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Morning Spice by Ginger
Catalogue for X'mas shopping saves timeIt had been Ginger's advice to who ever would take it up that a top class catalogue put out during Christmas and the New Year would be well worth ones while. Besides it would be quite a boon for the shopper and I am certain the shops would not have regretted it either. As it is there is hardly any time to bring out such a catalogue unless it is with rather a simple layout and format. Let's hope someone thinks of one next year. London and the big cities in the U.S.A. have one for Christmas and another serving the full year through.
The advantage is that one would be saving a lot of shopping time. No doubt there would be those who say that half the fun, during the festive season is in the shopping but that was in the old days when the shops were mainly concentrated in a few shopping areas. It is a different story today with every zone and suburb having its own shopping and being self-contained in many respects. The number of alternate products have also increased considerably necessitating some kind of guidance. Those having X' mas sales could have a little blank space reserved till the very end to mention the prices.
Breast feeding
Breast feeding is no longer contumely for the rich and the fashionable. Even working mothers in the lower rungs of the social ladder preferred formula milk for convenience though no one could hardly blame them. Their routine was so hectic that it was rather difficult to keep to feeding schedules.Now the latest medical research on the subject underscores the recent belief that no matter what the inconvenience is, it is always worth breast feeding baby. Babies who are breast fed are 50 percent less likely to get bouts of diarrhoea and even ear infections.
Lost prestige of Lankan cricketers
It is a bit difficult to understand the thinking within the Sri Lanka camp in Sharjah. This was after they messed up in style in the Wills mini series and then went on to salvage some of their lost prestige in Sharjah. And how they got about it. First they send Avishka Gunawardena to open with Jayasuriya. A senseless decision if ever there was one. Why send two left handers and why make a confirmed pinch hitter of Aviska when he is potentially a world class bat for the simple reason that he has exceptional power.The right hand left hand combination of Kalu and Jayasuriya was ideal. Why upset it because it did not come of a couple of times. Avishka would have been ideal two or three down material. Of course if Kalu decides to gift his wicket as he did against Zimbabwe no adjustment is going to help much. Another unpleasant reality must be faced about Dharmasena with so many class spinners around these days he is no longer a threat to anyone!
Gross violation of Sinhala human rights and redress
In his letter of 2/11/98 'Citizen-D, Kandy' (is there an un-intended alliteration or rhyme here) evidences the same 'tit for tat' attitude that underlies the proposals of the Sinhala Commission. His (and their) realization of the 'grievances of the Kandyan Sinhala peasantry' seems to be an after-thought to the P.A. Government's 'Package' purporting to assuage 'Tamil grievances'. One senses an element of politics lurking behind their belated awakening. What were he (and they) doing about it all this time?
Be that as it may, it stands to reason and beyond all doubt that the 'expropriated Sinhala ancestral lands' must be returned forthwith to their rightful owners. There should be no difficulty in searching the titles to these lands and checking the registers to find out the 'ancestral' owners of these lands and returning their inheritance to their descendants. To this end the A.G's department must divert all its resources and energies, as a matter of the highest priority.
There is absolutely no need for compensating the present owners, whether individual or corporate, as they have gorged themselves sufficiently since 1840 - 158 years, no less, on the proceeds of the export economy based on these lands, which they have grabbed. So there need be no burden placed on the public exchequer, and G.L.P's Budget will be spared. The 'alien', 'temporary', 'indentured' 'migrant', 'Indian' (we seem to be running out of expletives here) labourers, who have been 'planted' on these plantations (no pun intended) must be 'repatriated', forthwith. Whatever the 'hue and cry' that may ensue, Sri Lankan must stand firm, and show India where she gets off. Surely, if our cricket team can do it?
Once the rightful heirs have been vested with their 'ancestral lands', should they show no enthusiasm or interest in growing tea, rubber and coconut, all the Research Institutions in the agricultural sector must be pressed into finding viable alternatives. The J.V.P's one-time solution of potato growing may be tested. The Trade Ministry and its statutory bodies, Dept. of Commerce, E.D.B. etc., must address themselves to the task of marketing the alternate crops.
Thereby, with one stroke of the pen and, we trust, a firm trust, a thump of the table by our Foreign Minister at any possible confrontation with Indian authorities, the 'gross violation of human rights of the Kandyan Sinhala people' will be rectified. The 'separate enclaves in the thottams' and other sly stratagems of the upcountry Peoples Front, will be nullified.
