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| The World of Amita Abayasekara by Rohan Jayawardana
In fact it seemed to be the criterion of Amita’s column that it would be read and assimilated by a readership that made for themselves the time of day to read and assimilate pleasurably rather than be one of the several agitated and pressured actors within the commerce oriented farce of everyday existence who are without any clue whatsoever about the existent beauty in the greens and grasses, or in the exquisite quality of expression in a pair of shining eyes or simple exchanges of human conversation. The expressive beauty in Amita’s Own prose, in particular when waxing eloquent over his beloved wife, Bertha, reflected his considerable literary acumen and personal capacity for penetrative observation of the human scene. As Amita Abayasekara is a resident of my own home town of Dehiwala, I usually called over to hand in my writing but this gave rise to the heartwarming consequence that I was rapidly enveloped within the caring hospitality and good cheer of this irresistible man. And then I graduated into fellowship with his family as well! It was, I realized in due course, the same conviviality that existed within the literary forum of "This is My Island" which effectively generated a spiritual family within and outside of the boundaries of Sri Lanka. I was to discover that the gregarious Amita was capable of the most elegant English prose while adept at devastatingly clever verse! He could also pickup pen and paper to rapidly caricaturise in sketch any person or situation that could be imagined. In earlier years he had been an instructor in both English and the Sinhala languages as well as in the (hitherto) esoteric art of batik printing. He could indulge lively chit-chat in subjects ranging from philosophy and religion to the sexual mores of several persons who exist while encased in glass, and on the fundamental rights of persons employed by overly-privileged individuals in industry and commerce. This was indeed a man for all seasons! The "old boys" fraternity of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia concurred because the formidable presence of Amita was an indispensable element of their regular activity in the several capacities of speechmaker, counsellor and raconteur. How was all of this possible? I do believe it was derived in large measure out of personal happiness in his home life. It seemed to me that when Amita’s wife Bertha died tragically in a motor accident about four years ago, some of the fire and the zest departed out of his own taut physique. His heart-rending and unprecedented lament in the pages of "The Island" was of a sort never encountered before. He was devastated. Consequently the illness he suffered a couple of years later seemed reflective of an internal desolation. He still remains combative and cheerful within the happy embrace of his children and grandchildren, but owing to a mild debility in the mind’s memory-process, he has some difficulty in engaging completely normal conversation. His literary column has also ceased to be printed and his spiritual family that’s spread island-wide and world-wide bemoans the loss. Although personally deprived of my invaluable literary forum, I still cherish the opportunities I have of visiting and talking with Amita. In one such conversation he casually declared an ambition of publishing a book containing the greatest highlights of his uniquely distinguished column. In fact, some of the past contributions he produced out of his files are of staggering literary worth! If ever "This is My Island" by Amita Abayasekara is published for the savouring of the world of book-lovers, it would indeed become an historical contribution of inestimable value within the creative realm of fine English literature. As for me, I shall always be wondering how I could ever suitably thank this wonderful and humble man of letters whom I m privileged to have as my friend. |
| National Plan for conservation of elephants by Gamini G. Punchihewa A Galaxy of eminent
guests It is hoped that following this seminar a national action plan for conserving the Elephant habitat with special emphasis on the human Elephant conflict, will be realised. The notable absentee was the Director of Wild Life Conservation, Mr. Berty Jayasekera, who was represented by his deputies, a few Game Wardens and Rangers.
