Somebody was saying that the canals and waterways in the city would be restored both to promote tourism and also help transport goods etc. Good. Ginger likes the scheme if it could be fleshed to reality. A lot of hard work lies ahead for such a project to be completed. Some politicians may not like it as well as it runs counter to their political interests. It needs a bit of guts also to get it under way. I was watching one of B.B.Cs feature programmes the other day. It showed an executive living in the suburbs or possibly a county closer to London coming in his boat along the Thames and getting to office.

His explanation to it all was that he had put his boat and his car to the wrong uses. All this while he was trying to get to the city through the traffic snarl and going boating during the weekend when everyone was cruising down the river compelling him to dodge other boats. I don’t know how it will be getting to the city from the southern end of Colombo but coming along the old Dutch canals and the Kelani by boat could be a sound alternative to ease the bottle neck at the Kelani bridge. However boating even in the other areas would be a rather useful tourist facility. That is if it could be drilled into those who live close to their banks that they should be kept clean.

Garbage removal on rainy days
There is definitely a problem on rainy days in the metropolis and the suburbs. The choice too is a dicey one. Can one send the garbage men out in the pouring rain to get wet and expose them to some nasty health hazards. Citizen Perera on the other hand is also in rather unenviable situation on days that it rains and the garbage men fail to turn up.

Wet garbage bags tend to send out some smells that would definitely be rejected by better makers of perfume all over the world. Not only will they assail Citizen Perera as nostrils but also send out host of gases, acids and germs into the air exposing those in the vicinity to all types of disease. Have the city fathers not thought of equipping those entrusted with the task with good rain proof gear. Garbage collecting is not for those with frail constitutions.

Tatanus injection
Now it is wise to take a tetanus injection if you have gone and cut yourself with some rusty object. It will probably save you from one of the most horrible diseases one can imagine. At the same time it would be wise for you not to get too naughty after that. The latest research shows that tetanus vaccine can save you from getting the illness but expose you to an equally unpleasant danger.

Researchers have discovered that those who get tetanus vaccines are more likely to be infected by the H.I.V. virus than those who are not vaccinated. The same study also confirms the fear we already had about the virus. It is more likely to invade those whose immune systems have been fighting other infections like T.B., flu and so forth.

Decadence all-round

I have cast my vote, after due deliberation, at every election. I believe firmly that the prime task of an elected government is to exploit the resources of the country — human beings, materials, land, minerals, forests, water, energy, roads, finances etc. — to achieve maxi-mum economic growth and to provide employ-ment. Sectarian issues that are emotional and usually divisive such as language, religion, caste should be left alone or at least handled with extreme care, wisdom, and justice. They should never become the playing fields of designing and selfish politicians.

S. W. R. D. Bandara-naike may have been a great man but he divided the Sinhala people into two in order to gain power and in doing so he employed communal and religious issues that have exacerbated the division of our people who had lived together in peace and harmony for centuries. Other politicians too added fuel to the raging fire that has caused the country many thou-sands of valuable lives, both Sinhala and Tamil, destroyed valuable land and property, and eroded the wealth of the country.

What also causes me deep anguish and concern is the steady deterioration of our politicians into selfish, pleasure and money and privilege seeking, jeering, heckling, shouting, boorish thugs, some even accused of criminal offences but yet supported by their parties. Parliament has sadly deteriorated to unspeakable and totally unacceptable levels. Why do politicians have to justify their wrong actions by pointing their dirty fingers at past governments? Surely what is wrong is wrong and should be corrected. Democracy is believed to be the best political system. We do not seem to know or want to make it work, perhaps due to the sheer greed for naked and vindictive power.

It is disgusting and also a matter for concern to see the dirty and childish depths to which the state media is rapidly descending to. The latest ludicrous and shameful bit of journa-lism was the wide coverage supported by lurid pictures of semi-nude women in an attempt to throw mud at the UNP for their fund raising drive in a western country.

We all know that the key officials are political appointees of the government and write to please their political bosses and gain further favours for themselves. Should they be prepared to sell their souls to the devil for personal gain?

