Morning Spice by Ginger
Team selection is mind-boggling

There, by a whisker. We nearly lost to India when we virtually had the match in the bag. That was when our fielding fell apart. It was not only the catches that were dropped that brought India's score close to ours when her back was broken but also some sloppy ground fielding that was unbelievable. That defect however can be corrected. What worries the onlooker of the cricket scene is whether we will ever get a pair of fast bowlers who can play at international level.

Every one is awaiting the return of Chaminda but when will the others in contention learn to bowl a straight ball? It was just disgusting to see Promodaya getting hit all over the place. He richly deserved it. He had played enough cricket at the higher level to bowl a straight ball at least. In the old days they used to say that D. S. Jayasundera could place a coin and pitch it right on the coin. I don't know how far this is correct but this I know pace without accuracy is the modern batsman's dream. Team selection too is absolutely mind boggling. Is Mahela Jayawardena being penalized for scoring heaviely against New Zealand. Can we afford to go into a match with just five batsmen?

Drink jockeys
Like to get soused, to the gills when you go for a party or to your club. You are likely to encounter quite a few problems. In the first instance you may not be in a position to drive your car. Secondly you may not like the cops to get whiff of what you have been guzzling. The wisest thing you could do would be to hop a taxi and come home but that would mean visiting the scene of crime the next morning to fetch your car.

Now Singapore has just what the doctor ordered for such a situation. It has drink jockeys. If you have had one over the eight and you don't know how you are going to drive yourself home you can ring up Comfort group and they send you a driver to drive you and your car home. They cost a bit but it's worth it.

Ming porcelain
There are some experts who feel that porcelain made during the late Ming period was about the best you could find and they have become rare collectors'' items. They were collective by known as ling long ware. In mandarin it means exquisite. It is easy to make them out as they were objects like cups and jars and had pierced ornamentation.

They were made mainly during 16th and 17th century by potters in Tiangzi and this ware found their way into foreign markets. When the imperial order came to make what it called gin gong which means the "devil's work" the potters protested. But it was a kind of compliment because the term may have been made because it needed devilish skill to turn them out.

Improving the quality of Universities

The first fully-fledged university which was established in the island was known as the University of Ceylon. This new phenomenon came into effect in 1942 and since then multifarious changes occurred in the university system. During this period of evolution, the system of University education has, in fact, achieved more strength which has enhanced and promoted the academic activities within the Universties. They also ultimately contribute immensely to produce skilled and efficient personnel to deal with various activities in a country.

However, some intelligentsia have extensively pointed out that there are also many weaknesses in the University system. Such weaknesses can be observed in the prevailing systems of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching with a view to designing necessary remedial measures and mechanisms. This concern for reform effort has come in to be clearly expressed in faculty and senate meeting in individual Universities and the monthly meetings of the committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors. (CVCD)

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor W. D. Lakshman is in the opinion of including a wide range of subject areas curriculum reform, changes in teaching methods, reforms in student evaluation systems, introduction of systems of regular training and upgrading of academic, administrative and other staff, setting up staff development centres for this purpose, search for new sources of financing university education, introduction of career guidance systems for students, systematic evaluation of teaching under taken by universities regular review of the worth of departments of study and faculties, quality rating of universities and so on.

It is really effective and extensively vital if such viable measures can be initiated and implemented for the benefit of the universities. His reference to wide range of subject areas is absolutely significant as far as the current needs of the society which is rather complex and developed. It is, therefore, necessary to have a substantial curriculum reform in order to cater to the various requirements of the people who are compelled to keep pace with the fast moving modern world. According to my point of view this should be initiated from the Advanced Level classes where the students learn the basic things for their University education. When an education reform is introduced the authorities concerned are required to convince the people of its advantages and benefits.

The people hardly deny such a favourable and viable curriculum reform if it is bona fide effected. For this noble and supreme purpose it is the paramount duty of any government to consult the academic and intellectual personalities in the country so as to transform the present education system into a more effective and efficient system. Then only Prof. Lakshman's concept can be virtually and viably implemented. In the recent past the government decision to reform the education system became more controversial and ultimately the government was compelled to withdraw it honouring the public voice. I, therefore, feel that it is the formidable task of the university authorities and other intellectual elements of the country to make the public aware of such newly introduced amendment, to the prevailing education system.

