Monday,1 July 2002  
The widest coverage in Sri Lanka.
Letters
News

Business

Features

Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

Government - Gazette

Sunday Observer

Budusarana On-line Edition




Please forward your letters to [email protected]  in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.


 

 

Should wildlife be conserved or not?

Man is the worst foe of animals. He kills wildlife for many reasons -hunting, sporting and for greed. The animals become extinct when they are destroyed. The wolf, bear, wild boar, beaver, dodo, red and gray squirrels are almost extinct nowadays.

If the destruction of wildlife goes on at this rate then the threat of extinction of endangered species might arise at an uncontrollable level. Wildlife in water is also under threat nowadays.

Conservation of wildlife is an essential deed, which should be done by man. The balance of nature is a point, which should be contemplated before destroying wildlife. Killing the preys and their predators disturbs the natural food chain. The change in the natural balance often upsets the natural control of pests and diseases. Rats, wood pigeons and rabbits are some examples of pests, which destroy crops. This in turn affects humans as their yield decreases. Moreover, the natural habitat of species is also disturbed by destruction to wildlife.

Therefore, to prevent all these problems in the future man should be interested in conserving wildlife for his own advantages too.

JULIET COSTA - Colombo 6.


Whose responsibility

Experience the environment along the stretch of Thimbirigasyaya Road meeting those ends of Fife Road and Jawatte Road. Stangnant muddy water in drains outside boundary walls of houses coupled with dried leaves, plastic bags, and worse, form an ideal breeding ground for the prevalent dengue, viral flue and malaria epidemics - escalating out of proportion.

Whose responsibility is this clean-up?This stagnation didn't just happen yesterday... or the day before... or a month ago!

DEIRDRE CADIRAMEN - Colombo 5.


Business activities of railway men

When I got into the Matara bound train (which was running express from Galoya) at Moratuwa Railway Station on Saturday the 15th at about 7.45 a.m. I was able to have a look at the luggage room through the door without any difficulty as I was so close to the door glass, standing.

There were about 200 pots of curd nicely kept in the luggage room.

This particular train which is not expected to stop at Wadduwa station, stopped there for about 5 minutes.

When the train stopped at Ambalangoda station I saw that a good part of the pots of curd were being unloaded. It took about 15 minutes.

So like other passengers I thought the train would commence its run but to our surprise, those who were in white uniforms were having a brisk business changing money with few mudalalis on the platform.

The train started its journey only after the transactions were over, after about another 10 minutes. The poor commuters who travel with so many difficulties, most of them standing throughout, fail to reach their destinations on time.

T.C. - Wandurambe


Prevention of road tragedies

There have been in many areas increasing deaths damage to human beings, and also loss and damage in respect of valuable vehicles and other property arising out of road traffic tragedies. This state of affairs is due mainly to impatience, indiscipline, incompetence, drunkenness and/or lack of alertness on the part of a considerable number of drivers of the plethora of vehicles, which often move at almost formidable speed. There have also been careless pedestrians who have contributed to the grievious faults.

It is time that the Traffic Police should review the dimensions and quality of its set-up and operations with a view to improving the activities to meet the challenging task.

D. KURUNERU - Moratuwa.


Closure of Duplication Road

According to the news item which appeared in a popular TV on 20.6.2002, it appears that the connection to Galle Road at the southern-end of Duplication Road is closed as it runs through the premises of the Muslim Girls' School. As stated by the Principal of the School on 21.6.2002 in the TV, the main objection is the noise pollution and the exposure of school children to environmental and traffic hazards when a large number of motor vehicles start using this road.

When there are problems of this nature a practical solution will be to provide a tunnel in this stretch of the road. A tunnel will prevent most of these hazards and public nuisance. This tunnel can be partly below the ground level or fully underground depending the clearance required for cars and light vehicles.

There will be several advantages if this suggestion can be implemented. The surface can be landscaped and made attractive as a play area for children.

The payment of compensation can be reduced and the school can remain as it is without moving out to a new location. Therefore, it is worth considering the feasibility of this suggestion.

