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• None are as blind as those who see, but do not perceive
  
  
• Education reform proposals
  
  
• The mask
  
  
• Refund of Debit Tax
  
  
• "Poppy" is the symbol of peace
  
  
• Maharagama PS - what next?

None are as blind as those who see, but do not perceive

This statement can be aptly applied to the administrators in the Head Office of the Ministry of Health.

In fact word "Head" should be re-phrased to "Head less".

Sri Lanka is certainly not Colombo and its surrounds but this seems to be the accepted view.

I shall list the stations manned by fully qualified Consultant Ophthalmologists.

Eye Hospital - Colombo 8 Ampara 1

Sri Jayawardenapura - Kotte 2 Anuradhapura 1

Ragama - Colombo North 1 Badulla 1

Kalubowila - Colombo South 1 Galle 1

Gampaha 1 Jaffna 1

Wathupitiwela 1 Kandy 2

Horana 1 Kurunegala 1

Kalutara 1 Matara 1

Negombo 1 Ratnapura 1

17 10

Although Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Mannar and Vavuniya have no consultant ophthalmologists, the "head less" administrators at the Ministry keep appointing surgeons close to Colombo. The latest is an appointment to Horana.

In 1973, as I returned from the U.K. with the Fellowship, I was summarily dispatched to General Hospital, Batticaloa. I was not surprised since two of my close colleagues, Dr. Upali Mendis FRCS was Consultant Ophthalmologist at General Hospital, Badulla and Dr. R.E. Selvarajah FRCS was Consultant Ophthalmologist at Trincomalee.

How is it that Ampara, the Health Minister's district enjoys the services of a Consultant Ophthalmologist?

Two new Consultants are back from overseas and a third is expected by early January.

Can I take a safe wager that they too will find comfortable stations close to Colombo or Kandy while the North and East stay deprived?

We mouthed platitudes such as "Sight for all, by the year 2000". This did not transpire. Now there is a global theme called "Vision 2020". This theme too will be a failure in Sri Lanka if the ophthalmologists are not appointed to the needed areas.

I shall end up with a quote from the Bible - "Let the Blind See" and I mean the administrators.

REGGIE SEIMON - Kandy.

Education reform proposals

When considering the present eduction system in Sri Lanka, a special feature observed is that no patriotism for their country is inculcated in the current student population as a result of the national history of their country being removed from the school curriculum. This is an unfortunate situation that will have grave repercussions on the future of the country. We have a written history of over 2,500 years and it is a very unfortunate situation if the descendants of such a nation have no knowledge of the rule their ancestors played in moulding the country.

As far as I am aware, Asian countries such as China and Japan have given a prominent place to teaching the history of their respective countries in their school curriculum. Japan was devastated during the last World War and it is a fact that its younger generation was able to reach the apex of development of their country during a very short period because of their willingness to work hard fuelled by their patriotism. Even during the period of colonialism an efficient education system was brought about through the intervention of the Maha Sangha such as Rev. Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera and the revival of Buddhism. I propose that we should reintroduce the teaching of national history and literature into our school curriculum.

In order to get their children pass the year 5 scholarship examination, thereby to win a place in a popular school, parents burden the minds of their children with an unbearable workload from the year 1 itself, denying them the opportunity to enjoy their childhood. This procedure creates an exam-oriented mentality, stunts the creative ability and the general intelligence of the children and denies them their childhood. Children have to prepare for the scholarship examination, the GCE (O/L), the GCE (A/L) et cetera and they have no leisure to enjoy anything else until they become youth. I believe that in a long-term context, this would have an adverse effect on our youth. Children confined to classrooms poring over textbooks, private tutories et cetera throughout the whole day have no social awareness and fail in their spiritual qualities and, as they have been used to a competitive environment, they become victims to cruel and dangerous thoughts. Therefore, the educationist should address their minds to create a system of education that keeps away the exam-prone mentality.

It is mentioned in the Mahawamsa under Chapter 7 that the Buddha, before His Parinibbana, had stated that Buddhism would not take hold in Bharatha, the birthplace of the Buddha, and it would be established in Sri Lanka. A rich culture and a national heritage have been created through the Buddhist philosophy donated to us by King Dharmashoka by sending his son Rev. Arahath Mahinda to our country. A few centuries later, it became the life-blood of the Sinhala nation and the country came to be known as "Dharmadweepa". Temples, stupas and the bo-tree became the crown-jewel of the Sinhala Buddhist.

Thanks to this culture, Sri Lanka became prosperous and was known as the Granary of the East. However, unfortunately, this two-fold glory deteriorated and the "Dharmadweepa", nurtured by pristine Theravada Buddhism, is becoming a hotbed of ever increasing crimes. It is clear that social cruelty generated through the degeneration of the culture has become the cause of this, and the divide and rule policy introduced by the British too is responsible for this calamity.