The changes in teaching methods reforms in student evaluation systems, introduction of systems of regular training and upgrading of academic activities extensively enable the university system to improve the quality of its academic process. This is one of the most important aspects which the Committee of the Vice Chancellors and Directors (CVDC) much concentrates on.

As far as the teaching methods are concerned we still have more to improve. In many universities the teachers dictate notes which the students mug up when the examinations are coming round the corner. Some scarcely do any reference work in the library which is really a paradise for the students to widen their horizons. But I don't say all the university teachers do the same at the lecture halls.

For instance Prof. Ashley Halpe never dictates notes. I have my personal experience with him. First he asks us to read the book once or twice. He then begins with his discussion with us. He gives only the important and most prominent facts which enable the students to read the novel or drama with keen interest and enthusiasm. For example once he set a tutorial question on Hamlet, we were expected to answer within two weeks along with more references at the library. It is really a more effective motivation rather than dictating notes.

I, therefore, agree with Prof. Lakshman's point of view in changing traditional and conventional teaching methods which are absolutely outdated and hackneyed today.

Teacher training is also another significant aspect of effective teaching. It is true that many teachers are provided with opportunities to participate in teachertraining programmes.

Anyway, it is the great responsibility of the university authorities to make equal distribution of such programmes so that all the teachers of various subjects will be able to follow them at their convenience. We repose great confidence in those who are responsible for such teacher training programmes, so as to learn new teaching methods which can easily and effectively, be adopted in the universities. The other important aspect is evaluation which is a part of the university process. Both the Australian government and Australian universities have been giving careful attention to evaluation process.

The president of the Australian Vice Chancellors committee, Professor Fay Gale has absolutely emphasized the significance of evaluation process in the Universities. Then only we can genuinely admit that we are doing the high priority jobs, working towards the achievements of the organization's objectives. Some feel evaluation is a threatening process. I personally feel it is really not.

Professor W. D. Lakshman further points out that the principal role of universities is teaching training and research. According to his point of view the whole system revolves round the individual teacher in the university. The institutional excellence depends on the teachers' excellence. So there is the need for continuous stresses that the universities should institutionally facilitate this process which contributes much to promote and enhance the standard of university teaching which at present, needs more effective training and new methods.

It is also revealed through his speech that some universities of Sri Lanka have staff development centres, one for instance, is located in the Colombo university. I feel it is really an urgent need for the newly established. Universities such as Rajarata University and Sabara-gamuwa University to get their academics trained in order that newly recruited teachers, will be able to improve their teaching techniques so that the students will be more benefited, which will ultimately contribute to promote and enhance all the aspects of the entire country.

It is also commendable that still the approved schemes of recruitment and relevant UGC circulars, have rigid guidelines regarding the qualifications required for academic posts.

In conclusion we hope the university authorities categorically will implement their prospective academic and administrative plans which they feel will effectively contribute to promote the present situation in the university system,

D. N. Aloysius,
Rajarata University.

Telecom, electricity charges and exploitation

Profit maximisation and cost minimisation are two sides of the same coin. In scientific management cost minimisation should be the basis of profit maximisation. Price increase as a technique of profit maximisation cannot be considered as a rational management technique. Any street urchin put in the manager's chair can maximise profit by price increase. Such an exercise may be possible only in essential utility services controlled by monopolistic public enterprises when there is no consumer resistance.

Telecommunication and electricity are two such services. Hence the consumer at the receiving end is a helpless slave in their hands. With the notorious record of inefficiency, corruption and mismanagement in the public enterprises every rationally thinking person is compelled to believe that they do exploit the consumer to conceal their sins by arbitrarily increasing the prices.

In the institutions that are coming up like mushrooms for the purpose of management training, managers are taught all kinds of advance management techniques with special stress on cost minimisation. It is very unfortunate that such training has become only mental exercises limited to the class room and the book. It does not appear to have been applied in practical management. Otherwise our country would not have been in this sad plight today.

Under these circumstances, the abnormal cost of inefficiency, corruption and frauds is added to the normal cost and passed on to the consumer in the form of increased price. If this situation is allowed to go unchecked all sins of management will get concealed under the cover of price, victimising the consumer for their sins. Any person who has experienced in the public enterprises can easily vouch for the existence of this unfortunate situation.

