Morning Spice by Ginger
Homo sapiens - the biggest robot in computer age

Ginger is not all for this computer age. He feels that the homo sapiens will be the biggest robot at the end of it all. As the cockneys would say I wouldn't know the bloody difference. Between the bloody-mail and the 'she mail'. Even the periodicals that had a host of human interest and a wide range of diverse topics have nothing to offer besides the latest on software and hard- ware a little on night ware and such like that made reading all the more interesting. It is all hard commerce, and computer news. I was hoping that a really nasty bug would enter the system and take us back to more human ways and interesting days.

But that is not to be. The computer age has come and another phase of human history has got under way. The other day Ginger was pleasantly surprised to read an ad here some establishment was offering nearly new cmputers for sale (I am not sure if they were re-conditioned) but I felt that if they were in reasonably good condition it was a worth while deal at Rs. 23000 which was the price. Now there could be a substantial demand for such computers if someone can offer re-conditioned desk tops and so forth if they have a proper after sales service and a guarantee period. There could be quite a demand from those in the lower middle layers here. It would really help their children and bring the product within their reach.

Anti-Asian sentiments
The strong anti-Asian sentiments that are now being expressed by Pauline Hanson and her band of racist are nothing new in fact. There were signs that a Nazi beliefs were fermening as far back as three years ago. Mayor Peter Davis of Port Lincon called children of mixed marriages Mongrels and infuriated the citizens of that fishing town in the process.

In an interview on immigration he had advocated Australia remaining predominantly caucasian. There were strains of Hitlerism in the call. Nine of the ten councillors in the town had resigned in protest as this statement would hurt many families in the community and it was nothing but a call for whites not to marry non-whites.

Murali performance
It would be wise to get Murali to get an E.C.G. after his first innings bowling spell that would have certainly made a less resolute character collapse. His bowling arm would have felt like lead. It was sheer heart and will that kept him going. Small wonder he came in for a bit of stick at the fag end of the innings. It could well have all led to some permanent injury.

It all exposed the folly of not including a leg spinner. Dharmasena is as test bowler. His type of bowling is not likely get anybody who hits through the line into serious trouble. On the other hand Upul Chandana had got quite a few wickets and scored a few runs on the tour and would have relieved a little pressure on our very limited bowling attack.

Development of the site of capture of the Kandyan King

It has been reported in The Island of the August 31 that the government has decided to develop 'Udupitiya at Bombure in Udispattuwa as a tourist attraction', as this was the 'place where Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe was captured by the British on Feb. 18th 1815'. The Minister of Cultural Affairs is to allocate Rs. 2 million as a preliminary grant. I welcome this gesture and hope that this programme will actually be implemented without the usual bureaucratic delays, which accompany projects undertaken by the government.

In this era, when our glorious history has not been taught in our schools, and most adults are ignorant of our history, and some professors in Colombo and USA are engaged in the malicious art of 'deconstructing' our history, little mercies like the above should be welcomed and encouraged.

Given this change of attitude of at least, some in the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, I would like the Ministry to consider three other sites, which are also doubly worthy of development as tourist sites. These were the places where our Kandyan patriots, who wanted to eject the British were also captured. They rose in rebellion against the British because the British had reneged on the solemn undertakings they gave the Kandyans in the 1815 Convention, had usurped the crown, and had dispossessed the Kandyans of their lands and their heritage.

The first is Parawagamme in the south of the North-Central province. It was here that Pilimatalawa and Keppitipola were captured by Lieut. O'Niel on the 28th Oct, 1818. The latter was executed by the British at Bogambara on the 25th Nov, 1818. The former was exiled in Mauritius. There is a fading pillar at this spot, but is little known to the general public. Those pilgrims who visit Avukana would surely be willing to pay their respects to these two valiant Kandyans too.

The second is the place where Madugalle was captured by Ensign Shootbraid on the 2nd of Nov, 1818. The exact spot is yet unknown, but was described as situated 'half a mile from the village Elahera'. The villagers, who were scared to death by the way Martial Law was enforced, led the soldiers 'to the exact place of Madugalle's concealement, behind a rock without a covering'. Madugalle too was executed together with Keppitipola. This place is a couple of miles off the present tiny pansala at Elahera in a jungle covered hillock, where one can see evidence of ancient ruins, probably of the Polonnaruwa period.

