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| Thursday, 25 April 2002 |
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Letters | |
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Providing more opportunities for English language learning The revolutionary educational reforms introduced in recent years are of great concern to both who are directly involved in the field of education as well as for general public. I think one of the main objectives of the reforms is to direct the students towards the ever-increasing knowledge and advancements in every field. But the grim reality is that we have limited access to this modern science and technological education through our own languages - Sinhala or Tamil. The student who explore new dimensions must find the facts and information in English books (or any other sources available). Therefore, a good knowledge in English is the basic need for a better and an updated education. But it is sad to note that this basic need has not properly been addressed even in the new education reforms. We are still having old fashion 40 minutes per day for English language learning at school. It is a known fact that students learn the language through exposure to the language (old direct translation method and structural method have been proved failures in 2nd language teaching). So we must provide students more and more time to acquire English at school. In other words we must increase the number of English language periods at school. This additional time will not be necessary for the students who are from English speaking social backgrounds. But the majority of the students have their access to English language only at school. "But horizons are expanded and we have to pay equal attention to every subject," Some may argue, but we can have extended English periods without curtailing the time allotted for other main subjects. The students in the secondary classes now study two optional subjects at school. We can make use of this allotted time for optional subjects for English language. But this is not necessary for schools where most of the students are good at English. But this expanded English sessions are essential for rural schools where majority of the students are very poor in their English. So I think authority should be given to the principals and teachers in the respective schools to decide whether to have optional subjects or extended English periods in their own schools. They can come to a decision after a situational analysis in the respective schools. I hope relevant authorities concerned will give this a thought. H.M.T.B. Herath-Palugaswewa.
Expressways are necessary for the social and economic development of the country. However, choosing the wrong trace/route for an expressway can bring disastrous consequences to the country. Katunayake expressway is a prime example of this. When pointed out by Surath Wickremesinghe, the President of the Chamber of Construction Industry, at a meeting held with the funding agencies in January this year that the road trace of Katunayake expressway was a waste of financial resources, the Colombo representative of the Asian Development Bank agreed with Mr. Wickremesinghe that this road trace was a bad choice! Vast majority of other countries in this planet take all the precautions to preserve their wetlands, but the previous government did irreparable damage to the ecosystem of Muturajawela, one of the largest wetlands in the country with the help of funding from ADB. Will the major share holder/donor countries of ADB, such as America, Japan and UK allow their wetlands to be destroyed in this manner? Why did the CEA give permission for this crime against the environment? Was the CEA's decision influenced by the relevant ministers of the previous government or ADB who is the main benefactor of the CEA? On July 23 1999, the CEA approved the Southern Expressway subject to the recommendation that the final trace of this road should be moved away from Weras Ganga/Bolgoda Lake Wetlands onto the original RDA trace. RDA has not yet implemented the project and now making preparations to seek permission to move this part of the road trace back to Weras Ganga/Bolgoda Wetlands! Will the present Government and ADB repeat the mistake made by the previous government and ADB and destroy another important wetland in the country? GAMINI WELARATNA-Induruwa.
When illness strikes the leader I am prompted to write this after reading Stanley Jayaweera's letter on 'Good Governance-is it achievable?' (DN April 17). He has expressed the view that 'a large section of the elite of this country in whose hands governance lies is mentally deranged'. There is much in what he has stated. I recently read the book, 'When Illness Strikes the Leader' by Jerrold M. Post MD and Robert S. Robins. I quote one sentence from the introduction which will give an insight to the contents, and which appears appropriate in the context of the on going peace process. 'The early symptoms of senile deterioration typically are least - and last - recognised by the victim, a circumstance that can have serious consequences for the political system.' For good governance, it is important that suitable, experienced and efficient persons fill the role of Secretaries to Ministries and key positions. Taking back those who were found wanting under a previous regime does not augur well for good governance. It will merely perpetuate the same old mistakes. Similarly to fit in bankrupt politicians to important positions in various committees, commissions or as chairman of some authority or development board or send them as ambassadors is a repetition of old mistakes. At the same time every political party should be careful of politicians, who keep on changing colours merely to get positions. Supporting the government gives them blanket coverage to several wrongs and fiddling of public money which would otherwise have been exposed, if Ministries like the Labour Ministry carry out their duties under the normal laws of the country such as the TU Ordinance. Recently, I read a newspaper interview given by a bureaucrat who fled the country and has been brought back. He has said that the person in authority should be bold and make decisions or words to that effect. Quite right. But because he was playing second fiddle and did not have the backbone to countermand an obviously wrong and vindictive order given by his immediate additional secretary, four of us were victimised in respect of our grading into the scheme of salaries which was implemented in 1977 with retrospective effect from 1973 and this prompted me to retire prematurely from the Local Government Service. After continued representation, it was accepted that we were victimised. We received letters in 1999, 22/26 years after the event, giving the correct grading in the Administrative service. The letter stated that pension will be revised and arrears will be paid as from November 1999. No such payment has been made to date, two and half years have passed. I doubt anything will happen because there isn't a suitable bureaucrat who is prepared to devote the necessary time to study the case and past records, apply the correct salary scale and work out the conversion and arrears. We can ill afford a fundamental rights application. The upright public servant, the one whose loyalty is to the public service and nor to a political party, who will dare speak out when the politician does the wrong thing should be encouraged. Merely because a politician is appointed a Minister, it does not mean he/she is a 'know all'. Therefore, the government servant must guide him properly, whilst observing the rule, 'Comply and complain', provided the order is in writing but refuse to comply with verbal orders which are wrong. S. THAMBYRAJAH-Colombo 3.
