Morning Spice by Ginger
Bull dog has changed its characteristics

It is obvious the bull dog has changed its characteristics. Something has got into its strain and it is unable to maintain its unflappable imperviousness to any adversity. It growls and snarls when anything goes wrong and cannot keep its cool. When the Sri Lankan cricketers playfully rubbed its pug nose on the sand of the Cornhill Test grounds it yelped and howled blue murder and even snarled viciously at the invitees to its territories.

It started with England's captain who should have learnt the rudiments of anatomy by calling Hashan arsewhole. Did he expect that poor individual to do without one. Next the English coach started griping about Murali's action and to the surface something past buried when his action was cleared officially. He would have been completely stunned by the butchering. His bowlers got at the hand of master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya and the masterly handling of his bowlers by Aravinda de Silva. Will he complain about some of the shots that Jayasuriya played. Would he say that hitting sixers with both feet off the ground is against the law and will. He next says that Aravinda does not have residential qualifications to play for Sri Lanka because he is in fact a toreador brought down from Mexico!

English TV viewers
Once again English TV viewers are not having anything worth writing home about as far as entertainment goes. Dynavision made a brave, but rather amateurish attempt giving the viewers something to watch during the evenings but has slipped back into all news stations. The other stations have an occasional English programme that could interest the adult but there are very few episode programmes which is what the tired adult want after a hard day's work.

TNL has a few good comedies but I noticed that we would not be seeing Baywatch Nights anymore. At the same time I suppose that the suppliers may be asking a little too much from the local stations. Their budgets may not be able to stand it. The only answer available to them seems to be get more sponsors to join in for any given programme.

Railway system
The colourds in Africa had many ways of demonstrating against Apartheid. One way of doing so was to travel on government owned railways without paying their fare. Many thought this a reasonable form of protest but when they continued doing so after Aparthied ended the railway decided to do something about it but sadly enough this enforcement of discipline ended in a major tragedy.

Guards started using electric shock batons to push back fare dodgers who would rush to catch the morning trains. In a town near Johannesburg 16 people were killed in the crash that followed the baton charge. When the town got to hear of what happened it got so angry that they hurled rocks at the station and set fire to a ticket office.

Promotion and an appointment in the Public Service

Chapter 11 of the establishment code lays down the procedure in relation to promotion and an appointment in the public service. In the nineteen fiftees (I write from recollection), there was the salaries commission which was headed by Poulier and commonly referred to as Poulier Commission Salaries Report.

In this report, words to the following effect, arising from representations made by the senior civil servants, were reproduced:'In a small country like ceylon, where every person knows every other person , merit may ultimately be the capacity for commanding the support and influence of political patronage'

I believe, it was arising from the above that a recommendation was made that in making appointments,especially promotions in a graded service, seniority and merit should given consideration and where the senior officer is overlooked for promotions in a graded service, seniority and merit should be given consideration and where the senior officer is overlooked for promotion, detailed reasons should be given for same, in respect of every such senior officer.

I was reminded of above when I read the news about the retirement of DIGs following the recent appointment of the IGP. However heart burning it may be, it is best to take these in the stride and not feel too bad about it, because these are inevitable and have happened to so many, right along.

In 1970, I met Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Don David by prior appointment. The purpose of my meeting him was to complain that I had been overlooked in promotion.

I made by submissions in Sinhala and the first comment of the Chairman was that I spoke good Sinhala. He listened to me and then told me as follows in Sinhala:

'Mahattaya kiyanna sampurnama mama piligannawa. Mahattaya hithaganne, mahattayage handahane hondane kiyala' (I accept all that you said, you better think that your horoscope is not good).

S. Thambyrajah
Colombo 3

Sanath and Wisden

The Wisden Cricketer's Almanac is the prestigious 'Cricketer's Bible' published in England annually and contains around 1500 pages. It is a 'Collectors item' among enthusiasts. It has now been continuously published for the last 135 years.

During the course of the last 133 years, Wisden has chosen Five Cricketers of the Year from players who actually participated in England during each English summer. A photograph of the 'cricketer' and an essay about him are published. No cricketers picture or essay is repeated in any subsequent publication - the only instance being that of the great Don Bradman, once in his 1930 triumphant year, and again in 1948, when he re-tired from the game, after a fantastic career.

