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| Monday, 28 April 2003 |
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Letters | |
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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.
Cataract surgery - misconception There is a misconception among the general public that cataract surgery can be performed with laser treatment. This has been further confused by a recent claim by a surgeon from India, who held an eye camp in a Five Star Hotel in Colombo, that cataract surgery can be performed without pain and loss of blood through laser treatment. I can categorically state that laser energy cannot be used for cataract surgery. I have observed and studied eye surgery in different parts of the world and no where have I seen laser treatment used for cataract surgery. The modern technique for cataract removal as practised the world over, is Phacoemulsification where a 2.8mm incision is made in the eye. The cataract is removed with ultrasonic energy and a foldable intraocular lens implant is inserted in the eye. The advantages of this technique are rapid recovery of visual function and that surgery is performed as an out-patient procedure. Patients can resume their normal day to day activities in a few days. Laser energy is used in eye surgery either to cause burns or to divide delicate tissues. Laser is not used for removal of cataracts. It is very necessary that the public be educated in this regard so as to guard against the spread of such misleading information. DR. UPALI MENDIS, Private tuition classes - a response I read the article written by Ariyadasa Ratnasinghe on private tuition classes with lot of interest. (DN Mar 7) I certainly agree with his ideas regarding the private tuition classes. I was impressed by the idea the "teachers are born and not made". In fact, I myself want to be a qualified teacher one day. I strictly oppose the idea of private tuition classes. I have often heard the complaints of students that some teachers do marvellously at their own private tuition classes than at school. How disgusting! This shows the dignified profession of teaching has become money oriented. Also, we have to understand the fact those private tuition classes pressurize the child in a large-scale. Our school kids are always at a rat race. It is true (according to the article of AR) the private tuition classes are more like a business and those "teachers" are interested in making money than the future of the students. On the other hand the private tuition classes take away the leisure time of the children and ends up making much stressful, less diverse bunch of children. I feel the children should also be given a chance to relax and to enjoy their hobbies apart from their studies. This way our schools would be able to produce a very productive generation for the future. I would like to quote a sentence from the series of advices given by late President of US Abraham Lincoln (1860-1865) to his son's School Headmaster. "Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books .... but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside". VISHAKA SENADHIRA, Expansion of the international airport Authorities concerned appear to be dilly-dallying over the area that is to be acquired for the expansion of the International Airport at Katunayake. On account of this, large extents of land around the Airport remain sterile as investors are unsure as to what areas would be acquired. Property transactions in these areas if any, are few. Banks are unwilling to lend against these properties. Time and again politicians are heard to making statements as high compensation will be paid in the event of acquisition. This is perhaps to quell the public which gets vociferous now and again. However, the only provision currently available for payment of compensation is in terms of the Land Acquisition Act formulated in 1950. The delay in finalising the plan for acquisition has caused much hardship. It appears that those responsible for drawing up plans are poor decision makers and are incapable of taking firm decisions on the face of outside pressure. Wanton delay may also be a sly attempt by the bureaucracy to discredit the government in power. D. C. SOSA, Col. Olcott was only a Theosophist I refer to the article entitled "Col Olcott was only a Theosophist" (DN Apr 14). From authentic records available in Sri Lanka, Col. Olcott became a Buddhist on the 25th day of May 1880 at Wijayananda Pirivena, Weliwita, Galle after reciting the Three Refuges (Tissarana) and (Panchasila) Five Precepts before the High Priest. Madame Blavatsky, Theosophist also became a Buddhist in the same manner on that day. This suffices to accept that the fact that he became a Buddhist. Radha Burnier, International President of the International Theosophical Society (1991) in her foreword to the book The Buddhist and the theosophical movements by Prof. C. V. Agarwal states as follows: "The true Buddhist and the real Theosophist are not concerned with labels, but the welfare of humanity for which Lord Buddha himself toiled. To those who are dedicated to the supreme aim of freeing the human mind from its tragic ignorance and travail, superficial differences cease to be of importance." CECIL JAYASINGHE, 'High altitude' and 'highland' The report entitled "High altitudes sports complex in Nuwara Eliya" (DN, Apr 18) states that "Australia may assist Sri Lanka to establish a High Altitude Sports