Help towards HOPE (Cancer hospital) Cancer has been challenging all the great giants in the medical field who are unsuccessfully 'putting their heads together' to find a remedy for the worst disease that plunders man's life. The agony such patients undergo, specially when it is in areas above the shoulders, is a sight that will make one disgust of his own life. A visit to Maharagama kills half of our life seeing the sufferings of such patients. Yet our life continues. The Maharagama Cancer Hospital is doing its best in treating and nursing those patients. Still it's valuable services appear to be insufficient, specially by way of facilities due to financial reasons. What I feel to be the best news item I read for year 2002 so far is the one which said that the Sri Lankan Cricketers Association in association with Lions (Colombo District) is arranging to put up a 750-bed cancer hospital with latest equipment and facilities at a cost of 750 million rupees under the project name HOPE. Captain Jayasuriya playing the leading role is being positively encouraged by his teammates to make it a success. This could be perhaps one of the best meritorious acts one could start and others to follow lending whatever possible assistance to make it a reality. Surely a very large amount has to be spent on this program and enough funds have to be collected to maintain it too. I wish to suggest the working class of this country to contribute every month 20 or 50 rupees or more from their pay sheets continuously, by requesting their employers to send the amount direct to them. I do not think that anyone will grumble for this small amount as a direct contribution is made towards 'a physically suffering lot of patients' whose lives are mostly unpredictable. Even State institutions and other private organisations could make a monthly donation for that deserving cause. We must be thankful to the simple, humble and shy-faced village guy who rose to be at the helm of the cricket for his contribution towards this sick curing worthy project. Let him be given all the necessary strength in fulfilling his humanitarian mission. NAZLY CASSIM-Colombo 1.
It's quite appalling to see the Sri Lankan doctors behaving in this manner. This has been happening over and over again in Sri Lanka, yet the authorities concerned have not been able to do anything regarding this. What do our doctors think? Are they some supreme beings standing above all other general public. If a doctor has been assaulted the police and the judiciary system exist in the country to seek justice. Instead as usual, they think their problems need to be solved immediately by any means. Think about the people working in other public sector departments. I think in every department there should be at least a few who are subject to gross injustice. Does this mean the whole country should be on strike everyday. Why this special treatment only to doctors. These doctors have been riding on the shoulders of the public to get to this position, because, more than in any other degree course the government has to spend the highest expenditure per student for the MBBS course. Yet once they get the degree all of a sudden they transform into some kind of supreme beings on their own, and make the innocent people suffer. They hold the lives of innocent people to ransom to accomplish their ambitions. Who else does this in our country? I hope the readers very well know the answer. I think the root cause lies in the curriculum too. We are a very famous nation to teach all theory but to forget the little practical things that are quite essential. A special subject should be taught to the medical students regarding the value of their profession which is more of a service and the amount of money spend on them and the dedication they are required to have towards people. As there are a lot of students who are qualified enough to be doctors, I think there should be a psychological assessment of those who aspire to be doctors, which might help to screen out the undesirable elements. Straight 4As alone won't be enough for this valued profession. On the contrary, you do not need 4As to become good doctors. Also before enrolling into the course the medical students may be requested to enter into a bond, which will prevent them from behaving in this manner. I think our doctors should be ashamed of themselves behaving in this manner over and over again. AJITH MADAPPULI- Australia
The big match was won by the UNP convincingly. In the one-dayer for the LG cup too the UNP has been victorious over the combined PA and JVP. The PA scored a few runs but the JVP let them down badly. Their highest scorer made a paltry two runs. The JVP could not withstand the onslaught of the UNP and most of them retired hurt. The people have given a clear verdict. They want Peace and not War. Many aspiring young men and women with bright prospects have laid down their lives from both communities for this senseless war. The JVP does not want to see an end to this conflict. They say that the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying to hand over a part of Sri Lanka to Prabhakaran. Do they think that anyone with a drop of Sinhala blood would do such a traitorous act. What Ranil is trying to achieve is peace so that both the Sinhalese and Tamils could live in peace and harmony as they did before the Sinhala in 24 hours act by the President's father Mr. Bandaranaike. The present JVP lot would not have been even born then but the Sinhalese and Tamils lived quite happily as far down South in Matara and Hambantota before that, in the good old days. Now that the JVP has lost badly, their leaders should migrate to England, the home of all dissidents and join their leader Somawansa Amarasinghe who is living in peace and comfort. The JVP caused a lot of misery and bloodshed twice. The people will not allow them to do so again. "Peace hath her Victories not less renowned than war" P.M. GUNASEKERA-Boralesgamuwa.
