In the article, ‘Is tsunami an Act of God?’ in The Island of February 07, Mr. R. M. B. Senanayake says there was a divine hand in this tsunami destruction. He says, "God has intervened with the forces of nature to punish mankind."

He cites as examples 'the flood during the time of Noah and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah for sexual immorality'. He further says, 'God has a purpose in sending calamities'. He goes on to say that God divided the Red Sea to allow the Jews to cross over and escape and when the Egyptians pursued them he killed the Egyptians! The purpose of this article appears to justify the terrible destruction of life and property and to instill fear of God in all of us.

But such attempts to fall non believers fall in line through fear are counterproductive as having seen their near and dear ones destroyed by the killer waves which Mr. Senanayake claims had been sent by God, people tend to not fear but hate whoever created the disaster.

Mr. Senanayake could be asked by those who survived the deaths of their familiy members why ever God chose to destroy innocent children as well who are not sinner by any strech of imagination.

The rich and the poor alike mourned the death and destruction caused by the tsunami and did whatever they could to help the living.

The kind hearted people from all over the world are pouring in money and good to help the destitute. Governments and experts are trying to install early warning systems to warn people of future tsunamis and save lives.

Since according to RMB, God is behind all these calamities and he alone determine when and where tsunamis should occur. The early warning systems will be of no use.

RMB has made the remark: "All suffering is due to sin say the Christians, while the Buddhists refer to 'karma' and is it the 'Kamma vipaka' of those who died."

All I will do is to quote the Buddha. The Buddha said, "Don't waste your time thinking about kamma vipaka as you will end up a mad man. Besides, the Buddha said that the Dhamma is for the wise to be realized by themselves. Not by prayer.