Reference the opinion expressed by I. P. C. Mendis of Moratuwa under the caption "Oil Slick and Sleek Talk" while ignoring some of the "loose talk" included which detracts from his well intentionally opinion expressed, I feel that some misleading data include should be corrected.

I thank Mr. Mendis for coming in even at this stage and expressing the "new concern" about oil pollution. My main objective in not playing down the "oil slick" incident was in fact to create not only awareness and debate but to generate public concern and involvement in pressures which helps us to push forward our case for better support on the subject of Marine Pollution Prevention. While ignoring his barbs, I thank him for this intervention.

Like Mr. Mendis, I too admire and respect the late Mr. Athulathmudali and agree with the sentiments expressed by Hon. Ronnie de Mel when he was Finance Minister on the subject of a Regional link up. However as he has got some facts wrong, I place before your readers the truth about the development of the Marine Pollution Prevention Authority and state support.

It is correct that the Marine Pollution Prevention Act was passed years ago in fact in 1981. This Act remained just a piece of paper and as stated by him sweet nothing was done until 1991 and all the good intentions of the late Mr. Athulathmudali and the wise counsel of the Hon. Ronni de Mel achieved nothing as the subject of Marine Environment was treated as unimportant. The first Chairman was appointed only in 1991 but he was given only a peon as staff and did not even have a regular office to function from.

I was appointed Chairman in mid 1995 and took over without an orchid as stated in my lapel as after my election defeat in 1977 all my twenty years collection of orchids were destroyed as a part of the victory celebrations of the victors. Contrary to Mr. Mendis' opinion due to ignorance of some facts, since 1995 the following have been achieved and the inability to do more is due to the inaction of not just fifteen years but ever longer,

1. The almost ineffective MPPA legislation passed in 1981 which gives no powers for enforcement and the fines that are very low has been amended almost completely and is now pending cabinet and Parliamentary approval.

2. The International Conventions including MARPOL and the Fund Convention and all required international links have not only been established we are working directly in consultation with them.

3. The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan has been prepared in consultation with the International Maritime Organisation as well as other reputed agencies National and International.

4. An office has been established fully computerised and despite financial constraints further progress is being made in making it the nerve centre.

5. Regional officers have been appointed in important coastal centers and they are doing an excellent job creating awareness on marine and coastal environment.

6. For the first time a project has commenced for the monitoring of coastal water quality using modern technology.

7. Discussions have been held with the International Maritime Organisation and the South Asian Environmental Programme with the support of the Minister of Environment and Forest, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the relevant other agencies for the establishment of the first ever South Asian Marine Environment Protection Agency.

Mr. Mendis' hope that our several countries should be prepared to help each other in an emergency and which remained a pipe dream for fifteen years despite good intentions of Mr. Athulathmudali is soon to be realised because unlike during the past fifteen years referred to when apparently all the Rip Van Winkles including many who have now awakened among the public we have progressed faster than ever expected.

I must also very politely remind Mr. Mendis that blaming me who has been Chairman for just three years for absolute inaction and ignoring of the proposals of Mr. Athulathmudali from 1981 until 1995 is improper.

As for the Oil Spill itself, as it has been widely discussed although apparently Mr. Mendis may have missed out on some matters, all the attention now being paid to the subject by local as well as international sectors and the interest shown by concerned public like Mr. Mendis is itself an achievement and I sincerely hope that this same constructive criticism will continue and help us to alert all who should be involved to the importance of our environment and give us more support in our endeavours.

Dhanapala Weerasekera
Chairman-MPPA

Appreciation
Venerable Rev. Piyadassi Maha Thero

The English Speaking Union of Sri Lanka, its members and well-wishers mourn the passing away of the Venerable Rev. Piyadassi, Maha Thero of Vajiraramaya, Bambalapitiya. Since the inception of the E.S.U. the late prelate has acted as its Vice Patron. Except when abroad he has never failed to attend the E.S.U's Annual Awards' Days and delivered Anusasanas. The discourses were not only erudite, but practical and educational. He advised recipients of the awards not to rest content with having acquired a knowledge of English but help impart their knowledge to others. He said Each One should Teach One, and soon the numbers speaking English would grow.

Never was there a prelate more suffused with the milk of human kindness as Rev. Piyadassi, Knowing him, one almost recalls the words of the poet "For he on honey dew hath fed and drunk the milk of Paradise".