E.G. DHARMASIRIWARDANE - Chartered Architect/Planning Consultant.


Born Christians - saved Buddhism

I wonder how many of those who have read the historical happenings in this island during the latter part of the 19th century, have realised that we Buddhists are deeply indebted to three great personalities, though born to Christian parents, became pioneers in the movement to review Buddhist eduction in this country.

When Colonel Henry Steele Olcott, an American born Christian, arrived with Maddam Blavatsky in 1880, there were 805 Missionary schools around the island against 4 Buddhist Sinhalese schools, 2 at Panadura and 2 at Dodanduwa. Colonel Olcott theron formed the "The Buddhist Theosophical Society" for the primary purpose of establishing "Buddhist English schools" to prevent Buddhist children from attending Missionary schools to study English.

This herculean task was taken over by C.W. Leadbeater on his arrival here in 1885. Strange to say Mr. Leadebeater was a Minister in an Anglican Church in England at the time he was summoned. The first "Buddhist English School" was however, started on 01.11.1886 with Mr. Leadbeater as Principal. He was the founder of the journal 'The Buddhist" which he edited as well. Four years later he had to leave the island for more important duties abroad. It is also said that Mr. Leadbeater attained Arhatship after 42 days of guided meditation under a highly developed Arhat.

The vacancy as Principal was filled by A.E. Buultjens, a Sri Lankan born Christian. He was the most outstanding student at S. Thomas' College, who won the one and only scholarship offered to the Cambridge University that year. He returned to the island with an honours degree in philosophy and religions, and at the same time turned a Buddhist by conviction. He was thus spurned by the local church, discarded by the family, and distanced by his friends. So all of it created the ground condition for Mr. Buultjens to take up the Principalship. He also functioned as Editor of the journal "The Buddhist" which was founded by Mr. Leadbeater. It was during the time of Mr. Buuljens that the school firstly started at Maliban Street, Pettah, was shifted to the present site at Maradana and named 'Ananda College", which is today the leading Buddhist school in the island.

I have narrated very briefly the great contribution made to review Buddhist Education by those who were not born as Buddhists, but as Christians. The great pioneer, Colonel Olcott, was able to make the British rulers to declare the Vesak Poya Day a holiday for the Buddhists in this country, from 1884. He was also involved in the design and production of the Buddhist flag in 1885. The flag was accepted by the Buddhists the world over.

If not for the timely arrival of Colonel Olcott in 1880, this little island would have become, "A little England in the Indian Ocean" by the start of the 20th century. Let us all Buddhists here, express our sincere gratitude to Colonel Henry Steele Olcott and all others who strived and saved Buddhism from extinction from this land.

G.P. DHANATUNGA - Kolonnawa.


Dengue and closure of schools

With the recorded death toll in the current dengue epidemic rose to 16 and with the closure of the Colombo Royal College considered to be the leading school in the country and few other so-called big schools for dengue, I would like to write few lines over existing school problems.

These schools were closed by the authorities as they were found to be the best breeding grounds of dengue mosquitoes. Why the principals and teachers neglected their prime duty and responsibility to clean their schools and its premises. Cleanliness is next to Godliness must be taught and practised to the young.

Some principals speaking to the media and said that their schools were free from dengue breeding grounds. It is regrettable that they were ignorant in this field until the surprise visits of PHIs and other health officers to these schools. No PHIs even specialised doctors are products of schools why because they got their primary and secondary education in schools. But today it is reversed. PHIs go to schools and educate principals and other teachers in basic health habits like how to keep a school free from health hazards.

This is clear proof to say that many principals in so-called "big" schools even are not first class managers in schools as defined in principals of education. Today there is a dearth of qualified principals who could bear both responsibility and accountability. UNESCO recently defined the word "school" as this. "School is the principal". This shows the importance of leadership in a school.

