isolated laboratory headed by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Los Alamos, New Mexico. On 16 July 1945, scientists carried out the first trial of the bomb in the New Mexico desert. President Truman received news of the successful test whilst negotiating the post-war settlement in Europe at the Potsdam Conference.

Albert Einstein directly did not  involve in Manhattan Project, But as we shall see, he was instrumental in facilitating its development.

In 1905, as part of his Special Theory of Relativity, he made the intriguing point that a large amount of energy could be released from a small amount of matter. This was expressed by the equation E=mc2 (energy = mass times the speed of light squared). The atomic bomb would clearly illustrate this principle.

But bombs were not what Einstein had in mind when he published this equation. Indeed, he considered himself to be a pacifist. In 1929, he publicly declared that if a war broke out he would "unconditionally refuse to do war service, direct or indirect... regardless of how the cause of the war should be judged." (Ronald Clark, "Einstein: The Life and Times", pg. 428). His position would change in 1933, as the result of Adolf Hitler's ascent to power in Germany. While still promoting peace, Einstein no longer fit his previous self-description of being an "absolute pacifist".

Einstein's greatest role in the invention of the atomic bomb was signing a letter to President Franklin Roosevelt urging that the bomb be built. The splitting of the uranium atom in Germany in December 1938 plus continued German aggression led some physicists to fear that Germany might be working on an atomic bomb.

 Among those concerned were physicists Leo Szilard and Eugene Wigner. But Szilard and Wigner had no influence with those in power. So in July 1939 they explained the problem to someone who did: Albert Einstein. According to Szilard, Einstein said the possibility of a chain reaction "never occurred to me", altho Einstein was quick to understand the concept after consulting with Einstein; in August 1939 Szilard wrote a letter to President Roosevelt with Einstein's signature on it. The letter was delivered to Roosevelt in October 1939 by Alexander Sachs, a friend of the President. Germany had invaded Poland the previous month; the time was ripe for action. That October the Briggs Committee was appointed to study uranium chain reactions.

I’m not sure who told this but I got to knew this from a very close friend, But is a nice idea, “in human body when we have a high blood pressure in the brain nothing works except the brain. I guess this is very true with Albert Einstein. His brain worked more than anyone else in the world. The atomic bomb caused to thousands of innocence civilians in Japan.

There is another extension of the same idea and that is my most preferred part. “When there is a high blood pressure in a male pennies   man is practical catatonic and that highly pressurized pennies control everything without any exception. This is also true with Albert Einstein, he was married to his first cousin, and still there are several custodian battles with his legitimate and illegitimate children. This is common with great people who have great mistakes.

All what I’m talking is rubbish, because my brain too also gone into dis- functionality, due to various external forces. Only thing I can do is sleeping with the hope of nice dreams,

But I could not see dreams. The Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said “I t s that god can forgive terrorist   , but I will be helping them meet the god”

That is not a Joke by An Idiot; President Putin is a man of his word. Didn’t he kick his wife and out 

of the presidential palace and married that seductive gymnastic gold medalist in Olympic.

Why I can’t sleep peacefully with all this, 30 years of We Sri Lankans spent our lives with a war of our own brothers? Who wants another war? OH god help me to sleep peacefully………………….

Death Stories.......................

It was 1987 that I remember the first time Sri Lankan experienced a Bomb blast in Pettah. I have no very clear memory but this year continuously referring in our family over tragic death of one of my cousin sister. She died over Romantic Fever in the same year at the age of 14.As per my aunt my cousin sister lost continuous medical care because the Colombo general Hospital got really crowded with the victims and the dead bodies. In a way my aunt could be correct with emergency situation negligence over some patients could be occurred on priority basis. I vaguely remember the funeral of my cousin sister, I remember I was playing around some other children while my mother and others aunts continuously weeping.

Later I found the year 1987 made lot of people crying because of the bomb blast. Death does not make anything to the end. It could be a start or new beginning of life time deep sorrow and sadness.it is a life time wound to the people who living. 

