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Preparedness is
essential Dr. Hiran W. Jayewardene — Sri Lanka's leading authority on ocean affairs, who headed Sri Lanka's delegation to the Third UN Law of the Sea Conference, founded the National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA) in 1981, was once Chairman of the Marine Pollution Prevention Authority (MPPA), and is currently Secretary General of Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Co-operation (IOMAC) which gave marine pollution a high priority at the recent meeting of IOMAC in Colombo. He is also a Trustee of Fauna International, and a Member of the Board of Governors of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute in Malta. The recent accident was a disaster waiting to happen from the time the SPBM was deployed off Colombo. A similar one was planned for Hambantota and necessary warning was given regarding environmental dangers. Perhaps, we in Sri Lanka, have still not fully awoken to the reality of marine pollution disasters. A particular threat is posed by these large scale oil handling operating off Colombo. It is done in the most productive south west quadrant of our marine fishery centring on Negombo and Chilaw. Therefore a very high degree of care is needed. Further, oil transfer operations in monsoon conditions is obviously difficult for crews and accidents are bound to happen. This is not a maritime casualty but an operational accident. In the early 1980s, a two-pronged approach was taken to avert a possible calamity of this sort. Firstly, to minimise the risk of a marine collision at sea considering that over 5000 tanker voyages were then made annually off the south coast of Sri Lanka — a traffic separation scheme was established off Dondra head-Devundara, by Sri Lanka under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London. A radar reflector beacon was installed at Dondra lighthouse to assist vessels to make the transit through the scheme. A voluntary Reporting Scheme with Colombo Radio broadcasting to passing vessels, was also run at the time to monitor movements. The scheme is on international navigation charts and is being observed by vessels sailing in close proximity to the coast of Sri Lanka. Yet, further improvement, even here, is needed. Contingency Plan The problem appears to be one of administration, and overall crisis management and co-ordination, rather than resources, as both the CPC and Port of Colombo are sufficiently well endowed and have adequate technical capabilities. They are also duty bound to maintain a level of preparedness. When nothing happens year after year, complacency becomes the biggest enemy. It is not a new problem peculiar to Sri Lanka, and there are techniques for dealing with it. It is also not confined to pollution prevention and control. Constant drills and logistical reviews are required to respond to a variety of challenges. A civilian capability, just like the Fire Brigade, is perhaps what we need to maintain. We are lucky that this has been a relatively small spill and that the monsoon is under way with good winds and choppy seas which can help dissipate the oil spill and break-up its mass. The danger is that the winds also tend to blow the oil onshore and there is direct threat to the successive sandstone submarine ridges that lie at varying depths on the continental shelf off the south west coast. These reefs support a productive fishery accesse from Kelani estuary to Panadura. Lobsters are a high value product from the reefs and provide employment to a number of divers. If the oil does not evaporate or dissolve in the water, it will ecentually come to settle on these reefs smothering the delicate marine ecosystems. Tar balls from vessel sources are commonly found on our beaches. A NARA survey of Tar ball pollution on our coast in the 1980s, which was carried out according to international standards, set Sri Lanka only third to Oman at the Straits of Hormuz — entrance to the Persian Gulf, and one of the busiest choke points for international shipping, and with the largest volume of global tanker traffic emanating from the oilfields of the Middle Eastern region. A considerable part of this traffic, which is east bound, passes south of Sri Lanka. Once the spill occurs, oil can be contained and pounded with boom on the surface as to facilitate its being pumped out to reception facilities. Yet, much depends on the extent of the spill at the time of intervention. Physical removal from beaches etc. is achieved by bales of straw and low cost absorbent materials which must be obtained as a contingency plan providing for personnel (volunteers), dispersal of soiled material etc. Apart from the immediate and direct impact of oil and associated volatile elements (dissipating fast) which can prove toxic to marine life if ingested, etc., oil becomes mixed with the sand and also gets deposited on the sea bottom, and this is difficult to deal with, often doing considerable damage to sensitive coastal ecosystems such reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves etc. as a lasting danger. The use of chemical dispersants themselves entail considerable risks of consequent chemical pollution. Heartening Factor This spill and its