Morning Spice by Ginger
The value of money

Now Ginger is not mentioning this subject out of envy for the younger generation but, one cannot help but mention that parents in the old days taught their children the value of money. Today it appears that the more you splash the happier the old couple seem in some instances. I remember Raja of Ramnad sent his son to the T.C.K. boarding but his weekly pocket money was no different to others of his age group in his dorm. What is more if he did try to flaunt his wealth and try to show off to his dorm mates he may have got a sound kicking in his nether regions. Likewise some of the most illustrious professionals sent their sons to the T.C.K. boarding but were not given anything very much more than the others.

I do not know which system is better. The older one of making the young ones realize the value of money or the modern trend of giving them all they want and not make them feel rostrained. That object we see has been more than achieved. They don't seem rest rained in any sense. They smoke grass with impunity, get boozed up and also get themselves into trouble but are often pulled out of it with their parents money. How they will fare in society or how society will fare with them is not for Ginger to predict but one thing he can say was that prior to the days of big spending there was more order in our society and there was far less lawlessness from the upper tiers of society here.

Valuable ear wax
Don't be too anxious to clear the wax in your ears. People use, all kinds of little improvised gadgets to clean their ears and this could do more harm than good. In fact the wax performs a useful function as it contains alcohols and fats that are produced by glands in the ear and they protect some sensitive structures in the ear. The most important function is to carry dead skin cells and other unwanted matter away from the inner ear.

The wax also has enother important function to play. It acts against fungi and prevents from forming in the darker recesses in the ear: It also keeps out water and acts against bacteria and this explains how many swim in water that is not 100% pollution free and get away with it. If it is bothering you the best thing is to go to a doctor without trying to rid of it yourself.

Dravidian culture centre
How many people knows the facts and origin of Madras which is now the principal centre of Dravidian culture? It was originally a small fishing village known as Madrasa patram. Some believe that the apostle St. Thomas was martyred there. Modern Madras dates back to the time when the British East India company built a fort there.

The oldest British building still standing there is St. Mary's church which was built in 1678. It is now the home of a number of educational and cultural institutions and one of the most active cities in India. All the Tamil movie studios as we knew are located in Madras and quite a few industries are also flourishing in the Tamil Nadu capital of nearly four million people.

Vegetarian restaurants and organic farms needed

Going on the conservative estimate that 20 per cent of the Hindu population and one per cent of the Buddhist are vegetarian, there should be over 700,000 vegetarians in Sri Lanka. (Knowledgeable Hindu friends say that traditionally over 25% of Hindus have always been vegetarian and one feels that the Buddhist component could also be about 2% if so the total number should be about one million vegetarians). This is without taking into account the large number who have recently converted to vegetarianism by becoming followers of new religious groups that demand the abandonment of flesh-eating.

There are also other recent converts to vegetarianism, irrespective of religion, who have embraced this way of life for modern ethical (animal rights and ecological) reasons - they are mostly persons who are aware of the fast spreading vegetarian trend in many industrial societies and of the reasons for this phenomenal change. There is also a growing number of persons who have gone vegetarian because of health reasons, particularly those who wish to protect themselves from the risk of heart disease, or if one has already contracted this dreaded menace, as a precaution against further degeneration of one's condition. (In this context it is worth mentioning that the American doctor Dean Ornish's popular programme for reversing heart disease, continuing since 1986, consists of a vegetarian diet and a regimen of exercise and stress reduction).

Then there are also partial or semi-vegetarians, such as those who do not eat one or several from among foods of animal origin like beef, other kinds of meat, fish, poultry and egg. Put all these categories together and we should have close to 2 million in this country who are to some extent or other vegetarian; and by all indications the number is increasing day by day.

The spate of letters to the editor appearing in newspapers is a good index on the growing interest in vegetarianism in Sri Lanka. The fact that these letters appear mostly in English papers may make one think that the trend is limited to the middle classes who are literate in English. But this is a deceptive impression. There are scores of Ahimsa societies affiliated to Buddhist institutions which sponsor vegetarianism in general and the abstinence from beef-eating in particular. Not to be forgotten is also the fact that almost all meditators are vegetarian - and meditation is another phenomenon that is growing in popularity in the stress-laden society of our times.

Until very recently, the vegetarian was the odd man out in urban society. Unfortunately vegetarians themselves were partly to blame for this situation. Not wanting to appear self-righteous, the vegetarian often suffered other people's inconsiderateness and simply did nothing about it. But now, at long last, there are signs that things are beginning to change. Some leading hotels advertise their special vegetarian fare on the major poya days. A fair variety of good vegetarian Soya foods are readily available in the market and these products are vigorously advertised. Foods that vegetarians relish like Tofu and bean sprouts have begun to appear on the shelves of super-markets in and around Colombo.

One establishment that is better known for its meat products recently advertised an eggless cake which it proclaimed as suitable for vegetarians. And the star class hotels take care to include several vegetarian dishes in their buffet, thanks mainly to tourists from western countries who have abandoned the habit of eating animals. All this is encouraging, but it is not good enough.

