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Morning Spice by Ginger
Big notes reduce to coinsGinger's wife tossed him a coin and asked him to give the paper boy ten rupees. I asked the better half for the other nine rupees. 'What other nine rupees' she asked. I reminded her that she wanted me to give the boy ten rupees so there were nine more to come. She called me an ignoramus and asked me whether I did not realise that the coin she gave was a ten rupee coin. So we were right down to the wire. Ten rupees had become small change. Some body would be tossing thousand rupee coins to beggars and they would possibly look at you with disdain in a short while.
Never have money values dipped so sharply as in the recent past and now just to harvest a few more votes there seems a possibility of a positive response to a dangerous kind of protectionism and if not checked in time we could well be strangled with the long antiquated system of mercantilism. Naturally the less efficient producer would want to discourage imports if they want profits. That means the consumer would be paying more than he or she should for such goods. No wonder then that more and more big notes are being produced to coin value, what we need is competition to bring down the cost of living.
Alcohol good for heart but....
Alcohol may be good for your heart and in fact moderate drinking is supposed to keep off many diseases but there is one draw back in having even a drink or two a week if you are a woman. You may not have a baby even if you wish to have one.There was a study conducted on women to see in which ways alcohol could affect them and it was discovered that even one drink a week was enough to reduce a woman's chances of getting pregnant by as much as 40%. Add a cup of coffee every day to that weekly drink and the chances are that you will not have a baby at all.
Tokyo, popular with tourists
Tokyo retains much of its fascination for the tourist. True the post war years have given it not only a new look but a new face in the broader sense of the word. The tourist not only has the choice of so many ethnic and Japanese eating houses and variety of entertainment but much that you can take home from Japans past.If you go to a temple or shrine on a Sunday or the four hundred year old Boro Ichi flea market you could get some valuable works of art and memorabilia that are among the better known arts and crafts. You can get old kimonos, trinkets, ceramic ware and old clothes as well. Around the station close to the junction you can pick up some valuable books as well.
The role of Technocrats in the new millennium
It is reported that in Hong Kong all nineteen policy secretaries are career civil servants. In Singapore three out of seventeen ministers have Ph.Ds. In Taiwan twenty nine out of forty two cabinet ministers are Ph.D qualified intellectuals. In fact majority of the cabinet ministers in the above referred countries are professionals.
Unfortunately in the developing countries it is not higher degrees but high degree of politicisation that has taken pride of place. It is the political party, family, connections, caste and race, affluence, cronyism, that are considered the criteria. During an election the political party that presents the highest number of 'false promises' tends to win.
Even after fifty years of independence it is difficult to figure out where are we heading for. Economy is not in good shape. Lop sided development of Industry, callous neglect of agriculture, looming financial crisis, rising unemployment, prolongation of separatist war. Hatred and mistrust among communities, murder and mayhem, degeneration of social values, chronic alcoholism and drug addiction, falling standards of education, rampant poverty and malnutrition, spreading of cholera and malaria, poor sanitation to name only a few show that the light at the end of the tunnel is only an optical illusion.
A bleak future lies ahead. High literacy rate (ability to read and write) alone cannot save us from going down the precipice. This is the stark reality. Institute of Policy Studies quite rightly winds up its Report on the 'State of the Economy 1998' as follows:
'The government cannot afford to let things slip in the volatile international economic situation that we have at present. It cannot assume that the great tide of economic change is going to miss Sri Lanka. The growth rates have to be revised downwards that unemployment will increase. Poor will be hard hit and that the fabric of Sri Lankan society will be stretched even further than it is at present.'
Of course there are gigantic projects such as Mahaweli. However it is rather unfortunate that none of our visionaries did think of setting up among other things a high way system at least. In the final analysis it was sheer politicisation that has brought about this parlous situation. Technocrats are playing the second fiddle to politicians . It is essential that a cabinet consisting of technocrats be formed to carry this country to the new millennium.
K. Amirtya,
Colombo.
University Examinations lies and deception
Concerned Reader of Kandy in The Island edition of 2nd December 1998, has accurately identified the main problem in existing flaws at university examinations and the problems confronted by university students owing to the lack of 'transparency' and 'accountability'. These two catch words, used extensively in all matters related to state and private activities are apparently not known to university authorities.
My son, a Physics special degree student at University of Colombo, who displayed academic excellence winning the Studentship award on merit, and who performed consistently through to the third year of studies, was mercilessly attacked by the faculty at the final year examination, depriving him of his due level of pass. Some of the final grades on his transcripts are most unrealistic, even hilarious. A,A,C,C,C,C,C,C,E.(2A's, 6C's and lE). Of these at least three C's are in his own assessment definitely not possible and the last E stands out as an outsize question mark for the simple reason that his own assessment for this subject Semiconductor Devices should at least be a B.
