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Morning Spice by Ginger
A romantic ChristmasThis has been a truly romantic Christmas for Ginger. He has had dinner. By candle light on more than a few occasions. This unfortunately was not by design and intent to please or satisfy Ginger’s Epicurean instincts. He can no longer afford epicureanism. But instead has to dig back into a distant past where memories of better days yet linger. But that is besides the point. He was compelled to dine in the manner he just mentioned simply because the CEB felt that it was time we indulged in a bit of good living. It cut off the supply and compelled you to dine by candle light.
Now, till about the 18th of November things were pretty dull with never a break down. Ginger was losing his faith in the CEB thinking it had lost it sense of humour. Then it put a press notice that it would be repairing the lines in that area. To make people believe they were doing what they promised. That was sheer craftiness. Ever since then we have had cuts at the most unexpected moments and like the lady with the lamp Ginger totters around the house with a torch in his hand thank God that against this grim and gory back drop of crime the CEB has retained its sense of humour.
When visiting the dentist
You don’t have to worry too much when you visit the dentist. At least not in the states. It is only a matter of time before we have it here as well. Now the dentists will have a contraption called the millennium to celebrate the one that looms ahead perhaps but it is certainly going to be popular wherever it is used.It is a laser powered drill which is helped by continuous squirts of water to excavate the surface of your teeth. So the old metal blades may be obsolete in a short time as the millennium will not be as painful or make that eerie sound that gives many a patient goose flesh when one hears it.
Toddy tappers
Is there such a ban here. There was a talk some time ago that those who should be toddy tappers in reality were wire tappers as well! Now this rather distasteful habit was becoming quite a problem in South Korea, five key ministers who could in some way have some control over such operations have come down rather hard on wire tapping.The Ministers of Intelligence, Defence, Justice, Telecommunications and Government Administration announced a ban on unauthorised wire tapping. This was in response to the opposition levelling charges that the government was tapping the phones of opposition members after the President Jung took over early this year.
‘Corporatisation’, panacea for all ills...?
With all the drawbacks, losses and pernicious consequences experienced in the recent past by ‘corporatising’ the State Departments, It’s not understood why the government is so adamantly of the view that ‘corporatisation’ is the panacea for all the ills in the Postal Department.
It’s undoubtedly true that the courteous service the public received a decade or two ago is no more today, not only in the Postal Department but in any government institution. The reasons for this degradation are very many. The foremost being the improper recruitment procedures and political interferences in the day to day work of the government departments. When the politicians have a free hand in the recruitment of the state sector employees, no wonder the standard of work deteriorates. When such employees try to take the powers of politicos to their henchmen act in defiance of their superiors by virtue of their political backing the higher officers in charge of such institutions are not in a position to maintain discipline, which is a sine qua non for the smooth functioning of any institution whether state or private. When political recruits of government departments are reprimanded for offences committed by them, they make a bee-line to and get the punishment revoked and more often than not the officer who seeks to punish the errant worker is penalised by way of a transfer to a difficult area.
When governments are ‘corporatised’ (as they boast to offer the consumer a better service) they could be turned over-night into factories producing jobs for political stooges very much easier than before. Since it has happened to several corporations in the past, what guarantee is there that the same fate will not befall the Postal Department?
May I take this opportunity to highlight a glaring error in the message that is displayed in the advertisement of ‘The New Postal Corporation’. The message says something like this:
"Passed interview. Report on 1st of this month to accept the appointment."
As the preamble of the message indicates this had been sent at 12.36 p.m. on 09.08.99. Lo and behold! How efficient the unborn Postal Corporation is? A message is sent on 9th August requesting to report on the 1st of the same month. If efficiency displaced by an unborn corporation is such what miracles could they show once it’s born? O tempera! O mores!!
Is this an indication of the kind of their political service that the patrons postal corporation will give us?
Lionel de Silva,
Katugastota
A gathering of Pirapaharan’s friends
The group of distinguished gentlemen nominated by Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe to interact with the businessmen and to parley with the delegates of the PA is formidable indeed. The leader is no less than Pirapaharan’s friend — by open proclamation in parliament. The state-controlled press was so taken up by the leader’s accommodative wisdom that they devoted an entire page to his wise thoughts.
Presumably, the second-in-command is the famous Polevaulter, now getting on in years. This worthy has stated on numerous occasions that he is prepared for a "deal" — entailing fedralism or what-have-you for the "sake of peace". The remaining duo-while not casting aspersions-represent minority interests.
Alas, where is the representation of the Sinhala Buddhists? Do they not form bulk of the population? Is it not the case that Pirapaharan’s war is against the Sinhala domination of Lanka?
These questions are put to the leader of the UNP because the leadership of the PA has taken a public stand that the Sinhala people are the wrong doers and hence must be cut down to size if not punished.