Anguished Patriot
Colombo 7

AL exam papers must be set by AL teachers

It was with pleasure that I read your article by Prof. R. P. Gune-wardane in The Island of 6-10-98. I feel that the structure of the examinations and especially the setters’ committees should be open to much more public debate and I am sure the professor’s article will help this more open debate.

There are a few of his points that I would like to dwell on further. The first is the purpose of the A/L tests. He suggests that the main purpose of the A/L is for selection for university and then cites statistics of pass and university entry rates. It is a sad but irrefutable fact that the main purpose of the A/L is just as he says. At least as far as the students and their parents are concerned. I fear that it is also the case with the university authorities.

With such huge interest in the system, the universities feel they own the A/L exams. This is the reason perhaps that they feel they should be so heavily represented within the system from top to bottom. The professor goes on to raise some of the main problems as he sees them. I feel that they are all relevant and important. What I do note though is that many of the problems would have been avoided if the setters had been A/L teachers. I am sure, for example, they would not be setting questions outside the syllabus.

What I do note is that the ‘ownership’ of the A/L system is seen to be almost entirely in the hands of the universities. I wonder how many of the setters of the questions are from the university and how many are from schools who are actually teaching the subjects? I suspect that the pro-portion is rather un-balanced. How many of the university setters have actually taught A/L.

The problems of setting a paper without the deep inside know-ledge of teaching the subject for a number of years is that to test the knowledge of the examinee, tricks and convoluted thinking are often resorted to. On the other hand a teacher of experience would be able to find questions that actually tests the ‘knowledge’, of the subject without having to resort to tricks.

The professor raises the question of ethics, all too important in an area where so much is at stake. The ethical question is just as relevant for a university setter as an A/L teacher. Self interest will be a problem whoever sets the questions. At some point one must put one’sfaith in the setters whoever they may be.

M. J. Batty.
Manthri Place

Some ways the govt. could help pensioners

While in active service, large numbers of public servants obtained loans from the State Mortgage & Investment Bank and other state lending institutions to build houses. But now they are categorised as Senior Citizens drawing a pension and lamenting that they are unable to pay the monthly instalment.

Those Senior Citizens are now finding it difficult to meet day to day expenses with present high cost of living. The meagre pension is hardly enough for them to travel up to the P.O or to the bank to draw the pension, pay the electricity and water bills and purchase provisions for couple of days.

I wish to make a humble appeal to the Minister of Finance to grant some sort of redress to them by reducing the loan interest of those Senior Citizens who have obtained housing loans from state institutions.

1st October, 1998 was declared "International Day for the Elderly" — it is never too late for the Government to make an announcement on the above issue giving a start to eliminate the suffering of the Senior Citizens.

I wish to suggest that govt. servants be paid the salary they drew on reaching 60 years of age until they are 65 years old, if the government cannot accommodate them in active service. During this period government could withhold the commuted gratuity until the righful pension is calculated. The annual increment too may not be granted during this period as they are not in service to earn it.

This would not be a charitable allowance but a lawful payment for the service rendered to the Government.

BP
Battaramulla.

Hello, Hello, Kamitsuma — this is a wake up call

On the orders of Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Media, Posts & Telecommunication, the Managing Director of Sri Lanka Telecom, Mr. R. D. Somasiri, directed the officers concerned to prepare structural plans for the Telecom project for the areas of Panagoda Leyland Junction, 1st Mile Post, Welipillewa and Habarakada of the Homagama exchange area. All these areas are around Godagama-Borella Road.

The then area Project Engineer, Mr. D. de S. Dayaratne, prepared the plans and measurements were taken. Thereafter on 17th March, 1997 plans were submitted to the DGM (MS) for the release of necessary cables.

Then it was stated that this project could be completed simultaneously with Attygala Road and Sirimedura Road projects. But above projects have now been completed and the Habarakada one is being completed at the moment.

The ultimate result has been that Panagoda, Leyland Junction, First Mile Post, Welipillewa areas have been overlooked once again. The reason for this is not known.

There were lots of people registered to get telephones since 1991. But we didn’t get them get.

At the time this project was approved the officials assured the people of the area that it would be completed as early as possible. But even after 11/2 years, the project has not got off the ground. The then Project Engineer informed us that if he gets the 0.9 cables he could complete it in a short period of time.