Appeals sent to the VC, The Senate, the Dean, SAR/Examinations by parents and by the student himself followed by many reminders and further letters have met with total intransigence from these authorities. The head of the department has uttered many untruths regarding moderating of papers, second marking etc. When I persistently asked which country and which university in that country the papers were sent to, he said 'University of Durham in the UK.' Probably the name 'Univ. of Durham' came spontaneously to his mind because of his association with it. Never in his remote imagination would he have thought that I would go deep into the matter and verify if it was true. I have investigated the veracity of this statement and found it to be untrue. He deliberately said this with a view to misleading me and to discourage me from inquiring further. The VC in his first reply states that '`the papers are generally moderated and even sent to foreign universities for a second marking'. When I asked him if it was done now and if it was done in this particular instance, his reply is that ' the question papers were moderated by a very Senior Professor of a highly recognised British University and the answer scripts were also evaluated by him' There is only one British qualified Professor at Dept. of Physics. He has obtained his PhD from the U of Durham . He is the department head. He would have been a postgraduate student at Durham University but is not a Professor of that University. Being a professor at U of Colombo does not entitle him to be called a 'very Senior Professor of a highly recognised British University' as the VC would want me to believe. So with all these lies and deception who is fooling whom - I would like to know. There is also the question of how this one single professor was so proficient as to moderate all question papers set for the Special degree (the subject matter of each course being so vastly different) and also function as the second examiner. How many are aware that in the universities, payment is made not only for setting papers and marking them but also for moderating and evaluating answer scripts.
The high ups seem to be shielding miscreants. To review an answer script by an independent person or body should be the easiest and simplest way to clear doubts. Yet, these people in the guise of academics are afraid to do it as they fear many skeletons in their cupboards may be unearthed in the process. It is strange how even highly placed professors in other departments too, to whom I have revealed these details and sinister activities, have remained aloof and distant and not wanted to have anything to do with it. So I doubt very much if any of the 'honest' ones will take up the challenge and insist that review of answer scripts be allowed where students feel they have not been awarded the proper grades.
There is another little detail about the storage of these answer scripts. Once marking is complete are these answer scripts handed in to the Examinations branch for safe storage instead of being stacked away in a department cupboard where unscrupulous individuals could yet tamper with the papers if a problem surfaces? Discreet inquiries revealed that they are in the department and only the mark sheets are sent to the Examinations Branch. The examinations branch equipped with a fully fledged Senior Assistant Registrar and staff and spacious wing, must surely have the necessary facilities to store these all important answer scripts, at least until they are sent to the final destination where they are turned into firecrackers, so that no tell tale marks would remain! Or, is it not necessary to bother any more about these scraps of paper as they will not be required any longer for review or anything else ?
S.Warusawithana.
Discrepancies in Pension payment in state banks
V. Ganeshalingam's letter in 'The Island' on 11.12.98 has given a clear picture of discrepancies in pension payments in state banks.
In addition to what Mr. Ganeshalingam has pointed out, I wish to add the following facts for the attention of the Authorities.
(1) A request was made to People's Bank by the Pensioners Association to increase the megre W & O. P. fund to fall in line with the other State Banks.
(2) The Bank did not accede to the request saying that they are awaiting an accturist report.
(3) Accurists' report revealed that the W. & O. P. was underpaid and there is a big amount lying in the fund in excess.
(4) Instead of paying this to the W & O. P. receivers, the Bank transferred this amount to the pension fund.
(5. W. & O. P. is a contributory Fund. Transferring funds from this account to a non contributory fund (i.e. Pension fund) needs the approval of the contributors, and therefore becomes Illegal.
(6) The monies due to W & O. P. holders are illegally transferred to another fund overlooking the fact that W. & O. P. recievers are underpaid in line with other Banks is a matter to be inquired into.
Mathota Abeyratne,
Hatton.
Lalith who's a true son of our soil!
The article 'He was impatient to get things going' by Mr. M. D. D. Pieris appeared in the Island newspaper on November 26th contained very fascinating reminiscences on the late Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali who had made a tremendous contribution as a Minister. It was also with great interest I read in the Island newspaper of December 4th, Lalith Athulathmudali Commemoration Oration made at the Galle Face Hotel on November 27th by Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Under Secretary General Disarmament of the United Nations.
I would like to share with the readers of your newspaper two of my memorable experiences with this great son of our soil.
My first experience was few years after the 1983 July riots in Colombo which led to the virtual collapse of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. In order to revive the industry several steps were taken during the period. One was to invite tourism journalists on familiarization tours. One such programme had about one hundred journalists from the Federal Republic of Germany. Their tour itinerary included a dinner at the Robinson Club Hotel at Bentota. As the Robinson Club Hotel came under the purview of his Ministry Lalith Athulathmudali was the chief guest at this function.
