Morning Spice by Ginger
Shocking news of pilfering of precious artefacts

The latest revelation on the pilfering of precious artefacts from temples as reported in another weekend news paper makes ones hair stand on end. It says that body guards of politicians and young monks are suspected to being involved in these robberies and some have already been taken to custody. We will not go into the details of this somewhat ugly chapter of our history but this we must say Citizen Perera must be concerned over this fall in standards in general. There has a gathering amorality in all levels of local society in recent times that could end in a reign of chaos unless checked.

Money worship that was created with the market economy has pushed aside the values that held our society together and our respect for the more decent things in life. It has spread to the hinterland as well. The villager was perhaps the most hospitable of poor citizens. If you went to a village as a stranger some villager would invite you to share his meal and look after you as he would his very own. Today the chances are that you would be robbed. Man hardens as so many demands are made of him. Rural life is no longer as isolated as it was and so the cash god operates there as well. Cash and crime go together most of the time and the power that be must formulate some strategy that keep the two apart. Let the obvious example be set and there may be some turn around at least.

Cancer patients
Cancer is not quite the dreaded disease it was some time ago. Surgery has come along way from a couple of decades ago and chemotherapy also plays quite a role in the treatment of cancer patients. Now women who have breast cancer could benefit considerably by the timing of chemo therapy.

A recent study has shown that per operative therapy shrank tumors without putting the patients life at risk. They discovered that at the end of the study that more patients needed only lumpectomies and not mastectomies. It also enabled doctors to find out low effective the drugs they were using were.

Air rage
You deny Ginger his cigarette. When the nicotine call comes and he goes into a boiling rage. He feels from smoking while on the plane. Incidents of air rage as they call it have risen by as much as 400% in the last three years each airline has reacted differently to such situations and found its own answer to the problem.

Cathay Pacific has barred Rock Star Liam Gallagher from travelling on its planes for the rest of his life. Japanese Airlines get tough on such passengers and tie them up — A really good form of summary justice now what causes this kind of conduct? The reasons they have attributed to it are largely the result of frayed nerves due to the no smoking policy and too much boozing way up in the sky.

Some thoughts on the JVP problem

On a certain Sunday morning, in mid July last in the course of a train journey back home after a visit to a Southern Port city passing Ambalangoda on a road-side playground I happened to notice a sizeable crowd comprising mostly of young men with a sprinkling of young women too, attentively attending a sort of political meeting evidently a JVP rally by the lack of its red banners surroundings besides the presence of some red-shirted youngsters, since I was intently peering out at the passing scene.

One of the fellow passengers, a middle aged dignified looking person of a calm and collected demeanour, remarked that similar JVP meetings are a common sight nowadays — they are being held at regular intervals at most coastal town and village areas. He said these young people apparently are in the process of mustering and galvanising themselves once again with a view to entering the political main stream or for another disruption of the existing order of things in the event of their failure to gain any political ascending.

In the course of a general discussion along with the other two passengers also of a fairly elderly bearing—that worthy who initiated the discussion posed a relevant question ‘’whose problem is the JVP problem?’’ analysing the problem in a forthright explicit manner he had presented all aspects of the issue a resume of which is quoted below:

No single political party or its leader could absolve itself himself or herself from some measure of responsibility for the present impasse. Their acts of commission and or omission—wittingly or unwittingly may have contributed to the germination growth and expansion of the so-called JVP cult.

Those who were in power or are in power ensconced in their ivory towers—would never have thought that a handful of disgruntle led youth could mobilise themselves to perpetrate such dastardly acts of violence and destruction.

By now we are all aware of some of the causes that led to this debacle—Viz:

(1). Disillusionment and frustration of the youth who were promised heaven and stars at electioneering time and later left in the lurch—in mid stream without anything tangible to hold on to.

(2). Extremely partisan and callous treatment meted out in the selections for employment overlooking qualifications and suitability.

(3). Glaring social inequities and ostentatiously vulger display of opulence and arrogance by some sections of the ‘’nouveau riche’’ who had amassed their wealth by deviously crooked and questionable means.

(4). Political patronage and accommodation extended to such exploiters and sharks.

(5). Last but not least—holding on to power over and above the mandate given by the people and thereby disenfranchising the youth who may be yearning for a change-of the establishment.