But 0.9 cables were not available at the time. It is worthwhile to know whether 0.9 cables are still not available at Telecom even under the Japanese administration. We kindly request the present Chief Executive of Telecom to look into this matter.

Why is Telecom continuing its slumber while other companies are busy capturing the market.

Wake up! Wake up! Mr. Komitsuma before it is too late.

The Japanese, as we understand, promptly act when the need arises.

We need telephones not excuses!

Residents of the Area.

Why increase salaries for top posts in NEC?

On 23rd September your newspaper carried a report that parliament has decided to raise the salaries of top posts in the National Education Commission. If, as stated by the Minister of Education, the Commission has done a lot of work in the field of education not only the top people but the others also deserve a salary increas

However I read an article in the Sunday Island of 20th September which showed that the National Education Commission is going to restructure schools which according to the writer, will only result in an enormous waste of funds. As taxpayers who have to finally foot the bill the public are entitled to know whether this would be so. Could the National Education Commission enlighten your readers?

K. U. Fernando

Dr. Senaratne’s speech

Now that the furore over the outburst by Rajitha Senaratne MP, is abating, I wish to make my own observations as a medical man.

The general public wishes to see legislators having minimal educational qualifications for a variety of reasons. One is that they believe "Vidya Dadathi Vinayan" meaning learning imparts discipline. From what we have heard, I wonder whether even higher education could impart discipline to people who probably are destined to be Indisciplined.

Medical professional is expected to be a kind, compassionate, tolerant, sympathetic and understanding individual who is prepared to face boquets and brickbats without reciprocating with brickbats. It is hardly believable that a member of the noble profession could stoop down to the level of uttering what is reported to be uttered. It is a disgrace to the profession.

We have heard of medicoes turned politicos. Dr. S. A. Wickremasinghe, Prof. M. V. P. Pieris, Dr. M. H. Saddhasena, Dr. Neville Fernando and P. M. B. Cyril are a few which come to my mind.

They argued with opposition members but no personal attacks were launched and no grudges harboured. We call them gentleman politicians. We had Dr. Ranjith Atapattu as the minister of health. What a lovable and simple person he was?

Dr. A. D. V. Premaratne,
Chilaw.

Traffic problems abound in Madiwela

We are faced with multiple problems with roads in the Madiwela area.

First is the two culverts on the Thala-watugoda road between the two components of Sri Lanka - Japan Friendship Road, the culverts are narrow and don’t permit two vehicles cross the culvert side by side. This stretch of road is fed by four streams of traffic and needless to say more, this place is a disaster area in the evenings when people are hurrying to get back home.

The average waiting time is almost 45 minutes, considering this road leads to the Jayawardenapura hospital and this being the main approach road to the hospital, and further considering most wounded soldiers are brought from the battlefront to this hospital, its shocking that the authorities are not taking action to widen the culverts.

The police traffic division has identified the problem to the narrow culverts and asked the Dept. of Highways to take necessary action. The authorities haven’t taken any action to bring about a permanent solution like a new culvert which will allow the easy flow of traffic.

Problem number two is the road widening project from the Pita-kotte junction on the Thalawatugoda road and associated with this project is the normal traffic hold ups with the heavy machinery involved in the clearing works etc, despite, the police close the upper section of the Sri Lanka - Japan Friendship Road sighting security to parliament traffic when the parliament sits, what the closure does to the traffic flow is obviously not a problem to the police because there responsibility seem only towards the politicians, why can’t the police open up the road for regular traffic and deploy the policemen (the same ones guarding the closed road) on that stretch of road at intervals, after all the road is probably less than 2 K.M.

Would some responsible person or authority care to respond to the above.

"Distressed road users from Madiwela"

National examinations

An extremely serious situation has been revealed in Prof. R. P. Gunawardene's article in the Island of Oct. 6, 1998. He concludes his article as follows:

'It would be most desirable to appoint a National Committee or Task Force consisting of experienced educationists to study all aspects of national examinations and submit a report making specific recommendations to streamline the conduct of national examinations'

The matter is so important that Prof. Gunawardene's proposals bear repetition. They are (i) Certain responsibilities in respect of the G.C.E. (A) level examination should be taken away from the Department of Examinations. An inter-university examination syndicate should be set up to handle the setting and moderation of question papers and to oversee marking in respect of the G.C.E. (A) level examination. This syndicate should appoint Sub- Committees in the form of setting panels for each subject. Members of these panels should be appointed for a maximum period of 3 years. It is advisable for the Chairmanship of each panel to go on rotation at least every 3 years.

