Morning Spice by Ginger
What's gone wrong with Lanka's batting

What has happened to Sri Lanka's batting. If not for some vigorous tail wagging we would have been the laughing stock of the cricketing world after the first game against England. Even in the match against South Africa we could not last the fifty overs after the superb launching pad given by our opening pair. The tragedy is that this was the time when our pacies were just beginning to find their line and length and Pramodya was just looking a bit menacing and Suresh was shedding his nerves at last and appearing to be quite lively.

Ginger himself was one of those who lauded the selection of Chandika Hathurusinghe, he is yet overawed by the big occasion and for the moment at least seems to be a dead loss. His bowling and batting was far below his actual capacity so our hopes of having a good bat who could be an useful medium pace bowler were not to be realized. So if we want another all rounder it will have to be Upul Chandana but then we will have a surfeit of spinners. It is the No. 6 slot that is causing a serious problem. Arnold does not seem capable of handling class bowling. Mahela too looked a bit at sea on the faster pitches in Blighty. It may have to be reliable Hashan. Though he does not relish the one day game. The saddest part of it is that after our pathetic performances against South Africa's 'A' side we don't seem to have anyone of note to succeed our veterans.

Thunder and lightning
Outdoor sportsmen and particularly golfers had better not get out onto the field or the course if the weather does not seem to be good or at least get indoors the moment there are signs of thunder and lightning. It has been discovered that lightning does not have to strike you directly to kill you going by what happened to a young American.

This young American was under a tree when there was thunder and lightning and was not struck by either but he got a severe heart attack and died three weeks later. The doctors feel that a huge electrical current had been carried with that bolt of lightning that would have upset his heart rhythm. This could be the reason for many unsolved outdoor deaths.

Australia and apartheid
Pauline Hanson could have stood in the way of many an Asian's ambitions of settling down or investing in Australia. Her attitude looked as if it dangerously smacked of apartheid and if the movement gathered momentum Australia would have got the same treatment South Africa got till recently. The difference is that those already in Australia may have been treated better than the coloureds in South Africa.

Could the enchantment with Hanson's new anti Asian policy be shortlived. Australians with any kind of sense would realize what dangers could lie ahead with such a stance. The latest survey shows that support has fallen slightly after its sensational headway at the Queensland election, support has fallen from nearly 15% to 12%.

Is it really good beef?

I have read with interest all the letters relating to cattle slaughter and beef eating. Most beef eaters insist that it provides the much needed protein and nutrition that cannot be obtained from vegetables, milk etc. This is a myth because there are thousands of vegetarians the world over who are in very good health and less prone to diseases.

It is no secret that there are numerous unauthorised slaughter houses throughout the country and lorry loads of 'beef' are transported to Colombo daily with the connivance of some police officers. What guarantee is there then that this 'beef' is not buffalo flesh or that of diseased cattle not certified by any health authorities as beef and / or that the animals were not suffering from any disease?

About a year ago a number of heads of cats were said to have been found in the backyard of one of the ubiquitous Chinese restaurants in Colombo. This could have been offered as a delicacy or as veal, mutton or venison.

Very recently a man was caught in Kandy with a slaughtered dog purportedly to be given to a foreigner. Can't the dog flesh also find its way to meat stalls or direct to hotels? This is easily done because there are thousands of stray dogs everywhere and it could be got cheap. Rabies comes mostly from dogs and is there no possibility of consumers of dog flesh contracting the disease? Even chicken can be harmful to health because the steroids and antibiotics given to chicken to fatten and prevent diseases could adversely affect the consumers who will need bigger doses of stronger antibiotics to cure their illnesses in the long run as a result of taking in these antibiotics with chicken they consume everyday.

An English tabloid of Aug. 5th discloses, probably after a survey, that out of a monthly requirement of 6m kg. of beef in the city of Colombo only 40,000 kg are supplied by the Dematagoda abattoir, the only one in Colombo. Evidently the shortfall, 50,000 kg. or nearly one hundred fifty times what is supplied by the authorised abattoir comes from illicit slaughter houses and most of it could be buffalo flesh and that of diseased cattle for acc. To the article the cattle rejected as unfit for slaughter at Dematagoda are slaughtered elsewhere and the meat sent to the market. Even meat processing companies are said to buy this meat to manufacture their products.

Nobody would expect all beef or other meat eaters to give up the habit or everybody to become vegetarians. But they have to take care that they consume the flesh of animals that are not diseased and is fit for human consumption.

Even if one refuses to see the humanitarian side one should think of one's own health because today's manufacturers and sellers of most food items look for quick filthy lucre and stop at nothing to amass it.

As Dr. Mahinda Palihawadana has pointed out there should be more food outlets in towns where one could get a clean nutritious Sri Lankan vegetarian meal. This might encourage meat eaters to give up the habit.

S. Abeywickrama
Nugegoda.

Plants on roads

It is nice to notice that right along the Galle Road provisions are made to have plants on the boulevards.

But it is horrible to notice that the choice of plants are from those who have no idea of gardening whatsoever. In Wellawatte most pots have the spiky pineapple like plants - (AGAVES), which not only will grow to large sizes but also have spiky leaves. If the idea was to prevent people jumping over them, it is a poor choice indeed.

It is a pity that the planned beautification of the city is indeed poorly utilized. It would be simple to obtain expert advice on what plants to choose, in order to provide a luscious growth with minimum care with round the year flowering. Those who get the tenders must be held responsible for maintenance, even at a little extra cost. Nowadays it is a simple matter to have continuous controlled watering and manuring through submerged porous hoses.

