Morning Spice by Ginger
Current craze for ethnic food

Ginger today devotes a little of his column space to the current craze for ethnic food and the tendency of the gourmet to do the round in search of the many types of ethnic food served around town. With the growth of the tourist industry it was only a matter of time before restaurants serving the food of other countries sprang up all over the city. You name it we have it. How long these cafes and hotels could keep up the authenticity and quality of its cuisine is another matter. The fall in the number of tourist arrivals and the decline in the interest in our stock could mean bad news for some of them.

That however is not the point I am coming to. I have done the whole round almost that serves so-called Sri Lankan food. Ginger remembers the kind of rice and curry he tasted as a young lad when his father served in the outstations. Except for a couple of rest houses in the more remote areas what we get in today up front rice and curry joints is nothing like the stuff we knew. The different ways with the jack fruit. The way they cooked country vegetables and the Pol kiri badungs without the use of any oil were something that makes one salivate at the very thought of them. If that art has not been lost for ever and somebody starts serving that type of meal in town. I think it would be hard to find a table in that restaurant. What the hotels and cafes serve is drab stuff that hardly resembles the real stuff.

Keeping a patient warm
One recent observation is that keeping a patient warm during an operation could add to the safety of the operation. A patient getting too cold of course could mean that individual is as longer in the land of the living as we know but the reference one thinks is about how cold the operating theatre should be. When a patient is under anaesthesia that individual finds at difficult to regulate body temperature.

In the meantime it is equally important to keep the theatre as cool as possible as doctors in heavy gowns would sweat under the bright light of the room. The whole purpose of keeping the patient warm is to reduce the risk of infection. When the patients body is kept warm the blood flows more freely into the skin and helps it to fight germs.

Hungarians
These Hungarian contractors should really settle down here. There were many Hungarians who lived a nomadic existence. They now prefer to live a more settled life and have opted for permanent homes. The government has encouraged this change of attitude and gives a grant to build a home. Contractors in Eastern Hungary are minting money by making mobile homes though the Nomads are not moving.

The government gives a liberal grant for such people to build a home and entrusts the task to contractors. When enough of the house is built to draw the grant these contractors arranged with the Nomads to tear the housse down and take the material elsewhere. They use the same material to get payment for half a dozen houses or so.

NM foresaw illusory might of the ‘Asian Economic Tigers’

It was not long ago that praises were lavished on the “East Asian Tigers” — why not emulate them was the popular slogan. During the Cold War, Communists the world over raved and ranted about the stability and strength of the Soviet Union. Apart from its disintegration, the economies are in a parlous state. Japan and Hongkong were held up as models in development and stock-markets. Bang! from the blues came the bolt almost overnight.

The “East Asian Tigers” had their financial edifice practically shattered with Indonesia paying the biggest price. Russia is in shambles, occasionally raving nevertheless, but everybody being aware that it is nothing but empty rhetoric. Who would have thought that Hongkong would have its stock-market in trouble and US and Europe will also struggle with theirs? Japan is now in deep trouble. Two of Japan's major financial institutions have collapsed and only three financial institutions are said to hold unrealised stock profits. Bad loans are reported to be in the region of four trillion yen!! Each of these countries are looking for scapegoats and strategic plans to revitalise the economies. They have contracted the ‘flu’ and we in Sri Lanka, are sneezing and pondering whether we will be laid up in bed sooner or later. Sri Lanka has been they say, a little fortunate, due to prudent financial management. Still, we are beginning to feel the pinch in various ways, not the least being export earnings and inflationary tendencies. Could it be a matter of time now? It has affected Japan and through it the whole world — the result of globalisation. The villain of the piece has been identified as the uncontrolled foreign investment and its ability to freely move in and move out.

Our own pundits and political opposition in Sri Lanka have been debating on comparative statistics of foreign investment in the past and present. Their barometer for economic development is the degree of foreign investment. The degree of liberalisation so far is not considered adequate. The lack of foreign investment or the absence of it, is a sign of doom for them. Indeed, we now have the sad spectacle of the result of too much dependence on foreign aid and foreign investment — the arm-twisting tactics of the US and its loyal hunter, the IMF et al!