possible impact on the marine environment must be monitored as a scientific case study for several months from now, if we are to begin to understand what happens when these things happen off our shores. It is good that the MPPA is reported to be planning to prosecute the wrongdoers, as it will remind those culpable of their public accountability, and the ravity of the offences. IMO international marine pollution conventions provide some relief and engage responsibility of tanker owners, provide for relief from insurance etc. Yet response capability and tightening up of operating procedures must also be looked at. Affordable modern IT support for marine pollution contingencies has been available for over a decade to give a simple PC based capability for anticipating the direction and dispersion of marine pollutant spills, identifying pollutants etc. and modelling based on pre-compiled data bases, predicting wind, wave and current factors etc. as may be updated with real-time information specific to the crisis. We need not rush for expensive solutions nor be panicked into calling foreign experts, and strengthening legislation. Most of the ingredients for a response are here with us, and we have very competent scientific and technical personnel in this country. Perhaps what we need to do after this Theotokos incident is get to the planning room fast for some real hard work of a practical nature. All concerned organizations should participate, and the responsibility must be seen as being collective. The conclusion from this experience may be that Sri Lanka must strive to do better in marine pollution preparedness before a real calamity befalls us. We cannot continue to rely on our good fortune and nature to clean-up for us." Food
for Thought Cholera, the country-wide first epidemic petered out early this year with 437 cases. The recent outbreak and as of today we have 388 cases with 7 in Colombo. Obviously it will take cholera and a possible full-scale epidemic to find weapons to fight the apathy, indifference and ignorance, that prevails towards the preparation and serving of food commercially. In this country, whether in schools or staff canteens, small time hotels, restaurants or tea kiosks, not leaving out the street vendor, grubby cooks denigrate every modern culinary standard, dispensing food. Pharmacists, ayurvedic physicians, midwives, have to be registered — but anybody could be a cook. Hand into everything finger testing is a far cry from Kentucky ‘finger licking good’. Food was and is the bottom line, everyday in every field of ancient and modern man’s routine. But recently as never before, home cooking has become obsolete, though financially and health-wise it makes less and less sense. Most households today have become slaves to this process and trend in household management. This is short circuiting and yielding to what can only be had through knowledge, toil and delight, and a questioning and challenging of values and cultural norms that have been ruthlessly disrupted with others imposed. Priorities were family, spiritual, and often even mythological, but this has become incompatible with a world in which the technique of economic solutions tends more and more to take on unyielding power in itself. Mother-daughter link Food whether cooked in bulk or not, without destroying nutritive values needs a specific knowledge in preparation. Cooking is a routine everyday application of methodical work. There is a scheduled time of consumption often hardly alterable. There is hygiene and sanitation extremely important, extremely desirable, often sadly lacking. Above all a workman needs his or her tools — correct equipment, a workable kitchen, a fact totally ignored. The school or office canteen where hygiene and sanitation is extremely important is next to the toilets, the most unhygienic area in the school compound or office premises. The SDS — School Development Society and monies raised for the funding of school programmes via canteens is at the health expense of a child. A very strong comment came from an American professor recently. He referred to this as "intellectual dishonesty". An income derived from encouraging bad and incorrect eating habits destroying the health of a growing populace. A school is an institute of learning. For a school to make students dependent on the ‘sweet tooth’ and sugar confectionery is unpardonable. Junk foods Over the years governments provided a food security package that benefited the poor household. In 1977 a large part of this was dismantled. The food stamp scheme replaced this providing benefits with the highest benefit to children under 8 years. It was estimated to contribute 25% of the food expenditure of a poor household. However, food prices increased by 71% from 1979 to 1982 — rice by 100% and wheat flour 160%. In a short space of 3 years the food stamp value halved, then with inflation further declined and stood at 1/3 their value. Governments continued with the reassuring and comforting lie. The poverty line moving from Rs. 300 and 12% of the population to Rs. 500 and 33% and then to Rs. 700 and more than half the population. Aborted The Tender System and the tender quoting the lowest price with purchases that journey from the cheapest source, often