Till 2009 bomb it was an often event attending to a funeral of someone who died in either at war bomb blast. I n Sri Lanka we have traditional  village formation  with tank fed paddy fields ,the  temple and the houses dwellings of the villagers.We called it “Vawai -Dagabai”.Mainly this sort of  villages can be seen mostly in north central province.

This village formation is dead now. There are still paddy fields, rain fed tanks, but the village what we had is not there anymore. Paddy farmers killing each other to sell their crop. Large consumption of alcohol addiction, domestic violence, and poverty wrapped with their lifes.During the civil war the young generation of this type of village mainly occupied in Sri Lanka forces. What comes next the dead bodies first monthly, then at the peak of the war daily. These villagers actually never worried about of dying someone at war, rather they happy about the compensation money because it leads the other family members a better future. Now war is over. If we walk through those villages they have there are two elements being added.That the cemetery with lords of soldiers’ tomb stones and a small bus stop memorizing the lost soldiers.

My personal choice when I m dead is the common wealth war cemetery on Trincomalee.This is on the Trinco- Nilaweli road.First time I went there with my father during the cease fire in 2002.when i said that i m glad if i could buried there when i m dead  my father said it a good choice,but wrong profession.Because this cemetery was dedicated  to the Second world war veterans in 1945.

Also the LTTE had their large cemetery  of those who dead in the  war.there is a rumor this was designed by Russian Landscape Architect.But for me  there is something missing.the tomb stones were heavily built.It does not look like someone rest in peace,More like someone trapped in peace.Anyway the military cemeteries need to be regimental,but should it feel as regimental?

I have been to this place also during the 2002 cease fire  and with my beloved father.It was on the Madu road.The cemetery not their any more as well my father not any more.

We are good at living with dead….

We Sri Lankans have great bearing capacity of losing our loved ones tragically. For me it started in1987 but there are children who have lost even their parents before they were born. I will tell a very sad story. I know a beautician who has some successful saloon in my home town Ingiriya. She even worked in Singapore, Saudi Arabia etc. and opened this saloon with her husband. Her husband was a graphic designer. Both of them were running their business happily and daughter of age of 4.the husband of that family does not ride even a bicycle. He did not drive for everything they hire a cab or a three wheeler. One day he was sick and went to the hospital by a three wheel. On the Ratnapura - Pandura road unfortunately they met with an accident. 

Somehow the driver escaped, but passenger died. After the one month of the funeral she realized she is pregnant and doctors said child is due on February. I was thinking are there anything could be worst to a child than this? But this child is not the first as well the last one.

In Sri Lanka per year we are losing 2000 people due to accidents and mostly the victims’  are passengers or pedestrians.This is like a continuous war on the road. Even I have lost friends over accidents in their young age. The reason for most road accident in Sri Lanka no one really care the traffic law. Obtaining a Driving License in Sri Lanka is very simple procedure, the test drive with the inspector most cases not more than 100 meters. 

As Buddhist we believe death is a part of the life and it’s the only definite thing in life. In Buddhism life is a cyclical process. We believe in rebirth according to the previous good and bad done in life. So most cases General Buddhist do so much hoping for the in return good.

Lord Buddha never made  the death alive like Jesus Christ.But lord Buddha convinced  death is only a  phenomena where we have to face and accept.

The western thinking  is very different from our part of the world. But when Isaw  victims of the Paris   attack I felt everyone have the same feeling of losing loved ones. It’s true we expressing in different way, but we all share the same feeling.

The Funeral Orators...........

“Romans, countrymen, and lovers! Hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me.............

For mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe: censure me in your wisdom,andawake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of ....................

Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand Why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: 

Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved.Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honor for his valour; and death for his ambition. Who is here so base that would be abondman? 
If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak;

For him have I offended? I pause  ! for a reply....................”

I don’t think Brutus Himself came up with such nice words, what we seen in William Shakespeare 's Julius Caesar But this speech considers as a one of the most powerful funeral speech in history. Brutus defended himself in front of the Julius Caesar’s dead body. It is not easy to defend an assassination by its own murders in front of thousand gathering. Brutus must be very confident man and the Romans must be very rationalist.

