I refer to the letter to the Editor by Tuan Riza Rassool (TRR), which appeared in your esteemed newspaper (The Island 28.11.2008).

TRR’s article reminds me of Joseph Goebbels who used the German newspapers to propagate and promote his misconceptions.

TRR says that the Muslims are more disciplined than people following other religions just because of the fact that they are the only people who fast (refrain from taking lunch), for one full month at a stretch. This is a misconception. I would be very grateful to TRR if be could inform the reading public, as to the followers of which religion (Islam, Buddhism, Christianity or Hinduism etc.,) has produced the greatest number of terrorists in this world, during the last 10 years. Has the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai which resulted in the tragic death of about 200 innocent people and seriously injured a large number of other people, the work of the so-called disciplined people? Was the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre, which caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people due to same group of disciplined people?

TRR says that people who eat meat live longer than vegetarians. As far as I am aware, people who have the longest life-spans in the world are vegetarians. Man can live longer and in good health on a vegetarian diet and Russian Caucasians and Bulgarians who live, mainly on a vegetarian diets have the highest life expectancy in the world.

In the USA, the Christian sect, the Seventh Day Adventists (who are vegetarians, nonsmokers and teetotallers), live longer than other Americans and this group of Christians have the lowest incidence of heart disease, diabetes, strokes, obesity hypertension and cancer in the USA. I challenge TRR to prove that flesh eaters live longer than vegetarians.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), absence of animal products from the diet is the most effective way to reduce heart disease, cancer, strokes and diabetes.

TRR makes another bowler in his article which is full of misconceptions and says that many civilisations would have perished if not for meat consumptions. I challenge TRR to prove the above statement.

In Sri Lanka, following the visit of the Venerable Mahinda Thero who introduced Buddhism to our country, during the reign of the Great King Devanampitiyatissa (who ruled the whole island), all Sri Lankans, the Sinhala people were vegetarians for 30 years. It is noteworthy that we had a golden era of civilisation during the reign of the above great king. Meat, especially beef was introduced into Sri Lanka by the Portuguese. Prior to the invasion by the Portuguese, all those who got caught consuming beef were demoted to the lowest caste in Sri Lanka by the Sinhala Kings.

TRR, if according to your religion, it is compulsory for you to slaughter innocent dumb cattle and eat beef, please go ahead and eat beef as much as possible, as you should always follow the instructions of your religion; but please do not publish tall stories (untruths), in esteemed newspapers.

Lastly, TRR says, God gave canine teeth to eat meat. What about elephants which have the longest and strongest canine teeth, namely tusks. Have you even seen elephants eating meat?