the pavement to the kitchen and to food on the table wins out. When would leader balanced qualities be seen at the top? Must they be always driven by ill-informed, vested interest and unrealistic economic imperatives? How much longer camouflaging a broader set of urgent everyday customer needs of nourishing wholesome clean food? National dress of the Sri Lankans The British who subjugated the whole of Sri Lanka in the year 1815 took various measures to suppress national resurgence. They broke the backbone of the peasant by confiscating the lands under the Waste Lands Ordinance. They enthroned English, and Sinhala was treated as the language of the kitchen. The indigenous culture was looked down upon and the villager was downgraded to be called "Godaya" or rustic by the elite. The British relegated the temple and pirivena to the background. The imperial regime provided every opportunity for the Chritian missionaries to dominate in the sphere of education. They in turn imparted Western ways of life and trained people to be loyal to the British. Colonial era The higher strata in society took pride in slavishly imitating the West. Many Sinhalese discarded their beautiful names pregnant with meaning like Sirimal, Savsiri, Madduma, Tikiri, Ehalamali, Hethumali and Subhamali. They went in for obscure and funny westernised names like Gabriel, Girigoris, Haramanis, Gordianu, Righabet, Lagodi, Rompi, Kathirina, Pesona and even Violence. Less prone Our womenfolk appeared in cloth and jacket, osariya or the Indian saree and more or less were averse to the Western frock. With the dawn of the 20th Century there was a national revival in Sri Lanka. The patriots like Anagarika Dharmapala, Walisinghe Harischandra and Piyadasa Sirisena who were in forefront of this movement while generating patriotism, attacked and ridiculed those Sinhalese who slavishly imitated the West. As a result of this national awakening many Sinhalese dropped their Western names and changed over to indigenous names. At the same time, both Sinhala and Tamil leaders looked for a suitable national dress for the Sri Lankans. Accordingly at the inaugural meeting of the National Reform Society held at Ananda College, Colombo on July 24, 1931 attended by G. P. Malalasekera, W. A. de Silva, D. T. Devendra, P. de S. Kularatne, A. Meevanapalan and C. Sunderalingam and others it was resolved that in the evolution of a national dress, cloth for men and saree for women should form the basis. Later the cloth, nationals and shatakaya (shawl) was adopted as the national dress for men and saree for women. The national costume which resembled the dress worn by many Tamils at the time suited our climate and society. Soon intellectuals like Munidasa Kumaratunga, Dr. E. W. Adikaram, Prof. M. D. Ratnasuriya and political leaders like S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, C. W. W. Kannangara, Dr. S. A. Wickremasinghe and Leslie Gunawardena appeared in the national costume. Change However, the full Western suit remained the normal dress of the elite in Sri Lanka. Though Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, morally and culturally it did not appear to be a free nation. The rulers at the time just followed the British in their ideas and ideals, way of life, dress and outlook. Many national leaders participated in the Independence celebrations in top hats, tailcoats and striped trousers. It looked as if the country had changed hands from white sahibs to brown sahibs. In 1954, the government declared that sherwani should be the national dress for men. However, the sherwani did not attract the general public. During this time the national costume too underwent a change and the shawl was worn only for special occasions like weddings. At present very few wear the shatakaya or the shawl with nationals. The victory of the MEP in 1956 brought about a social revolution in Sri Lanka and there was a cultural renaissance as well. The ministers and the MPs of the MEP government took their oaths in the national costume on the advice of Maha Sangha. It was also a pleasant sight to see the Muslim Minister C. A. S. Marikkar and majority of Tamil members in parliament too in national dress. As a result of the cultural revolution in 1956, the national costume became very popular. At that time some university students and the students of the leading schools in the metropolis like Royal, Ananda and Nalanda too appeared in the national dress. There was a general consensus from 1956 to 1977 that the national and the cloth were the national costume of the men in Sri Lanka. It became the most popular dress among the commoners. Most of the ministers and MPs and some high officers wore the national dress for occasions. The presence of the first Buddhist Governor General in Sri Lanka, Mr. William Gopallawa, in immaculate white national costume added grace and solemnity to state functions. Today we see that the national resurgence and cultural renaissance set in motion in 1956 has eroded in the midst of the open economy. It is the fashion among the youth today to slavishly imitate the West. Nowadays you could hardly see a youngster in national costume even for a special occasion. At present it is worn mainly by the politicians, and some sarcastically