He found it very difficult to refuse an invitation where a religious touch was needed. He was a believer in the common origin of all religions. Just over two years ago, not knowing he was convalescing from illness, I had occasion to invite him to an All Faiths Assembly organised by the Universal Love and Brotherhood Association. He reacted positively, attended the meeting and only casually informed me that he was not in the best of health.

The desire to spread his Master's teaching took him to many countries. His listeners were numerous and spoke different languages, but through English and that great characteristic he had of reducing to the simplest the sometimes abstruse and difficult concepts of Buddhism, he held them spellbound. Adults and children alike were drawn to these discourses. Sri Lanka will not be alone in mourning his death. His devotees in Canada, U. S. A., Australia and other far flung places will miss that melodious, cultured voice which one could not resist to hear but listen and listen with instant understanding.

Rev. Piyadassi was the teacher peerless. Before him there have been and after him there will be great Mahanayakes who will expound the Buddha's teaching. Rev. Piyadassi will, however, remain a star in that galaxy. To find such another who could convey the time lessmessage of the Compassionate One, in simple yet precise English would not be easy. He always ended his discourses with the refrain. "May your onward path be smooth". We know, now that he has passed to the great beyond, that his onward path would be the smoothest and that he would reach that sure and certain haven.

"Where falls not hail or rain nor any snow
But ever wind blows loudly for it lies
Deep meadowed, happy, fair with orchard lawns
And bowery hollows crowned with summer seas.

Dr. T. P. Amerasinghe
President, E. S. U. of Sri Lanka.

Artefacts - Arthur Clarke's suggestion

I was appalled to read about the theft of five guardstones from the watadage at Medirigiriya. This once again highlights the problem of safeguarding this country's numerous archaeological treasures.

I have a beautiful Buddha head in my study, which most people mistake for the genuine article. It was actually made less than 30 years ago by the late Mr. H. R. Premaratne, former Director of Public Works, who was a highly accomplished artist. His masterpiece - a life-size replica of the Gal Vihara stopped the traffic on Pensington High Street when it was exhibited in London.

All these replicas were made from fibreglass, and surely this technique could be used both to bring in valuable foreign exchange, and to reduce the black market in genuine artifacts!

Sri Arthur C. Clarke, CBE

An encounter with banks

Everything was different. Even the potted plants. At the private bank they were giant in size and flourishing. At the public bank, dust covered and withering.

To withdraw one lakh from the savings account of a private bank takes only ten minutes. That too depends mostly on how long it takes one to fill the form, and on deciding how many zeros one lakh has and on making sure that your signature looks valid enough.

At the counter "tuk, tuk tuk", the fingers of the teller run over the keyboard, and within seconds a neat bundle of notes are thrust towards you.

Not for a second does the young man behind the counter look up at you. Does he wonder why you are withdrawing the money? Would he think it's for your wedding? No, his mind seems to be fixed to the computer as much as his eyes. You feel you should have saved your new blouse for a better occasion.

A short trip by bus to the public bank. The same amount to be withdrawn but in treble the time. The security guard points with his gun to a windowsill where the forms are kept. He looks over your shoulder as you fill it in and this time help is at hand when it comes to filling in the zeros.

With the completed form, you move to the single lady at the counter. She smiles as she takes the slip, and writes the numbers down on a foolscap book. You are given a token. Gold in colour, a little bigger than a two rupee coin. It looks like a run-kahavanu of ancient times. You wish you could take it home with you, but no, you are to sit with it at the reception till the number written on its is called.

At the reception a mild commotion is going on. Several over-weight ladies are on their knees searching for a lost token. It is found finally inside a basket of vegetables. Most are in rubber slippers, some chew beetle. They are evidently at home there. Friendly glances are cast your way but neither the conversation nor the volume of their voices change. "Malini could not come because her baby has flue again" "this month's electricity bill has come up to three hundred….

Behind the counter the officers move around leisurely. Not a single computer is in sight. The telephone rings once, but never again. The little baby crawling over he reception area makes a puddle on the floor. Everybody smiles good-naturedly.

"Token number twenty", yells the lady from the counter. She gives a nod of recognition as an old woman advances towards her." Eight thousand four hundred and fifty. Is that correct?" she asks Yes, miss. Dulsy had said in a letter that this months she is sending some extra money. "The lady gives a warm smile. The look of adoration on the old woman's eyes is evident for all to see.