As a solution to all these ills, some steps should be taken to educate our younger generation on the ill-effects of the division of the country, a system built on colonial precepts, the wisdom of the process of unifying the nation and its effects on the future. In this connection, the necessity of a Constitution based on national unity to suit the aspirations of our people should be emphasized.

The creation of a proper process of devolving power on the North and the East ensuring the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of our mother-country (even going to the extent of ignoring the provincial boundaries created by the British) should be considered.

Action should be taken to re-establish pristine Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka in its glory as existed prior to 1505 A.D. and as agreed by the British with the Sinhala Buddhists in 1815 A.D. The Maha Sangha should lead this. It is essential that the President, the Prime Minister and Velupillai Prabhakaran should come to a wider consensus on this.

The GCE (A/L) students and the university entrants should be educated on the solutions submitted to various problems based on the teachings of Gothama Buddha.

S. D. BANDARANAIKE - Yakkala.

The mask

If I may add to 'Bob's Banter' column under the above (DN Oct. 28) what the Prophet Muhammed has said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three: he lies, he does not keep his word and he betrays the trust placed in him."

Let us also examine and rid ourselves of any of these traits, if present.

N. SAHEED - Colombo

Refund of Debit Tax

I refer to the above article by ADAN, Mt Lavinia (DN Oct 17).

(a) Tax exemption could be claimed in respect of the following debits:

1. Special Account

Where a special account is opened by any person in a commercial bank on the basis of a declaration and an undertaking by the account holder that such account is solely for the purpose of making:

i. payment of any loan or interest thereon to the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury;

ii payment of any tax to the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue;

iii payment of tax, duty, levy or cess to the Director General of Customs;

iv payment of any tax or duty to the Commissioner of Excise or the Director General of Excise;

v. any other payment which may be approved by the Minister by Order published in the Gazette; OR

vi purchase of treasury bills and shares in quoted companies.

2. Debits made from current account of any account holder in relation to:

i. bank to bank transfer of funds;

ii. payment of debit tax;

iii dishonoured cheques, error corrections or contra entries that do not represent withdrawal of funds by the account holder.

In the case of commercial bank accounts (not Special Account) to qualify for exemption, the account holder has to furnish a declaration to the Bank on or before the 15th of a month in respect of exempt debits made by him during the preceding calendar month.

Therefore, it could be observed that this requirement has been made to ensure proper exemption is given to the account holder. By not opening a special account and having all transactions through the commercial account results in additional burden of work to the said commercial bank.

The responsibility has been placed on the banks pertaining to collection and payment of Debit Tax. Therefore, it is our duty to ensure no additional work burden is placed on the commercial banks.

I have seen notices sent by a few local banks as well, requesting for a payment (search fee) of about Rs. 250 per debit tax refund claim in the event of continuing current account operations without opening a special account.

Therefore, I appeal to the public at large to co-operate with the commercial banks enabling them to discharge their responsibilities satisfactorily without additional work burden.

S. R. BALACHANDRAN - Executive Committee Member Income Tax Payers' Association

"Poppy" is the symbol of peace

The nation salutes the Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for all his untiring efforts of dedicated service to bring peace into the island.

(1) The convoy of Ambulances that ran from Ratmalana to Military Hospital at 7 a.m. until late in the evening with casualties or sometime with dead bodies of the soldiers is no more today.

(2) All parents whose sons are serving in the three services can have a sound sleep as their sons are very much safer today.

In the first World War the Britain & the Germany signed their Armistice Treaty after a lenthy battle on 11th November 1917 at 11 minutes and II seconds and brought peace to the entire world.

The Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemens Association with the ready concurrence of the three forces are making all arrangements under the able guidance of its President and the Secretary General, to commemorate this noble act of remembering all those who sacrificed their lives not only in the first and second World Wars but those brave sons of Sri Lanka who fought so courageously against the terrorists in North and East.

As peace loving citizens of this country it is the duty of every one to show their concern on this great day by displaying a Poppy Wreath in front of their car and wear a Poppy flower.

Not a single cent of the Poppy Funds goes out of our country. All money is being used for the welfare of the disabled and needy ex-servicemen.

H. G. P. JAYASEKERA - Colombo

Maharagama PS - what next?

Some time ago, when the dengue epidemic was at its peak, there was a relentless campaign from the public against the lethargic attitude of the previous PS authorities, on the removal of garbage in their areas.

The PS authorities shamelessly replied, that they were unable to locate a suitable dumping ground, as if the garbage had fallen from the sky, the night before!

After a few deaths later and in spite of protests from the surrounding residents, the paddy field opposite the Arpico factory was used as the dumping ground and everybody lived happily thereafter.

Now the dilemma is fast approaching again!

The filling is almost reaching the saturating level and the public wish to know-what next?

Will the present authorities, unlike the previous administration, wake up to the impending situation and start planning now or, will they follow the previous lot.

C.R.P. - Pannipitiya

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