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Subject of great importance

"You and your body" makes the newest addition to the vast array of books written on human body by a Sri Lankan writer. He is no stranger to science literature as he has authored several books and made significant contributions to periodicals and magazines and newspapers for nearly three decades. In him I find the characteristics, charisma and the reputation of a quality writer whose name is now permanently, etched to the memory of Sri Lankan readers.

Dr. W.T.M. Mahindaratne walks around as a true colossus masquerading in his chosen field. This resulted in many a reader rallying around him. In authoring 'You and Your Body' Dr. Mahindaratne shows again his prowess in penning books benefiting young and old alike. He has thus achieved what is customary to him every time he presents something new. Be it science literature or medico legal writing the author has been able to win the admiration of his readers for attaching a poetic touch to his writing in such technical subjects. He has in fact made it a novelty in his writing that the technical language is handled in so expertly a manner.

This work has been published as a part of what is known as a series of science books for children by selected eminent writers and this work has been chosen as its first publication. This by itself points to publishers trust in the abilities of the writer. The evidence emerges through the selection criteria of writers is that the Publisher naturally decided upon the most acceptable writer's work to be his curtain raiser.

In the same stride the recognition is also made of his fund of immense knowledge and capability in authoring books in the field of science and in particular the medico legal writing.

The writer's fame and mass appeal has also earned him a seat at the Royal Institution of Scientists of Great Britain.

I find that the author has been extremely lucky in receiving the expert advice and guidance of a team of consultants of highest reckoning in the local and international environs in the likes of Prof. Niriella, Dr. Parakrema Dissanayake (Consultant Physician), Dr. N.J.K. Nanayakkara (Consultant Surgeon) and Dr. Chulani Adikari (Consultant Physician). This input from independent sources has guided work in the right direction with accompanying sound technicality and professionalism, which form the nucleus of writing of any technical and/or professional subject. This has gone to increase the credibility besides its readability. It is an acceptable norm and it should prevail particularly in the craft of professional writing.

The writers are by nature a different breed. They see things which others do not see. They say things in a few words which others take volumes to explain. They present their language, which moves the heart of a reader. It is for this purpose they stand as colossuses masquerading the civil society; It is for this purpose they are respected. They inspire, motivate and guide the reading public; they constantly remind us of our civil liberties, duties and responsibilities. Dr. Mahindaratne fits very ably in to these billets.

This book is supported with a foreword by Dr. P.B. Gunawardana, Director General of National Education Institute, Maharagama. He very correctly refers to the writer's attempt as timely and recommends this work to be a necessary class reading material.

- Dr. P.A. Nandasena

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Contribution to sustainable farming system

Sustainable farming systems through traditional plant genetic resources and indigenous knowledge based practices

Published by Helvetas, Sri Lanka and printed by Hitech Prints, Nugegoda

Sustainable farming systems through traditional plant genetic resources and indigenous knowledge based practices was launched on 14th December, 2001. This publication has been released when the issues relate to the implications of WTO/TRIPS, patenting of life forms, bio-piracy and seed terminator technology are intensively debated among the states, scientists and conservationists.

The book is one of the main outputs of the activities of the network on Ecological and Sustainable Farming Systems established in 1997. Helvetas Sri Lanka initiated the network that has 7 active NGO member organisations at present. Over thousand farmers scattered in different climatic and agricultural zones in the country have contributed information and data for making this publication a reality.

One of the members of the network, Center for Human Development in Kegalle, with the collaboration of other network members and interested organisations, conducted a survey among farmers and community organisations to identify the available and yet cultivated traditional agricultural crop varieties after years of mono culture based agriculture.

The identified varieties are agriculturally and ecologically important. After completing the survey, the network decided to publish the results in the form of a book and Helvetas supported this move.

The book has been printed on A4 paper. It has 127 pages and the subjects relevant to the topic have been presented in four chapters. Much information has been presented in colour photographs, drawings, diagrams and tables. The book is in English with executive summary given in all three languages. The language in the book is simple and easy to read.

