Sri Lanka UFO Register - no 02

Magazine Overview

Title: SRI LANKA U.F.O. REGISTER
Issue: NO. 2
Date: OCT/NOV/DEC 1979
Publisher: Sri Lanka UFO Register
Country: Sri Lanka
Language: English

This issue of the Sri Lanka UFO Register presents a critical editorial, a detailed eyewitness account of a UFO sighting, and an extensive interview exploring unconventional theories about UFOs.

Editorial: The 'Pseudo-Science' of UFOs

Ananda L. Sirisena, the Editor, addresses the skepticism surrounding UFO reports, particularly referencing an article by astronomer Carl Sagan in the August 1979 'Reader's Digest'. Sagan stated that out of one million UFO reports filed since 1947, not a single close encounter had been authenticated reliably. Sirisena argues that while individual witness accounts can be contradictory, a consistent picture can emerge from multiple anecdotal reports, similar to how traffic accidents or air crashes are reconstructed. He posits that this process, applied to UFO cases, can provide circumstantial evidence of unusual phenomena, even if it doesn't meet the strict scientific definition of 'proof'. The editorial highlights the difficulty in authenticating UFOs, as unlike accidents, no physical UFO remains are available for study. Sirisena emphasizes that by not studying these events, humanity risks not expanding its understanding of physical and mental laws.

Ball of Fire at Hunnasgiriya

This article details an encounter experienced by Piyasena, a 20-year-old man, in late August 1969, while driving a jeep on a route from Colombo to Bibile, near Hunnasgiriya, Sri Lanka. Around 6:30 PM, as dusk was setting in, Piyasena saw a bright green, illuminated ball of light, described as 'eliya' or 'an illuminated ball', about 8-10 inches in diameter, hovering two to three feet above the ground. The object was intensely bright and had a yellowish-orange glow. It moved rapidly down the hill and onto the road, maintaining its height, without making any sound. Piyasena brought the jeep to a halt, but the object did not affect the vehicle's lights or engine. After stopping for about ten seconds and appearing to 'look at' Piyasena, the object moved off at a brisk speed, traversed the rest of the road, and disappeared from view within seconds. Piyasena, shaken, drove back to Hunnasgiriya. The writer notes that Piyasena was an intelligent and open-minded individual with no history of mental illness. The total duration of the sighting was approximately sixty seconds. The article also mentions a local legend of the 'Hunnasgiriya Devatta', a benevolent heavenly being, suggesting a possible connection to the phenomenon.

Quote from Professor Wickramasinghe

This section features a quote from Professor Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe, Head of Astronomy at Cardiff University, expressing that there have been enough UFO sightings in Wales to warrant a thorough investigation involving the Ministry of Defence, astronomers, meteorologists, and geologists. This quote is attributed to the book "THE UNINVITED" by Clive Harold, published in 1979.

The Document That Shows 'Flying Discs' Exist

This piece discusses persistent claims that the US Air Force withheld information about unidentified flying objects. It acknowledges that governmental departments, especially those involved in intelligence, may legally cover up or reclassify sensitive facts to prevent public access, a practice that may have been ongoing since 1947, the perceived start of the 'flying saucer' era.

An Interview with Rex Dutta

Conducted on May 2, 1979, in London, this interview features Rex Dutta, organizer of the 'New Age' monthly magazine 'Viewpoint Aquarius'. Dutta, who has a degree in economics and is a student of Theosophy, presents a non-scientific perspective on UFOs.

UFOs Beyond Science

Dutta argues that science, with its focus on 'nuts and bolts', is inadequate to explain UFOs. He believes UFOs operate on a level beyond our current understanding of physics, capable of appearing/disappearing, changing size, and traveling at speeds far exceeding the speed of light, possibly at the speed of thought. He dismisses explanations like hallucination or subjectivity, stating that UFOs are not bound by our physical laws.

Government Acknowledgment and Terrestrial Origin

Dutta mentions that the French government, in 1974, measured depressions caused by landed saucers weighing hundreds of tons, indicating a physical reality. He asserts that UFOs are not of terrestrial origin and that the intelligence behind them is far greater than human intelligence. He suggests that 'Space Beings' can adopt any shape, consciously or unconsciously, to match what earthlings expect, fear, or desire, citing an example of an astronomer who couldn't accept UFOs because they didn't look like known aircraft.

The Nature of UFOs and Consciousness

Dutta emphasizes that UFOs are primarily 'mind' and have a physical form only when necessary. He rejects the idea that UFOs are a reaction of the subconscious mind, instead proposing they represent a consciousness or state of development beyond our current human limitations. He believes that UFOs are not necessarily based in a specific location but exist in a different plane of consciousness, and that human minds can potentially connect with this broader consciousness.