Apart from Shakespeare drams the other funeral speech what I heard was Dr.Carlo Fonseka speech at the funeral of Dr.Edireewera Sarathchandar’s. There Dr. Carlo Fonseka quoted Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s famous lines that” for a country to have great writer is like a second government .That is why no regime has ever loved great writers, only minor ones”.

Alexandr was a Russian novelist, historian, and outspoken critic of the Soviet Union, especially its totalitarianism, who helped to raise global awareness of its gulag forced labor camp system. He was allowed to publish only one work in the Soviet Union,In 2008 Russian president  Vladimir Putin made a historical visit to writer home. The same year Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn died.

Dr. Edireweera Sarathchandra was not only a great writer, he was a social commentator, senior lecturer at the University of Peradeniya for many years pioneers of Sri Lankans stage drama, a musician more than that he was a beloved father of five children. But as Dr.Carlo Fonseka said at his funeral none of government did not like. 

At lease CBK’s government did not beat him. 

But UNP government beat with him bicycle chains while he was addressing a meeting at the age of 72.

More importantly when the victimized party decided to make a complaint at Police, the police refused to accept it.By that time Mr J.R.Jayawardena was the president he who said that people responsible for their own security  and  present prime minister was the minister of youth and education.

I’m not very certain but in my limited knowledge Sri Lankans are very enthusiastic about speeches at funerals. Even in a very poor village funeral there is an agenda. 

Most cases there is a rhetorician. The rhetorician often retired school head man or some government retired officer.

 He presents as the venue and help to the organizing of funeral. The Buddhist monks doing their rituals and delivered some Lord Buddha’s point of view about the death. After that starting speeches by representing several parties. For a instant if this dead person worked in an office then a speech from office. If he married from a speech from in law’s .Then another speech from representing friends. Also another speech from neighbors. Likewise there are several speeches .Also some promised in front of the dead body to help the family or good qualities of the dead person. Some stories are not true.

After the funeral most cases no one coming back to help the family, some occasions the dead person is a most notorious person in the village,during his life span he has done worst things to the society. But orator delivering splendid speech over the death person. So that funeral programme continues at least 5-6 hours.

When my father passed away   there were volunteered orator came to the funeral. They even without our consent tried to make the agenda of the funeral. I was in my hot tempered twenties and I ignored their agenda. My father was born as a Buddhist, but he did not die as a practicing Buddhist. Also he spent his own way of not following five fundamentals of the Buddhism. Till his death he very much enjoyed the liquer.He was a sweet liar. He did fishing hunting in time to time plus he enjoyed the company of beautiful women but he stole my mother’s heart for life time. Still my mother weeping on occasion thinking of my father. He was very interesting person and I had very friendly relationship with my father. That time believed I knew more than anyone about my father. But later I came to know I knew very little .But my father’s funeral day I feel very confident and qualified to make a speech about him with the vote of thanking.

So I did but I screw up telling that my father did not wanted to have Buddhist ceremony at his funeral and this was only listing to elders of the family. But I did promise in front of his dead body that I will look after my mother as he did for thirty years.But my few words made very tensed situation in the funeral as well among our relations.They criticized saying that  I have  showed the moronic youth attitude.Now i think this may be correct at some extent,I should not have  open my Fathers personal believes when no one there to safeguard me.I should have tell when my father was alive not when he he was passed away.

But for five years I have been keeping my promise looking after my mother, I may not good as my father, but I’m trying.

In Sri Lanka the politician’s funerals are so different from the others. When a politician is dead could be natural cause or an assassination the widowed wife most cases enter in to politics after saying that she will make the better changes that her husband died for. The Bandanayeka family had many successful stories our ex-president CBK made her promise doing some stretching exercise in front of her assassinated husband’s dead body. But she unable to keep any of her promises when she was in power.