In such a context it will least interest anyone as to the stage of 'development' (or over-development) of the erstwhile 'Indian Tamil Community', or the use of this 'blue-eyed, block vote' by the government, or the 'warped perspectives' of 'Tamil racists', or the 'antics' of the 'Government', 'minority leaders', 'T.Us' and 'foreign funded N.G.Os' (in some esoteric way different from the Buddhist Theosophical Society, ACBC, etc., which have always received such funds from sources as far as the U.S.A and Japan).
The Sinhalese, bless them, need not fight for survival, betrayed by 'traitorous politicians' and bluffed by 'Generals'. My only doubt is what the present Sinhala owners of these lands, most of them from the South, will do? Will they take it lying down in the customary manner of a worm?
E. A. V. Naganathan
Reading Dr. Sarath Amunugama's piece on JR's achievements, I was once more struck by what I have increasingly come to see as a 20th Century variety of trahison des clercs : the ease with which intellectuals, people with good minds, are able, contrary to all objective evidence, to believe what is the contrary of the truth. Dr. Amunugama claims JR evolved 'the most comprehensive settlement for our intractable ethnic problem' and 'laid the foundation for a new Sri Lanka'.
The truth is that 'our intractable ethnic problem' was created by JR, almost single-handed. He 'laid the foundation' for our present gun culture and our moral decay.
In 1977 JR won a 5/6 majority in the legislature in a clean, fair and free general election, the last we were to have for a very long time to come.
What followed was that JR welshed on every single one of his campaign promises, abused his parliamentary majority to give himself authoritarian powers and total immunity from suit, proceeded to abuse that immunity by breaking the law several times (including insulting serving Supreme Court judges, promoting police law-breakers who had been found guilty by the Supreme Court, inviting his party supporters to use 'violence if necessary' to ensure a victory at the 1988 presidential elections. He sacked twelve Supreme Court judges replacing them with his nominees, deprived his most charismatic rival of her civic rights for seven years, took over her party headquarters using emergency powers, extended the life of parliament by six years using a rowdy referendum in which impersonation and violence with gunplay were openly resorted to, never held a parliamentary general election in the eleven years he was in power, sacked fortythousand public servants for striking over a wage demand necessitated by his inflationary economic policies and crushed press freedom.
Piyal Gamage
Recently, a highly respected society photographer told me that, in a wedding he 'covered', young groom died tragically a day after the reception.
No, it was not a heart attack nor an accident. It was as a result of the so-called 'ragging' he received at the reception by his 'friends'. Apparently some sort of powder thrown at the unfortunate young man had affected him fatally. Sadly, my photographer friend informs me, this is not an isolated incident, though all of them - fortunately - have not ended with fatal consequences.
Another incident was how a groom was thrown into the pond located at the front of a famous hotel, and the unfortunate man emerged with gashes on his legs suffered from the submerged iron spike-like protruberances that function as fountains.
Arun Dias Bandaranaike, in his most interesting TV programme, 'Kadamalla' also commented most adversely on this new phenomenon which is plaguing our already beleaguered society. How sick are these individuals who harass and embarrass, especially the two people, on their most important day? This is not all.
It appears that even animals pay the price. These sick individuals, I am told, also sometimes go to the extent of hiring a bull-drawn cart for the 'going-away'. The lighting of fire-crackers and the general excitement created, frightens the animals and many are the times the bulls defecate and/or urinate through abject fear. Possibly, it would be a better idea to tie some of these tormentors to the cart rather than the unfortunate animals! Something must be done.
Has the 'ragging' from the Universities come to social functions such as weddings? It is time that a concerted stand be made. It is not a matter for the Police. It is something the close relatives must take note of. There were the times when a few tins used to be tied to the 'honeymoon' vehicle and a sign 'Just Married' tagged on. Something which everyone enjoyed - the couple, the people who tied it, the people at the reception, even people on the road, they used to all enjoy a smile. Not so now when a few sadistic individuals try to satiate their sick egos at the expense of innocent people on their sacred day. Nobody should enjoy at the expense of another. That would be harassing or bullying. A civilised society cannot hold such individuals in their midst. Which reminds me of the lines Goldsmith wrote about his beloved village, Auburn in the poem 'The Village Schoolmaster': ' Ill fares the land to hastening ills a prey Where wealth accumulates and men decay' Let all of us make a concerted effort to rid our society of this ill before we decay further.
Deeply concerned
World Champions? No!