A good principal can drag on and rehabilitate even weak and retarded teachers in a school. In the same way veteran teachers with long services are some times stranded and disappointed in many schools today under principals like "square pegs in round holes". An Army of sheeps with a lion at its head is better than an Army of lions with a sheep at its head. This phenomenon is common to all schools, institutions, departments and even to governments.

S. DEMATAGE - Thalduwa.


Death penalty

Letters have appeared in the press for and against the imposition of the death penalty on those convicted of murder.

The death penalty has been written into our law but is not being enforced despite the Courts of Law, handing down the death penalty to criminals. That is because it is our Executive President, who has the final say over it, has to order the execution of the Court Order. No President has had the courage to order the first hanging of a criminal, so that it could be continued thereafter.

It is absurd to have a penalty, even when handed down by courts, is destined not to be implemented.

The death penalty, as such, should either be removed or be allowed to be enforced by the Courts of Law, without the law enforcement process being politicised.

UPALI S. JAYASEKERA - Colombo 4.


Plantation executives

The recent locking up of the Superintendent of Labukelle Estate, is a matter that should not be treated lightly.

Plantation Executives are constantly being harassed, in spite of there being a Collective Agreement, which lays down procedures for settling disputes with the Management.

In my view, the fundamental right of the Superintendent, of free movement, as a citizen of this country has been severely curtailed by the mob of workers, which is a serious matter. He would also have faced threats of bodily harm, in addition to which, an attempt was also made to deprive him of his requirements of food, which virtually amounts to attempted murder. These are all criminal acts under our Law.

The Managing Agents, the Ceylon Planters' Society with the advices of the E.F.C. and other legal personnel, must view the above incident very seriously, with a view to filing action in Courts, against the individuals and the Trade Unions involved.

The Superintendent, no doubt will be in a position to identify the culprits.

I reiterate, that this matter must receive the serious consideration of all concerned, if some sort of discipline is to be introduced on Plantations, which is the back-bone of the economy of this country. Hopefully, the Management Company, will not bow down to the powerful politicians and soft pedal the issue, sacrificing the Plantation Executive, in the process.

M. DHASS - Lindula


Private justice

Recently, when a woman was run over and killed by a private bus at the Nugegoda town the crowd around went berserk and attacked private buses causing damage.

The reason for their anger is understandable but the crowd's reaction by taking the law into their own hands causes concern. Such incidents have now become common civic activitism to bring the problems of the country's transport system to the attention of the Government is desirable but its manifestation in violent forms is not conducive to maintenance of Law and Order and the cohesion of our social fabric.

It can only lead to chaos and anarchy. The use of private justice also poses serious problems of control and accountability of such actions.

D.H. SATHISCHANDRA - Nugegoda.


Widening HL road

Recently a young electronic engineer gave me a lift in his vehicle and we were passing the Pannipitiya bottleneck where an elevated area of kabok had been cut through to make the High Level Road. For some reason the road engineers at the time had cut through 7 to 10 feet of very good kabok to make the roadway flat. Now there are two single lane roads on either side with an arch like elevation to serve the houses on top.

So if the one hundred or so metres of roadway here is to be widened the kabok on either side has to be further shaved off. This will damage the foundations of the houses built on either side and the two roads will be no more.

So my young engineer friend says, "why not fill up the road layer by layer in the nights and bring up to the original level so that we have a four lane roadway without causing damage to any property or household".

METTHANANDA WIJEKULASURIYA - Polgasowita.


What is 'live' news?

Can someone please clarify what some news presenters mean by saying that "you are watching news live"? Does it mean that those reading the news are living persons or that those watching are living beings?

Normally, 'live' telecast, means that the event is just taking place, such as the cricket matches or the Perehara which is being then held. But events that took place a day or two earlier, can never be telecast 'live'. And, no T.V. channel abroad ever says that news is 'live'.

Such wrong usage can only give the wrong impression, to young people learning the English language.

N.E. - Colombo 6.

Affno

HNB-Pathum Udanaya2002

www.eagle.com.lk

Crescat Development Ltd.

www.priu.gov.lk

www.helpheroes.lk


News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |


Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager


Hosted by Lanka Com Services