The other funeral speech was from young politician Duminda Disanayake at the moment he is the Sri Lanka freedom party secretary .When his father who was a very preferred politician by CBK died from long term illness he gave a speech of sympathy.At his father’s funeral he explained how his father suffered from long term mistreats by EX –president MR. He further said that ex-president CBK help as a mother. Somehow this funeral speech was an indirect reason of toppling the MR’s government .Minister Duminda Disanayake was very first few politicians who joined with the “Good Government” in this year January.

This all came to my mind when I was passing through Parliament Ground yesterday. President Mytheepala Sirisena delivering his calm voice in Front of Maduluwawe Shobhitha Thero’s Funaral.President addressing the funeral assured he will use his all strength to abolish the executive presidency.at the moment we have to hope for the best. But my worry is I have heard many funeral speeches and promises like this that they never become into reality. Most of the time they were only good funeral orators.

Walking Through Red Carpet......

I have inherited two things from my father, that’s true, mad and honest love for movies and books. My father told me that books will take me everywhere without moving an inch. I realized what did he mean when I read the “Charley and the chocolate factory”. What about movies? Well my experience it tends to make move us everywhere. If I make a bucket list before I die number one would be each and every movie in one Cannes Film Festival. Hope for the best. 

But I was lucky enough to go to International film festival in Colombo yesterday; 2014 this was started and I wish they will continue in future annually.

Last year's IFF Colombo was both a treat and a novel experience for Sri Lankan cinema-lovers; this is totally free event and last time huge success with enthusiastic crowds thronging the various cinema halls which were Festival venues. As in its debut edition, we have several theaters such as the Regal cinema, Majestic cinema complex, the Empire, Tharangani where the IFF happening. IFFC festival director and world renowned filmmaker, Asoka Handagama referred to the success of the first edition of IFF Colombo and was hopeful of the second edition being a landmark event, 

(http://www.iffcolombo.com/)

There are  more than 100 movies were scheduled to be screened, and that the specialty of the chosen movies apart from being the latest productions was that most of them have been featured in the world's number one film festivals this year. "That is something to hear over 100 movies I wish I could watch at least more than 10.

Yesterday I can’t believe young, old, Sri Lankans non Sri Lankans we all were waiting in a long line In front of the Regal Cinema. The movie was scheduled to be screened at 7p.m.My friend was there since 5.30.Then I joined  with her at  6.15.After many years I waited over 45 minutes to enter the theater. Well that is the charismatic experience of watching movies in a big screen; we are waiting for the movie. Of course I went after office. But there were people fully dress for the film. They all smell so good. I did not feel we are waiting on the road. We talking each other, introducing each other making friends that 45 minutes went in the flashiest of the Flash.

 We two luckily got second raw chairs in the balcony. People sharing snacks since it’s free event everyone spending more on snacks.

Yesterday movie was Cannes Golden Palm award winning film 'Dheepan'. A film by renowned French director Jacques Audiard, 'Dheepan', a former Tamil Tiger child soldier, they says it’s  based on a true story about a Tamil Tiger child soldier who escaped the civil war in Sri Lanka, with a young woman and a little girl pretending they are a family.

 Even starting a family those who know each other is difficult, but somehow total strangers able to have their own family after lot of hardships. The movie is about happy ending. It had a happy ending. I don’t want to make any comment about the movie; I have some uncertainty points about how this movie received an award.

Main roles are totally hopeless, there is no sense of editing, no story line ,well I don’t know what the relationship of the on and off elephant appearing in the screen. Well I don’t like the movie and I can give thousand reasons for that. Two gangs were fighting over twenty minutes but there is no single police cop appearing. 

But French police chasing street vendors in boulevards. I’m not surprising to see these “special effects “in Bollywood movies or some Hollywood action movies. But an award winning movie trying to show this sort of” borrowed special effects “it’s not acceptable.

This is about just a movie; I have to watch some more to reconsider the selections of the movies. But IFFCOLOMBO is a memorable experience for all move lovers. But today is the last day…………………….