Token number thirty. Yours. You walk to the counter. She counts the money - this time the notes are in five hundreds, neither new nor crispy, counts again and asks you to count too. "A lot of money" she smiles. You nod your head and in spite of yourself, mutter "I'm going on a trip to Delhi".

You wave to the guard as you walk past him into the hot sun. The best part of the morning is over. But the delay seemed worth it. For here, at the public bank you had encountered warmth and humanity in abundance where at the private bank, there had been none.

Aditha Dissanayake
Peliyagoda

Be careful of Christian evangelism

Sri Lankans take note. Be aware, be informed, lethargy and indifference is not tolerance. It is already happening here and the strategy for China has already been mapped out. If you turn a blind eye and fail to stem this determined tide of Christian evangelism, Sri Lanka will follow the path of South Korea.

Take a look at China. Jesus is certainly coming there.

During the recent visit of Bill Clinton, US President and his team many problems were discussed - trade, arms, regional security, the economic turndown and so on.

But one item discussed is of vital importance to Buddhists the world over - the so-called religious freedom and the opening up of China to the forces of Christian evangelism. Not to Buddhism, Zen and other indigenous faiths of China.

In only about 20 years Christianity has taken over South Korea. A Buddhist country, not so long ago, South Korea now has only around 25 percent Buddhists. But like Oliver Twist the Christians ask for more. Their eyes are now on China, the land of boundless millions, fodder for proselytisation.

The Chinese government keeps in check the activities of these missionaries, but they could well weaken under the bombardment from outside.

At present there are perhaps 70 million Christians in China. But the assault on the Chinese leadership is loud and relentless and comes from many world institutions. Eventually, the Chinese leadership will bend to the gale force demand for the opening up of China to Christian prose-lytisation.

In early March this year three clergymen went to China to assess the state of religious freedom in China. This was part of the negotiations and a part of the deal with the Clinton administration.

The three of them, a Roman Catholic bishop, a Jewish rabbi and an evangelist Rev. Don Argue, President of the National Association of Evangelical toured China. But they protested loudly that their tour was confined to officially selected sites and personalities and they had no opportunity at all for their real activities. Horror was expressed at the 'appalling' situation of the Chinese people who have been prevented from worshipping the odd cults, dissident Catholic and evangelical groups that had infiltrated into China and other unsuspecting third world countries.

The Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER) of March 5, 1998 notes that although pressure is part of the opening process 'the pope believes that expanding freedom around the margins will ultimately prove more effective than holding out for some miraculous big bang!

Each year thousands of Bibles and several million gospel tracts are smuggled from Hong Kong to China, adding to the nearly two million Bibles officially allowed and printed in China. The Amity Foundation admits a shortage of Bibles particularly in remote rural areas. FEER gives the figure of 288,000 Bibles and several million gospel tracts smuggled into China in 1996 (June 1996 issue).

The Revival Church claims 8 percent of Chinese are Christian, ie 90 million, but the correct figure would be a little lower.

Newsweek magazine of June 29, 1998 gives the figure of 10,000 Christian workers, more than half of them Americans working in China now. And there are dollars pouring in. Very few workers call themselves 'missionaries' because of the word's bad reputation. They prefer to call themselves 'doctor', 'engineer', 'Project director', but 'teacher' is the most popular.

The strategy for proselytisation is spelt out. Amity urges them to express their faith by service, rather than by proselytisation. The Lutherans run an Internet operation and have a program called TEAM (Teaching English As Ministry). The Hong Kong Christian Council operates in Yunnan province building churches in remote areas and then pack them to overflowing with Chinese singing 'Clap your hands for Jesus'.

It takes time, but there is money in it.

The Vatican Radio and Radio Fides have just set up a Chinese language Internet Website. Beijing has warned the Vatican not to use the Internet or other channels to interfere in China's religious affairs.

But FEER is no doubt assisting them by giving details of the site. In September 1996 Radio Free Asia started broadcasting to China. US support for Radio Free Asia is being increased from US dollars 9 million to US dollars 24 million p.a.

Radio Free Asia does focus on human rights violations - which is a good thing. But it is also introducing alien religious ideas into the region. All this is US policy. The broadcasts are beamed at predominant Buddhist countries such as China, Tibet, Burma, Vietnam, North Korea, Laos, and Cambodia.

Christians have been trying to convert China since the colonial conquests. Now with modern technology their prayers may be answered. With China's conversion, in the face of Buddhist lethargy, the domino theory could well work where Christian conversion is concerned in all the neighbouring countries.

Roger Smith