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| Morning Spice by Ginger Welfare activities for aged Gingers thoughts go out to the old every now and then. He also knows that the state is pretty badly strapped for cash and it does not have all the money in the world to spend on welfare. The recent escalation in prices though the Central Bank may not know it is really phenomenal. At times Ginger wondered how some old couples or single pensioners managed to feed themselves. Now in England and other countries there are centres where old get their meals at I think a subsidized rate or even free in some instances. Now Ginger feels that the national coffers here may not be able to stand the strain of taking on such a task but the state can be a part contributor to the project welfare organizations and NGOs can also step in to give the state a helping hand. After all the elderly will also have to pay part of the cost of the meals and what ever eats and drinks are available so the commitment would be minimal. In fact contributing to it should entitle the subscriber to tax benefits. Such places in every zone in the city and the suburbs will be a real boon to the elderly who are badly hit by the COL. Virus disease The authorities however are more than a little confident that they have the virus known as enterovirus type 71 under control. The symptoms of this disease caused by the virus could be the usual fever, a rash or even ulcers in the mouth, feet and the palms. American and Taiwanese scientist are working together to control the virus. Chicken curry for any
occasion The Airline agreed and sells a pack of six portions for around 2200 in our currency. Now if you are in Japan and did not fly on All Nippon you could always buy it at a department store. The Airline has a side line now — well why don't we think on similar times and try selling some of our more exotic cuisine the same way. It will promote business for the airline if nothing else. |
| Parliamentary sittings and the
closing of roads Time and again, not only editorials but letters have been published in the print media with regard to congestion and consequent inconvenience caused to the general public as a result of the closing of roads. Now the latest has been the closure of the parliament road which leads to populated areas such as Sri Jayewardanepura, Pelawatte, Thalawathugoda, etc., some time back the authorities recognising this had constructed at much expense a diversionary road so that the common people may not approach anywhere near the "holy precints" where our beloved representatives gather to look after our very interests. Since then there has been a smooth flow of traffic. However, some bright spark in the police (we do not know on whose instructions) has decided to close the road once again from the Polduwa Farm end (parliament roundabout) and as a result all traffic has to proceed via Battaramulla causing severe congestion. We are unable to understand the logic of this exercise since these very representatives use the same highway leading to the parliament roundabout. Who are these representatives, who said they would sacrifice their lives for the sake of the common man fearing? Do they feel that they are indispensable? If they do they are fools! If they get over this attitude problem they could serve us better and fear no one. Presidents, Prime Ministers have come and gone so why do the lesser think that they are indispensable? Our worthy representatives often travel abroad at our expense so why can't they see how Kings and Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers move about and mingle with the common man even though that there could be danger lurking near-by? So is this then the work of the police and other agencies, to boost themselves by coming out at regular intervals with so-called threats? The general public know too well the capabilities of the police force in regard to other areas of crime but when it comes to closing of roads and VIP security they are at their best — why? It is therefore high time that the government took serious note of these aspects of inconvenience caused to the general public. You die but once and it is better to die if need be while holding office — after all isn't it a occupational hazard? Common Man |
| 'Cricket, lovely cricket,
but why the song and dance' The game of cricket,introduced by the British into Sri Lanka (known previously as Ceylon) has now become increasingly popular with the sports loving public, but the 'non performance' of the three cricket teams, due to the better performance of the weather gods, have created dismay and disappointment (Singer/Akai Nidahas Trophy). If our cricket loving fans have gone crazy over the game, our Cricket Board, has in my opinion done better and gone raving mad. The reason is that under an article by 'Rover Pin Points' appearing in the 'Sunday Times' sports column published on 28th June it appears that the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) has got a song composed and played at the opening ceremony of this tournament, costing 5 lakhs of rupees of which 21/2 lakhs have been paid so far by the Board with public funds to an advert firm. This unwarranted expenditure, nay crazy, spending by the BCCSL on a mere song, can best be described as 'bamboo gahanawa' which has become an accepted adjective in parliamentary language. Ref the Media Minister's Press Conference on TV recently, where he used this colourful language at the discussions, vide my recent article, under caption 