Dr. N. M. Perera was a good economist, a prudent Finance Minister and more than anything one who loved his country and preached the message of self-reliance. Some of the measures taken such as the ban on imported items like chillies, onions and potato which brought in its wake certain difficulties in price-hikes and shortages were to be temporary but found fertile ground for political opponents for exploitation. Perhaps, he had only one ally outside his party, in Mr. Hector Kobbekaduwa.

Within a few years the farmer responded magnificently and the North of all places, taught the country a lesson or two in agricultural development. Whoever thought they will produce potato too? The jaggery and treacle trade flourished. He was not permitted to see the elimination of the Kasippu trade through a toddy-tapping exercise for a healthy drink. 85% of the foreign debt was repaid within five years. Similarly, he was castigated and crucified for the policy of parity of status for Sinhala and Tamil — the UNP and PA are today prepared to offer very much more!

The antagonists UNPers, Kasippu mudalalis, priests, monks, religious organisations, the Beira Press and certain elements within the coalition of 1970 itself found themselves as strange bedfellows espousing the same cause not so much the cause of the precept but the downfall of NM and his party and generally the coalition in whom they found a potential danger for vested interests.

NM would have certainly foreseen globalisation coming and was preparing for it. Unfortunately most Sri Lankans were smacking their lips, for the “goodies”. Not for them the uniform of the Chinese or the local luscious mangoes or textiles. Nothing short of apples and grapes and the imported variety in anything. To hell with national development.

We have to wait till circumstances force us into situations and cry over spilt milk. NM always travelled abroad in economy class and not for him were the grandiose super class hotels. Whatever happens around us, we are playing the music as in the sinking ‘Titanic’ “Neva Gilunath Band Chune (tune)”!

Are we not now seeing the wisdom of NM's fiscal and development policies? None are so blind as those who refuse to see. Unfortunately, he is not among the living to say, “I told you so”, but despite his revolutionary ideas, he was a gentleman to his fingertips and it is very likely he would have done it. Indeed, a prophet is not honoured in his own country!

I. P. C. Mendis,
Moratuwa.

English is the key to a wide range of knowledge

English is a universal language. All who go to foreign climes for employment or higher studies need English. Magazines, journals and books on science research, new inventions all are found abundantly in English. But sad to say to English tuition institutions have sprung up like mushrooms all over.

Many of them have incompetent and half-baked tutors. For spoken English they teach broken English. Of course there are a few exceptionally good tutories.

It's high time the education department wake up, send their inspectors of schools and remedy this highly deplorable situation. Even the few English teachers in schools are half-baked. They should be sent for further training.

English must be made a compulsory subject along with Sinhalese. International schools too should teach the main national language on 75 per cent of the population.

Carl Nanayakkara
Kalutara.

Substantiating a statement

It is with pleasure that I refer to the letter of Mr. Ananda Malalgoda (The Island September 9, 1998) where he has so kindly requested me to provide that dates and references of the war between the Persians and the Romans. I had made a reference to this war in my article. 'The Qur'an A Lasting Miracle', and had mentioned this war as a prophecy in the Qur'an which was fulfilled against all odds, proving that the Qur'an is indeed infalliable.

This prophecy is found in the first verse of the Qur'an in the 30th chapter (Sura) titled Ar-Rum (The Romans). 'The Romans have been defeated in a land close by: But they even after this defeat of theirs will soon be victorious within a few years with God is the command in the past and in the future'.

At the time this verse was revealed to the beloved messenger Muhammad (peace be on him) it was so incredible that the unbelievers made a mockery of it. Not even the optimist among the Romans would give it any consideration. Such was the extent of their defeat at the hand of Parvez Chosroes II. All they could do was to lick their wounds.

When this verse (Aya) predicting the victory of the Romans was revealed by God Almighty, Jerusalem had already fallen. This had taken place in 614 — 615 C.E. (Christian Era). The related verse (Aya) was revealed around 616, 'shrouded in the mists and mystery of the future'.

The final phase of the war mentioned in the Qur'an took place when Emperor Heraclius conceived a brilliant plan. He realised that the Persians were weak in sea power. He then decided to attack them by sea from the rear. The Persians were taken by surprise and routed in a crippling battle at Issus, south of the Taurus mountains. They were subsequently driven out of Asia Minor. This battle took place in 622 C.E. Heraclius then carried the campaign into the heart of Persia, placing the enemy on the defensive. In December 627 (C.E), in a decisive battle on the Tigris, near the city of Mosul, the Persian army of Parvez Chosroes II was completely routed by Emperor Heraclius's Roman forces (a.k.a. the Byzantines).

