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Morning Spice by Ginger
Do oft repeated ads on TV produce resultsDo some of those who advertise their products and services during cricket matches get the mileage they expect to? Are they being given the right advice on the way they should advertise. After all advertising is all psychology and getting through to your client through the media or any other way that is likely to produce the desired results. Why do they repeat the same ad so many times one after other at the wrong time.
When the same ad keeps appearing over and over again TV viewers for instance are more amused than impressed by them. Some curse them in fact - that is normally when some badly hacked advertisement gets in the way of some expert comment made at the end of an over or when a wicket falls. If it is the wish of some advertisers to keep repeating the ad for some product over and over again it may be worth having two or three different ads for the same product though production costs could be higher. The only ads worth repeating by themselves are prestige ads and they should not take much time - just a flash to remind the public that a market leader is still & right up in front.
Children with deformity
One can well imagine the agony of parents whose children are born with some form of deformity or other but when a child starts developing a flattened head in the first few months of its life it can cause more than a little parental concern and anguish. Normally the remedy lay in the hands of the surgeon.Now researchers have found that the scalpel may not be the only answer to the problem. There has been a very simple remedy available to parents though they have not been aware of it all this while. All you have to do is to adjust it with special head gear which is now available for this condition or you can try changing baby's sleeping position.
'Stars are gay'
Who was the calypso maestro who took a trip to Jamaica where the nights are gay. He might have changed his lyrics a bit if he went to L.A to where the 'stars are gay.' That is if he happened to hear of the story of Melissa Etheridge and her 'partner' Julie Cypher as she likes to call her.Would you believe it. The two were to have a baby and Julie Hypher a divorced woman was carrying the baby for Melissa the Grammy Awards winner. Melissa had made an announcement that it was true that Julie was carrying their child but did not wish to divulge the name of the sperm donor.
The growing menace of stray dogs and cats
There is an increase in the population of stray cats and dogs in every city in the world. The increase looks almost beyond control in advanced, progressing cities. In most of these cities the animals are caught and destroyed either by poisoning or gassing!
In Sri Lanka in a city like Colombo the increase of stray dogs and cats is escalating in leaps and bounds. In Colombo the Municipality has a public health division the main work of which is the maintenance of the good health of the people. A sub-section of this division is empowered to control the increase of stray cats and dogs.
Who is to be blamed for the increase of stray cats and dogs? No one person or group is solely responsible for the overpopulation of stray cats and dogs. It is due to puppy mills which are responsible for assembly - line dog breeding methods. It is also due to irresponsible guardians who refuse to spay or castrate their animals.
Failure to promote spaying and castrating is also to be blamed on the pet supply industry for promoting puppies and kittens in their advertisements. Kennel Clubs also do not allow people to show sterilized dogs. They only promote breeding!
In cities like Colombo and Kotte several veterinary surgeons are employed. In fact there are about seven of them employed by the Colombo Municipal Council.
In a Buddhist country where killing of any kind is said to be looked down upon stray dogs are killed in a gas chamber. Dog catchers are issued with shot guns to kill the dogs and act for which they are paid by the tail.
Veterinarians can control the population of dogs in the city. They can do so by sterilization of the animals. There are several things a veterinarian can do individually, or as a member of a veterinary medical association. They being paid a salary by the Municipality can promote free programmes to sterilize the animals. Privately they can organise or support low-fee programs for sterilizing animals.
Some people believe that a cat's or dog's personality will change for the worse after the surgery. This is not true. In fact, the opposite is true. Cats and dogs who have been sterilized are less likely to roam but they bond more closely with their human guardians and they have fewer undesirable habits like fighting and spraying urine.
Some people say that sterilizing cats and dogs is unnatural. Cats and dogs are bred by human beings for companionship. These animals are bred and killed by the million every year! Is't this natural! Spaying and castrating is the humane solution. The surgical work done by the veterinarians are safe. The work involves removal of portions of the reproductive tract and can be done as early as a couple of months of age. It must be remembered that most cats and dogs are back to their normal activities within a day or two after the surgery.
Solving the cat and dog overpopulation problem is every citizen's responsibility. Veterinary surgeons may even owe more to the cause, as treating cats and dogs is often their source of livelihood.