Even when the skyscrapers and road widening are destroying the fauna, our country has the most suitable climate and weather to provide beautiful greenery. It only needs a little consideration and a careful planning to provide comfort to the eyes of the road users.

Would the Ministry consider this matter seriously?

Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai
Dehiwela.

Consumers be alert!

This is in response to the exhortation published by the G. S. T. Branch of the Inland Revenue alerting consumers not to pay GST when it is not payable.

The Revenue means well not withstanding its reputation for 'the gift of the grab.' This exhortation entitles every consumer to assume that a consumer should not pay any tax that is not payable.

My telephone bill for the period 1.4.98-30.4.98 includes a sum of Rs. 340.46 invoiced in the Sri Lanka Telecom Bill as National Security levy imposed on Sri Lanka Telecom.

Will the Inland Revenue (CGIR/CIR/GST or DC/GST explain to me, a confused subscriber, why and under what provision of law National Security levy is payable by a subscriber to Sri Lanka Telecom?

Ariyapala

Security Checks in Colombo

Reader, Kusal Perera of Dehiwela, laments that Tamils are being harassed in Colombo. We all abhor such checks and the arrest of innocent people. But will peace dawn on us unless basic precautions are taken by the Police? ('For Peace - With the next Sinhala Hindu New Year', ISLAND, 18.8.98). Perera is obviously living in cuckoo-land.

He seems to have already forget all those bomb blasts in Colombo and at the Dalada Maligawa. He has forgotten those hundreds of attacks on civilians, the blasting of trains and buses and transformers. He seems to forgot the Dehiwela train blast close to his home.

A few days ago, we read of the two Tigers who had been caught near Kandy with a large quantity of explosives and arms. They had lived with a Burgher family in a house owned by Sinhalese. Thus, not only Tamils, anyone may be harbouring or helping Tigers. Even Perera's good Tamil friends who have never stepped into Jaffna, are possible suspects.

The fact is, no one is in a position to distinguish the good from the bad; unless Kusal Perera can come up with a fool-proof identification scheme or may be a special blood-test or an electronic gadget which can identify a Tiger in a Jiffy. The whole world (even Northern Ireland, Israel and other countries plagued with ter-rorism) would be indebted to Perera if he can do so. The fact is, there is no fool proof system at the moment. The Police have to round up suspects and question them. It takes time. Recently, we heard of the suicide bomber, who had been arrested and released many times due to lack of evidence. She was finally caught. It is a thankless job for the Police, but it has to be done so that Kusal Perera and other citizens can survive.

We must all realize that as long as Prabakaran survives, there will be no peace. For the lack of peace, we must give credit to the lackadaisical conduct of the campaign against the LTTE by successive governments and to the traitorous activities of the 'peace-mongering' NGOs and 'Sudu-Nelumas'. Thus, security checks are inevitable. The only solution is to conduct the military effort properly and eliminate Prabakaran and the LTTE leadership. Once that is done, proper governance, honest leadership and fair treatment to the whole nation will lead to lasting peace.

'Citizen - D',
Kandy.

Rambling Notes by Nihal Corea
Of the first citizen, Lewinsky and squealers...

All the action now seems to be around the White House. The naughty boy of American politics has certainly caused quite a few problems. His last minute attempt to pre-empt his tormentors by his unexpected admission of his relationship with Lewinsky though getting him off the hook for the moment, may have created the impression in the average Americans mind that they have as their first citizen a philanderer of the highest order.

His wife, though boiling inwardly, has admirably put on an outward appearance of gracious understanding. Boys will be boys she would tell those close to her. Her mother instinct may prompt this attitude that her Billy boy, though the President, gets his fits of youthful ebullence. Earlier he wanted to bomb Saddam to bits and invited his buddies to join him in the fun.

Fortunately the restraining hand of the U.N. prevented him from pounding the women and children of Bagdad out of existence with his latest toys. He was a trifle sulky after that and waiting for the slightest provocation to go for Sadaam and his citizens. In other words he was spoiling for a fight but no one was letting him go for his foe.

Hillary's somewhat phlegmatic nature and mother instinct made her rush the erring Bill on a holiday to heal the legal bruising he got and to knit the family as the reports go. It could also be that a seething Hillary could get the venom out of her system by having a grovelling Clinton on his knees for two whole weeks. A situation few women are fortunate enough to get into.

Clinton has been charged with trying to shroud his moral felony with rhetoric. That would be incorrect. There is nothing rhetorical or lofty about sex. It is just in every sense primitive, basic and biological. Romance is another matter but going on the facts of the case Clinton has some rather elemental instincts. He is quite a lad and the American public have refused to pass censure on the president.

There is logic enough in what they seem to say. If he has the vigour and ability to run amok among the females around him then he must surely have the life and the drive to perform his presidential duties. He claims that his private life should not be juxtapositioned with public life. The tragedy about it all is that his partners in crime were all squealers who made public their alliances with him.

Lewinsky in particular was ruthless. Even his frantic last minute effort to re-kindle the flames of love by waving the tie she gave to make him feel close to (when she was giving evidence) failed to make that calculating woman relent. Clinton would now know how fickle a woman could be and that hell not only has no. Fury like a woman scorned but also bribed.

Lewinsky was wise ofcourse. There was more she could get from her new found allies than as a Clinton discard. The British press has said that Clinton would lose his moral authority. People with any authority are not expected to practice what they preach and Clinton was certainly not going to start.

King Henry did not lose any authority moral or otherwise so what the devil is the British press talking about. If the Tudors of Blighty could do it why not the Clintons of America.