If the powers that be could resolve and consider these acts of commission and omission dispassionately in the correct perspective and then make an earnest attempt to win over the misguided youth by fair means the possibility will be there to restore peace and prosperity to our mother—land in the near future.

Needless to say that I did agree with the above view points so ably and coherently expounded by my fellow—traveller on the memorable train journey.

R. M. A. B. Dassanayake
Matale

Buddhist Monk Bashing — A reply

I sincerely thank the writer ‘’Citizen D’’ for his letter of 18th, Sept. and I am happy that all my letters on the miscreant Buddhist monks (men in Yellow Robes) have been read and considered as ‘Bashing’. I therefore consider it my duty to comment on his accusations.

If Citizen D (D) has read reports appearing in the daily papers of rape, robberies, forgeries, name any crime, committed by Buddhist monks, I am sure he would realise that the time has come to expose and criticise those miscreants in yellow robes who bring discredit and disgrace to Buddhism and the Buddhist Clergy as a whole. It is my opinion that as long as we Buddhist laymen take the grandmother or Upasaka Ammas view that it is a sin to criticise or speak disparagingly of Buddhist monks, even though they do the wrong, the image of Buddhism and the Buddhist Clergy will fall in the eyes of the present and the future generations to come.

CD says ‘’... it were the Buddhist Clergy who protected the religion and kept it alive for over 2500 years. This may have been true about before we gained independence but today, this slogan is repeated to cover their misdeeds of shame. Along with this slogan is another that the Buddhist monks chant, saying the monks of old advised (Anusasana) the ancient kings as how they should rule the country.

This also may be true; but could we say this today of our Buddhist clergy. I have said in some of my letters appearing in the Island on the ongoing ethnic problem, where I placed the blame on our Buddhist clergy. To put it in a nut-shell Had the wise monks (they call themselves so) prevailed upon the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) D. S. Senanayaka, to nominate S. W. R. D. Bandaranayaka to be his successor and not his son Dudley, today we would not have to face this blood bath going on, killing innocent youth of this country. Instead, what did these wise Buddhist monks do? They rallied round SWRD and beat the communal and religious cry, forgetting that this is a multinational, multiracial and multi-religious country. Now the Sinhalese stand politically devided (UNP—SLFP) and the threat to division of the country.

That’s the wisdom of the Buddhist Clergy. It should be clearly understood and realised that it was not only the Buddhist clergy who protected Buddhism but we laymen, specially the Upasaka Ammas who played a great part, in the face of questionable behaviour of out Buddhist monks at different times. Should we be complacent and allow the present trend to continue? In the times of Gauthama Buddha, he disciplined the monks, but today who are there to do so? Are the Maha Nayakas taking suitable action? The Dhammapada aptly describes the present day Buddhist monk in Dhammaatha Vagga which says—’’No Mundakena samano, abbe to alikam bhanam, Icchalobh asanapanno, Samano kin bhavissati’’ which means —Not a shaven head does an undisciplined man, who utters lies, become a monk. How will one who is full of desires and greed be a monk—There are several such admonishes in the Dhammapada appearing in Yomakka Vagga, Niraya Vaggi.

If CD has read my letters to the press (The Island) and the Editorials, specially the editorial in the Island of 20th March. 1998 ‘’Reassessment of the sanga’’ which speaks of the deterioration of the clergy and concludes by saying’ these are some aspects of the Sasana that, we say with due respect, the Maha Sanga should give serious thought to. And a reassessment of the Sanga is what is called for.’’

CD says “one should not cry ‘’Wolf’’ more than once’’. This nursery story is good for toddlers. But cry ‘’Wolf’’ when the ;“wolf’’ is really at your door-step and if no action is taken immediately, I leave the readers and CD to imagine.

He accuses me saying ‘’according to him (meaning me) the Buddhist monks (men in yellow robes) are responsible’’ refering to my letter of 5.8.98 under the caption ‘’Treasure hunters and the Buddhist Clergy’’. I would invite CD to re-read my letter understandingly and intelligently, which blames others inclusive of Buddhist monks and calling upon the Mahanayakas to take an active role to preserve and safeguard these treasures to save Buddhist, Sinhala race and most of all their self interests.