The manner in which applicants for visas are treated by the French Embassy is, to say the least, shocking. When an enquiry is made over the phone they reply that applicants should call over personally between 9 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. From very early in the morning even before daybreak the queue starts forming. No facilities whatsoever are provided. They start at 9 a.m. The progress is very slow. At 10.30 a.m. they stop and those in the queue are told to come on another day. There is no assurance that they will be taken on the next day. They will have to join the queue again.They should know the number of applicants they can process in 1 1/2 hours. The least they can do is to take only that number at 9 a.m. and tell the others to go and come again on another day. After all if they take a little trouble, all they have to do is to maintain a register and give appointments for a limited number for each day and tell the applicant the date and his number. Those called on that date should be provided with accommodation in a waiting room. There will be no need for them to stand in a queue as they will be called according to their number. Others who call for the first time can form a queue only to obtain an appointment. It is indeed surprising that the embassy of a highly developed and civilized country should be so indifferent to the convenience of the public whom they are supposed to serve. After all one of the important functions of an embassy is to issue visas for entry to their country. I have had no such problems with other Embassies such as American, British, Canadian or Australian. A. A.-Dehiwela.
Oil palm and anti science zealotry I write in reply to Dr. U. P. de S. Waidyanatha's narration on page 13 (DN, April 23) Daily news of 23rd April in the Features Column and on the bold subject of the Page termed 'AGRICULTURE' and given heavy prominence on a subject that I would treat as now closed and after the symposium on this matter of Oil Palm where the consensus was in the majority to withhold large scale Oil palm Plantation as at now. I am surprised that a learned scientist of the calibre of Dr. U. P. de Waidyanatha as Director of the Coconut Research Institute has used very strong language and termed those against - his dictatorial contention as those with vested interests and as anti science Zealots. The learned doctor himself admits that the subject of diversification of rubber into Oil Palm was deliberated upon at a seminar of the Sri Lanka association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) on April 4, 2002. This learned doctor also is critical of the press reports covering the meeting stating that they too are biased and uses quotations stating that they have missed the wood for the trees' - also diabolically stated therein that perhaps the journalists were in effect trying to create sensational Journalism thereby. I am also defending the journalists whom I consider as those who have factually reported on what was actually enacted. Hence casting critical aspersions on the journalists is thoroughly uncalled for and no doubt the journalists concerned would take offence as my contention is that they have reported as unbiased journalists as it means nothing extra to them whether it be oil palm, coconut or rubber. I totally disagree also that the discretion of what to grow or produce should be left entirely to the producer - certainly Yes. But when it comes to main Plantation crops like tea, rubber and coconut which have been growing in this country as the 3 main plantation crops for well over one hundred years than a scientific opinion from high quality profficient scientists with scientific factual data should be sought after as if not why have highly qualified scientists with Dectorates from recognised universities to head these three mentioned plantation crops - Research Institutes. I need not go into further details of pros and cons of the prevailing scenario but have decided to stand by the findings of the much publicised symposia detailed above - and let's treat this matter as now closed - My contention is otherwise is will be a "slang match" between the intellectuals, who should be together in accepting the conclusion at the deliberations arrived at the totally unpartial symposuim where many very learned and practical personnel were accommodated and addressed papers. I implore that my plea on this matter is accepted as I mean it with honest humility - as being not an intellectual with letters behind my insignificant name - but only a record of over four (4) decades of Agricultural Plantation Management in all three crops Tea, Rubber and Coconut and as one having had the privillege to hold hierachical office in the State organisations now privatised for management and ownership. Hence mine constitutes practical knowledge in the true sense of the word. Clinton Rodrigo - Colombo 5. The festive season in Nuwara Eliya has begun. People of all walks of life visit this town to enjoy the salubrious climate of cooler chimes from the hustle and bustle of their destinations. It is very regretting to note that loudspeakers fixed at every point causes disturbance to holiday makers and the environment. The Holiday makers needs a little peaceful atmosphere. I would suggest that these loudspeaker notices and announcements be confined to restricted hours in the morning and evening. RALPH QUYN-Nuwara Eliya.
On April 1, 2002 I, through a third party, bought an item the sale price of which was Rs. 530, and GST Rs. 66.25, the total paid being Rs. 596.25. The trader has given me three copies of the invoice; customer copy, accounts copy, and the book copy. Normally the accounts copy is for internal accounting purposes including processing of GST for transmission to the Government. And the book copy is retained in the invoice book itself. Therefore GST charged from me must be ending up with the trader. Upon receipt of the goods and the invoices, I telephoned the trader concerned to which a seemingly apologetic shop official regretted the mistake, which may or may not be. The fact that the invoice number is hand written is also not reflective of good accounting. This information is for those concerned with trade ethics, Government finance management, and the trading circles which these days show great concern about national development, to analyse, decide and act. By acting I do not mean legal action, which is not easy to apply on so many traders who are blessed with an environment that is so conducive to fleecing the consumer and robbing the Government. Instead I propose preventive action. Some are; customers to ask for invoice, check for the GST number and invoice number, and invoices involving GST/VAT to be written on tamper proof paper with a printed serial number which can be traced like in the cheque books. DR. J. HANDAWELA-Rajagiriya.
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