The portents are ominous indeed if Ranil Wickremesinghe works in cahoots with the enemies of Sinhala nationalism to pander to the needs of a killer by taking irrevocable steps in the direction of the balkanization of our ancient land. Over a period of three decades I have supported the UNP. The irresolution of the man in command sickens me. The prevailing clout of Pirapaharan’s friends in the inner circle of the UNP is a matter that goes beyond personal disgust. It is a threat to the entire nation.
Anton Soundrasekera
Ambalangoda
Death -Knell of Hollywood movies?
I have read with interest many letters from readers appearing in the newspapers recently, lamenting over the fact that there are no good English movies in the cinemas today. I am a keen movie goer from the time I can remember and fully agree with him, the sad state our cinemas have come to today.
The other day I walked out of a cinema as what was shown was porn, trash and mediocre and mind you, this is a cinema which was showing world class films some years ago. I walked straight upto the Manager and questioned him why they are showing this kind of trash, when the people in the other countries, even closest to us, are showing the latest classy American movies.
I was really taken aback from the information he gave me. It seems these films are given by the Corporation and the cinema is forced to screen whether they like it or not and they have no choice. It is only from this source they can get the films. Now why cannot others too be allowed to get some good films.
The film "Titanic" is breaking records after records in the neighboring countries, why cannot the Sri Lankans too see this colossal film.
There are no family movies at all in the cinemas today where the family can go out together and enjoy the day. Who is responsible for this state of affairs ?
I also read in the papers that the Film Corporation is planning to get films from other countries. God forbid on this venture! We sincerely hope this would not come to pass, as it would spell disaster and deathknell to the keen and choosy filmgoer. What we want is some good world popular films which specially come from Hollywood.
Merril Fernando
Wattala
The great escape and "Onna Menna" martyrs!
"General Ko-bbekaduwa, Brig. Wimalaratne, Co--mmdr. Jayamaha and others paid very dearly with their lives for treating lightly a cardinal principle that the leadership of the armed forces should never travel together.
It is also a violation of instructions. Their deaths were a complete setback and an irreparable loss which could have been avoided unless there was a calculated plot as alleged. It makes matters far worse when the ‘high-brass’ of the armed forces are virtually compelled to risk their lives to fulfil the agenda of politicians and say ‘cheese’ to video cameras.
Even if there is a moral obligation on the part of politicians to visit the front occasionally to boost up the moral of the armed forces supplemented by cakes and bananas where appropriate, there should be some method in the madness. All credit to the enthusiasm and dedication of the Deputy Minister for Defence. Once he with certain top military cadres was reported to have been near victims of a helicopter crash.
Recently he, together with the Army Commander appears to have escaped a mortar attack. Was the visit to the particular Front and the Kovil really necessary even before the dust settled down and the army established its presence and influence? Deaths and injuries to others resulted.
Similarly, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva also escaped after a tamasha in Jaffna while certain officers were the victims.
In all these instances how many officers of the armed forces and police had to make sacrifices of life and limb. Politicians are being given maximum protection when every trained officer is at a premium for the war effort rather than for fruitless exercises, politically or personally motivated.
Practically all the top rungs of the military and police invariably travel on these "missions" when they should be gainfully employed in the cause of the war. Granting such visits by politicians are considered necessary aping Churchill and his ‘V’ sign, should these visits be so frequent and undertaken with great risk to military and police leadership without a care in the world for the proven capacity of the LTTE for intelligence and strategy? It was reported in the Press that the army was aware of the threat and danger. Yet!
It would indeed be beneficial for the country if assistance is obtained from a developed country such as USA to calculate the man hours lost by the armed services and the police on such futile exercises and how much they have contributed to retarding progress. Being martyrs out of stupidity is poor consolation for their families and the country.
The country can ill-afford to lose them. It is even a greater tragedy to lose them on a flight of fantasy in the cause of "Onna Menna" Martyrs!!
I. P. C. Mendis
Moratuwa
The Halal bill is ready and is with the parliamentarians for perusal before being passed. We are aware of the inhuman methods of slaughter already being practiced in our country. In a Buddhist country with majority of parliamentarians also of the same discipline, it is amazing how such a bill came to be prepared.
It makes a mockery of Buddhism, which preaches loving kindness to all beings. At a time when many are clamouring for a total ban on slaughter of cattle it is disgusting for such a bill to be prepared. What may I ask is the role of the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Buddhasasana. Of what use are such ministers if they keep silent when innocent animals are condemned to cruel death.
One also wonders why Buddhist monks are silent on this pertinent issue, whereas we often hear them voicing their opinion on irrelevant issues on political platforms and May Day rallies.
We should learn from the example set by our neighbour India, that too has a minority Muslim population but yet treats the cow as sacred and has banned its slaughter.
Animal lovers take heed! Let us organise protest marches and other means to stop this barbaric bill. There is enough killing and cruelty going on in this country. Let us try and prevent a further curse befall this country.