'TV Shockers' appearing in your esteemed paper under 'Opinion' dated 22nd. This was very ably commented upon by The Island columnist Mr. Jayadeva in his column under 'Marginal Comments' on 25th June. I accept Mr. Jayadeva's whole hearted advice, unreservedly and thank him profusely for putting me on the right track where vulgar language is 'status quo' in political addresses. Getting back to the subject of this cricket song, we could have done without it, as the spontaneous songs and dances at cricket matches by the spectators, keep us in good spirits and continuously entertained and without costs! If five lakhs is spent on a mere song, how much is the Cricket Board planning to spend on an Elephant Parade, which columinist 'Rover' states is next on their Agenda. I would very humbly suggest to the Cricket Board, that they first get their priorities right, by seriously studying rainfall records and weather patterns over the years in Sri Lanka, and arrange international cricket tournaments, during the dry weather periods, which are plenty in this country, and the word 'drought' is all too familiar, ASK THE C.E.B.! As for parading elephants, I recommend that the Cricket Board leaves this subject exclusively to our Perahera Organizers or perhaps to our erstwhile Opposition in Parliament who are the experts! Further, if I may say so, it will not be a good idea to introduce elephants to Cricket Board officials, as they (the elephants) may get other ideas, and take to tennis, with thoughts of cricket RACKETS!!! Rexy |
| Incompetence of
Commissioner of Motor Traffic I have a Scooter which was registered on 31st August, 1995 and I have not received the Certificate of Registration of the said vehicle No. 142-1854 upto the time of writing this letter. I have sent four registered letters to the Commissioner of Motor Traffic on the following dates and I did not get a reply or an acknowledgement. Dates of Letters: 16/5/96, 12/8/96, 6/12/96 and 14/8/97. I also did not get the Certificate of Registration. I sent another letter to the Commissioner of Motor Traffic as Private and Confidential by registered post and I got a reply from the Personal Assistant of the Commissioner dated 26/3/98 stating that action is being taken to despatch the Certificate of Registration. As I did not receive the Certificate of Registration till 28th April, 1998 I sent another letter reminding the non receipt of the Certificate of Registration by registered post for which I did not get a reply or acknowledgement. I sent another registered letter dated 11th June, 1998 addressed to the Commissioner of Motor Traffic (Private & confidential) for which I did not get a reply or an acknowledgement or the Certificate of Registration upto and including 10th July, 1998. I do not understand the delay in issuing a Certificate of Registration of the above vehicle even after a lapse of 2 years and 10 1/2 months. This shows the incompetence of the Commissioner of Motor Traffic and the way the Department treats members of the public by not sending replies and acknowledgement of the receipt of letters. M. R. M. Marzook, |
| Traffic lights for safety of the
blind With the recent manufacture of cost-effective traffic lights, locally, by the Engineering Division of the Moratuwa University, these lights are seen coming up at various busy junctions. Some of the locations at which these have been effectively installed are at the Moratuwa "Holy Cross Junction", at the turn-off from Galle Road to St. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, and even at the Colombo University, in spite of the road humps there. These are all for the benefit of seeing people. What about the blind, for whom little seems to be done other than their education at the School for the Blind? The Borupana-Galle Road — Kaldemulla Junction near the School for the Blind, Ratmalana, is known to be a very busy place, particularly during peak hours, and it seems most expedient that a set of traffic lights be installed there in the interests of the visually handicapped children who run much risk when they have to cross the Galle Road, either on their way out or coming into, the school. No doubt, these lights would not be meant for the blind; but they will regulate vehicular traffic on the road to allow time for the blind to cross in safety. Perhaps the ingenuity of the engineers of Moratuwa University will help turn out a special set of lights with a bell sounding simultaneously with the traffic being brought to a halt or when the green light is on for vehicular traffic, to make it safer still, for the blind. Such an invention if successfully turned out would certainly be the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, if not in the world! I only hope that this worthy proposition will catch the eye of the authorities concerned — even the Department of Social Services, which could sponsor the same. C. S. A. Fernando, |
| The "Cat's Eye" column