In 1977 the Editor of the Wisden', Matthew Engel wrote in his editorial - 'The 134th edition of the Wisden contains a direct affront to tradition..... the selection of the Five Cricketers of the Year .... Yet; I have now felt obliged to modify them to include a player who was not a participant in the last English season - Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka. Jayasuriya's performences in the World Cup reverberated everywhere and earned him the right to be in our 'Hall of Fame'.

In the same edition, David Hopps says 'Sanath Jayasuriya cannot yet be classified as a 'Great Player'. His World Cup exploits... insisted that 'Course of the Game' would change forever. Few of the 'Greats have ever achieved that.'

When Sanath Jaya-suriya scored 213 and a thrilling 23 not out at the historic Kensington Oval in England, in front of a thrilled, huge English crowd, the umpires being from England and West Indies - he amply demonstrated his dual skills in the two innings - test batsman-ship and One Day thrills and spills.

The challenging sixers achieved with his feet a foot above the turf and on the off side took everyone's breath away! This, in addition to his famous 340 and 199 runs against India last year, amply justified the '... direct affront to tradition' by Matthew Engel, who would have been the happiest man watching this genius perform in England.

David Hopps must surely now feel that not only has he changed the 'course of the game' - but also is now one of the 'Greats'.

Kalyana de Silva
Retd. Librarian
SLCF
Dehiwela

Fishing by Buddhists

In response to Mr. P. M. A. Latiff's query in The Island of 31.8.98, it should be pointed out that the first of the five precepts a Buddhist has to follow before he can call himself a 'Buddhist' is:

'I take the precept to abstain from destroying life'.

If anybody (especially with a 'Buddhist' label) is still confused as to what that really means, he should refer to the Noble Eightfold Path, which the Buddha stipulates is the 'only way' to attain Nibbana, and study its Fifth Step, 'Right Livelihood'.

Right Livelihood clearly states that a Buddhist has to refrain from trading in

(i) Arms;

(ii)Human Beings;

(iii) Flesh, i.e. Breeding Animals for Slaughter;

(iv) Intoxicating Drinks/Drugs and

(v) Poison.

Item (iii) confirms that no loophole is given in the Buddha's doctrine for transgression of the precept that advocates non-violence to animals.

Prema Ranawaka Das
Moratuwa

Smoking encouragement gets its due desserts

I happened to witness an incident which amused me recently at Delkanda Junction, Nugegoda, on my way back home.

There was a vast crowd gathered at Delkanda junction surrounding a huge vehicle. They were shouting, screaming, hooting and abusing. With much amazement I halted and walked to the spot, to know what was happening there.

On enquiry, I learnt that about 25 people who came in the van had been busy distributing gifts to those who bought cigarettes. This game was called 'Treasure Hunt'. Some young people who seem to be the children of tobacco victims had started protesting against this activity. They began cursing those who made their family life a hell on earth, because their fathers and brothers were spending their hard earned money on smoking and drinking. Fathers of some of them had died because of smoking and drinking.

The curse was loud and clear. More and more people joined in the protests. Soon the 'Treasure Jokers' disappeared from the scene with their tails between their legs. The watching crowd gleefully observed that this was quite reasonable, for these young people have a right to work against the injustices meted out by the industry. The victims of tobacco in many countries have gone to courts to voice the sad plight of the victims of tobacco and won at last.

It is surprising that the community planners ignore the mass murder inflicted upon the people by the industry, particularly in the background of the presence of many organisations and institutions who are ready to offer medals and honours to those companies. When the high and mighty the land fail in their duty, it is befitting that tobacco victims themselves should get together in this kind of situation.

Cigarette advertising appears to increase children's awareness of smoking at a generic level and encourages them to take up the behaviour, beginning with any cigarettes which are available and affordable.

I deem it is high time that responsible citizens including parents, medical personnel and policy makers try to discover the real truth of this and adopt relevant strategies to change the unhealthy atmosphere by cleansing it from the pestilential vapour of smoking and drinking.

Manjari Peiris
Maharagama

Telephone directory issue - both parts free

In the past when the telephone directory was compiled and printed by the Dept. of Post and Telecom. There was only one directory and every subscriber got a copy free. Reference was far easier because subscribers were listed under the respective exchanges. Today it is issued in two parts, the Greater Colombo Directory and the Provincial Directory. The Subscribers gets a free copy of the directory of his area and has to pay for the other if he needs one. Reference is difficult because all subscribers are listed together and not under exchanges or even districts.