Next he makes a baseless statement that I am supporting or a supporter of the ‘’Package’’. This is far from the truth and my views are completely different with no politics or religions attached. If only he had read my letter which appeared in the Island of 20.5.97 under the caption ‘’Call me ‘Machan’’, where I spoke of the school days where we studied, played, ate from the same plate, slept on the same bed and did various mischievous things better not said. There was no barrier, Tamil, Sinhala, Muslim, Burgher or religion. We called one another in that endearing term ‘’Machan’’. Until and unless that atmosphere is brought back, all our leaders be they Buddhist monks, Political Leaders may cry till the cows come home and the result will be that the ‘’Package’ will find a safe place in the Archives as a document which brought no results, except prolonging the agony.

He also cannot accuse me of trying to destroy Buddhism under the guise of trying to save Buddhism by criticising the Clergy. It is not only self who has spoken on this matter but several others including the media. It is a pleasant coincidence that along-side CD letter is one of my letters under the caption ‘’Miracles—The Shadow of Doubt’’ that shows that I am not criticising Buddhism for another religion to gain grounds. Ref. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya at the last Poya Day sermon made a very startling statement which is factual.

The learned priest said that there is a dearth of Buddhist monks in the villages where they are really needed but the cities and towns are flooded with them due to economic reasons, which indirectly means luxurious or comfortable living. Is this also not a criticism on the Bhikkus who have left the village sisters and brothers to find their own way in following the religion. Is this not a chance for other religious bodies to, pounce on the innocent and ignorant villager. By offering material benefits and lure them to embrace their faith. Is this how the Priesthood saved and nurtured Buddhism for the last 2500 years or so.

Finally let us not be hypocrites and live in the past and do nothing to save Buddhism. Should we allow monks to run amock without showing our grave concern. At least I do not want to be a party to it.

‘’Ayasa va malam samutthitam tadutthaya tam’ eva khaddati... (Mala Vagga—Dhammapada)

As rust sprung from iron eat itself away when arisen, even his own deeds lead the transgressor to a state of woe).

G. A. D. Sirimal
Boralesgamuwa

‘Booming bastardisation?’

This is with reference to recent comments in some Sri Lankan newspapers drawing attention to the bastardisation of the Sinhala language’ through the wide usage of English words when Sinhala terms would suffice.

It is indeed a pity that these vulgar speech habits where English words are used in the place of suitable Sinhala terms should be allowed to continue unchecked.

In India, although English is widely used for official and business purposes, one hardly hears English terms especially those conveying intimate associations such as boyfriend, girlfriend, husband and wife being mixed up in conversation.

I have never heard a Hindi/Urdu speaker refer to his wife as meri wife (my wife), the proper usage being meri bivi. Nor have I heard a Hindi/Urdu speaker refer to ‘this girl’ as ye girl in preference to the proper ye ladki.

One wonders why Sinhalese folk resort to these unnecessary English words, especially as their language is a rich and pleasant one having suitable terms. For example, the pleasant sounding lamissi for ‘girl’, pemvathiya for ‘girlfriend’ and nona for wife’.

An Indian friend of mine once told me ‘In Sinhala log ki kuch zaban nahi hai. Islie hai, vo hamesha apne bolne me angrezi alfaz ka istemal jarie hai’ (These Sinhalese people do not have a language. That is why they always use English words in speaking). There is of course nothing wrong in employing English words denoting modern day electronic appliances etc. where the equivalent Sinhala terms are cumbersome or have not gained colloquial usage, being confined to the literary language. But employing English words unnecessarily to replace established Sinhala terms amounts to linguistic treachery to say the least.

I know of so many cultured, middle-class, Sinhala-speaking ladies and gentlemen who eschew these unnecessary English words. In fact one such friend informs me that speech habits like ‘mage wife’, ‘ara’ girl etc originated in uncultured and illiterate circles, and I have to agree with him. It is only a people with a depraved mentality and a pronounced inferiority complex who can resort to such servile speech habits. I am certain that in a few years hence, the native Sinhala terms will be so much relegated to the backwoods that a new set of school textbooks employing the English equivalents for these terms would have to be distributed to schoolchildren.

Although some may scoff at such an eventuality, let it be said that this frightening scenario is in the process of becoming reality. The sooner this is realised the better.