Sachin Tendulkar, in the view of the world's greatest ever batsman Sir Donald Bradman, is today's world champion batsman. He frequently dazzles: occasionally fizzles. Sri Lanka is referred to as the world's one-day cricket champions. They win occasionally, when it does not particularly matter: lose frequently, sometimes abjectly.
Triangular or quadrangular one-day competitions are two-a-penny around the world today. You win some, lose some - who cares? Since the 1996 World Cup, we have been in only two such competitions which mattered: our own Independence Cup, and the Mini-World Cup. We failed to win either, let alone both.
In other countries, failing captains and managers are sacked: off- form players are dropped, maybe to return another day. New talent is spotted and groomed. Videos are carefully studied, short-comings identified and corrected, tactics planned and applied. Above all, repeated failure is publicly derided.
Here, the inept government of a nearly 'failed' state desperately seeking popular distraction bestows high national honorific titles, and gifts houses and cars to rhinestone champions. Captain and Manager are allowed by a national media to plead 'off-days' for failure. Such plea is only acceptable if success is consistent, with rare failure. Otherwise, sporadic success becomes the other team's 'off-day'
When a team is bowled out for 98 runs, by opponents defending a score of 179 on a batting track where the winning captain had hoped to set a target of around 300, to be assured of victory, then it is a pathetic lack of character for the losing captain to say 'our frontline batsmen let us down' - although entirely in character in a state where none are accountable, and none take responsibility for failure.
World champions? Rubbish.
It has to be 'off with their heads' in respect of manager, coach and captain, and 'back to the drawing boards' for the team as a whole, and equally importantly, for the BCCSL office-bearers.
Of course, for those who are part and parcel of a failed cricket establishment, and who have no intention of changing anything, there is indeed the precedent of reigning champions (Australia/1987) failing to make the quarter-finals next time around, in 1992.
W. Chandrasiri
Pathetic plight of bank pensioners
Please allow me to highlight to the authorities concerned the pathetic plight in which the bank pensioners who retired from service one or two decades ago are placed at present irrespective to which rank, class or grade they belonged.
Working from morning till late into midnight under stringent rules and regulations during the infancy of most of these banks under the colonial regime, they rendered yeomen's service to the progress, development and its present unshakeable stability, though they were paid a meagre, paltry salary without any fringe benefits like O.T. bonus, medical facilities, housing loans etc. unlike today.
Cashiers Rs. 40/- clerks Rs. 50/- peons Rs. 25/- staff Ñ assistant (degree holders) Rs. 250/- this was their monthly salary.
The cost of living has sky-rocketted into dizzy heights and with the pauper's pension they receive, they can't keep the wolf from the doorstep. Being senile, sick and old in the sunset of their life, their minds are filled with the vague forebodings of depression, dismay and disappointment of what is going to be the future of their beloved wife and children without any outside income living in rented houses, paying exorbitant advance and rent to avaricious landlords.
During the last one or two decades, the salary scale of the bank employees have been revised several times to compensate for the rising cost of living, but it is very unfortunate and such is the irony of fate, that the banks have completely ignored, overlooked and neglected to revise the pension scheme of the retired pensioners who are the pioneers and architects of the banking industry in Sri Lanka.
It looks rather strange that some of the peons who retire now are drawing a much better pension than the retired general managers and senior managers of yore.
The lame excuse given by the banks is the inadequacy in the Pension Fund to meet the enhanced pension payment with arrears from the date of salary revision. This is purely due to the management's fault.
Why cannot the banks earning massive profits divert a couple of millions to meet the justified demands of these poor pensioners.
M. R. Bunny,
Execution of murderers and rapists
In view of the alarming rate of rape, murder, and brutality that has been sweeping over this country since the last Government, I strongly appeal to the President to give her approval for the execution of all murderers and rapists convicted by our Courts of Law. Under the guise of a Dharmishta society the most un-dharmishta and inhuman deeds were committed on the people including politicians.
This same situation still continues where the ordinary man in the street is concerned. No citizen in this country other than security guarded politicians can confidently walk the streets without running the risk of being raped, murdered or robbed by the new breed of criminals who are now trained and proficient in the use of arms as well.
It is the incumbent duty of any Government to protect its peace loving citizens and I earnestly urge the president to ensure that this protection is effected by having deterrent punishment which is in the Statute Book enforced and carried out.
The recent Rita John brutal rape and murder was a stunning example of what is happening in the country some of which is not even reported to the Police. Let us not be hypocrites but accept the fact that this so-called Buddhist country is fast gaining a name as 'the most notorious land in the world' for murder and mayhem.
