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| Friday, 6 June 2003 |
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Letters | |
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Parents should speak in English at home It is extremely fortunate to observe that numerous erudite politicians of various hues, governmental educational authorities and learned principals of leading educational institutions are once again emphasising and reiterating the intense importance of introducing the teaching of English language at primary stages of the educational careers of students. However, the governmental educational authorities have now faced immense difficulties, in immediately obtaining the services of suitable English teachers, due to the dearth or non-availability of qualified teachers in Sri Lanka. Therefore the educational authorities have an uphill task to perform in the shortest possible time. It has been observed by me at various stages of my career in marketing and management that a significant drawback and disadvantage of the young school leavers, are their inability to converse in English, although they could understand well and comprehend thoroughly any verbal instructions or advice given in English. In fact this important aspect was prominently expressed by applicants at numerous interviews I have conducted in the recruitment of applicants for various posts, of reputed mercantile establishments I have worked for over thirty five years. Most of the qualified applicants could write quite well in English as well and some of them had in fact prepared their comprehensive applications on their own, together with an appropriately worded letters of introduction. However, when interviewed in English some applicants unfortunately failed to answer the questions put forward, due to their fear in speaking in English. Such sad and unexpected situations are similar to "stage-fright" experienced by many, prior to making a speech or addressing the public on stage. I understand that the younger generation refers to same as "Kaduwa". If we are to assist the younger generation to overcome the aforesaid obstacle, I am of the opinion that young students could easily and expeditiously get rid of this fear to speak in English, if an opportunity is afforded at home for such action. Therefore, if parents could speak to their children in English at home on a compulsory basis and get their offspring to reply and converse in English, a remarkable portion of the fear they have to speak in English will consequently disappear in a short time. As most of the children attend public schools, such children will very often speak in Sinhala or Tamil in school. Speaking in English at home on a regular basis, is in my opinion the best and most appropriate environment, as children will not be scared or ashamed to make mistakes and will readily correct their mistakes, as least embarrassment will be caused when they are at home. I feel the home environment is most appropriate and is best suited for the commencement of speaking in English at early childhood. In my opinion children will learn their mother tongue Sinhala or Tamil in school, public transport and from domestic employees, if any. I have come across many families, where parents could converse well in English, but their children are completely unable or struggle to converse in English. If parents could make an emphatic effort and decide to converse in
English at home and get their children to follow suit, such action will
immensely assist the children to get rid of the fear to speak in English. PIM Supplement explains it all The supplement published in the press by the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) of University of Sri Jayawardanapura on May 27 was humble enough to say what all our holders of Master of Business Administration were (not) doing. Following are the highlighted portions in the Supplement: "Norway spends 28% of its education budget on tertiary education, India 14% and Sri Lanka, a mere 9%. Are we creating a knowledge society?" "Sri Lanka receives US $8 per kg for the export of its ornamental fish. Comparatively, Singapore gets US $50 by re-exporting our fish, while Malaysia earns over US $500 per kg. So much for our aquatic research and value addition!" "Many Sri Lankan organisations are eager to receive ISO certification. Improving productivity and quality are thereafter, conveniently forgotten". "A few Sri Lankan CEOs drive their products through globally competitive markets: the key to success is innovation". "Only a few firms in the garment industry are re-shaping their future. Others are already sick. Would the disease spread to other industries?" "Our Government is denied of Rs. 65 billion per year due to inefficient tax collection. Does anyone care?" Does PIM try to say all these have happened due to MBAs or due to non-employing of BMAs in the relevant positions? For the past twenty years or so, several local Universities are producing MBAs and there are many who get qualified in other countries. But have we seen any improvement in our management or productivity. MBA has become a fashion; or a decoration in ones CV and is nothing more than that. The Supplement further says at the end, that the PIM's mission is to get professional managers to occupy position of leadership in the professional community of Sri Lanka. Good - because ultimately it does not talk about doing anything for the
Country. But, what masses of this country would need is some honest,
genuine people with ingenuity and innovativeness to truly develop this
country whether they have their MBAs or not. Curbing the present lawlessness The present situation of lawlessness in the country has caused many people live in fear of undergoing similar fate of helpless victims they have heard of or seen in the recent past who had intensely suffered at the cruel hands of criminals. Naturally, this breeds a sense of insecurity which makes life uncomfortable for many, irrespective of the social levels to which they belong, depriving a basic need of prime importance in a civilized society. In a hopeless situation as this, it is natural for people to depend heavily on the Police for their protection. However, it is obvious that Police action alone is not sufficient in bringing about the expected results without the revision of laws, which has become an urgent necessity. Many of the laws that are in existence in this country were legislated a long time ago when the society was not so distressed by crime as it is at present, and the modes of operation of criminals were not so sophisticated as they are now. With the constant change of almost everything that we associate in our lives to suit the present needs, it is quite unacceptable how only the legislation has been left unattended to cause rapid deterioration of law and order in the country. As in everything that has seen a change during the recent times, the laws too need to be completely overhauled to suit the demands of the society. The main obstacle in this process comes from the affiliation