The third place is the cave where Gonggallegoda Banda, the last pretender to the throne of Kandy, was captured by Malay soldiers in Capt Watson's regiment on the 21st of Sept, 1848.. This place is in the upper reaches of the Elkaduwa tea estate, in a place named by the locals as Thotilpallama. There is a huge rock there giving a commanding view of the surrounding area and Matale town itself. There is an unexplored cave on the side of this rock. Gonggallegoda Banda had hidden himself in this cave. He was betrayed by the servant who conveyed to him his daily food. The threat of execution by Capt. Watson, of those who knowingly withheld information on the rebels, scared the servant to reveal, as well as to accompany the Malay soldiers to this cave. This site is a few minutes drive from Hunnas Falls hotel. Should we not expect the Ministry to keep faith by our fallen heros?

Durand Appuhamy,
Negombo

Faulty stamps

I have been a person, who had been interested in philately, in a small way from my schooldays and continued even after I joined the Police Service. So I was rather sorry to have missed the exhibition that was held by the Coconut Development Board on October 12th 1995 at the B.M.I.C.H. where the philatelic history of Sri Lanka was an attraction.

However according to the little knowledge have about the stamps, I have found that every stamp issued locally and even in foreign countries, depicted not only the denomination of the stamp using figures but also the value indicating the currency of the land e.g. £ to Rs. etc, sometimes in words such as Pounds, Dollars, Rupees etc in the currency of the land.

However, of late our local stamps indicate the value of the stamp in figures only, without any indication of the value of the currency. for example Rs. 250, Rs. 10.00, Rs. 50.00 etc. A foreigner apart from being interested to know the name of the currency, could get even confused over the value.

In my opinion indication of the currency of the land together with the figure is quite important to show the face value of the stamp. I wonder whether there exists an international convention or tradition on the issue of the stamps.

Could the P.M.G. or someone from the Postal Ministry enlighten me on this subject and adduce a valid reason for the omission of depicting the name of the currency, while indicating the value of the stamp in mere figures, which will not be intelligible to a foreigner.

M. S. A. Rahim,
Mulleriyawa New Town.

Change public image of police

The new Inspector General of Police has said that he would enhance discipline in the Police Force, which in other words means the acceptance by the new Police Chief that discipline in the service has much to be desired.

On the other hand all his predecessors on assumption of duties did claim that they intended to enforce discipline. That they have not been successful underlines the present IGP's statement.

The situation can be measured by the answer given by a child when asked about the duties of the police. 'They come, assault and take away' was, as reported, what the child had said. The answer was based, invariably on what the child had seen. This image has to be removed and it is up to the new IGP to do so. Law enforcement officers should not be law-breakers.

It has however to be concerned that police discipline has improved in recent years to some extent.

Political influence and patronage over appointments, promotions, postings and disciplinary control can ruin any service. It is so with the police too. The government should therefore ensure that the police department is free of political patronage and meddling. It is only then that the IGP could do what he hopes to do.

Upali S. Jayasekera,
Colombo 4

What about the 60% balance?

The government wants to hold the provincial council elections but the Ministry of Defence does not allow due to security reasons. There is a commotion over the postponement of the elections and the opposition, too, is carrying out a campaign about it.

The government approved a salary increase to the state sector employees of which 40% was given in January, 1997 and the balance of 60% in January, 1998. (This B. C. Perera Salary revision increase was given by boasting that the government is financially stable). But for some state institutions the balance 60% has not been given despite the fact that eight months have elapsed. It now appears that those workers have been denied of this balance 60%, thereby making such employees and their families curse the government. Because by giving the increase, the government is taking it back by way of our cost of living and the GST and such employees are facing those burdens without receiving the balance 60%. What a miserable situation for those employees and their families?

