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• Gampaha Land Registry

Barbarians at the gate

The morning was serene and peaceful,

The folk were exchanging pleasantries.

Apart from seabirds hovering

Machine-birds were droning their morning song

One lost height in an erratic flight

Banged on the Twin Towers belly, Billowing fire

Seemingly an accident, The people were aghast

When another zeroed and crashed against the other

Doomsday, Doomsday America under attack!

Godzillas were not stupid beasts

But dehumanized robots

With a computered ego

Homing on the target with fanatical zeal

When I saw the Manhattan people

With burning clothes running in fear

To escape the deadly holocaust

I could not weep for their plight

For our island is sinking

Tigers are bombing

The nation is disabled

Our psyche is benumbed

We breakfast with terror

And dine with horror

Then from the memory of trauma encoded

I retrieved the tape of the horrible events

The blasting of the Central Bank

The people with clothes burning, blood streaking

Were running in a gruesome pageant

Of Danse Macabre

The tragedies are collective, but pain and suffering

That fate inflicts are personal

What are the causal links of the terror chain?

Is it Pearl Harbour, Hiroshima, Vietnam?

Cambodia, Middle East and Afghanistan?

Why are terrorists arising

Like planted Dragon's Teeth ?

For, some states chant democracy

In routine prayer

To further the aims of power

Unleash death squads under cover

A pagan ritual in the twilight hour

They nurture serpents to string their foes

They turn around and bite their patrons

Serpents are slithering in their bellies

Today's renegade terrorist was yesterday's

Hailed freedom fighter against godless reds.

Terrorist has many names, Sings in many tongues

But terror is their Magnum Opus

Nations arise, flourish and die

Leaving few icons and antiques

For future generations to pry

Pax Americana is an elusive state

Barbarians are battering at the gate

G.H.A. Suraweera

War on terror

Sri Lanka as a nation subjected to the scourge of naked terrorism against unarmed civilians for over two decades, excerpts from President Bush's address to the joint sessions of the US Congress that is of utmost interest to us are: -

"Either you are with us or with the terrorists;

"Attack on anyone will be dealt with as if an attack on all;

"Any nation who harbours terrorists will be treated as a hostile regime;

"Terrorist training camps wherever they are will be pursued and destroyed;

"Prepare for a lengthy war against terrorism;

"Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done"

British Prime Minister Tony Blair was seen applauding and joining Congressmen's standing ovations afforded nearly a dozen times during the 45 minutes epoch making speech. If the British P.M. was sincerely mindful of his home scenario, he would have felt embarrassed and guilty as his country has made a safe haven in harbouring a deadlier than Osama bin Laden, terrorist Anton Balasingham, the think-tank cum ideological theoritician of the most heinous outfit in Asia - the LTTE whose origin dates back even prior to bin-Laden's 'Al Quida'.

Among the so-called 'refugee asylum seekers' generously admitted to Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany etc. are good many diehard well trained LTTE cadres ostensibly engaged in innocent looking fund-raising as relief to brethren at home, but in fact utilising such funds in illegal arms purchases from illicit dealers not excluding from the arsenal of American arms now in possession of Talibans! Very many of these asylum seeking refugees are Tiger cadres in sheep skins with home-ground expertise in suicide bombings, assassinations, economic sabotage, extermination of political dissidents, drug trafficking, money laundering, weapon smuggling across frontiers and other hideous crimes about which the host countries should be vigilant of these Trojan Horses if they are to avoid similar World Trade Centre type catastrophies, since these cadres are certainly criminally motivated, hate mongering, ever ready to shed sheep skins and answer commands of their megalomaniac masters!

Americans called the Soviet system an 'evil empire'. Now can they be contended with the vacuum filled by a most diabolical philosophy bred in evil minded perverts who are known as 'fundamentalists' reported to be operating in 60 odd countries whom America has sworn to reveal in the investigations to follow, Be aware! not excluding Sri Lanka too?

W. Samaranayaka -Maharagama

English, Our English

A common error committed by many is saying: 'I'm going to Fort' (meaning Colombo Fort) when it should be 'the Fort'. These same persons would not dream of saying 'I'm going to Park' (meaning Vihara Maha Devi Park) but for some inexplicable reason will not use the definite article for the Fort. The definite article should be omitted only when there is an adjective describing the place. Thus, 'I'm going to Colombo Fort', 'I'm going to Vihara Maha Devi Park' etc. would be correct.

Would, should and could are the past tense of will, shall and can respectively. Some use these words as if they were in the present tense. Thus: 'The match would be played this afternoon'.

Two common howlers are 'cope up' for cope and 'waive off for waive.

Cricket commentaries are a rich source of blunders. I have heard 'more quieter', 'more harder' etc. Some people appear to have difficulties with the comparative form of an adjective. A simple rule would be to avoid using 'more' as an intensifier for adjective in the comparative form.

I once heard President Clinton on TV saying 'Those people are different than us'. That may be correct American English. What we are used to is British English.

N. Vittachi

Gampaha Land Registry

I applied for an extract from Gampaha Land Registry and issued SR10555 and on a subsequent date asked to submit Rs. 7.50 on stamps which I did with covering letter dated July 23, 2001 by express post No. 142 Dehiwala post office. I had no reply whatsoever. I sent 2 reminders to the Registrar of Lands Gampaha dated 1st of August and 20th August but have had no reply yet. At the counter I overheard that stamps submitted personally are not to be seen on the subsequent date the applicant calls. In my case I sent the stamps by express post with a covering letter.

Corruption we are aware all over the country but who is there to enquire.

W.U.C. -Dehiwala.

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