After privatisation of the SLT charges have sky-rocketed with the rental going up by 125% (thanks are due to the Chairman of Telecom. Reg. Comm. who gave a reduction of Rs. 10 from the proposed increase) bring in charges by 30% with a GST and a DL thrown in for good measure even on domestic phones.

The SLT is said to have held a huge tamasha at a cost of Rs. 87m to celebrate one year of its existence as a privatised organisation. It is most likely that future birthdays will also be celebrated in similar manner. Huge amounts are also spent on advertisements appealing ad nauseum to subscribers to avail themselves of call waiting facility, call forwarding facility and what not forgetting that all of them would have grabbed all the facilities in the very first instance if they were interested. This is being done probably to satisfy the advertisement mania of someone in the SLT.

Instead of squandering millions on tamashas and ads. The SLT could have easily given at least a small reduction in the tariffs if it only cared to do so.

It is I think, a common feature in all modern day large scale business concerns to spend lavishly on advertisements as a marketing strategy, pay high salaries inconsistent with the normal salary structure in other fields and provide unlimited facilities to the staff so that they may maintain high status and are kept in good humour and bleed the customer to cover all overheads.

A few years ago several subscribers demanded that the SLT should issue both parts of the directory free to all subscribers. Since the SLT has fabulous amounts to squander away on tamashas and ads. I would suggest once again that the SLT should meet at least this demand. This is the minimum that it can do if it does not want to cause a substantial reduction in the exorbitant charges.

S. Abeywickrama,
Nugegoda.

Yodha Putha

The innocent giant baby, Samantha Erosha, 'yodha putha' from the remote hamlet in Dimbulagala has become a model overnight when his giant figure was illustrated prominently in an advertisement, launched by an Insurance business, to promote their children's coverage policy.

Children of all age and shapes are featured commonly in advertisements, but Yodha Putha has raised many an eye-brow, and the poor child and his loving parents were hot topic of lunch break and party time jokes.

The camera-shy child and his parents wish to be left alone as reported in press interviews. However, it seems to be so difficult for them to avoid many visiting this far away village for purpose of commercial and political gains. The child who has now become an exhibit is reported having difficult times.

It is time one Social Service Department or recognised Child Care Unit stepped in to intervene and look-after Eroshan.

Naheer Taip,
Wattala

Mr. Alles and the TV news reader

I was a little shocked and sad to read the scathing attack made on a newsreader of the national TV by reader P. Alles of Piliyandala in your paper recently. No doubt it was written in utter exasperation; because the particular TV news reader over a considerable period of time has been insisting on describing the news as 'live' when in fact the news casts were made of previously recorded news items, and not of items taking place at the moment.

Despite numerous letters pointing out that the word 'live' was being used inappropriately, the news reader carried on regardless - not even trying to explain why he thought he was right! So he is partly to be blamed for the bombshell that he received from Mr. Alles!

I have noticed that the embattled news reader has now dropped using the controversial opening gambit, namely, 'You are watching news live from Rupavahini.'

This shows that the news reader is responsive to public opinion and constructive criticism, though a bit too late, but still it can be said that he has redeemed the estimation in which he was held by dropping the controversial word. However, Mr. Alles had made communal aspersions and made nasty remarks about the news readers's personal appearance, which had no bearing on the matter in dispute and which no doubt caused much hurt and humiliation to the said news reader.

Readers like myself would like to see an apology from Mr. Alles for exceeding his right to fair comment and criticism before one can say 'All's well, that ends well'.

B. M. H. Sally,
Kalutara

Off the mark ?

I was surprised to read in what I considered a prestigious newspaper, 'The Island' a half page entitled 'Hate speech and homophobia in Sri Lanka' by 'Cat's Eye', who probably has a cataract in both eyes.

'Cat's Eye' deplores Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Professor G. L. Peiris' stand against homosexuality and Lesbianism, which is totally against the laws of nature. The Columnist writes that we should emulate the British and Americans in unnatural sexual practice. According to Cat's Eye, homosexuality and lesbianism should be legalised as a number of people derive sexual pleasure from these practices.

There are a number of people who derive sexual pleasure by the rape of children and infants, and the sadists, masochists and those who practice animalism and kill people for sexual pleasure.

So Cat's Eye why sponsor only homosexuals and lesbians and deprive the others who also derive their sexual pleasure by other perverse forms of sexual deviation?

Maybe the cataract in both Cat's Eye's eyes are not the only affliction he/she suffers from.

It could be the grey matter in the cranium has deteriorated. Hence, a visit to not only the eye hospital but also to the mental hospital might be of some value.