(ii) Correction of scripts and computing of marks may continue to be carried out by the department of Examinations under the guidance of the setting panel.

(iii) Each year there should be a time-table giving the date for the submission of question papers to the D/E, the date and duration of the exam:, date of examiners' meetings to finalise the marking scheme and the date of release of the results. This time-frame should be prepared well in advance

(iv) It is a shame that it takes 6 months for the release of G.C.E (A) level results. Results should be made available in not longer than 3 months. The results of professional examinations where marking is done in (London are released to Sri Lankan students within 3 months).

(v) There are no clear and precise guidelines for the controllers, setters and marking examiners. There is an urgent need to formulate a code of ethical conduct for examiners.

(vi) It is vital to ensure secrecy and to avoid favouritism, leakage of questions and other such malpractices. Only a minimum number and a carefully selected group should be employed for national examination work.

(vii) There should be a sound basis and a proper procedure for the appointment of controlling chiefs, question setters and examiners to make sure that only competent and responsible persons are appointed to these panels.

(viii) The problems with regard to setting question papers have arisen due to the lack of coordination betweeen the four groups concerned, (a) those who are responsible for drawing up syllabuses and teacher guides (N.I.E):

(b) the question setters (mainly university staff), (c) teachers who teach subjects of this examination and (d) officers of the Department of Examination.

(ix) At present questions are set and question papers are prepared in a great hurry. This is done at the last moment. There is no proper planning quite unlike, for instance, the external examinations of the University of London.

(x) Due to , various untoward happenings the public are losing confidence in the conduct of this examination and they are challenging the validity of the results in various fora. (It will not be surprising if a student takes up a fundamental rights case in the Supreme Court).

One should be grateful to Dr. R. P. GunawardeneN for focussiug attention on these matters before it is too late. One can earnestly hope that his recommendations are taken seriously.

F. D. C. Wijesinghe

Appreciations
Mrs. Rita Goonesekera

It is about one month since my mother answered the Redeemer’s cal1. My mother was a gentle, lovable and an unassuming lady who during our young days spent a lot of her time with the three of us.

I could remember the days when my brother Suren and I went to St. Thomas College Mt. Lavinia where we had to get up early morning for studies and then go to the bus stand to catch the school bus. Even my younger sister, Sudarshini had to go through the same ordeal.

When 1 represented St. Thomas College Mt. Lavinia in the under 12,13 and 14 Cricket teams my mother was there at every match venue to encourage me.

The sacrifices that she made along with my father to bring us to what we are to day are appreciated with great respect.

My mother, after all three of us got married and settled down, took over a different role as a grandmother and looked after all her grandchildren extremely well.

I was very fortunate that she and my father lived with us right throughout until her passing away and the love and care she had for us, Lali and children are appreciated.

After all her commitments were over she got involved in the Holy Emmanuel mothers union, Sunshine Home for the Elders, Y.W.C.A. and the Past Pupils Association of the Sacred Heart Convent, Galle.

She never wanted positions but positions were thrust upon her as she was hardworking.

We were not able to fathom our mother’s serene and celestial demeanour in performing her Redeemer’s mission that she kept her tryst with Christ and the testimony that was borne by the sea of heads at her final religious obsequies. She had been visiting the sick and praying for them and bringing people with various problems to Church for Prayers.

My mother was-extremely happy when I became a Member of the Provincial Council but was very concerned about my safety.

There were days that she had walked in to my political office in Moratuwa and left the Holy Bible on my table with a small note asking me to read the verses which she had marked, before I left home for work.

Many of those verses in the chapters were asking God’s protection

and as to how humble you should be when you climb the ladder of success.

Ammi was fortunate that she had two daughters-in-law in Lali and Charmaine and son-in-law in Niman who considered Ammi as their own mother. Ammi too considered them as her own children.