The first chapter gives a brief background on the initiative of the project and significance of publishing it. The second chapter is on Sri Lanka and its diversity. It gives an overview on agriculture in Sri Lanka. It covers briefly the history of agriculture in Sri Lanka, climatic and agro-climatic zones and their significance for cultivation in seasons, main soil types and how the indigenous knowledge based practices in agriculture and cultivation of traditional varieties have contributed for conservation of biological diversity in general and agricultural crop diversity in particular in the past.

The third chapter is on traditional knowledge in Sri Lanka, which forms the main body of the book too. It includes traditional farming systems and practices, Kem methods and rituals used in traditional agriculture and some traditional food preparation methods. Further the more interesting section in this chapter is the array of indigenous knowledge based practices (Kem methods) in agriculture. They have been described based on the information given by farmers or/and indigenous practitioners.

An interesting point to note here is that almost all the practices are based on non-destruction of other lives and resources. Examples of methods used in pest and disease management and storage indicate the prominence given on traditional beliefs and values that respect the ecosystem as a whole in the nature. The principle of non-destruction and eco-friendly attitude in managing certain pests and diseases in agriculture use of naturally available inputs reflect the environmental sustainability, forecast by our ancestors, compared to a widely adopted contemporary agricultural practices and systems. Though farmers in the past practised Kem methods, they were not properly recorded and documented. The described methods are based on one or many farmers' experiences. Therefore slight changes in practising the same methods are possible among farmers in different areas.

The fourth and final chapter is on conservation of crops through, continued cultivation in Sri Lanka. It gives an overview on categories of crops currently cultivated by farmers and a list of crops in each category with local and scientific names (wherever possible) and their identified sources during the survey. Since the publication is in English, it would have been interesting to have the scientific names identified for each and every crop variety listed (in local languages) in the tables in this chapter.

This work on Sri Lanka's biological diversity shall be noticed by the relevant institutions and governmental agencies in charge of the subject and put forward to the national discussion on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and conservation of agricultural germplasm.

In Sri Lanka this document is perhaps a first step towards systematically documenting the traditional knowledge related to agriculture especially with the detail of farmers who still practice them. The book is translated into Sinhala and Tamil for publication soon.

- S. Vaheesan, Programme Officer, Helvetas Sri Lanka

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Medieval gold coins of Sri Lanka

OMR Sirisena's work Medieval Gold Coins of Sri Lanka (700-1100) although at first blush may seem a little research monograph, nevertheless is great reading, which indeed carries the reader back in retrospect to a stunning gold coinage, on which an unprecedented prosperity of the country resulting from an opulent international commerce had at one time been dependent.

His presentation of the subject matter is so lucid and comprehensive that it seems to have virtually exhausted the subject.

I would unhesitatingly commend this publication not only to the serious collector of ancient and medieval coins of Sri Lanka, but also to the research student who is making the study of Sri Lanka numismatics his speciality. Needless to say, the monograph should in time doubtless become a collector's item.

- Dr. Lakmal Seneviratne

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Sinhala alphabet with a difference

Distributed by Godage Book Centre, 675, P. de S. Kularatne Mawatha, Col. 10
Published by Sri Devi Printers Pvt Ltd Dehiwala

Review by Indeewara Thilakarathne

"Akuru Mihira 1" is the latest book by Prof J. B. Dissanayaka, dedicated to those who learn Sinhala for the first time in life. The book contains the Sihala alphabet in an order making it easier to identify and learn Sinhala letters with pleasure. The letters which are similar in shape come in the first part of the book. Some of the letters in the Sinhala alphabet, which are hardly in use today, have been omitted from the book. As the knowledge of the alphabet is important for each and every one, the author has included a complete Sinhalese alphabet with 58 letters at the end of the book.

Each lesson is devoted to teach a letter or a character. A different colour is used to capture learner's attention to the letter or character in focus. When a new letter or a character is introduced, the author has always used it with already-known letters and characters so that the child could read the words containing the new letter or the character. The book is priced at Rs. 240 and is distributed by Godage Publishers.

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