One means by which we can prevent the degradation of the Sinhala language is imposing guidelines to prevent such English words creeping into media dialogues such as that occurs in radio, television and cinema. Such seemingly stringent laws are in application in liberal Western countries like France and one wonders why similar steps cannot be taken to save Sinhala from its current predicament. Besides this, linguistic and literary bodies engaged in promoting proper Sinhala usage could also be enlisted to play a more active role by campaigning against this bastardisation of the language’ and creating public awareness on its implications in the years to come.

I earnestly appeal to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to take the necessary measures to curb this canker which threatens to destroy the very fabric of Sinhalese culture—its language.

Mohibbul Hasan
Nuwara Eliya.

Cross-check!

I read a letter as unscrupulous travel agents recently.

In this instance I wish to state and inform the public that when you purchase air tickets please do so with International Association of Travel Agents accredited agents who are only 35 in number in Sri Lanka.

I am sure these 35 have qualified staff and have a licence from the world respected IATA. Please look for the IATA logo before purchasing your air tickets.

Pro Bono
Publico
Colombo

Refund of W & OP deductions of pensioners

Of the large number of letters spot lighting the grievances of the hapless and helpless pensioners, which you so graciously publish in the ‘’Opinion Page’’ of The Island, the letter of S. Perera of Dehiwela, published in your paper recently, requires careful consideration by the present government.

In utter desperation and frustration this 80 year old widower with no dependent has appealed for a refund of his W and OP contributions made by him during his entire period of service. Since he is a very old man, he has appealed to the younger pensioners to go before a court of law and obtain redress. All governments which came into power took cover under an old obselets colonial rule and refused to refund these moneys which rightly belonged to this category of public servants.

The PA government before coming to power realised the voting strength of the pensioners who numbered over 300,000 leaving aside their dependents. In order to lure these voters they promised them relief. In the Election Manifesto of 1994, eight promises were made to the pensioners, in a special section under the caption ‘’Pensioners’’. I reproduce below the No. 6 promise.

“In case where there is no beneficiary to receive W and OP benefits, the money deducted from salaries and accumulated interest will be given to the pensioner”.

Even at this late stage I appeal to the President to fulfil this promise. Pensioners who fall into this category are few in number and the money required will be a small sum.

The recent utterances of the President in public referring to the pensioners as those wasting their time eating drinking and idling have caused considerable anguish and pain of mind to them and the general public. She should not kick the ladder which brought her to power.

I hope a farsighted M.P. or a Minister who knows the pulse of the people enlighten the President on this subject. The old feeble and sick pensioners do not have the strike weapon but they do have the vote weapon.

Daya Mullegama

Shadow of doubt

I am interested in the letter submitted by Mr. Sirimal in The Island newspaper dated 18/09/98 on the above subject. I shall be obliged if reasonable space is given to my letter on the above matter too. I am a Roman Catholic parishioner of Moratuwa.

If Mr. Sirimal has read widely he will agree that the supernatural would attempt to communicate with mankind from times immemorial. The Holy Bible is full of such incidents of apparitions, voices and visions to human beings.

Mr. Sirimal is also welcome to the shrine without any change to see the visions. I have seen the vision with its face shape changing — not stationary.

We have heard about the apparitions in France and Bosnia.

Prishanthi Cooray,
Moratuwa

Legalising homosexuality will be our ruin

Reference Mr. Gutty Felsinger’s letter of the 15th inst., (Island), I too assert that legalising homosexuality would ruin the morality of the future generations of youth as well as the very sacred and respectable name of Sri Lanka, famed as the ‘Dhamma Dheepa.’

We should not follow other countries that have legalized homosexuality. It is a dirty and unnatural behaviour trait which should be despised and discouraged.

Why are the prelates of different religions silent? I hope now at least they will preach against this impending calamity and corruption of youth. Our country is being externally, should we tolerate the ruination of our good morality too?

“Morality”
Wattala

Stinking Mabole

In these times we Sri Lankans boast much about the excellent human rights records we are having and the international recognition we have had as a result. In fact it is a reason for us to be proud of. But does it happen all the time.