She kept on praying for Suren my brother for many years and I am glad that ammi was able to see Suren not only going back to Church but also being a Warden of the Anglican Church in Negombo. She was extremely happy about it and gave praise to Gad for it. That, you are not there, to entertain us, proffer words of advice, inquire after our wellbeing and generally and graciously participate in social and religious functions is: now a reality though it is very hard to accept.

Your living credo which you practised to perfection was your readiness to listen than to interpret, to give than to receive, to entertain than to be entertained, to share than to acquire, to feed than to be fed and to keep a very low profile in matters controversial. These qualities endeared you to that large number of friends and relatives who received you as a very loyal, forgiving and acceptable personality. This they manifested very openly and without any reservation at your last obsequies when many a mourner shed an involuntary tear to say their final " goodbye" which was their token acknowledgement of the good life you spent among them.

Yes, Ammi, you were the living embodiment of a calm and quiet and the very antithesis for " disquiet and crisis," that it would do well for all of us to emulate in pursuing that virtue which you followed with such religious fervour, " do unto others what you wish others to do unto you."

Angels bear thee to the last
Where the towers of Zion rise
Safely lead thee by the hand
to the fields of Paradise

Ravinath Goonesekera

Joseph A. Gajanayake

.Joseph A. Gajanayake, Pioneer Teacher Unionist and General Secretary All Ceylon Union of Teachers passed away on September 11, 1998. He was a distinguished old boy and a past teacher of St. Benedict’s College. He taught at St. Benedict’s College, Colombo for over 28 years and at Zahira College, Colombo for eight years. He was associated in Lay Apostolate work in the Catholic Church and was a veteran social worker. He has been a long standing member and the general secretary of the All Ceylon Union of Teachers (ACUT) from 1962 until his death.

For more than 60 years he has worked very actively in obtaining a number of rights for teachers and after the establishment of the non-fee levying private schools in 1960, he was more involved in working for the private schools and the rights of the private school teachers. An an educationist and a trade union leader, he was mainly responsible in getting a government grant for private schools and the pension scheme for the private school teachers in 1980.

Since 1995 he was heavily involved as the Co-ordinator of the EI/NL (Education International/ Norwegian Teachers Union) Project in Training Leaders for Teacher Unions. This joint project of the four Teacher Unions affiliated to E.I. completed three years and will continue for another five years.

After the establishment of the Teacher Service, he spearheaded the struggle through the A.C.U.T. to get a parallel teacher service for the private schools teachers. Getting the revised Teacher Cadre for Private Schools and the rights of the Private Schools Teachers to retire on Circular 44/90 were some of the final items he handled.

He attended a numberof International Conferences relating to Teacher Organisations and was instrumentive in joining hands with the other Teacher Organisations in the World. Later in 1993 when WCOTP amalgamated with IFFTU (International Federation of Free Teacher Unions) to form Education International, he represented ACUT at this every important Congress.

Mr. Gajanayake took a leading role in getting international recognition for Sri Lanka Teacher Unions. He was solely responsible in getting the assistance of the Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF) and a block of land from the Archbishop of Colombo to build the ACUT Secretariat at Centre Road, Mattakkuliya. The Secretariat named "Canada House" will remain a fitting Memorial for Mr. Joseph A Gajanayake.

Mr. Gajanayake has been working at the Biblical Cathecetical and Education Centre, Borella as the co-ordinator of the Education Section under His Lordship Bishop Oswald Gomis. He was respected by all including the Church hierarchy, the ministry officials and the International Trade Unionists for his knowledge on education, acts of Parliament, ministry circulars and his experience in trade union activities.

Thousands of teachers in Sri Lanka who have benefitted by his hard work as a Trade Union Leader are grateful to him for the contribution he has made for the improvement of education in general and the upliftment of the teaching profession.

Mr. Gajanayake was hail and hearty and worked energetically until he passed away at the age of 83 years. We as teachers should take an example from the 60 years service of Mr. Joseph Gajanayake to work for the rights and responsibilities of fellow teachers.

His wife Brenda passed away in 1994 and his only sister Matilda passed away five days before his death.

May his soul Rest in Peace.

Tilak de Silva,
Jt. Asst. General Secretary A.C.U.T.

