A number of readers have suggested the selling up of an animal home for all types of animals who are being ill-treated; some in the name of religion. It is now time for us to act, on sound lines, as done in India. The barbarism should be halted sooner and not later.

The municipal abattoir adjoining Baseline Road is now "abandoned" with its buildings: in extent over a half-acre in the heart of the city. Paradoxically, the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, which name is only confined to a board is in the adjoining land.

Though abandoned it is observed that calves and cows are tied here in the sun, sans water or food for more than a day, nefarious activity is seen carried out by white-capped folk running about in the adjoining slumps and CMC toilets even on poya-days. The CMC presently uses this place for veterinary work; as a transit house I am told: but a lack of kindness to these animal even before they are slaughtered is evident.

"Gel Gawa Mithuro" - of which I am a member attempted to contact the mayor on matters such as these, but we have been told that this is not the proper time as elections are close by. The society has not given up communicating on these matters. Some of us have written to the MP for Borella but we have yet to hear from him.

I appeal to all animal-lovers to move in this matter of great compassion and merit on behalf of these mute friends of man, especially to those who wield some authority and influence to help. Our thanks to 'The Island' and other newspapers for helping in the cause.

Herbert Wickremasinghe,
Colombo 8.

It is a very timely issue that your 'Ginger' has raised on the above subject, in the 'Island of 3/7/98, relating to the motorists, today. It is said that four European countries have already taken steps to fine all drivers who use cell-phones by breaking the law.

The road accidents, whether they are fatal or non-fatal, seem to be on the increase day by day in Sri Lanka. In order to tackle this problem, it is one step that seems to have been taken by the Department of Motor Traffic to hold a written test for road rules in addition to the trial already held, for the would be drivers to examine whether they are conversant with such road rules. In the booklet issued bythe Department itself, it is clearly stated that both hands of the driver shold be kept on the steering wheel while driving except on the occasions of signalling or changing gears. However,it is saddening to think that some who obtain driving licences, do not seem to care to adhere to such instructions. In this way, as far as the road rules are concerned, first of all, phoning while driving amounts to the violation of such rules.

Apart from the above, the attitude adopted by some, towards driving leaves much to be desired. The impatience, indecency mostly among three-wheeler drivers, and recklessness are some of their major weaknesses.

In spite of the fact that there are instructions clearly given to the pedestrians for the use of public roads, the authorities do not seem to have focussed such attention to create an awareness among motorists.

According to a recent TV advertisement, we see that a pedestrian rather a jay-walker, is severely instructed by a knowledgeable person about the proper use of the public road. "Ohomada Miniho Pare Yanne" (Is this the way, you go along the road?) is also one such famous advertisement, for some time, where a driver instructs a pedestrians for using the road. It became a laughing stock of many TV viewers for sometime.

In this connection, I am of the opinion that it is still not high time to create an awareness among our motorists who violare road rules for teh good of the nation.

R. Somasiri,
Pannipitiya

Some of the drugs though cheap is sub-standard. Even the packaging is unsatisfactory. Where is the standards bureau, quality control checks and inspections. The masses are deceived and their disease persists.

It is high time proper checks are done. There must be a board or committee of eminent medical personnel too to examine and probe this drug menace.

To maintain friendly and cordial relations are blindly accept any much for political expendiency. Do not think people are rats and rabbits for experiments. Its a health hazard. Inferior drugs cause slow death.

Western countries of course produce good drugs tested checked but only thing the price is high. Drugs from elsewhere should he well tested and examined. Pharmacies too come up like mushrooms.

Carl Nanayakkara,
Kalutara.

Whoever set up the Agricultural Insurance Board did it with the best of intentions. At the beginning we farmers had few forms to sign and less certificates to forward to have our paddy crops insured.

But I am afraid the present management is 50 bureaucratised and the process of insuring is 50 tedious, no farmer, even an educated one, will ever be able to obtain an insurance policy.

The Agricultural Insurance Board is now more interested in canvassing for the farmers pensions fund - than helping them to overcome the very problem they were created for.