It is good business sense to make what sells. One can confidently assure the world of business that a whole new realm of opportunity is waiting to open its doors to enterprising investors who would care to cater to the needs of the growing number of local and visiting foreign vegetarians. So many people have lamented to us that there is hardly any place in town where one could get a clean and nutritious Sri Lankan vegetarian meal. What people are looking for is not simply any kind of vegetarian meal, but vegetarian food that has been prepared with an eye to its nutritional value as well as to its palatability. In the west a whole vegetarian literature is available, which shows that vegetarian food can be made to satisfy both these criteria. An enterprising businessman should study this literature.

The recipes - of which there are thousands — must be adapted to suit local taste and the preparation must be guided by sound nutritional expertise. On top of this, if the food is made out of organically grown vegetables, there will be a roaring demand, not only from vegetarians but from non-vegetarians as well.

The market potential for three products is enormous: vegetarian meals, organic farm products and health foods (some of which will be of Ayurvedic provenance). A really enterprising business person can venture into all three areas at one go: an organic farm, a vegetarian restaurant and with its precincts a sales point for health food and vegetables and fruits untouched by pesticides and artificial fertiliser.

This is a question about which the Sri Lanka Vegetarian Society is seriously interested. We have several business persons among our membership and we are trying to persuade some of them to venture into this field. A dedicated vegetarian monk who is one of our members is making arrangements to open a small organic farm within the precincts of a vegetarian Ashram, for which he has been examining a number of places.

This will of course not be a business venture, but the realisation of a dream. It will also, hopefully, be an eye-opener as to what is possible in this area. It may take some time, but it will surely come. In the meantime, we appeal to the business community in general to come forward to exploit the vast untapped potential that is waiting in the wings for vegetarian foods, regular and "take-away," served in a clean and satisfying ambience.

Prof. Mahinda Palihawadana,
Colombo 6.

Corporal punishment for rape

Regularly, incidents of rape, from different parts of the country, appear in the newspapers, some news is shocking. Father raping a daughter, a son raping a mother and children being raped are the most distressing incidents reported in the newspapers. One could imagine, to what degrading levels, certain individuals could descend. These incidents of rape, reported in the newspapers are a clear reflection on the rapid increase of rape in the country.

These particulars in the newspapers indicate only the recorded offences. How many more cases of rape would have gone unnoticed, due to various constraints. Publicity, social stigma, threats and intimidation, ignorance, poverty and the trauma of a protracted trial and cross examination by the defence are causes for silent suffering, without making a complaint to the police.

In the present context in the country, a fair percentage of parents are employed and children have to be on their own, till parents return from work. A large number of females are employed and they encounter various hazards to and from their employment. Many females leave their homes in search of employment and get boarded in distant places. Some have to work on shifts and return late after work.

I remember a case of rape in 1992. A female employee in a garment factory in Moratuwa, went to the Angulana beach with her fiance, a security officer of the same institution. After some time, two youth came up to them, kept a razor on the neck of the security officer, assaulted and chased him away. These two persons, took her to a small hut in the beach and raped her. Even though an entry was made in the police station, the assailants could not be identified and got away scot free.

The girl developed suicidal tendencies, but the management advised and consoled her and handed her over to her parents at Matu-gama. In Australia, such cases are handed over to a crisis centre where trained social workers take over such victims.

Since this issue of rape has increased considerably, the government should adopt certain strategies, to curb this social menace, to ensure the safety and modesty of the fair sex.

I would suggest that, the eminent sociologist, Professor Nandasena Ratnapala who with the undergraduates of his faculty, have done so many research projects e.g., professional beggars, prostitutes, sex habits of gem merchants, etc., be entrusted the task of doing a research on the problem of rape and submit his solutions as well.

On the other hand, the government should entrust to the Ministry of Justice, to study the punitive aspect and consider whether the punishment meted out to those found guilty of rape, is an adequate deterrent to reduce this crime and protect society from such criminals.

In the prisons, even though, those considered for murder are eligible to qualify for selection and transfer to an open prison camp, depending on their progress and response in the prisons and could obtain more privileges and enhanced remission. Those convicted for rape are not considered for transfer to an open prison camp. The prison administration is concerned about the community living in close proximity to the prison.

Nevertheless, there was that unique case, when a prisoner convicted for rape was granted an amnesty in the late nineteen seventies and later he was responsible for syphoning petrol. Inconsistencies of this nature should never happen again.

Corporal punishment is carried out in the prisons, if stipulated in the Court Order, apart from the conviction. There are tripods in the prisons and officers trained to give cuts with a rattan specified by the courts. The medical officer has to certify that the prisoner is fit to the through the punishment. The prisoner is secured to be tripod and the small of the back is padded to prevent any injury to the spinal column.

The medical officer, the superintendent and the chief jailor are present when corporal punishment is given. The offender is caned on the buttocks.

At this juncture, when society has to be protected from sex maniacs and sadists and especially assaults on children, the Ministry of Justice should review the legislation and sentencing policy for this heinous crime and consider quick and speedy disposal of justice, longer terms of imprisonment, together with caning with a rattan as mandatory for this offence. There should be adequate precaution to safeguard the aggrieved party, the victim of rape. Certain sensitive evidence may be recorded in camera. The stress and trauma of a victim of rape will remain right through her life.