Complex in Nuwara Eliya". May I suggest that the term "High Altitude" should be changed to something else like "Highland" or "Up-country". "High Altitude" denotes an altitude of well over 2,500m above sea level; high altitudes are cold and hypoxic to man, and there may be snowfall every month, and in the course of a day sunshine may alternate with rain and snow. On the other hand the term "Highlands" is used for altitudes between about 1,000 m and 2,000m. Thus the highlands of Brazil and the Gujana Highlands are plateaus at a general altitude of c. 1,050m. The altitude of Nuwara Eliya is 1,900m. Horton Plains is 2,134m. Ambawela with its "highland" cattle is 1,830m. V. BASNAYAKE, Death penalty for five years as a test This refers to letter by W. Fernando (DN, Apr. 8). He says that the two countries where death penalty has been proved to be a deterrent punishment are Singapore and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the crime and murder rate in those countries are at an ebb. It is, therefore, crystal clear that thanatophobia has been the answer. If not, to what else can it be alluded to? He adds that "death penalty is known to have resulted in the execution of wrong people". Even if it so happens the ratio is very negligible in proportion to the actual criminals executed. We may call it a judicial misadventure, not wilfully done. What is wrong in Sri Lanka is that most of the killings are politically motivated. This is a hard known fact and not a fiction. Take, for example, the Udatalawinna massacre on the eve of last elections. Had the death penalty been in force, those innocent people would never have become political stooges. Life imprisonment is not a prudent approach for two reasons: one is that state expenditure in feeding and clothing the prisoners will rise high. The other reason is that prisons will become overcrowded with criminals serving life imprisonment, reducing the essential facilities. Let us, as a test case, re-introduce death penalty for five years and see the result, without making theoretical calculations with no practical answers. ARYADASA RATNASINGHE, Sunil Santha created a new style of Sri Lankan music Many articles have appeared in the print media during the commemoration of Sunil Santha's death anniversary. I am unfortunate to count myself among the few living persons who knew Sunil closely. In 1945 as a pupil of Suriya Shankar Molligoda, under whom I learnt to play the Esraj, I lived in his music studio at Jaya Road, Bambalapitiya. On his return from India Sunil too lived at Jaya Road with us, and taught music for some time. He was one of the most talented, sensitive and creative artistes I have known. He was an extremely disciplined person, with the highest moral standards, where his self respect was much more important than popularity, monetary gain. I knew of all the harassment he received from fellow musicians, and officials of the former Radio Ceylon, but I would prefer not to mention names as they are no more with us. Sunil created a new style of Sri Lankan Music which brought his songs into the parlours of the Anglicized Sri Lankan's homes which had hitherto shunned oriental music of any type. Sunil's songs were popular because they could be played on the piano or guitar, and were set to popular Western social dance rhythm, and was popular with the hotel dance bands of that time. His most popular song was Olu Pipila, but I have accompanied Sunil on melodious songs like Handapane, Waren heen sare, Ho ga rallanege, Duda noda binda and a host of others, what most people do not know is that Sunil was an eminent Sitarist. His solo sitar performances could be compared to the best of Indian masters. The Alaps, Thans and Thumri pieces which flowed from his finger tips were a treat to the ears. We have lost a cultural heritage in the loss of Sunil's Songs, that were recorded at Radio Ceylon. If someone has copies of these songs, he would be doing Sri Lanka a great favour, if he could make them available for the present generation to listen over the T.V. and Radio once again. W. GRANWILLE PERERA, For development, it is essential to harness the full potential of manpower available according to requirements, for which the necessary avenues to be created enabling people to occupy themselves without idlying, according to their capabilities in which ever way possible. This would enable them not to be a burden on their country, while at the same time improving their lifestyles. For this purpose, to facilitate their day today problems and requirements, the departments and officials to be equipped and geared to cater to their needs promptly, without leading to delays thereby causing losses and frustration discouraging them from sweating. As far as the above situation is concerned, it is observed most of those who are entrusted with this obligation do not function accordingly, preventing others from contributing their share as well. They belong to the category of misfits, who are political appointees, thereby remaining parasites to society. This situation has led to lack of law and order, decipline, subordination and punctuality, preventing development. On the other hand those who are qualified and eager to work, have no opportunity to do so, due to their talents not being recognised, causing them to idle, thereby remaining a liability losing much needed manpower for the development of the country. TOMMY WANIGESINGHE, |
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