Eugene M. de Silva
Ceremonial opening of the new North Pier-a sad event?
Yesterday the Ministry of Ports and Shipping had a big tamasha to mark the opening of the New North Pier of the Port of Colombo.
Indeed it is another milestone of the development of the port but the Ministry does not deserve what is contained in its propaganda blitz in today's newspapers.
Why?
According to the Master Plan for the Port of Colombo, the North Pier was to be developed along with the Queen Elizabeth Quay (QEQ), and an agreement was signed with the Japanese Government for funding of the combined project as far back as 1994. Therefore funds were available (of course part of the total expenditure was to be financed by the Ports Authority, which was an affordable amount) for development of the North Pier as well as QEQ but for some strange reason, all of a sudden the Ministry decided to jettison the QEQ project and decided to utilize Japanese aid only for the North Pier Development. This is a sinister move to shift the general cargo facilities presently located at QEQ to a new location at a cost of Rs. 800 million to pave the way for the multinational P & O to walk into QEQ smoothly.
Had we developed QEQ along with the North Pier with the Japanese aid as originally envisaged we would by now have completed both projects and be handling 50O,000 container units, probably more at QEQ. Also there would not have been a loss of ownership of QEQ to the country after its development.
But what has happened now as a result of the foolish decision of the Ministry? QEQ will be owned by the P & O led consortium for 30 years under the new terms invented by the Ministry called 'Build OWN Operate & Transfer and according to these terms QEQ will be owned by P & O and we have to buy it back from P & O at end of the 30 year period. Further, QEQ is still having only the capacity that it had in 1994!
Therefore I earnestly appeal to the citizens of Sri Lanka not to be fooled and misled by the lies perpetrated by the propaganda machine of the Ministry well oiled by the Multinationals. Please keep in mind that in time to come there will be a similar propaganda blitz by the Ministry for handing over of QEQ on a platter to P & O early next year which I think will mark the DOOMSDAY for the Sri Lanka Ports Authority as well as the country as a whole.
Final count down for this sad day for the nation on which we will lose our sovereignty on QEQ to a multinational will start today with the so called ceremonial opening of the New North Pier.
A sad onlooker
A news item in a recent issue of your journal reported that a Senior Superintendent of Police has recommended a course to discipline cops to check the deterioration of the police force. This is indeed a step in the right direction taking into consideration the neglect of duty, corruption, abuse of power and boot-licking of politicians, among all ranks of the service. An apt editorial followed on 26.10.98.
Recently, a glaring case of forgery was brought to the notice of the DIG, CID and the DIG, Southern Range by me. It was an instance of an attempt to mislead no other person than the President. The complaint has been completely ignored and could be considered as an affront to her.
There has been a spate of robberies in the Galle Port. The Dutch Reformed Church therein has been burgled three times within a short period. When I questioned the watcher what action he had taken, he straightaway told me that there was no point in going to the police station. On each occasion that he went there, he was told that he was responsible in a way for neglect of duty and was abused by police personnel.
While walking up a one-way street, a cyclist travelling in the wrong direction knocked into me and when I pointed out to him that the street was a one-way street and that he was in the wrong, he told me to go and lodge an entry at the police station, perhaps knowing fully well that the matter would end there.
These are just a few instance to show the lethargy and wrong attitude of the police today. It is no wonder then that there is no law and order in the country at the moment. As law enforcing officers, policemen have to set an example to others in society.
It is therefore better late than never to discipline all ranks of the police force otherwise the future of our country will be at stake and we will necessarily become a prey to outsiders which in turn will lead to the loss of our culture and heritage which we have preserved and been proud of for over 2500 years.
P. W. J. Seresinghe
Galle
In your issue of the lOth October 1998, a Dr. P. Dissanayake of Colombo 5, has praised Mr. Tyronne Fernando for lumping the L.T.T.E. with the 'so called Sinhala Commission' as extremists. We doubt very much whether Mr. Tyronne Fernando will applaud. He is sure to be embarrassed by the Doctors' dubious support, because when there was a reference in parliament to the late Mr. Gamani Jayasuriya, who was the President of the Sinhala Arakshake Sanvidanaya and a member of the National Joint Committee, that appointed the Sinhala Commission, he (Mr. Tyronne Fernando) said those who speak up for the Sinhalese are not extremists.