We residents of Mabole in Wattala are forced to live in an environment which stinks day and night due to garbage being dumped in the vicinity in order to fill a large marsh to make two playgrounds for the people and the politicians to achieve their needs. This filling has been going on for the last three months and we don’t see any end to the exercise. We get the nauseating smell in various degrees and different odour depending on where most of the garbage has come from. If the garbage trucks have done its hotel rounds we get more of the spoilt prawn smell and so on.

Though numerous complaints were made to the authorities, upto now no action has been taken to stop the garbage dumping and use some other method to fill the land or to cover the garbage with soil to prevent the foul smell.

What we ask is, isn’t inhaling fresh, odour free air a basic human right, if so why is it denied to us or is it too trivial, a human right for anybody to care about.

L. S. Jayewardene,
Mabole

Who is a good family doctor?

It is always best to stick to one doctor to whom the entire responsibility of the health care in the family could be entrusted. In choosing such a family doctor one should be extremely careful and act with wisdom and foresight.

Every patient has a right to know the particulars of his chosen doctor, and what credentials he possesses. There are thousands of so called doctors who are none but imposters (quacks).

One has to guard against such human vultures. They practice medicine under impressive and fancy nameboards with an eye-catching red cross. Their whole intention is to fleece the gullible and make easy money. Some are glib communicators who could deceive even the educated. Then, one could reasonably pose the question — Who is a genuine doctor and how best to choose him?

Qualified
He should be qualified to practice medicine legally. There are three medical councils in Sri Lanka viz. Sri Lanka Medical Council, Ayurvedic Medical Council and the Homeopathic Medical Council. If a practitioner is not registered in any council, then he has no legal right to practice the art. Once registered the doctor is assigned a number which should be displayed on his nameboard and also all the other documents on the inside walls.

Quacks
If one cannot claim to have such a number then he is a quack and should be shunned.

A medical student during his study days is primarily tuned to pass out as a doctor. He has good book knowledge but limited practical knowledge. During the in-service training (intern) he learns the work under supervision. They also get experience in working in small institutions after their internship. Unfortunately, in Sri Lanka the intern gets the opportunity to gain knowledge as an intern only in two of the four major disciplines — a very sorry state of affairs!

Experience
Experience is the most important aspect of the family doctor’s qualities. Exposure to patients and attending on them gives the much-needed experience. The experience gained during training under supervision is vastly different from the experience gained by working on one’s own.

The family doctor should be available for health care on a long-term basis. One who is transferable is definitely not a family doctor. He must be a full-time practitioner available for his regular patients at all times. He should make alternative but suitable arrangements to cover up his absence and never let his patients on the lurch.

Cool - headed
The family doctor should be calm and collected without being ruffled even in the midst of turmoil. He should possess a sympathetic and understanding disposition.

He should have time to listen to his cares and be shrewd enough to guide his patient without giving the impression of hurrying up.

One who is moody and hot-tempered should never take up to family practice, for that matter, any type of medical care.

With all the knowledge and experience if one has no confidence in himself then he is not a good family doctor. He should not only be confident but also should appear so to his clients. He should always be ready to act as confidante to his patients.

He should never discuss the affairs of his clients with fellow doctors unless for the singular purpose of assisting the patient medically. He should be mature enough to act as an advisor as well as a friend to the family.

Faith
The family members should have great faith so as to come to their doctor to discuss even their personal problems. He should never hesitate to come to their rescue in their hour of need.

The ideal family doctor should not only know the particular patient but also should know all about the family. He should know the social, educational and economic background of the whole family. He should be able to adjust himself to the demands of the family.

Link
A family doctor should not only be a good healer but also should be an integral link in the community. If he is successful, the community would feel lost without him. He should be involved in all the religious, cultural, educational and social activities in the community whenever he is called upon to do so. He should remember that he makes a living from the community and his bounden duty is to serve that community when and if opportunity arises.

When in doubt...
He would always refer a patient to a consultant when necessary with all information about the patient which is good ethics. One who has a good family doctor should always consult him before consulting another doctor.

Today it has become a fashion to consult the ultra-specialists even for minor complaints. He has become a prestige issue. One who has worked in the sun, getting a headache rushes to consult the neurologist.

One with an upset stomach after a heavy meal, rushes to the gastro enterologist. It is stupid, time-wasting and expensive in addition to taking so much of valuable time of a consultant. In other words he is another close member of your extended family.

Dr. A.D. V. Premaratne
Chilaw