of present-day politics with the underworld. It is an open secret that many of our politicians, who are in the ruling party and the Opposition alike, have close links with criminals to see to their sordid needs to be in power and take revenge on opponents. If they have power in effecting changes to so many things around them to safeguard their own interests, it is strange why a matter of paramount importance to the general public as this has been left behind so long as to let crime rate inflate by astounding proportions. The other main problem in combatting crime in an effective manner is the constitutional interference which affect so many important public issues. Many of the rules and regulations that are currently in force in some other countries have very successfully contained criminal activities. They cannot be enforced here as being too harsh for the democratic structure we have in Sri Lanka. Though democracy provides much freedom, it also has its owned drawbacks; and in this instance, the dissension over ethics in prescribing deterrent action for crimes! Many of the Middle-Eastern and African countries have extremely harsh and rigid rules that may seem inhuman to many freethinkers in other parts of the world. However, this has been effective in bringing down the crime rate to amazingly low levels in these countries where wide publicity is given when criminals are punished, which is done openly, making it exemplary for others. With the availability of modern facilities like television, the viewing of such is now extended to a larger audience in the country, thus achieving greater results. Stoning to death, chopping off hands, beheading and other severe corporal punishments that still exist in some of these countries may seem primitive at a time like this. However gruesome they may seem, these punishments have fulfilled the purpose for which they have been meant. In the annals of our ancient history, particularly in Mahawamsa we find numerous references to similar punishments meted out to criminals in Sri Lanka too during the time of our kings. All this makes one thing clear - severe punishments keep criminals at bay, irrespective of the country where they are imposed on. The lawlessness that prevail in the country at present is solely due to our laws being so lax and obsolete. Unfortunately, the introduction of hangman as a deterrent to the rapid rise in grave crimes have also come under fire by many who preach alternatives. They feel the death sentence is inconsistent at a time like this. It is very strange how some writers to the same column have expressed their sympathy for hardcore criminals who have committed heinous crimes, with much less concern for those who have been victimized by them. One such person has even gone to the extent of writing that he was prepared to forgive an apparent killer of his own self! I see this as nothing more than a mere gambit of someone trying to stand out from the rest with an unusual twist of reasoning. As written by a mother of two young daughters, who recently bared her fears in the press about the uncertainty of the life of her children, appealing for the hangman to be brought back, how many others may also be living in constant fear of being attacked by murderers, rapists, burglars and kidnappers? The time has come to stand up against the country being made into an abattoir by cold-blooded criminals who operate freely with the patronage of those who have power and means. As the discomforting feeling of insecurity stemming from this has
reached unbearable limits, it is the prime duty of all law-abiding
citizens to impress upon the state authorities for a complete revision of
laws, with greater emphasis placed on reintroduction of the death penalty.
Nothing else would bring about the expected relief, and this certainly is
the need of the hour which should receive immediate attention by all those
concerned. The floods, to all intents and purposes, are destructive and they have become national disasters. The devastating flood that occurred in 1947 in Sri Lanka affecting many persons did not last long. Those flood victims re-built their damaged houses with the assistance of government agents who were guided by the MPs in those districts. Another flood that took place in Polonnaruwa district was overpowered and the rehabilitation works were successfully done by the late C.P. de Silva, the then MP for Polonnaruwa and also the then Minister of Lands and Lands Development. He was an indispensable and popular politician those days there. The most devastating flood that occurred in the mid May 2003 was fatal and disasterous owing to which 250 persons were killed and their properties were badly affected. It has been detected that 25,534 houses were completely destructed and 25,481 houses were partly damaged. 60,996 families in Matara district, 48,090 families in Ratnapura district and 29,734 families in Galle district were severaly affected. Our country consists of 25,332 square miles out of which about 4,021 square miles were inundated in those flooded five districts such as Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Hambantota. However it is praiseworthy that an emergency disaster management ministerial committee was formed and it was presided over by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. This committee identifies Search and Rescue Operations, Food Supplies,
improving road conditions, providing drinking water, medical and first-aid
facilities. In addition, this committee builds temporary sheds for
displaced families. Apropos the letter of John W. Hardne (DN. May 21) on the above subject, I too wish to point out the following. In his letter he has indicated the costs of a successful loan applicant which all the expenses are passed onto the client. When you make an application to Bank to mortgage some property to get a loan you are required to get (a) title report (b) valuation report from the panel of officers nominated by the Bank. The above mentioned are in addition to other documents which have to be obtained from other institutions. But, what I cannot understand is why the Bank wants us to get the title reports from the panel lawyers when they have their own Legal Officers. Recently, I had to get a title report from one of the panellists of BOC. She had certified that the applicant has a good and valid title to the property which could be accepted as a security for the purpose of granting a loan by the BOC. In spite of this recommendation the Legal Officer is raising various queries thus discouraging us and also we have now to incur more expenses to obtain the documents required by them from the Lands Registry. The Panel Lawyer charged us Rs. 3,000 for issuing the title report. If
the Legal Dept. of the Bank cannot accept her report, I wish to inquire
why the Bank wants the applicants to obtain reports from Panel Lawyers.
Surely, the Legal Officers in Banks can handle this without harassing the
poor applicants. Let us wait for some successful action. |
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