The late Mr. Gamani Jayasuriya was a principled politician, a very gentle, humble and humane person, who was the first to realise the danger this country, the home of the Sinhalese, was facing and was determined to do something about it. He was a prominent and active member of the National Joint Committee and gave very valuable evidence before the Sinhala Commission on two occasions. By no stretch of imagination could anyone say of him, that he was driven by ethnicity and religious fervour to want the Sinhala people to take identical action to achieve superiority. Does Dr. Dissanayake suggest that since the LTTE has armed itself and is warring against the State, that the Government and the Sinhala people should do nothing about it and fold their arms and give the LTTE what it wants. This is what the foreign funded NGOs, like International Alert keep on suggesting, they would indeed be happy to have the support of the likes of Dr. Dissanayake to their cause of seeking the dismemberment of this country.
Dr. Dissanayake talks of warped thinking, and the Nazi tyranny and McCarthy in America. The Nazis invaded the Soviet Union to destroy communism but failed, and McCarthy in America had a witch hunt against so called sympathisers of communists in America. We can't see the relevance of this reference to Nazis and McCarthy. Is the Doctor implying that the late Mr. Gamani Jayasuriya was a McCarthy engaged in a witch hunt and the members of N.J.C. are a bunch of Nazis? Dr. Dissanayake then talks of a wise citizen who said there are three kinds of minds first, second and third. He does not very modestly disclose who this wise citizen is. Perhaps this wise one will reveal himself one of these days in Colombo 5. He will not believe or value his race, caste, sex or other accidental attribute but he is a Arhat transformed or reformed.
There are some people in Colombo, who after a few Scotch whiskies and sodas under their belt have the feeling, that they have no race, caste or other accidental attribute feel they belong to one family of brothers and sisters and are in a heaven, having forgotten the poor Sinhala Soldier who is laying down his life in the Wanni, in order that such people may continue to enjoy their whiskies and sodas and say they yearn for peace and we must learn to live like brothers. The soldiers in the Wanni who are battling a cruel enemy need all the support we can give them and the National Joint Committee and all its affiliated bodies and other patriotic citizens are determined to give them that support.
Come on Doctor! Are you living in Sri Lanka or in a heaven among nectar drinking angels. You will only wake up and come to earth when the Tigers are at your door.
Anti - humbug
Colombo 3
We appreciate much the several articles which appeared timely in your paper past few weeks on Educational Reforms (Eg. Mr. Eric J de Silva's; Mr. Uswattarachchi's) They show us how these so called reforms are going to affect not only the present students but future generation too.
So our kind request is to highlight them as much as possible, because the government is trying to implement them without the approval of the people. We hear that they are going to implement the restructuring of the school system, which will have adverse effects according to Mr. Silva.
Since our opposition parties are silent (only God knows why) we think it is a duty of the media to intervene in these matters. We think this as dangerous as the so called 'package'.
Therefore please educate the masses on the reforms. If you could get your sister papers to publish those articles in Sinhala it would be much better.
You would be doing this not for us old people but for our young generation.
Concerned parents
Businessmen, politicians and consultations
The initiative taken by the business leaders to summon an all party conference and put forward their suggestions and proposals to the political leaders with a view to resolving the national question - the on going ethnic conflict and some other issues is - on its face value - praiseworthy and merits undivided attention and serious consideration of all concerned.
Most of our business barons, mercantile moguls, captains of industry and trade magnates had all along been content with amassing wealth channelling all their resources, wits and business - acumen through relentless sales propaganda in every conceivable glitzy customer-attractive manner and means. After keeping a low profile in the sphere of national objectives either intentionally or disinterestedly they seemed to have now risen to the occasion to offer advice and guidelines to politicians for the purpose of maintaining peace and stability in the country at large and by that very means safeguard their own interests and business achievements.
All these years the business leaders have been watching in silence the various foibles, follies, adventures and misadventures, manipulations and mismanipulations of the governments in power. Having contributed in some measure, their own share to such follies they have now come forward to offer directions to those who run the government, not so much on a sales-pitch formula but on an apparent service oriented national objective.