The Muslims, supporting the Christians of Emperor Heraclius were overjoyed. 'On that day shall the believers rejoice' (Qur'an 30:4). And rejoice they did!

Thus the prophecy of the Qur'an was fulfilled against the run of play, so to speak, much to the dismay of the unbelievers. The fulfilment of this prophecy led many to the fold of Islam.

Details aside, one must view this in a spiritual context. Imagine that if the Christians of that time wanted to prove the Qur'an wrong, all they had to do was to stay at home instead of going to war.

This would have proven the Qur'an wrong! What must be borne in mind is that the prophecy had a time gap of about 3 to 11 years. Ample time for the Christians and the unbelievers to reflect and to chart a plan of action to prove the Qur'an wrong by simply not going to war. But this is not what happened as history clearly shows us. It is obvious that an All Knowing Divine Power was revealing the Qur'an to His Messenger Muhammad (peace be on him). The confidence of the believers of that time bears testimony to this claim.

The sources quoted are Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Muhammad Assad (Leopold Weiss). references are in their commentaries of their respective translations of the Qur'an. Reference could also be obtained in Gibbons' Rise and Decline of the Roman Empire, mainly in chapters 40-42 and 45-46. A passing reference is also made in the Encyclopaedia Britannica 15th edition of volume 5 under 'Heraclius'.

I hope this information satisfies Mr. Ananda Malalgoda's intellectual curiosity which I appreciate very much. It is curiosity that gives one an education. I also hope I have matched Mr. Malalgoda's sincerity with the answers I have provided on his request.

Hameed Abdul Karim,
Wellawatte.

Plenty of gas no cylinders

Of late, there has been a dearth of gas cylinders for cookers and housewives are badly hit.

Whether it is a cylinder for a new cooker, or one for an extra stand-by, you cannot purchase one, anywhere.

As gas is the quickest and cleanest method of cooking, there is a tremendous demand for it by housewives, hotels etc., and even by the wayside fast food outlets where items of food are made in a jiffy!

I came to know about this shortage, when one of my friends, wanted to purchase a cylinder who was driven from pillar to post in search of one, but who has not been successful as yet.

She had to register her name at the office that imports cylinders (at Duplication Road) but there are thousands of such applications that she wonders whether she will ever get a cylinder in the near future as no one seems to know when the next shipment is due!

Why is that only one sole importer is given the monopoly to do so? Why not give the other dealers a chance, so that there will be competition and maybe the cylinders may come down in price and will be freely available?

Mrs. S. Sabar,
Moratuwa.

Who are the true sadists of sexual misbehaviour

Bill Clinton has finally confessed. He has been made to confess. He was subpoened to testify by an independent counsel.

What's beyond my comprehension is, in this permissive age where promiscuity, infidelity and immoral behaviour are given a blind eye, why all this fuss? In the west, all traditions of good behaviour are broken. In places where promiscuity is rife among the marrieds, the bachelors, spinsters, teenagers and even the clergy, why all this probing? We hear of gay couples being married in churches, teachers becoming pregnant by their young charges, and nudist parades held, where families go with their young kids to gaze in wonder. Then why point the finger at one lone individual?

Who doesn't have skeletons in their cupboards? As Christ said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. There’ll be no one left. No not one. Yet, look who's talking. Whose finger is most pointed at Clinton. The accusation comes from the island across the atlantic. Pot calling the kettle black, indeed John Bull accusing Uncle Sam.

As was said in the press, Clinton is not the Pope, nor does he claim to be a paragon of virtue. He is primarily a human, and secondarily a politician. By the way it is said, that politically all are liars. Clinton has been asked to step down. After all “what has that got to do with this?” as one would say. If he can be accused of poor governance, if the security of the country is at stake, certainly he must.

The greater percentage of Americans appear to be with him. While tolerating his behaviour, they enjoy the pornography in it. His wife has stood by him and probably his daughter as well. Even the Secretary of state Madeline Albright has said that she has complete confidence in him, and adds that he is doing a terrific job.

What has the compulsive confession brought about — a fissure in the family? Imagine the embarrassment to his wife Hillary and their teenage daughter. How could Clinton look straight in his wife's face. They have made an attempt to forgive and forget. He is on the rebound and the family is holidaying, at the Oyster Pond.