Lalith Athulathmudali started the after dinner speech in German and after a minute or so indicated preference to speak in the English language as he was more competent in that language. At the conclusion of the dinner party visiting journalists wished to know whether the Minister would give them an opportunity to question him on political matters as some of the visiting German tourism journalists happened to be political journalists as well in their country. Lalith Athulathmudali agreed to this request and the press interview was held in a smaller room with about ten to fifteen visiting journalists taking part. Questions were raised by the journalists in German and they were interpreted into the English language by a German gentleman who was a member of the visiting delegation. Minister's responses made in English to the questions raised were interpreted into the German language. I recall that the press conference went on for about two hours. At one point when the German gentleman translated into German language one question answered by the Minister in English Lalith Athulathmudali said that the translation was not correct. He volunteered to correct the mistake made by the interpreter, and explained in German the answer he gave originally in the English language. When this happened I felt so proud of our Minister, for a fraction of a second hair in both my arms stood on its end up. This experience is called in Sinhala - 'enge mail kelin wenawa'. I think it happened because of patriotic feeling aroused in me because of the incident, the Minister - a son our soil, teaching a German Interpreter his mother tongue.
N. W. Dissanayake,
Colombo 05.
This refers to a letter of Mr. Kingsley Heendeniya which appeared in your publication of 10th December 98.
Although I do not agree with the Buddhist monk Gangodawila Soma referred to, on his views on setting up of the Bhikkuni Sasana, I agree with Rev. Gangodawila Soma on the worship of Hindu Gods in our Buddhist Temples. As it is well known, infiltration of Hindu Gods and Hindu practises into Buddhism was due to Sinhalese Kings and Chieftains marrying Indian Hindu Queens who brought along with them their religion and culture. Buddhism does not teach the worship of Gods but salvation lies in ones own hands. Therefore the thera is right intrying to educate the Buddhists in the pure adherence to Buddhist practises and beliefs. Another reason why Hindu Gods, or any other Gods became popular is that it is believed that these Gods grant favours which Buddhism does not believe except Karma. Seeking divine help is defeatism and lack of self determination which is an inherence nature in all human beings. Some Buddhist temples encourage this worship having Devales at their premises for financial gains by way of offerings to get favours done by these Deviyos. The Kapurala becomes the mediator between the Deviyo and man, for which service, he is also paid. There are large number of nasty sprang wayside temples.Innocent, ignorant Upasaka Ammas, dole out their monies and who benefits? Is this the type of Buddhist Temples which Mr. Kingsley Heendeniya want to popularise? Why does not Mr. Heendeniya question Rev. Madehe Pangnaseeha Thero, who holds the same view as Rev. Soma thera and does not have Devales in any of the temples coming under his control?
As for Minneriya Deviyo, Saman Deviyo, they are locals who are believed to have done service to the people of the area and termed as Gods for the services rendered. Mahasen, the King was responsible for the construction of Minneriya Tank which was a boon to the farmers then and now. Hence he was pontified as deviyo, a mere title, and so are the other local deviyos, Gambora Deviyo, Aiyanayaka, Gale Bandara etc.
One absurd statement Mr. Heendeniya makes is 'The government and many leaders in the country are engaged in a herculean task to heal the wounds between the Tamils and the Sinhalese and a sedulous well planned Sinhala Buddhists nationalists crusade of this type can affect the generally emotionally thinking masses, both Sinhala and Tamil and widen the ethnic divide in this country'. I note that Mr. Heendeniya does not know that unity of the Sinhala - Tamil communities existed, not because of the religion, but because of the equal opportunities which prevailed. Unfortunately difference were brought about mainly due to 'Sinhala only' being forced down the throats of the Tamils. Worst consequences will come if 'Buddhism only' is forced.
Finally, let me plead with Mr. Heendeniya not to discourage the teaching of the pure Dhamma and allow distortion, dilution of the noble teachings of the Thathagatha by encouraging the worship of Hindu Gods and practice Hindu rituals. It is only the intelligent who understand the Dhamma, others are mere namesake Buddhists, hence they grab the worship of gods to gain favours rather than seek self emancipation. My request to Rev. Gangodawila Soma is carry on dauntlessly in the crusade for pure Buddhism.
G. A. R. Dias,
Devalamulla.