‘Animal lover’
Maharagama
Down to Earth
Sinharaja: Cradle of forest conservation
by Derrick SchokmanI like to think of the Sinharaja forest as the cradle of conservation in this country. Because it was public criticism of what was happening there between 1972 and 1979 that caused the government to check the rape of our natural forests.
At that time the government was responsible for logging 1600 hectares of Sinharaja with modern machinery to feed the Kosgama plywood factory. About 600 km of road were also opened in the forest to transport heavy machinery and felled timber.
Those were activities which destroyed both trees and undergrowth leaving that part of the forest barren. Attempts by the Forest Department to rehabilitate the damage were unsuccessful.
Heritage Act
Public criticism arising from all that destruction prompted the government to stop logging Sinharaja and pass the National Heritage Wilderness Area Act in 1988 "to protect in their natural state unique ecosystems and genetic resources and habitats of threatened species of plants and animals for enhancing the natural beauty of the wilderness of Sri Lanka."Under this Act Sinharaja Forest became a national heritage. What is left of it covers 11,330 hectares (about 23, 000 acres) in a strip 7 km wide and 21 km long between Galle and Ratnapura.
Experience
To experience the Sinharaja forest primeval, the only sizeable remains of the original natural rainforests in this country, take the branch road to Matugama-Elpitiya from the Colombo to Galle highway, and proceed past Pelawatte to Neluwa on the border of the forest.There the motor road ends, and you will have to take one of the paths through the forest paths which were once well trodden by pilgrims on their way to Adam’s Peak.
The first such recorded trek through the forest to the Holy Peak is by Ibn Batuta, the Moroccan traveller in the 14th century.
In the Sinharaja it rains through the year, totalling 3750 to 5000 mm. Nearly 200 feet high luxuriant tree tops, chiefly of "Hora" (Dipterocarpus Zeylanicus), laced with epiphytes, creates a canopy of infinite shades of green.
The air below is heavily humid, giving the impression of being in a confined hothouse. Splotches of sunlight reveal a dense world of shorter trees, climbers, creepers, suckers, mosses and fern — a fragile refuge of so many different types of plant life, even up to 24,000 plants of less than one meter high in a single hectare.
Of the identified flora in the Sinharaja about 75 percent or over 260 plant varieties are indigenous.
There is also information on some 280 varieties of animals, of which 60 are indigenous. Leopards are rare. The mammalian population is made up chiefly of deer, sambhur and wild pig. Monkeys are found in the peripheral areas.
Others abound in the many bubbling streams, along with several varieties of fish, including the peculiar "galpandiya" which attaches itself to the rocks in the stream bed by its month.
Among the snakes the "green polonga" may be seen in the clumps of bamboo growing by the streams. You will be very lucky to catch a glimpse of the "depathnaya" with fangs in its tail. This creature usually lives beneath the soil.
It is believed that 19 of the 21 indigenous bird species are found in the Sinaharaja. Among them the jungle fowl, spur fowl, blue magpie and yellow-eared bul-bul.
Dependent
For centuries the economic life of villagers living along the periphery of the forest have depended on forest products.They have tapped the "kitul" palms to produce jaggery and treacle. They have used the bark of the "hal" tree to prevent the "kitul" juice from fermenting into toddy.
A variety of cane creepers is used to make chairs, tats and baskets.
Nutmeg is abundant. "Kekuna" and "dorana" provide the villagers with a fragrant powder for incense and oil for lighting.
"Beru" and "bata" leaves are used for roofing, and of course timber for house building.
Many trees and herbs of medicinal value are found in the Sinharaja e.g. "venivelgeta," "iruraja" and "vanaraja". Robert Knox in his famous book on Ceylon in the 17th century, comments on the forests being the natural pharmacies of the people.
The forest also provides mushrooms and many different kinds of green leaves for making "mallungs".
Management
This close bond between villagers and the forest has been taken into account by he government in preparing a management plan for the Sinharaja biosphere reserve.In 1993 the IUCN (World Conservation Union) in collaboration with the Forest Department, and generously funded by NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), completed a conservation management plan for Sinharaja. It will be used as a guide in preparing management plans for the other 14 biodiversity forest areas that have been identified in the Forestry master plan.
The primary objective of these plans is the protection of the very diverse floristic composition found in our natural wet zone forests, without upsetting the socio-economic status of the peripheral villagers who have always been somewhat dependent on forest products.
These villagers will be allowed to continue harvesting forest products under supervision, so long as it is within sustainable limits and has no adverse effect on biodiversity.
It is encouraging to note this new trend in forest management, which recognises that the forest cannot be viewed only as trees, and the trees viewed only as timber.
We earnestly hope that these plans will be put into operation swiffly before illicit logging and the plunder of forest products renders them useless.
There is little point in locking the stable door, is there, after the horse has fled.