Contactees and Official Reports

Dutta refers to his earlier books cataloging sixteen types of saucers and mentions a figure of 150,000 'contactees' (people who have had rides in saucers or spoken to 'saucer beings'). He cites an official report from the US Air Force's Air Technical Intelligence Centre (ATIC) to the President on September 22, 1947, stating that 'Saucers are real, contacts are real.' He also mentions a 1948 US government conference and a 1949 Canadian government report under Wilbert B. Smith, which concluded that UFOs are real and that understanding alien science requires a philosophical approach.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue generally adopts an open-minded stance towards UFO phenomena, encouraging investigation and presenting accounts and theories that go beyond conventional scientific explanations. The editorial, while acknowledging scientific skepticism, advocates for the study of UFO reports as a means to potentially expand human knowledge. The interview with Rex Dutta strongly pushes a philosophical and consciousness-based interpretation of UFOs, contrasting with the 'nuts and bolts' scientific approach. The magazine appears to be a platform for exploring UFOs from various perspectives, including eyewitness accounts, historical government reports, and speculative theories.

This issue of the SRI LANKA U.F.O. REGISTER focuses on the evidence for the existence of UFOs, particularly highlighting the work of Donald E. Keyhoe and the significance of official documents. The main article, "THE DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS 'FLYING DISCS' EXIST", details Keyhoe's conviction that the US Air Force had concluded that flying saucers were real and interplanetary. It references his four books published between 1950 and 1960, which sold well and fueled controversy.

Key Evidence and Documents

The article emphasizes that Keyhoe was vindicated in 1968 when the Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects, directed by Dr. E. Condon, released a classified Air Force communique from September 23, 1947. Titled "AMC Opinion Concerning Flying Discs", this memo from the Commander of Air Material Command (AMC) to the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces stated that the reported phenomenon was "something real and not visionary or fictitious." It recommended a detailed study and suggested the possibility of a "foreign nation has a form of propulsion possibly nuclear, which is outside of our domestic knowledge," with the USSR, Great Britain, and Germany being potential candidates.

The memorandum is described as very definite in its description of "Flying Discs," listing six key characteristics:

1. Metallic or light reflecting surface: Consistent since 1947.
2. Absence of trail: Except in instances of high performance, suggesting a propulsion process new to man's technology.
3. Circular or elliptical in shape, flat on bottom and domed on top: An apt description of the classical "flying saucer."
4. Formation flights: Reports of well-kept formation flights varying from three to nine objects.
5. Absence of sound: Normally silent, with substantial rumbling roars noted in only three instances, indicating a technology new to man.
6. Level flight speeds: Normally estimated above 300 knots.

The article notes the absence of sonic booms from UFOs flying faster than sound, which is considered significant as current technology cannot suppress them.

The Condon Report and Project Sign

Despite the Condon Report's overall negative conclusions, it published the Air Force communique. The memo's recommendations culminated in the inauguration of Project Sign, also known as Project Saucer. The issue promises a separate study of Project Sign in a future edition.

Book Review: "The Utah UFO Display"

Ananda L. Sirisena contributes a review of Dr. Frank B. Salisbury's book, "The Utah UFO Display: A Biologist's Report." The review introduces a new series, "Look at a UFO Book," aiming to familiarize readers with UFO literature. Salisbury's book is praised for its logical sense and scientific approach. Part I of the book details UFO sightings in the Uintah Basin, Utah, between 1966-67. Part II tackles the question of whether UFOs are extraterrestrial. Salisbury is quoted advising sceptics to "apply our scientific efforts in trying to understand what the UFOs are, rather than wasting a great deal of energy trying to argue that space-ships don't exist." The review emphasizes that there is no scientific evidence to disprove extraterrestrial origin.

Editorial Stance and Scientists' Views

The editorial section continues the discussion, referencing Dr. Sagan's skepticism about finding physical evidence like an "alien aircraft fragment" or "logbook." It questions whether such evidence would be believed and points to persistent rumors of a 1948 crash in New Mexico. The editorial acknowledges that UFOs are not without physical evidence, including radar and sonar tracking, landing traces, photographs, and electromagnetic effects, though these do not reveal the origin.

A "BRIEF LIST OF SCIENTISTS WHO TAKE THE UFO PROBLEM SERIOUSLY" is provided, featuring prominent researchers and academics from various institutions, including Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Dr. Hermann Oberth, and Dr. Felix Zigel.

Sri Lanka UFO Register Information

The issue concludes with information about the Sri Lanka UFO Register, encouraging readers to investigate UFO reports and subscribe. It lists upcoming articles, including a book review of Carl Jung's "Flying Saucers" and reports from France and Sri Lanka. Subscription details and contact information for the Secretary are provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent evidence for the reality of UFOs, the historical efforts by official bodies to study and potentially conceal information, and the scientific community's engagement with the phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of advocating for serious investigation and open-mindedness towards the UFO phenomenon, challenging skepticism and encouraging the pursuit of truth, as exemplified by the review of Dr. Salisbury's book and the list of supportive scientists. The magazine aims to disseminate information and encourage reporting of UFO sightings within Sri Lanka and beyond.