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Morning Spice by
Ginger Terrorist movements have their links to many government departments and state organizations all over the world. This was evidenced by our own passport scandal a few weeks ago. It was obvious that many key departments had terrorist sympathisers within them or persons who could be bought for a mess of pottage. That perhaps is a tragedy we will have to live with as long as the conflict goes on. There would be little purpose in appealing to their better selves or sense of patriotism. Those traits they feel are for suckers, to them it is the percentage that counts. What then is the answer to this menace and problem. One way of handling it could be to have monitoring units of one or two persons keeping a close watch on the likely cohorts of the terrorists in every important government department. The intelligence service cannot be expected to have as close an inside peep into such activities as a plant could. The other answer is to amend the law where the maximum penalty has to be given in such instances and no discretion allowed to impose a more lenient one. Often a strong deterrent makes one think twice before breaking such laws, and it wears down loyalty to such causes rather fast except in cases who are willing to pay any price for it all. Tobacco addicts There was one snag to it though that made one wonder whether the cure was worth it all. Some people were wondering whether it was safe for people with heart disease to try nicotine patches and doctors in the states were a little cautious about trying them on their patients but now it has been established that wearing a patch does not bring on any symptoms of heart disease. Birds and dinosaurs Just two years or so ago an important discovery was made in the Gobi desert that may help to add weight to the theory that today's birds were in fact descended from the dinosaurs. They discovered a fossilized dinosaur brooding over fessilised eggs just as a bird does which could mean that birds were evolved from the dinosaur. There had been several thefts of items of archaeological value reported recently in the press and damage to ancient dagobas, Buddha statues by treasure hunters. The Director General of Archaeology Dr. Siran Deraniyaga-la in an interview with a daily paper (Island of 1.9.98) has lamented that he does not have sufficient staff to look after over 100,000 sites and monuments. It is well known and seen that there are Buddhist monks (some men in yellow robes) forcibly setting up temples under Bo-trees, grown wild, in lucrative and vantage positions. The Minister for Buddhism and Cultural Affairs together with the Director General of Archaeology should approach the Maha Sangha, and the Maha Nayakas to get honest Buddhist monks, and those in yellow robes who have also been accused of and arrested for treasure hunting, and hand over these sites for them to be looked after while continuing their religious activities. What better place for a recluse to meditate, as most of these sites are in remote places and jungles. How the Maha Nayakas and the Sanga will respond is left to them. It is hoped that leading Buddhist monks who spearhead the Nurses' Union and militant monks who show disapproval of the new constitution also take a lead in stopping this national calamity. This appeal goes to lovers of Archaeology, Buddhist and Sinhala leaders. G. A. D. Sirimal, Stop dumping garbage at Kerewelapitiya Road, Wattala We the residents of Kerawelapitya Road, Hendala, Wattala appeal to the Mayor of Colombo and the CMC to immediately STOP the dumping of garbage at Kerawelapitiya, Wattala. The Kerawelapitiya Road, in Wattala is a highly residential area and dumping of garbage in a residential area is nothing but a crime. Daily, lorryloads of the city's garbage are dumped at the end of the Kerawelapitiya Road. Residents cannot open their doors in the morning since the awful smell emanating from the rubbishdumps is intolerable. Further, two schools are also located in close proximity to the garbage dump area. At least have mercy on the children! It is no point advising the public to keep their residences and surroundings clean to prevent killer diseases such as Dengue Fever, Cholera, etc., when the CMC keeps dumping garbage in residential areas. The Kerawelapitiya area is swarming with flies and mosquitoes. The entire area needs to be thoroughly sprayed with chemicals, but there again who cares? After all those responsible do not have to lie in such an unhealthy and polluted environment. What we can't understand is why the Local Authorities in Wattala in spite of our repeated complaints, permit the CMC to dump the garbage at Kerawelapitiya. Mr. Mayor, we beg of you to find an alternative location to dump the City's garbage and stop the dumping of garbage in this highly populated residential area. If not, it won't be surprising very soon if the killer diseases break out in the Kerawelapitiya area. Residents of Kerawelapitiya
Road, A foreigner's views of our sidewalks I have been in your lovely country three times and I have had accommodation in a small hotel at Mount Lavinia, but I have a few problems in walking on the sidewalks and crossing the Galle Road. A few days after I arrived last time I read a report that the police will take action against jay walkers by imposing heavy fines. In my country jay walkers are pedestrians who step off the sidewalk and get on to the highway, but this seems impossible here as the sidewalks are not possible to walk on as the concrete slabs are not evenly placed. This is not all. The sidewalks are used as parking lots by three-wheeler vehicles and lorries, and when there are building operations the rubble is put on the sidewalks. When I walk up Beach Road, which is supposed to be a tourist area, to the Galle Road the sidewalks are completely blocked by the three-wheeler vehicles. The drivers of the three-wheel vehicles at the top of Beach Road, use the place to urinate and the smell is nauseating and when I walk to near the law courts to cross the road at the colour lights. I had to step off the sidewalk as this is used as a parking lot despite a notice by the Superintendent of Police that states 'No parking'. Crossing the road at the colour lights is also a hazard as vehicles, particularly lorries and cars, go through the red light at high speed and even if there are police officers at these points they look the other way when motorists do not observe the red stop sign. A few weeks ago a lady was knocked down and killed while she was on the pedestrian crossing at the Mount Lavinia junction. Another hazard are the bus crews who don't give time to get on or get off the bus. A few weeks back the driver of a bus pulled off as a lady