Our intellectuals and professionals have been trying their best to veer the political hierarchy from the nationally destructive mismanagement highway to tread a politically acceptable correct path with a steadfast and resolute policy of good governance, for the betterment of all concerned, but their efforts had failed miserably may be because those who run the establishment are not that advanced in intellect and clear perception.
Whatever the cause, most people have begun to accept the fact that the present hierarchy is not strong enough by conviction and adherence to execute without fear or favour fair and just policies for the benefit and collective advancement of the people and their country. It is this very fact of instability and vacillation that has spurred an organisation like the business community to take a hand - or is it an upper hand? - to offer guidelines to the ruling caucus.
In any case, the powers that be, should consider all relevant aspects in a nonpartisan broadbased politically mature perspective and establish a worthwhile consensus with the opposition leaders who should also be sane and well meaning in their outlook and political policies for the sake of the country and its people. All of them should try their utmost to arrest the already devastating deviants and unholy trends in our land and resuscitate the nation's strength and stability for the good of all people.
The government leaders and the opposition leaders should wholeheartedly give up their arrogant uncompromising attitudes inclusive of some of their foul mouthed utterances and also put a stop to their narrow political bickerings with a view to adopting a truly national perspective to safeguard the nation from further devastation.
R. M. A. B. Dassanayake,
Matale
Maladministration of Puttalam Urban Council
I Through the Government Gazette notification of 12th June 1998 the Chief Minister of the NWP notified the general public that Mr. H. M. Senarathna Banda Madawala, a retired judicial officer has been appointed to investigate and report on the maladministration of the Urban Council, Puttalam.
This decision was reached by the Chief Minister after much investigations by the Commissioner of Local Government, NWP and on his findings and recommendations.
Since three months have elapsed after gazette notification and as the Provincial Council NWP is due to be dissolved on 10th November 1998, the public of Puttalam are anxious to know why this has been shelved. This has brought disrepute to the UNP controlled NWP Provincial Council as well as P.A. controlled Puttalam Urban Council
M. H. M. Nizar
Rambling notes by Nihal Corea
Problems of the average politicianOne wonders why there has been such a spate of violence directed at PS members in the recent past. This could be of course due to a recent tendency on the part of our nationals to enjoy a little horse play like raping a woman or robbing some place by way of entertainment. The latest instance of some one slashing a PS member's lips opens out many lines of thought.
In the first instance this unexpected act of derring-do may be because those involved took as much lip as they could take from that member and then in a mood of anger slashed the source of their annoyance. Most people do not understand the problems of the average politicians.
Casting aspersions on a politician may not be the fairest thing one could do these days. What is more we have a tendency to blame the emptiness around our belts to fullness of promises from the mouths of our politicians. This has been a lamentable trait so obvious in this country. Lest there be any misunderstanding.
The reference is only to empty bellies in the citizen and the verbal diarrhoea in the politician.
In this instance it could of course be the work of his political opponents. It needed the genius of a Hannibal or Gengis Khan to think of such a clever, tactical move. Cut off a PS member's lips and you effectively spike his guns once and for all. It was sheer strategic brilliance.
There was perhaps the alternate method of sealing that members lips but strictly speaking there has to be some kind acquiescence on the part of the PS Member for such an exercise to succeed and no PS Member is likely to agree to such a proposal.
Politicians need absolute and unrestricted freedom of speech to curtail another's freedom of speech. What after all would happen if someone who was defending the policy of the state to impose press curbs suddenly found ones lips lacerated. How well could that member justify government policy mumbling through his shredded lips. How coherent would he sound through it all?
On the other hand can one expect coherence from any politician at any level. It seems a long time since the public of this country had such a privilege. Now this PS Member according to the 'Island' report had received death threats if he spoke at the council meeting. Many a citizen of this country would have been tempted to do the identical thing that this PS members assailants did.
Now what would happen to this country if other politicians received death threats if they spoke on any issue. There are those who would be so uncharitable as to say that quite a few projects which otherwise could not be completed could now be completed. Who could be such a kill joy as to desire to have politicians incapable throwing all of us into such a delightful state of confusion by depriving him of the capacity to talk and talk and talk.