With this background, the recent increase in the rates by the Telecom and the Electricity Board should open the eyes of the consumer. Our previous experience in this field is appalling. A little more than two decades back, price of cement was increased overnight from Rs. 20/- to Rs. 40/- a bag. When this increase was questioned the authorities could not give a satisfactory answer. Surely, no sane person can think of a logical reason to double the price like that. With the recent increase of Telecom charges, they say that they would give a more effecient service. With their more efficient service they have not yet supplied the Telephone Directory to the subscribers for the year 1998. When a subscriber inquired about ths Directory about two months back he was informed that task has been entrusted to another private company.

The subscriber was promised that the matter would be looked into, but he did not get the Directory as yet. Earlier faults were reported to the Area Engineer and there was no difficulty in reporting. Now all the faults are to be reported to No. 121 and that number is always engaged. One subscriber spent one whole day to contact this number 121 but failed. Then he reported the fault to the Area Engineer by a letter. This is the kind of increased efficiency of the service.

If an efficiency audit on the basis of value for money is carried out just how justifiable their increase of rates is will be revealed. This type of arbitrary increase of price is an insult to the intelligence of the consumer. Why should the consumer take this insult lying down? They should not allow the management to exploit the consumer or to make him the escapegoat for their sins. For this purpose, it is high time that consumers should organise themselves to bring about consumer resistance against arbitrary price increase. Such an organisation is not difficult as the addresses are given in the telephone directory.

Mangala Sirisena,
Battaramulla.

Jayalalitha's letter

Years ago I had the fortune in addressing an open letter to the then high commissioner of India J. N. Dixit immediately after the Air Force planes of India dropped various items over Jaffna peninsula. This letter in fact on June 7, 1987 hit the headlines of ''The Island'' which to date remains without any precipitation from J. N. Dixit.

Similarly, may I take this opportunity, once again. It appears that Jayalalitha Jayaram former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister today wielding power in the new government of India with 18 m.p. from her party supporting the fragile coalition government, has with the support of five Tamil parties or Tamil Nadu, has written a letter to the Indian prime minister to intervene in the prevalent conflict in the north/east of Sri Lanka and to persuade the government of Sri Lanka to withdraw our armed forces from North and East of our motherland Sri Lanka.

Jayalalitha Jayaram and her L.T.T.E. supporters and sympha-thisers, deserves condemnation for this futile exercises.

Has Jayalalitha Jayaram forgotten it is an Indian government, immediately after the assassination of India Premier Rajiv Gandhi appointed a commission, which commission found the L.T.T.E. guilty of this sordid deed. Therefore in such a situation, where the Indian government through its commission, has justified after prolonged hearing that the L.T.T.E. is a terrorist movement too which deserved no support at all, it is highly hypocritical of Jayalalitha Jayaram to seek such intervention. In fact Jayalalitha's clarion call to her government should be deplored in every possible way.

It is indeed tragic to date, our Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, has not protested against the evil pronouncement of Jayalalitha Jayaram.

Sri Lankans are brave enough to withstand and adequately to meet any challenges, that the L.T.T.E. and Jayalalitha Jayaram's may advocate. Our armed forces engaged in a war with the L.T.T.E. must progress until normalcy is ensured in the north and east, and that no foreign government particularly ''India'' now slapped with nuclear power, should ever dream or think, Sri Lanka as a nation, will ever yield to foreign intervention verbally or otherwise at a period of time when Velupillai Prabahakaran's terrorist group is steadily losing ground.

Jayalalitha Jayaram, why don't you, campaign for the withdrawal of Indian troops from areas such as Kashmir borders of Pakistan and China, without fingering into the affairs of the Sri Lankan government?

M. Hassen
El Fassy Sheriff
Mattegoda.

Cricket commentaries on Rupavahini

What purpose does it serve local viewers when the running commentaries in English are dished out by our commentators and the rest of the world is allowed the privilege to listen to expert commentaries of internationally reputed commentators like Ian Chappell, Ravi Shasthri and Tony Greig?

Perhaps the Rupavahini authorities and the Cricket Board of Sri Lanka or whoever is responsible do not understand the marked difference that a correct choice of commentators can bring about in the minds of the viewers who watch these matches on TV.

It means no disrespect to the local English commentators who have done their best but for greater pleasure they will be the gentlemen they are, be the first to agree that a switch over to the international commentators is the right thing. What a force when the host country is denied this opportunity. The in between Sinhala commentators can go on as usual and are welcome.

