I am a working mother solely dependent on electricity to do my chores of household work, after I return from work. No sooner had I reached home today than was a power cut imposed. In utter frustration and anger, I searched for the candles which the good hearted benevolent "San Christian" of the St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade where I go every Tuesday, gave free, to last me during the power cut, throughout the week.

Now sitting at the table with a holy candle lighting my sitting room, I look around and I see the TV, fans, rice cooker and all electrical gadgets which I use to ease my manual labour, seem to have a mocking smile, telling me to go back to the day when God made or created this planet and Adam and Eve. This is exactly, I believe, the Bishop of Chilaw wants us to be, for he is the one who has halted the construction of the Coal Power Plant at Norochcholai. It amused me looking at the candle gifted by the Kochchikade St. Anthony’s Church, while one Saint had helped me to keep off darkness, the other at Talawila stands firm to be in darkness.

Now I begin to think seriously. Recently, as reported by Reuter, from Vatican, Pope John Paul had prayed for peace and harmony in this poverty stricken country. How does the R.C. Church in Sri Lanka contribute to this earnest prayer of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul? Is it by the adamant refusal of the Bishop of Chilaw to object to the siting of the coal plant at Norochcholai, which when commissioned will provide employment, social upliftment etc.

Does the entire, RC, church in Sri Lanka endorse the action of Bishop of Chilaw? Isn’t there anyone in the RC Church hierarchy, from the Holy Father, Pope John Paul downwards to point out the sin committed in the name of St. Anne, Talawila, to deprive us of an essential utility electricity? It is my fervent hope that the Vatican representative in Sri Lanka, keep the Holy Father informed and get some redress.

My son who had been gazing at the ceiling, doing nothing hampering his studies and home work yells for his dinner and I say silently "Let there be lights" and Lo and behold, the lights come on after the power cut.
S.G. Boralesgamuwa