Aussie Umpires Hair and his no balls
Just because they have managed to pull a Hair out of their soup our cricketers should not imagine that they are in the clear. All the top Aussie umpires are Hairy creatures. There is Peter Parker (The Spider Man) who started the anti Murali campaign by accusing him of picking the seam of the ball with his fingernail. When Arjuna asked him to take the ball out of play preserve it as evidence, Parker refused and the ball was used for further play, Parker thus destroyed the evidence while not withdrawing his charge. Next of course there was the egregious Hair himself and his seven noballs. Then came Ross Emerson who noballed Murali for alleged chucking (also seven times), although Murali was bowling legbreaks at the time. Those who know claim that is a physical impossibility to 'chuck' a legbreak.
Finally, there was the oneandonly Steve Randell, who refused to raise his finger in several LBWs and slip catches against the Aussies, while he gave a number of our players out when, according to the commentators, they were not out .
There are other Aussie umpires lurking in the wings. It is going to be real tough going for our boys. Good luck Arjuna!
Piyal Gamage.
We have received a large number of letters protesting against the proposed road through the Udawatte, Kandy. Since this road construction project has been abandoned, these letters will not be published. We thank our readers for their concern and response.
Appreciation
Gaya Cumaranatunga: An exemplary public servantBy K. H. J. Wijayadasa
Former Secretary to the Prime Minister and
Secretary to the President; 19841994)The news of the death of Mr. Gaya Cumaranatunga, an exemplary public servant and a rare human being came as a rude shock to all of us, especially his contemporaries at Peradeniya University and his colleagues in the Public Service. His untimely death is a tremendous loss especially at a time when there is a dearth of top class professional administrators of his calibre in the country.
He was a brilliant product of St. Peter's College, Colombo. Upon entering the University of Ceylon at Peradeniya in 1954 he read for a degree in Western Classics and obtained a second class honours degree in 1958. He sat the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service Examination in 1958 and was placed 3rd in order of merit. In recognition of his academic brilliance and intellectual prowess his Alma Mater felicitated him at a special ceremony.
Gaya had an illustrious career in the Public Service spanning almost 40 years. After completing his cadetship in the Ceylon Civil Service he joined the Customs Department as an Additional Landing Surveyor in 1962. From then on he climbed step by step to become the youngest Principal Collector of Customs in 1974. In 1976, true to his character he refused to carry out an illegal order and was removed from the post of Principal Collector of Customs. In 1977 he was appointed as Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Trade and simultaneously held the post of Chairman of the Tariff Commission with great distinction. Thereafter, in the mid 1980s he was appointed to the high office of Deputy Secretary to the Treasury which he richly deserved. He held that position till 1989 when the government released him to the Asian Development Bank to function as Alternate Director. On his return from the ADB he was appointed as the Chairman of the Private Sector Infrastructure Development Company.
The hallmark of his success in the Public Service was professionalism through specialization. He was a great pubic servant. His advice was sought by successive governments on matters pertaining to Customs, Trade, Tariffs, Accounts, Budgets and Financing. Greatness was not thrust on him. It came naturally. He was not born great either. He achieved greatness through sheer perseverance, hard work and determination. Nonetheless, one could always notice a streak of brilliance and a high sense of patriotism in his thoughts, words and deeds.
One could surmise that these attributes were both inherited and acquired by him almost fiftyLet us not forget that one of the greatest oriental scholars, grammarians and patriots ever to be born in this country; the late Munidasa Cumaranatunga was one of his grand uncles. It fact there was always that hidden nationalistic fervour in him. He would have died a worried man because with so many Shylocks asking for every possible pound of flesh he did not see any light at the end of the tunnel.
He was one of the few public servants who had the courage of his convictions to call a spade a spade. He did not yield to illegal or unreasonable demands of politicians especially on matters of a 'tender' nature. He was a strict disciplinarian. He vehemently disliked doing anything improper or unlawful. He firmly believed that example was better than precept. Accordingly, whenever he returned after a foreign trip he would voluntarily open his bags in front of Customs Officers and request them to examine and make sure there was no contraband.
Gaya Cumaranatunga was a rare human being indeed. We have lost in him a good friend who has always been kind hearted, understanding and helpful. Even though he had a somewhat rough exterior, he was a man with a golden heart. He displayed rare human qualities in dealing with the less fortunate and the down trodden people. He was called 'Mr. Reliable', because if he promised anything he would stick to it and deliver the goods.
Quite often people seek high office in the Public Service because it adorns them. But in the case of Gaya Cumaranatunga he adorned the Pubic Service. He was one of the most efficient, fearless and forthright public servants Sri Lanka has produced in recent times. His honesty and integrity have been beyond question. He has not built mansions nor acquired business interests. There were no skeletons in his cupboard. Therefore he could stand up to any type of arm twisting by the 'almighty' in power. May his exemplary life be a beacon to the present and future generations of pubic servants. May he attain Nibbana.
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