Now who is the Head of the Government, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Finance? It is the President. Can a Head of State deceive the people, specially in case of the employees remuneration? Of elections, the Deputy Minister of Defence openly announced his decision why the election will not be held.. Did the Deputy Minister of Finance instructed theTreasury not to give the balance 60% to some state sectors? It is disheartening to observe that the people are fooled by both the Ministries that come under the purview of the President.

Is it fair to give 40% and stop the balance 60%? People are not worried about not holding the 'provincial elections', but they are seriously concerned about non payment of their balance salary increase of 60%. It was said on political platforms that only women know about the difficulty of kitchen, therefore to vote women. And people voted for Mrs. Kumaratunga only to be disillusioned.

I wonder why the leaders of trade unions are keeping silent over this gross injustice that is being done to some of the state sector employees.

Nazly Cassim,
Colombo 01

The shadow of doubt

During the past few weeks people have been flocking to a small Catholic church in Moratuwa to view a shadow said to resemble the Blessed Virgin cast on the wall behind the altar.

Among them have been a few priests and the religious, the presence of whom has given the phenomenon a semblance of authenticity.

Be that as it may, it is common experience that straining one's eyes to gaze to one spot can help to conjure up so image of a particular kind that happens to be in one's mind at the time. As Shakespare has said.

'Such tricks hath strong imagination,

That, if it would but apprehend some joy

It comprehends some bringes of that joy

Or in the might, imagining some fear,

How easy is a bush supposed a bear!'

No doubt a small church needs to stimulate devotion among its parishoners and make it known even outside the confirms of the parish. But parish priests should be wary of popularising an event that is not properly authenticated. A miracle is proclaimed after prolonged and detailed investigation into all aspects of the occurence as at Laurdes.

We Catholics accept the fact that a miracle can occur but we do so only after the Pope or his representative after an inquiry proclaims it to be so.

E. A. K. Caspersz,
Nugegoda

Protection for our cultural heritage

Isn't it saddening to read every week that a historically important place has been attacked by vandals, presumably, in search of hidden treasure, but I have read of instances where there have been no 'Nidan Wasthu' at all - and may be - the sole motive being the destruction of the particular item so that in a few years' time there will be not much of what is ancient. Strictly speaking, then, this is a directly national issue, because, the day will not be very far off when tourism will crash as there will be hardly anything for a tourist to see. Therefore, this vandalism must cease forthwith.

To achieve this aim the villagers or the 'dayake sabhas' have to be motivated and the guidance must come from all the theros of the three Nikayas as well as the educated Buddhist laity. Powerful and efficient organisations can be built up on a district basis and an all-island set-up can monitor the efficient functioning of this scheme.

Dr. C. J. Senasinghe,
Borelesgamuwa

More on Banda and Bandara

I have read with interest, the exchange of views between Mr. S. R. Jayasinghe ('The Island' 4.8.98) and Mr. W. P. W. Weerawardane (22.8.98) on the above subject. Please permit me to shed some more light on this matter.

These two names which have been used, perhaps, for centuries, more widely in the Kandyan areas, though it is admitted there is a thin stream of Bandaras in the deep south, are slowly but surely on their way out. The way people seem to be shying away from these names once considered to be most respectable to use, at least among the Kandyan Govigama community, will soon be a thing of the past.

As is the way with any good thing, these names too, just as Mr.. W. says, have got debased by wide and indiscriminate use, more in the recent past among the rural and less educated sections of the society, so much so, that the name Banda particularly, has come to be associated with the stupid, boorish and unrefined ('lumpen' , as some 'comrades' would like to say!) village yokels.

Indeed, if a 'Banda comes to town' the more sophisticated would expect him to commit some indiscretion and make an ass of himself. This is why these names are going out of vogue and soon there would be no Bandas or Bandaras just as some of the names so commonly used by the so-called depressed classes a few years ago, such as, Ukkuwa, Kiriya, Boda, Dingiriya etc. are no longer heard today.

Under these circumstances, it would be interesting to trace the history of these two words. Mr. Weerawardena is correct when he says that these names have nothing to do with the term, 'Pandaram'.