is anti-Hindu Travelling to Sri Lanka on an extended holiday, I noted the cacophonous and strident opinions of the "Cat's Eye" column, self-proclaimed spokeswomen for the feminist movement in South Asia. Their recent articles are noted for vituperative attacks on India and on Hindu "nationalism" backed up with fervent endorsements of the European Sonia Gandhi. The "Cat's Eye" column extensively reproduces statements issued by the Communist Party of India (CPI), which won a mere nine seats in the last elections, and uses these to dismiss India's current government as "fundamentalist" and "fascist". The flippant and superficial use of the terms fascist and fundamentalist needs to be deplored. The highly regimented Nazis were a prime instance of fascism when they ruthlessly exterminated six million Jews, one million Gypsies and several million others. Chinese actions to obliterate Tibetan Buddhist culture and independence can also be described as fascism. The Chinese Red Guards destroyed all, but nine, of the six thousand Buddhist monasteries in Tibet in 1966. The fanatical, violent and religious exclusivist Taleban government in Afghanistan is a excellent example of a fundamentalist movement in its far reaching measures to deny women an education, career and freedom to move around. The Taleban has, in addition, banned football, movies and kite flying as un-Islamic. The Iranian regime, led by intolerant Ayatollahs, is one other specimen of classic fundamentalism. Iranian women cannot dress as they please while the Bahais, Jews and Zoroastrians have been subject to a silent, ruthless oppression. India and Sri Lanka conversely have the highest traditions of religious tolerance and accommodation owing to their Hindu-Buddhist heritage. The ruling BJP's Minister of Defense is a Roman Catholic; its most notable and long standing coalition partner is the Akali Dal, a Sikh political party; and its pivotal ally in parliament is the Kashmiri Muslim-dominated National Conference Party. On the other hand, the Congress party organized the riots against Delhi's Sikh population in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assasination in 1984! Sonia Gandhi is yet to explicitly acknowledge the Congress party's complicity in those riots. The "Cat's Eye" column attacks India's nuclear policy in such a manner as to mirror not just the Indian Communists, but the Western media as well. It confines its discussion to the symptoms of nuclear testing but chooses to ignore the underlying causes that led to the present strategic scenario. India resorted to the nuclear option in response to China's significant role in regional arms proliferation. China provided extensive support to Pakistan's nuclear and missile program. The swift Pakistani nuclear response to the Indian tests vindicated long-standing Indian suspicions that Pakistan has had the bomb for the past eleven years. The United States and China are hypocritical when they demand that India sign the discriminatory CTBT while neither country has even ratified the treaty! Nuclear non-proliferation is not a mere Indian obligation; it is an international responsibility. The Indian communists wholeheartedly condemned India's nuclear option, but praised China when it first detonated the atomic device in 1964! "Cat's Eye" professes to highlight feminist concerns. While much print space has been given to attack Hindu "patriarchy" and the plight of war widows, corresponding attention has not been given to sexism in other religions. Pakistan has the highest maternal mortality, infant mortality and female illiteracy rates in South Asia today. 97% of women in its province of Baluchistan cannot read or write! There are numerous instances of "stove-related" deaths ("dowry deaths") in Pakistan. The position of women in Afghanistan is likewise pitiable. Reference can also be made to the systematic mass rape and murder of perhaps 400,000 Tutsi women in Rwanda in 1994. The "Cat's Eye" column ignores these real issues in its obsessive one-sided focus on Hindu "chauvinism". Even its reporting of unrelated topics such as the ordination of women in the Sangha or machismo advertising, has a paragraph or two that attacks Hinduism. Besides several adulatory articles on Princess Diana and much invective against Hindu "fundamentalism", "Cat's Eye" has not done much to spotlight women's rights! This newspaper column is edited by elite Colombo-based, western educated women, who are detached from the concerns of the rural poor in Sri Lanka. It has arrogated to itself the right to selectively condemn Hindu "nationalism" in a most partisan manner while ignoring real feminist issues of poverty, economic deprivation and exploitation. Leela Navaratnam, |
| Ombudsman Colombo's Storm water drainage I read with interest the news item titled ''Colombo Can't Cope With Increasing Population, Says Mayor'' in ''The Island'' of 29/06/98. The main reason why Colombo's storm water systems cannot cope is that the gullies and drains are not cleaned regularly and are partly blocked by polythene bags and garbage. This is true of gullies and drains in Kotte and Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia municipal areas as well. If the labour force is inadequate then the three mayors should recruit more casual labourers. Most of the covered drains are concrete pipes and cannot be cleaned once blocked by polythene bags and garbage. My advice to engineers of the three municipalities is don't build concrete pipe drains unless you are 100% sure that the gullies are regularly cleaned. Rectangular section concrete drains with removable concrete cover slabs are best. The three mayors should instruct their ward members to go round their wards and educate shanty dwellers, small shops and eating houses not to dump garbage at random. Eng. Lionel. J. Seneviratne |
| War
for peace War is a
reflection of man's greed, Peace, is not the absence of war -
war, 'War for peace' is a riddle, War results in death and
destruction, War for Peace is a subtle game, War means total destruction, S. K. Silva, |
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