The damage these public establishments do when they get too institutionalised is enormous. What use is the Agricultural Insurance Board if it cannot insure an agricultural crop? Can it even exist if there are no farmers who grow crops?

Milroy Ratwatte,
Badulla.

In a rather macabre and unwanted incident a father is supposed to have killed his three daughters and tried to commit suicide. The only thing to be said on behalf of this demented killer is that he could not be charged with favouritism. If he was disposed to bump off daughters he bumped them off without exception and what more reserved the same fate for himself.

He cut against the grain of self reservation in the course of this senseless and needless act. The headline of the story was that all his three daughters were dumb. Who in this wide world had the good fortune of having three dumb females under the same roof. Now this goof goes and drowns them in a well and tries to kill himself. They were strange thoughts no doubt through that ran that mind.

Many a male would give his eye teeth to live in the same house with three dumb women. Imagine the money he would be saving by pretending not to hear what they were asking for. What is more even daughters know how to nag. Now a man out numbered in a house with nagging wives and daughters could well be pardoned for running berserk and going for the lot, but life with three dumb and loving daughters could be sheer bliss They would as the old dictum about children goes be seen and not heard. It is the hearing that is painful. Why on earth did he have to do, a damn foolish thing like that. The report of course, states that one of the daughters had looked pregnant. Now if he was a sensible man he should have known she was not to blame. How could a dumb woman say a firm "no" to who ever that father may be and in any case, women seldom look firm in their refusals Ñ so much less a dumb girl.

Now we don't know whether this goddam foor was against pregnancy, a born exterminator or a misogynist. Any way his reaction to his learning that his daughter was pregnant was certainly blood curdling. But why vent his fury on the all three girls? Two of them at least were not in the same state. But, of course, it could have been good anticipation.

He may have quite logically have thought that dumb girls found it more difficult to repulse the advances of a male than ones with strong vocal chords who have a tendency to yell blue murder. This unfortunate girl could neither yell nor tell and if she used sign language she would have looked obsene and so she hid it all.

In one sense, of course, it was good practical thinking. He had enough on his hands feeding three grown up females. Now that their fertility was beyond all doubt but not their resistance there were strong possibilities that his humble home would fill up with yet another generation of father less children. Certainly not a pleasant thought.

There was nothing to prevent the third generation from suffering from this hereditary defect and just imagine the plight of this poor man having dozens of little ones either staring glumly at him or making frenzied gestures at him. No it was better to nip it in the bud and throw all three in the well and end it all himself.

'War for peace is being waged,
for Jaffna women to be gang raped and savaged.
Cheered by some racist,
in support of these brutish rapist.

In a unitary state,
is this the minorities fate?
Foreign Minister without mendacity explain;
before to the UN assembly you rush, next to complain.

The murderers' of Krishanthi have in court confessed,
contrary to what you; to the UN., have professed.
Dig up, as in Embilipitiya, the Jaffna pits,
to prove that you arn't living by your wits.

The pits will reveal the Pol-Pot style genocide,
Committed by the PA whose policies you guide.
Though a respected International Lawyer,
You may go down in History as a human rights violator.

What has happened to the (G.L.P.) empty Political Package,
which you always carry in your 'Foreign Ministry' baggage,
To deceive the international community,
about the 'War for Peace' reality.

Why not end this senseless carnage,
by crafting a genuine Political Package.
This barbarism has gone on for 15 years,
long enough to fill the Parakrama Samudra with Lankan Mothers' tears.

A Mother of Lanka,
Kalutara.

The rumours are in the air that the elections are to be postponed. Postponement of elections is no solution to any problem and it will aggravate the issues. Sri Lanka's image here and abroad too is likely to suffer if elections are postponed. The donor nations may hold back economic assistance to the country.

Facilities given, the national NGO Sector could provide the manpower to ease out any shortage in the required security personnel, for election duty. We request Your Excellency to utilise this resource as well if the need arises.

Secretary.