It is quite possible that this is a term imported from S. India when the Nayakkar dynasty took over the Kandyan kingdom. But I agree with Mr. W. when he says that the names Banda and Bandara have greater antiquity and more illustrious antecedents. Mr. W. says 'these names have been assimilated into the Sinhala language from the Sanskrit, 'Bhandagarika', which means 'Treasurer'. This too, is wrong. They are not connected to that word at all.

On the history and deriv action of these words, I would like to acquaint M/S. W and J. with what Dr. Paranavitane has to say. It is his view that these words are derived from the old Sanskrit word, 'Bhartr' and the pali word, 'Bhante'; the ancient Sinhala word derived from these words 'Bata' (fem. 'Bati') which appears quite frequently in numerous inscriptions as well as in the Sigiri graffiti. He says the words are used as honorifics or titles and meant. 'Lord', either before or after a personal name. 'Meyal Bata' (Sigiri graffiti No. 2); 'Bata Sivaguta' (Inscription No. 7 at Ritigala). Also, there is evidence to show that in earlier times, the term 'bata' had been used as a term of respect before the names of Buddhist monks. (Inscriptions of Ceylon'. Vol. 1. Paranavitane. Introduction; P.cv). In fact, in Vol. 1 of the 'Inscriptions of Ceylon', Dr. Paranavitane lists no less than 156 inscriptions where the title 'Bata' appears.

In Graffito to No. 122, this line appears:

'...Fayal Baati liyuu de-kavi me' (Tr. 'The two verses written by Lady Dayal').

In Graffito to No. 46, this line appears:

'...Bandi Dapul Epami me limi'. (Tr. 'Lord Dapul, Minister, wrote this') here, Dr. Paranavitane appends this note on the word, 'Bandi'.

'Bandi can be taken as a proper name or as a title; if taken as a proper name, it may be compared to 'Bhandi', the name of a royal personage; if taken as a title, it may be compared to 'Sang-Banday' occurring in the Jetavana slab inscription. Bandi and Banday as well as the modern Bandara and Banda are connected with the Skt. 'Bhartr' which 'in Prakrit takes the form of 'Bhatta'. (Sigiri Graffiti Vol II.P.28)'

It would be illuminating to state here, what this great scholar has to say on the words 'Banda' and 'Bandara' in Volume I of his epoch making, massive two-volume work, 'Sigiri Graffiti': i his 220 page Vol I, which is entirely his introduction to it. He says:

'(The terms) Epa and Mahapa come after personal names. Also, coming after personal names are epithets, 'Himi' and 'Bata', words which appear to have indicated social rank. 'Himi' in Sanskrit 'Swamin' and I have translated it as 'Lord'..., most probably applied to those who, like the barons of feudal Europe, were entitled to the overlordship of villages. We are not certain of the precise distinction between 'Himi' and 'Bata'. 'Bata' and 'Bati' in masculine names most probably are equivalent to Skt. 'Bharatr' (Lord) and is akin to modern 'Banda' and 'Bandara'....'Sigiri Graffiti'. Vol I: Section: 713. p. ccxiii.

It should now be clear that the term 'Bandara/'Banda' are derived from the ancient title, 'Bata' which indicated rank next to Epa and Mapa or 'Himi' which could be applied to those only next to royalty. Dr. Paranavitane says:

'Bandara', a term of the highest respect in Kandyan times and its shortened form, 'Banda', still in use, but fallen from its high pedestal, are derived from the Sanskrit 'Bhartr'. 'Banda' has not been used among the Sangha, but the head of what represented the Sangha in Kandyan times was known as 'Gane Bandara'.

....'Inscriptions of Ceylon' Vol. I:P. cv: foot note.

As Mr. Weerawardena says, from the 13th Century onwards, during the Dambadeniya, Kurunegala and Kotte periods, the term 'Bandara' is seen used widely to indicate the highest aristocracy of the land. In the Kotte period appear the Yapa Bandaras who were the highest provincial administrative officers of Hat Korale. Dr. Paranavitane again says that the Yapa Bandaras are descendants of the aristocracy that accompanied the princesses that were brought as the queens of some of the kings who ruled the Danbadeniya, Kurunegala and Kotte kingdoms from the royal houses of the Malayasian lands. He equates 'Yapa' as derived from the word, 'Java'.