At this rate if this situation goes on there will be no alternative for law abiding citizens of this country but to leave it for their own safety whilst the country degenerates to that of a jungle.
If this wave of crime is not controlled fast by means of extreme and deterrent punishment the Politicians themselves will fall victims and that will be too late.
Let us not forget the small band of marauders who gunned-down Alfred Doraiappa - the Mayor of Jaffna in 1975. The lethargy and inaction of the then Government to bring those responsible to justice has today resulted in the greatest most inhuman terrorist movement in the world - the LTTE. If the murderous criminals are allowed to go free or pardoned after conviction by our Courts of Law we may very soon see an under-ground Mafia worse than in the USA not only committing heinous crimes but also influencing and running the Country by having politicians in their pockets. That will certainly be the ultimate disaster for Sri Lanka.
Therefore do not spare the murderers and the rapists let them be executed in the shortest possible time and eliminated from the social scene of our country. Such deterrent action might perhaps make it a safe place for the ordinary citizens of this country to live without fear.
Nissanka M. Ediriwira.
The North East Province Governor
Unlike the other provinces, which have elected bodies, the North and East Provinces have been merged temporarily, to form one administrative block. There is no elected body and the administration is entirely in the hands of bureaucrats, who have their own way and who are a law unto themselves!
In order to keep these bureaucrats in check and to maintain a clean and effective administration, the governor appointed to this province, should be one with administrative ability, qualification and experience.
The first governor appointed here, Nalin Seneviratne, was an army man, who was sadly wanting in administrative experience, and he was therefore, fully obliged to the bureaucracy, to administer the province.
Then came Lionel Fernando, who had been a top and popular bureaucrat, who fitted in perfectly and honourably.
Gamini Fonseka, the very popular film idol was the next choice. Though he meant well and endeavoured to maintain a clean administration, he had to clash with the bureaucracy and leave, because, ostensibly, the powers that be, were not willing to support him!
The legal aspects apart, what we believe is that governors of the provinces with elected bodies, function as mere figure heads. But it cannot be so, in the case of the North East Province. Here, there is no elected body and the administration is entirely in the hands of the bureaucracy. And when there is a governor with no administrative background, in charge, then he can be either a tool in their hands or a fighter, who tries to clash with them.
Therefore, he fails, and the bureaucracy is in an advantageous position!
The North East Province is not in one piece altogether. It is divided by a huge mass of territory by the North Central Province, to form the Northern Province on one side and the Eastern Province, on the other. Thus, administration of the two provinces, after the merger, becomes terribly difficult and unmanageable. It is therefore suggested that, while having a Governor stationed in Trincomalee, to look after Trincomalee and Batticaloa, there should be two Deputy Governors, one stationed in Jaffna, to look after Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, and the other stationed in Vavuniya, to look after Vavuniya and Mannar.
And in the choice of Governor and Deputy Governors, it is suggested that retired officers from the C.C.S., or S.L.A.S. or even the General Clerical Service, should be selected for appointment to these posts.
Of course, it should be remembered that no political or other prejudices should debar the appointments envisaged, because, we know that if any one of them accepts this post, he will not be swayed by any political considerations, but will certainly plough a straight furrow!
Thambirajah Mahadevan,
Vavuniya.
I have been reading in the Sri Lankan press about how Ponnambalam and the other so-called democratic Tamil parties raised such a hue and cry over the Presidents statement in South Africa that Tamils are not the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka. I cannot understand what the problem is? The Veddahs are the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka and certainly not the Tamils, who are Dravidians from Mohendojaro and Harappa, which are in Pakistan. The President's statement is accurate whatever way you look at it.
Perhaps, these democratic souls would have preferred the President to put forward the 'Tamil cause' interpretation articulated by the 'official spokesman of the LTTE', Anton Rajah. Which is... 'There are two nations in Sri Lanka, a Tamil nation and a Sinhalese nation, which have lived on the island from th earliest of times' and then gone on to explain how Weligama in Jaffna became Valigamam and how Madakalapuwa (Batticaloa) became Mattakkalapu, making an instant transformation of both Weligama in Jaffna and Madakalapuwa in the east to 'ancient Tamil homelands'.
Already Tamil Net, a pro-LTTE Internet news service is referring to Kotahena and Wellawatta in Colombo as Kotahenai and Wellawattai, I wonder if these two towns, like Weligama in Jaffna and Madakalapuwa in the east have made their instant transformation into 'ancient homelands of the Tamils, an ancient peoples who have lived in Sri Lanka from the earliest of times'.
D. Ranatunge,
London.