Edither G. Perera,
Moratuwa.

The Transport Minister's TV interview

I was a keen listener to what transpired at A. H. M. Fowzie's interview on Rupavahini on 1.6.98.

There were two matters that particularly struck me, namely, the Minister's implementation of:

1) Confining small buses to minor roads and using only high passenger-capacity buses on the main road.

2) Adopting a 'cluster system' for public transport buses.

It is my distinct recollection that they were both recommendations propounded by C. S. A. Fernando, a regular writer to the press on various matters of public interest, as far back as the 1980s, in his capacity as Vice President of the Ceylon Society for Prevention of Accidents (CeSPA) and, later, as erstwhile President of the Society, when he participated in a panel discussion on TV regarding traffic matters.

I recall that his view was that, as the existing roads could not be widened in the foreseeable future, by permitting only large buses on the main roads, such as Galle Road, at least two small buses could be taken off for each large bus used. He, moreover contended that the large buses plying on minor roads caused heavy damage to those roads and culverts, and even promoted accidents.

Fernando's suggestion regarding single-bus owners was that they should be given route licences only if they operated through a company or were members of a recognised association, which would be responsible for any misdemeanours of the bus operators. The Minister's idea of a 'cluster system', would seem to be akin to that. I may go a step further and suggest that there should be some state surveillance too.

At the time Fernando came out with his recommendations. I thought that he was only a 'voice crying in the wilderness'! However, it is now heartening to note that the open-minded Minister has adopted similar measures to reduce road congestion and the public transport system. It does not matter, of course, whose recommendations he has adopted.

No doubt the public will be grateful to him for his efforts even if the same results in a partial solution of the problem, for the present.

B. Gamarachchi
Colombo 3

Confiscating illegally obtained land

The government is contemplating on bringing legislation to confiscate land obtained illegally from the LRC by the previous government. It has come up with the recommendation of the Commission on the exchange of land by Mr. Wijeyapala Mendis a member of the United National Party.

I would like to point out about the land obtained from the Mahaweli Authority. Here too, there was a lot of irregularity in land being allocated to UNP members, their relations and friends who had not lost an inch of land. The genuine owners who had lost their land, mostly ancestral properties - may be the only bit of land - were given 20 to 30 perches of land mainly in the interior without water, roadway and other facilities. This too on a long lease with frugal compensation.

During the Premadasa regime he suggested taking back this land and paying compensation. (May be as most of these lands had been given to UNP members and their stooges.) So I suggest confiscating these lands and whatever structures built without paying any compensation whatsoever. Some of these lands have already been sold at exorbitant prices. These lands should be given to those people who lost their lands and genuine landless people.

Dr. C. Godamunne
Kandy Humanitarian Society

Vicious cry for an animal's blood
In Kalmunai, a police post is going to be established. Hardly news — but wait until you hear a condition imposed by the minority vote bank for its setting up. One of our helpless animals is to be caught and pinioned down, struggling in pain and the fear of death, while very slowly a knife, most likely blunt, slices through its pulsating throat.

The blood collected will daub the four corners of the accursed edifice. And accursed it will be — in this land where the Buddha's message of loving kindness towards all living beings is acknowledged by the majority of its citizens.

How dare this corrupt government allow such alien, barbaric rites to be performed to put up a government or any other building? The abominable devolution package is still not rammed down our throats. It behoves all Buddhist citizens to take note of these despicable trends, already evident, before it is too late!

D. S. Munasinghe,
S. de S. Wijekoon,
R. Wijesundera,
Colombo

Time for action on animals

There are thousands of animal lovers and many organisations devoted to saving the lives of animals and preventing cruelty to them.

One of the greatest needs of the animals now is a few acres of land where the animals released from the abattoir can be looked after under the care and supervision of animal lovers themselves. Our course, all animal loving individuals and societies will have to band themselves together without being selfish as this type of project will involve a massive amount of work.

There are the stray cats and dogs - man's best friends - who are mercilessly gassed to die cruel deaths. They can also be looked after if honest individuals come forward and form a society with the intention of providing shelter for these shelterless helpless creatures I know many will generously contribute. I will most certainly contribute for the welfare of these animals but not of course to fatten its bank balances of societies.

Enough has been written over the years. It's time for action. In this connection I would like to appeal to Dr. Eileen Pethiyagoda, whose heart bleeds for these dumb creatures to make a start.

Dharma
Premarathna,
Kandy.

Lost registered mail

What has UPTO done with the registered mail in transit during the strike?

A letter addressed to me and despatched by registered post from Toronto on March 27, 1998 has not been received by me upto date.

A letter addressed to a party in Toronto and registered (# 2248) on March 16, and another letter addressed to a party in Willowdale (Ontario) and registered (# 2834) on April 2 had not been received by the addressees upto date.

The strike was supposed to have been settled on May 8 and 'everything was expected to be normal in two weeks'. It would seem, though, that UPTO has condemned registered mail to 'get lost!'

G. H. W.
Dehiwela.