During the Kandyan kingdom the names, Bandara and Banda were regularly used by the highest aristocracy. For instance, the elder son of Ehelepola Nilame, who was executed on the orders of Sri Wickramarajasinghe, was 'Loku Banda'. Even as late as the end of the 19th Cent. We see a disawa during the British times, who had supplied the labour force required for the repair of the Kalaweva, calling himself 'Ratwatte Loku Banda', as seen in the bronze tablet placed on the left abutment of the spill.

There could now be no dispute about the words 'Banda' and 'Bandara' which according to Dr. Paranavitane were first used as honorifics and titles derived from the term, 'Bata' but which later were used as personal names. This practice is nothing new. Meny personal names used today were, in the first instance, used as titles such as, Epa, Mapa, Atapattu, Seneviratne, Wickramasinghe, Mudannayake etc.

M. B. Mathmaluwe,
Matale

Down to Earth
Dinosaurs and birds
by Derrick Schokman

Holidaying on my friend Fred's estate, I was awakened one morning by a flock of parakeets shrieking outside my window.

'How do you like my dinosaurs'? asked Fred, putting his head around the door.

'Since when did parakeets become dinosaurs?' I enquired.

'It's really the other way around', he replied. 'Dinosaurs became parakeets. All birds, according to the experts, are thought to be living members of the dinosaur clan'.

I shook my head in disbelief. 'It is impossible', I said, 'to think of these delicate feathered creatures as direct descendants of those huge armoured monsters who dominated the earth in the Jurassic age.'

'That's because the dinosaurs you are thinking of are the 40 to 50 ton giants, Tyrannosaurs and Brontosaurus, you see in cartoon strips and movies like Jurassic Park and Lost World.

'There were several smaller species of dinosaur however from which palaenotologists believe birds could have evolved.'

The parakeets continued to holler and flit around the trees in the garden.

I lit a cigarette and asked my friend to continue with his tale of evolution.

'Oviraptors', he said, were one of the smaller species of dinosaur from which birds could have evolved.

'Roy Chapman, an American exploring the Gobi desert, discovered oviraptor skeletons.

'They were about two metres long, with powerful toothless beaks and huge hands capable of clasping prey.

'Fossil nests were also found with eggs containing oviraptor embryo. A skeleton was seen crouching over one of the nests as if in the act of incubation.'

I looked out of the window again, observing a change in sound. The parakeets had gone, their shrieks replaced by the shrill chattering of a bevy of babblers, better known as seven-sisters.

'Very recently', Fred continued, 'palaeontologist Fernando Novas uncovered a fascinating set of fossils in Patagonia. He called it unenlagia, which means half-bird in Mapuche Indian.

'It was a transitional stage of dinosaur into bird. About two metres long it had powerful legs. The structure of its pelvis and hind limbs resembled Archeopteryx, the earliest known bird.

'Unenlagia could not fly, but held its forelimbs on a winglike manner'.

I suggested that it could have been a progenitor of the large flightless birds we have, like the ostrich and emu.

Fred agreed and went on to say that Novas had previously found the bones of a dinosaur built like an ostrich, with an odd sort of stubby claw as the only digit on its forelimbs. A similar specimen had been found in Mongolia.

'Is there any evidence', I enquired, 'of a transitional fossil stage to the smaller flying bird species?'

'There is,' replied Fred. The most recent evolutionary find of a birdlike dinosaur was in China in 1996. It is the first dinosaur fossil with feathers.

'A small creature, just 50cm long, it has a beaklike mouth, short thin forelimbs indicating evolution into wings, and thick feathers 0.8cm long from head to tail'.

I looked out of the window, where the babblers were still stridently gossiping.

'That's what makes this evolutionary game so exciting', continued Fred.

'Ever so often new pieces are discovered to fit the jigsaw'.

I turned back to Fred and said: 'Now that I know of their powerful ancestry, I shall never again be able to take birds for granted. Not even these common - or garden babblers.'