There should be he said six categories of protected areas, namely the national parks, sanctuaries, Management areas, management protected areas to avoid the human-elephant conflict. National parks should be considered as eco-systems having a biodiversity, the government should protect the protected areas not the private sector. Other countries too face political confrontations in National park managements. Managers should be appointed on a hypothesis basis based on scientific management around the elephant management and conservation areas close to human habitations and cultivations where the human-elephant conflict is very rampant and deeply rooted. In the cluster management process, he said to manage the habitat, scientists and managers should work with managers being always consulted. The participants agreed as the following solution as a priority on facing elephant management and conservation. Human elephant conflict (including the Mahaweli regions) and the balancing of elephant conservation with human interests. Translocation of wild elephants hemmed amidst human habitations and cultivations, Handapangala elephant drive, its economic and non-economic viability and the ecological consequences. Roots of Human-elephant
conflict Experience has proved, he said, that National parks, wild life reserves and sanctuaries to conserve the elephant is useless. Instead elephant conservation should involve the villagers — the victims of human elephant conflict. If not the villagers will be compelled to survive at the expense of the elephants reducing it to be a tourist curiosity confined to a few protected areas. Mr. Eric D. Wickremanayake spoke on ‘Human Elephant conflicts in old and new Communities in Sri Lanka’. He said after his field observations and investigations around Kahahla Pallekelle (NCP), Yala National Park, where slash and burn and traditional rain fed paddy cultivation was done by new settlers. There was violence done to the animals unlike in the past where traditional agriculturists with their methods and philosphies lived in more harmony with the elephants. Mr. Ravi Corea said that deterrents fused against the elephants trespassing into cultivated areas and human habitations were the electric fence and trenches. The elephant breaks the fence posts or keep, a plank carried in its trunk on the fence and would get across. To avoid this behaviour, the planted posts should be higher than the elephant and anchored on a higher embankment and bound with soil by planting plants like pathok to avoid erosion in time of rains. Tranquilizers Translocation he said cannot be effected in all pocketed herds, but only limited to lone bulls and rogues in certain ranges engulfed in pockted herds lying close to human settlements and cultivations. As regards elephant drives, Dr. Atapattu disclosed that there are two ways of doing them. One is a forced drive, while the other an induced drive. The Handapangala drive of last year, resulted in some of them coming back and another elephant drive is comtemplated in the near future. As an alternative to the Handapangala elephant drives to the Symposium was informed that some NGOs like the Fauna International Trust, Wild Life & Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, Environmental Foundation suggested to the last and present governments to release about 4000 acres of sugar cane now under the Pelawatte Sugar Company for an elephant corridor from Handapangala-via Thala Kola Weva across Menik Ganga to Yala National Park Block IV, so that the elephants could have free movement-via Handapangala-Yala. As regards to payment of compensation for elephant damage to crops and loss of human lives, the symposium was told villagers affected by such damage were frustrated as no compensation has been paid. The Director of Wile Life Conservation in a circular on December 1992, promised compensation for loss of lives from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 100,000 and for destruction of human dwellings up to Rs. 15,000. Aggrieved farmers said that only in very isolated cases were these sums paid. President’s Counsel, Mr. Chula de Silva spoke on the history of the Fauna & Flora Protection Ordinance. Regarding the impending draft of the new Wild Life Protection Act, Mr. N. D. Ratnayake of the Department of Wild Life Conservation invited the members of the audience to submit proposals direct to the Director of Wild Life Conservation for consideration for inclusion in the proposed Draft Act. Mr. Jayantha Jayewardene, Melin Peiries (University of Peradeniya), Professor Ratnasuriya (Colombo University), Dr. W. G. K. Padmalal (Open University, Nawala), Ms. D. G. Amara Paranagama (Peradeniya University), Dr. Jayanthi Alahakoon (National Zoological Gardens), Dr. How Cheong Chin (China), Mr. Christopher Wickremasinghe (a retired pioneer Game Warden), Dr. H. A. E. Katugaha, D. P. Munaweera (Ministry of Forest), Prof. Merlin Peries, Ravi Algama (Environmental Foundation), Dr. U. K. G. Padmalal also spoke. |
| Yet another futile elephant drive at