M. D. Ellepola
Kandy.

Those poor stray dogs

I refer to an article under the title 'More than 2000 stray dogs destroyed in Colombo' which appeared on the front page in The Island of 16/06/98.

Apart from being an animal lover, from a human point of view, it is most distressing and heart breaking to note that in a Buddhist country as ours animals are treated in the most barbaric and cruel manner. Stray dogs are seized and thrown into the vehicle which is gassed in the most barbaric manner and they end up in an agonizing slow death. Why should these dumb and defenceless creatures, for no fault of theirs, have such a ghastly end?

The present government which embraces Buddhism and speaks of compassion does not seem to have an ounce of compassion to animals or as a matter of fact towards humans.

Seizing and destroying stray dogs is not the only solution to prevent the spread of rabies. It is very easy to seize a dog and destroy it, but I wonder how a human being who has an ounce of compassion could even suggest anything of this kind to whatever religion he or she belongs to, and especially in a Buddhist country. All religions teach of love and compassion to man and beast.I appeal to the C.M.C. authorities in the island, especially the Deputy Chief Veterinary Surgeon Dr. S. D. Eleperuma, to stop seizing stray dogs and find a more humane solution to prevent the spread of rabies.

I would place the following suggestions for your consideration as a permanent solution to this problem.

1. Vaccinate all stray dogs against rabies.

2. Start an islandwide sterilization programme for all female dogs including strays. As this is a large scale programme and will involve heavy financial burden on the state, assistance could be obtained from various Animal Welfare Organisations such as the R.S.C.P.A. U.K., W.S.P.A. U.K. etc.

3. Educate the public on the importance of protecting their animals from unwanted puppies.

Animal lover
Colombo.

Rambling Notes by Nihal Corea
Those farewell gifts

Reader S. L. de Soysa of Mirihana had evidently been in a state of high duggeon when he wrote to 'The Island' of about principals getting farewell gifts on retiring. The reference of course was to St. Thomas' College, the Harrow of Mt. Lavinia and the harrowing experience the parents are expected to undergo as a result of their having to subscribe to a farewell gift.

As a rule being asked to contribute towards anything is a bit of a painful shock. This however was become a rather common occurrence in a world where there is constant hunt for suckers as victims of a money hunt. Now we leave St. Thomas' and its farewell tamasha and visit the educational scene in general. Quite a few retired principals must be gnashing their teeth in anger asking themselves why the devil they could not think of it themselves.

The younger pedagogues on their way up on the professional ladder and rapping on a principals door must be thanking those at the Mt. Lavinia school for thinking of such breezy scheme to rip-off the parents of the boys. Parents all over the island must be shivering in their boots. They would be hoping that heads of schools will have long stints in their positions before retiring and that they would even get extensions once they reach retiring age.

While some may condemn the scene on the grounds that it would impose hardships on the parents the teachers would praise it as a means of getting a few more creature comforts when they retire at least. If the State can't give them what they want let the parents do it at least. The trouble is that most parents are not too well disposed towards school principals.

They are more likely to call these requests just outright extortions. But a rose will smell as sweet by any other name so would a nice round sum when retiring. Retiring heads of schools would now be working out the best method of ensuring the maximum value of that 'gift' with their successors who will benefit by it themselves when the time comes.

So the precedent to impecuniate parents may be set before long. In this respect the school head is at a definite advantage over the public servant for two good reasons. In the first instance it cannot be called a bribe and referred to a defunct bribery commission. The public won't be inclined to give a retiring policeman, motorcar examiner, customs officer or any other public servant farewell gifts.

Their best chances are to ask for a welcome gift but the problem is from whom are they to ask it from if its a collective gift. Schools have registers. Departments don't and how can they get about it. They dare not put a press notice. They are more likely to get a charge sheet than a welcome gift. No. No. They dare not try what a school head has the licence to do even if it is for granting licences.

The second reason is that there could be a few upstanding citizens who may tell a public servant to go to hell when asked for a contribution and even pay the price for it. A parent dare not. Tell a school head to go to hell and he will take it out of the pupil in a hundred different ways. The days of cream crackers and cheese are over even in the outback. Add farewell gifts to the general list and parental torment is complete.