However there are some who won't allow them to forget. They are not satisfied with the confession. They want more, like Oliver Twist. How have they benefited by the whole thing? They have achieved great satisfaction and are revelling and gloating over the affair. Patting themselves on the back the nifty saints.

Monica Lewinsky, on the other hand, stands to gain financially. She'll get paid for her story. Who is the scandal monger who launched the attack-Matt Drudge? How well he has coined a most appropriate name for himself. He has acquired a reputation for probing into escapades and extra-marital affairs. He has been termed a ‘nerd’, and so he is, except that he is interesting to those with a thirst for gossip.

If Clinton were to step down, who will step into his shoes? His successor, has been named. What guarantee do the Americans have that he will conduct himself as a true gentleman, morally, politically and otherwise? Do they expect a demigod? Drudge will be after him as well, gleaning rumours soon.

Who is the other star starring prominently in this fiasco? The star is Starr, Ken Starr the independent counsel. Clinton says it's high time Starr stopped his probing. He ends up saying “I misled the people, including my wife. I deeply regret that. Now this is between me, the two people I love most, my wife and my daughter and our God.”

What more is there “To err is human to forgive divine.”

Mrs. Ninette Fernando,
Colombo.

Wanted road barrier near school

For several days, I observed that some students of the Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya narrowly escape while crossing the main road in the face of the never-ending flow of traffic proceeding towards Colombo. Very recently, two small children who crossed this road in a hurry to attend the school on time, escaped unhurt by a whisker due to the presence of mind of a careful CTB bus driver.

It goes without saying that Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya is one of the biggest mixed schools which has earned its name and fame in every field of education in the country. It has over about 3000 students here, studying from Year-1 to Advanced Level.

In spite of the fact that there are two zebra crossings marked prominently in front of the college for the safety of the students, they don't seem to be a clear assurance of their safety, compared to the ever increasing number of vehicles that come and go speedily along this road during peak hours.

A knowledgeable person who noticed this vulnerable area said that it is after the occurrences of a road accident that the steps are taken to rectify that defect. For instance, he pointed out that such barriers have been erected in front of the universities of Colombo and Kelaniya after fatal accidents.

In comparison to the adult and educated students of the universities, it is much more advisable to take precautionary measures to protect the students in the primary grades.

Therefore, my suggestion is to erect a barrier near this college for the students' safety and hope that the authorities concerned will focus their attention in this connection.

I think that a barrier will not pose a difficulty to the drivers concerned, because the slowing down of the vehicles near this college during the school hours is a compulsory thing.

R. Somasiri,
Pannipitiya.

An appreciation
Ponniah Karalasingham

Ponniah Karalasingham, Attorney-at-Law and International Tax Consultant. 62 years young. He took off from our midst almost in a flash but left behind warm and lasting memories of a dear loyal friend. A rare friend who was ever willing to go long, long out of his way to share freely his intimate knowledge of the law in tax and other spheres and stretch out a helping hand to anyone in need.

A man gifted with a sense of humour to suit the occasion, a good memory bank of anecdotes to regale his audience, an infectious laughter-innumerable like the waves of the ocean he lived close to and walked beside most mornings in the company of ‘all kinds of everything’ conversationalists. All of them will miss the “I know that's” and “Tell me”s.

Karali was the proud author of many vade mecums on tax law and practice; his most recent was on the Goods & Services Tax. His efforts were very well received by the business and professional community.

In his crusade to spread the tax gospels, he held many a tax seminar — often being out of pocket because of the free tickets. Such was his love for learning. The Amabalavaner memorial lecture each year was his special event. Karali was a fervent admirer of the late S. Ambalavaner, the eminent international tax lawyer. He was associated with the Commonwealth Institute of Tax Administration; The International Fiscal Association; International Bar Association among others.

As a man who was ever ready to help his fellow men, Karali was an active Rotarian who made many trips abroad to share his experiences with fellow Rotarians. He leaves behind his grieving wife, Rajes and three sons, Indran, Financial Consultant and Company Director and Medical Doctors Ruban (Australia) and Jith (UK). We stand by your side in these sad hours of bereavement.

Fare you well, my companion of many years — you shall not wholly pass away but a great part of you will avoid the confines of your resting place as you continue to live in the hearts of the many friends you leave behind.

Xenelphon