call it the "Kapati Suit". In the meantime another dress similar to the national costume has come to the scene. There are some who wear nationals with a tunic collar over the trousers. This costume however convenient it would be, does not reflect the serenity and solemnity of the national dress - the nationals and cloth. The men in the West wear coat, trouser and tie to suit the cold climate. We who live in tropical countries should wear a dress that suits our warm climate and environment. Instead we could see men in Sri Lanka wearing waist-coats and double breast coats in keeping with the latest fashions in Europe undergoing further inconvenience. I wore the national costume for my wedding. I was never uncomfortable as in the Western suit, and was at ease all throughout the day. Do not those who wear coats, trousers, tie and waistcoats or double breast coats made of heavy woollen material undergo difficulties at weddings? It is a common sight to see you men wearing full European dress for weddings sweating and moving like puppets in front of photo studios on auspicious days. The national dress compared to the European suit is very economical. A national costume in the best material for an occasion like a wedding would cost less than Rs. 1000/-. The tailoring cost alone for a Western suit would far exceed that amount. A European suit made with much expense would be worn only for a special occasion by an average person. It would be out of place for other occasions. After such limited use, after sometime the style would go out of fashion. The national costume on the other hand would suit any occasion. Our ladies who wear the saree for weddings and other occasions seem to be more prudent than men in their dress. Although there is a tendency among the ladies in the higher strata to wear frock and jeans, the standard dress of the womenfolk in Sri Lanka is the oriental saree. It is believed that saree is the most beautiful dress for oriental women. It is said that among the beauties who serve as air-hostesses, Sri Lankan beauties outrival all the others because of the saree they wear. Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike has been admired all over the world not only for her achievements in the political field as the first premier in the world, but also for the impression she has creatd as a Sinhala Kula Kanthava (noble lady) with her simple and serene outlook. There is no doubt that the Kandyan osariya she wears has helped to give her that unique and modest appearance as a Sinhala Kula Kanthava. The dress that suits the Sri Lankan ladies is the oriental saree. It suits our climate and culture. Although the frock suits young girls it does not suit not-so-young women whose shape changes with the age. There is no more pleasant sight than a simple and serene Sinhala Kula Kanthava, clad in a white osariya carrying a tray of flowers to the temple. It is true that there are variations in the national costume of men. Some wear long nationals and other make it short. Some wear a shawl and others do without it. Some have a collar for the national and others wear it without a collar. You get such variations in any costume. In the case of the European suit some wear single-breast coats. Others go for double-breast coats. Some wear a waistcoat. Others do not. Even in the oriental saree you get variations like the low-country saree, the Kandyan osariya and the Indian saree. The variations in the national costume could be made use of to enhance the personality of each individual with the style that suits him. It is true that we have to move forward with the fast changing world. For this purpose we have to make use of scientific and technological advancement found in the West. This does not mean that we should just ape the West in every aspect. In this respect we should take a lesson from our big brother and neighbour India. Although India has made use of modern science and technology for progress, the people in India jeolously sustain their cultural values with a sense of pride. They always wear national dress for formal occasions. The people in Sri Lanka, even the elite who use English in their homes go for indigenous names. This shows consciously or unconsciously we like to preserve our national identity. Although the trouser and shirt would be convenient for daily work, we should wear the national costume for formal occasions to maintain our national identity. It is an anomaly when our womenfolk wear the oriental saree for occasions and the men appear in European suit. This is distinctly seen at weddings where the bride wears the Eastern saree but the bridegroom is found in full Western dress. At a time like today where attempts are being made by various interests to cause division among people in Sri Lanka, the national costume, which is a common dress of both the Sinhalese and Tamils, who have common cultural affinity, would help to bring together the two major communities with a common national outlook. It is time to revive the nationals and cloth that suits our country, climate, society and culture as the national costume for men and bolster up oriental saree for women to foster national unity and enhance national identity. |
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