Horny Bull
Mt. Lavinia

Please substantiate

I have read with much interest Mr. Hamid Abdul Karim's article entitled 'Qur'an - a lasting miracle' in 'The Island' of September 1, 1998.

I do not wish to challenge the belief of millions of Muslims all over the world that the Qur'an is of divine authorship for 'fear of being instantly pro-ved and denounced an imposter and a braggart'.

However as a humble student of history I am puzzled by Mr. Karim's reference to a battle between the Romans and the Persians as an example of one of the many prophecies in the Qur'an.

According to Mr. Karim in this great battle the Romans defeated the Persians comprehensively and chased the Persians to a city called Maday-an. The history of both the Persians and the Romans are well documented and I cannot find any reference to this battle.

I would appreciate it very much if Mr. Karim gives me the dates and references to this particular battle in history and how verse 30:1-4 can be considered a prophecy of the outcome of a battle between the Romans and the Persians when the Persians are in fact not mentioned in the verses under reference.

Ananda Malalgoda,
Colombo 13

Unnecessary name change

The name of the Ceylon Institute of Scientific & Industrial Research (CISIR) has suddenly been changed to Industrial Technology Institute (ITI). The first thing that comes to my mind when I see ITI is Information Technology Institute as lot is being talked about Information Technology these days.

This change of name is bound to cause confusion not only within the country but also abroad especially when we submit the reports issued under the new name ITI to foreign buyers and other organizations who call for test reports on merchandise.What is the need for this change of name? Who benefits by this change? Isn't this change detrimental to the image of the Institute and its staff and others who works in this Institute as this Institute has been known as CISIR both here and abroad for a very long time?

Furthermore who is footing the bills of the massive expenditure that follows the mere name change of this state owned Institute? Alas, nobody seems to care!

Ranjit Perera
Mount Lavinia.

Rambling Notes
New IGP, law and order
by Nihal Corea

The new IGP who has been through the portals of a higher seat of learning and perhaps got more than an elementary idea of law and society has very bravely tried to define the difference between the law and politics. Some would have nodded their heads rather sadly and said a silent prayer for the new head of the police force for his abysmal ignorance of the realities of the day and his belief that politics and the law are different.

Others of less learning who do not care a hang. Whether there are laws or not but definitely know of the existence and value of politicians would possibly have looked on their leader in astonishment and disbelief. To many the politicians is the main source of their bread and butter, the man behind their career progress and as far as they knew the individual who decided what laws should be respected if at all.

This element will find it a little difficult to separate the chaff from the grain. Besides the new IGP was going to complicate life for the policeman. Knowing the law just enough to recognise it meant a little sweat and study. Perhaps more sweat than anything else but knowing a politician and enforcing it as directed by him is the most uncomplicated method to fame and fortune as far as policeman's simple but lucid thinking goes.

Ask him to differentiate between the law and politics and you take a cop into deep water. He recoils in absolute fear. He knows the dangers of such an exercise. True the IGP was thinking of rights of the people but a fat lot of good it would do a policeman to be thinking of the rights and safety of the people. They should be just what his baton allows them to be as long as his MP backs him.

A policeman generally is a simple being. He does the obvious. If he is given food or drink he eats it or drinks it. He does not ask for a calorie analysis or for its cholesterol content. If he is given something that could be put in his pocket he thankfully slips it into it and does not ask what the IMF considers a healthy velocity of circulations. If somebody makes a complaint he just gives him a stare and asks him to push off or ask some simple question like whether he knew who burgled the complainant's house when he was away.

At the most he would give that individual an edifying lecture on the wisdom of locking doors and windows when leaving the house and let the matter rest there. He is not the vindictive type who will pursue and hound a burglar merely to put him into trouble. He is much more forgiving than the person who has sustained the loss or injury depending of course on the politics of the victim and the wrong doer.

The policemen may be pardoned for asking their leader that if the law and politics are different. This should be conveyed to the politician who to this day does not appear to have grasped this vital point. To him the law should depend on what his political needs are and the cop who does not understand this fact will be in need of another job before long. No body knows how well the average MP would take such a message from the head of the force.

The politician may look on this advice by the IGP to his men as a kind of routine formality when a new IGP is appointed. If on the other hand he means what he says he is certainly going to cross swords with some one who has more steel in his sword than the IGP has in his sabre. The tragedy is that the IGP seems to be a sincere man and sincere people can be in deep trouble in this country.