was getting down from the bus - she fell down and the bus ran over her leg resulting in compound fractures. Olaf Hendersen, At present, proficiency in English is given high priority in the selection for many jobs in the private sector, while some are of the opinion that English should be made compulsory to enter university. The children of most of the so-called affluent parents who use English at home are relatively more competent in English, and further they get more opportunity to learn and use English unlike the children of the less affluent families. It is well known that there is a dearth of good English teachers, specially in the rural areas. According to Suranganie Dassa-nayaka in her article in Daily News of July 9, 1998, there had been no English teacher in a school in Ratnapura for almost two years. According to recent news paper reports, and Suranganie Dassanayaka who herself is a teacher of English, the quality of some of the English teachers is poor. Hence, the emphasis given to proficiency in English in the job market, and admission to Universities will discriminate mostly against those from the so-called less affluent families who otherwise may be far better than their urban counterparts. A knowledge of English is useful but, it becomes essential mostly when dealing with foreign organizations. For jobs where the dealings are in Sri Lanka with Sri Lankans, proficiency in English is not essential. On the other hand, a good working knowledge of Sinhala and/or Tamil would be far more desirable and useful. Many top officials in government institutions, and many professionals are very effective in carrying out their duties, although their standard of English is low. Giving emphasis to competency in English can be justified only if facilities are available for all children to learn English. Dr. C. S. Weeraratna, The letter to the 'Opinion' page in 'The Island' of 19.08.98 by Mr. S. Abeywickrema should attract the attention of Buddhist leaders as well as the clergy as the point raised is very important. It is a frequently observed fact that, non - Buddhist individuals and organisations who come to the assistance of poor Buddhists in difficulties due to long - standing ill-health or lack of a proper job or inability to give a fitting education to the off spring insidiously persuade them to change their religion. Society as a whole does not seem to be bothered, because, no law of the land has been blatantly violated as such, but even after fifty years of independence it is still profitable for the poor to give up Buddhism. Buddhists have to bring our maithree and pragna together to safeguard Buddhist interests. It has to be emphasised that this is not at all a fanatical appeal to solve a sectarian problem, but an honest approach to ameliorate the living conditions of the hapless segment of the poor of our country and the method does not go against our religious beliefs. Unfortunately, we Buddhists are at a disadvantage compared to other established religions, because, whatever aid-donors might say, for centuries, it is the government that looked after the patient, the student and the farmer in Sri Lankan society. Other religions do not care much for government activities and have been having their own social machinery to look after the poor. We Buddhists must be united and remember, 'Suckha Sangha Samagree'. Let us refrain from uttering divisive words. Let us point out the fact that spending money to alleviate the sufferings of poor Buddhists is the need of the hour and, building of 'Ran - Vetas' etc. can wait, because, otherwise, they will only be commemorative structures to say that once upon a time there lived on this island some people called Sinhala Buddhists. C. J. Senasinghe Public Service - callousness personified Recently I went to the Fire Department of the National Insuran-ce Corporation at Muttiah Road, Colombo 02 to pay a fire insurance renewal of a property of a friend of mine. Anticipating that it would take me sometime to have the matter attended to, I had taken with me a book of poems to read while I had to wait in the office. But I was disappointed. The lady who attended to my matter gave me no ghost of a chance to read through any of the poems. She attended to my matter in no time and with extreme courtesy. Sometime ago I went to a government department to pay some money. The lady clerk dealing with the subject came to office only after 9.30 a.m. left her bag in one of the drawers of her table and took a comb and went out. She came back after sometime with her hair combed well and instead of attending to the people waiting round her table took a parcel from her bag and a glass from the drawer and went out again to have her breakfast! She appeared after a while but went straight to some of her colleagues who were gathered and talking. One was taking measurements for a jacket for another. Finally she came and attended to some of the people who were there,taking her own sweet time, and left again with some of her colleagues for lunch, leaving the rest of us standing and kicking our heels. The person who appeared to be the head clerk of the department was just seated and warming the seat and talking to some of the employees on matters, I suppose, anything but office matters. A few staff officers seated enclosed in glass cubicles were also engaged in conversation with other employees. There was no one to tell the employees to be in their seats and to do some work. In my opinion half the problems of the country, including that of the ethnic problem, would be solved if the government departments worked properly. Letters and articles are written in the press daily about the solving of the problems of the country, including that of the ethnic problem. Seminars, discussions and meetings are held by various groups and organisations. But the problems are getting worse and worse day by day. Shouldn't all of us get together and see that the public service is made to function properly as a preliminary step to solving the problems of the country, including that of the ethnic problem? When President Kumaratunga assum-ed office as the Executive President in 1994, I sent her a letter in which I stated, among other things, that she should see that the public service was reorganised without delay if the country was to be governed well. After sometime I received a copy of a letter written by one of her secretaries to the Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism with instruction to send me reply within three months and with a copy to him. I have still not received any other letter from any department, nor has the public service improved than what it was when I wrote the letter to the President. Arul, |
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