Remembering Valerie Wijeyaratne

For as long as I can remember, she was my friend and a greatly cherished one... I grieve her passing. I admired and hero-worshipped her as a child, and in later years she became a much loved and greatly trusted friend. Her family and mine go back a long way... and she and I continued that tradition.

She touched my life in very significant ways for which I will always remember her with grateful affection... For many years we used to meet almost daily — then things beyond our control put us out of reach of each other. It was difficult to find the right time and the right place. The hustle and bustle of daily life caught up with us... I missed her so much, those chats and sharing of confidences — and as I write, a myriad fragrant memories float poignantly into my mind flooding it — as the tears flood my eyes to know that she is gone.

She was self effacing to a fault. She never thought of herself as important. Her giving nature and concern for others, the unobtrusive manner in which she did things for those she knew and did not really know — her loyalty, steadfastness and decency can only be described in these words "Valerie was a lady". She could fit in with anyone and put them at ease. In her work place, people came in asking specially for her. She was the person they all wanted, the person who could be entrusted with their ‘special’ requests. The person who would follow up and deliver the goods! Even though with passing years, she grew tired more easily, and her frail frame appeared not to be able to take it, her strength of purpose kept her going.

Her compassionate heart took in everyone — even those chance encounters in a bus or a shop — were the recipients of her assistance, however small.

I wonder if you ever knew how much you were loved Val? ... and just how many people remember you with gratitude and affection? Rest in peace my friend — you will always be in our prayers...

... And even though our choices are less than He would ask,

He knows when human courage is unequal to the task.

We cannot judge what happens, though tears and questions start,,

We only see what’s visible — God sees into the heart.

And though there may be many things that we cannot explain,

We can be sure it breaks His heart to see His children’s pain.

In loving arms, He bears us to a quiet place apart

Where He mends the wounded spirit and heals the broken heart...

A Friend

Indika Senaratne

It is with a sense of grief the news reached friends and dear ones in the Police Department on September 13, ’98 of the untimely death of Indika Senaratne of De Silva Place, Ratmalana.

Born of a respectable family she joined the Police Department and served it loyally and with dedication. She left an indelible mark among her associates as a lovable and compassionate young girl who was ever willing to help her brother officers. A notable feature in her was her keenness and enthusiasm in the discharge of her duties. Her virtuous character is extolled by those who came in contact with her. Her demise at a young age of 28 years leaves a void not only in her family but even among the officers in the Police Department.

It is most unfortunate that the doctors could not diagnose her sickness. She took treatment from many doctors, both Western and Ayurveda, for about five months but day by day her sickness turned for the worse. At the last stages she was warded at Sri Jayewardenepura hospital where she passed away. Doctors at Sri Jayewardenepura hospital that they battled vigorously to save her life but their efforts were not rewarded.

Her funeral took place on Sep. 17, ’98 with Police honours at the Galkissa Cemetery. Although she is no more with us now, her revered memory keeps lingering in our minds at every moment of the day.

Eternal rest grant unto her O’Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul rest in peace.

Austin de Silva

S. H. Abdul Cader

He is no more, his death on 9.9.1998 was a rude shock to us. His sudden death and departure has left a void in many a heart. He was a devoted father, a loving husband and above all, a true and sincere friend.

‘Sonna’ he was to all his friends. A well known Attorney-at-Law in the Kurunegala Bar descending from a prestigious and reputed Muslim family of Kurunegala.

He lived an exemplary and purposeful life, his humble personality, unassuming character, soft spoken and unselfish attitude was his philosophy of life.

A true and a devoted Muslim, he pursued all the concepts of Islam with dedication.

Those who were subjected to hardship and suffering touched his heart and he unhesitatingly extended to them all possible assistance.

After his retirement as an eminent lawyer, he with his family migrated to Canada and lived with his sister Mrs. Ameera Samad but his well earned retirement was shortlived due to his sudden illness, nevertheless, brought him back to his motherland. I believe this is a fitting occasion to pay my tribute, at least in a small way to a person who was always cheerful and amiable with pleasing manners.

‘Sonna’ is survived by his loving wife Jezima, daughter Rizana and son Malik.

‘We loved him in life, let us not forget him in death’. May his soul rest in peace.

B. D. Ahamat,
Wattala.