Handapanagala? The Elephant Group consisting of the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society, (WNPS) the Environmental Foundation Ltd. (EFL) and the Fauna International Trust, (FIT) is alarmed by the news that yet another "..mini elephant drive..." is being planned at Handapanagala, where the Dept. of Wildlife Conservation carried out a similar exercise about six months ago and claimed it to be a resounding success. It is pertinent to question the necessity to conduct another drive if, as publicised, the last drive was the success that it was claimed to be. We are aware that over 80 elephants have already been observed to be congregating in the vicinity of Handapanagala and their numbers would increase with the oncoming dry season... July and August. It was the convinced stand of the Elephant Group that the long-term solution to this problem, which was precipitated by the ill-conceived Pelwatte Sugar Cane plantation, would be the establishment of a corridor (through sectors of the sugarcane plantation) along what remains of the traditional migratory pathways that these elephants have been using for decades. These principles underlying the proposals of the Group was accepted by the Presidential Committee which went into all the aspects of the issue. This recommendation was endorsed by the present Minister in Charge of Wildlife, who had even scheduled the construction of electrified fences to maintain the proposed corridor. However, with a sudden turn of events in mid 1997 Mr. N. Atapattu, Veterinary Surgeon of the Dept. of Wildlife Conservation was given the mandate to organise a "drive" to transfer these 160 odd elephants to Yala. The entire exercise was carried out surreptitiously and was preceded by a large-scale transfer of the senior departmental staff stationed in the Region. Queries have been raised about the fatalities among the elephants and the destinations to which these elephants were driven while the fate of some baby elephants orphaned during the drive remains unanswered. We understand that the Ministry has raised several queries about the expenditure incurred in this drive and senior officials of the Ministry, who raised the queries have been relieved of their respective responsibilities in the line Ministry. The Elephant Group urges the authorities to evaluate the merits and demerits of conducting yet another drive under the control of the same officer before assigning anymore public funds for this futile exercise!! Wild
Life & Nature Protection Society |
Towards making Sri Lanka a Saranam Dwipa Again Long, long ago our motherland was known to some as "Serendib", which in my humble opinion meant that our motherland was an Island (Dwipa) that was very much a safe haven (Saranam). Without fear of contradiction I am able to state that it no longer comes anywhere near being a "Serendib". Again,looking at more recent events, 50 years ago when we separated from Great Britain, we were referred to as "The Crown Jewel". We were richer, better educated, and had vastly superior infrastructure than any of Britain's other possessions. Before we begin outlining proposals aimed at "Towards Justice and Peace for all in Sri Lanka", we must genuinely accept that we have "fallen from grace". We must confront the reality that while we very probably made significant advances in the areas of education and health, we definitely managed to create a "well fed, knowledgeable people" who could find no avenues for economic progress. This is distressing and must be accepted without reservation. Education unfortunately translated to book learning and not to Independent thinking. People looked to politicians and others to do the thinking on their behalf. Gautama, Lord Buddha, who I venerate as an Avatar of Vishnu, would never have countenanced this approach. No Constitution and no code of Law ever will create a climate for any creative solution to problems in the real world. They are merely means for preserving "status quo ante". These only give lawyers the power to take control of our affairs. In the Sri Lanka of recent years we have to concede that we have given rise to armed groups of disaffected youth of different sizes who have given up on the system and who vent their frustration by playing "Robin Hood". These groups definitely will not be brought around by "constitutional proposals". What we have to do instead is to harness the energies of these youth and place before them very practical and real proposals for securing them employment, economic advance and an increased amount of spiritual fulfilment. Here the current thinking led by the USA calls for privatization, reduction in the intrusiveness of governments, be they national, provincial, urban or village and for people to be responsible for their individual destiny. It must be incontrovertibly understood that the State has, these past fifty years, failed to free them of this responsibility and has failed to provide them with either material progress or an increased amount of contentment. Thus the proponents of an undivided Island must make the case why it is in the interests of disparate groups to keep the Island undivided. Those who wish to divide the Island must show how at least the people they claim to represent will fare significantly better in a divided Island. It certainly would be welcome if those advocating division could also demonstrate why the majority would find division advantageous. My suggestion then, is to place on hold matters constitutional and to agree on what is best for all concerned in the areas of economic progress and spiritual fulfillment. Once these objectives are agreed on the lawyers could be allowed to put on paper these objectives. Dr Brahman Sivaprakasapillai, B.Sc(Eng); Ph.D,F.I.E. (Sri Lanka) F.I.E.(India),M.I.Mech.E (U.K) New York. |
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