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| Tuesday, 29 July 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.
Political discussions on T.V. - for what purpose? Almost daily we hear discussions in various T.V. channels on political issues which are very important. Really what happens is, they - the learned people, politicians - meet and express their views and we - the - listeners some ask questions and others just listen if they have no other work to do. At the end of all this what happens? - Nothing. Is there any effect on the society? No. Everybody agrees to disagree and go away. I feel that people do not change their ideas after listening to them not even the people who take part in the discussion. So far no survey has been done to see the impact on the society. This reminds me of a story I heard long ago. In a certain village a meeting was organised by the teetotallers to protest and educate the villagers to abstain from consuming liquor. The biggest Kassipu seller of the area also had helped immensely on condition he gets the last speech. So at the meeting all the speakers said it is bad to consume liquor giving various reasons. At the final speech by the Kassipu seller he asked the audience whether any religious leaders advocated to consume liquor. Everybody shouted NO. Then he said "you have not listened to your religious leaders so how will you ever listen to these people who told you to abstain from liquor?" Everybody started laughing and went away. So I feel that T.V. discussions on politics is an utter wastage of time, energy and will not serve any purpose. M.N. De ZOYSA - Ambalangoda Reader Methananda Wijekulasuriya's observations under the heading English Spelling (DN 10th July) is indeed appropriate considering the times we live in, English spelling, atrocious as it seems is just one aspect of it. Take the pronunciation of English words heard over and over again on TV. A few examples will suffice. A Jam, Sauce and Cordial advertisement insists that "Source" and "Ko-dial" is a better buy - and so does a mattress that has "Cool Form" to give one a sound sleep. Why cannot these advertisers use good Sinhala words in their ads instead of making a mess of it by using English words that conveys a different meaning altogether when mispronounced? After all the Sinhala language is rich in its vocabulary. Then why persist in using English words? True, the phonetics differ but can't these advertisers get someone with correct pronunciation to extol the goodness of their products if and when English words are being used. Banners, cut-outs and bill boards are no better, as pointed out by MW. For example there were banners fluttering in Castle Street, Borella some time late last year apparently strung up on behalf of a Realtor, offering blocks of land in an exciting place called "Supper Paradise". It is time an authority was set up to bring about a measure of control on mushroom organisations, most of which are unregistered and taking to unethical business activities. It is these organisations that indulge in such hilarious bloomers due to poor English knowledge. These blatant bloomers will continue to tickle us keeping those aspiring to learn correct English guessing who is correct or what is correct. D. C. NUGAWELA, Malabe. Bribery and corruption - pot calling the kettle black It is very sad what is happening in our country where we accuse each other of Bribery and Corruption and every politician and govt. servant claim that their hands are clean. Every govt. that came into power since independence in 1948 promised to wipe out Bribery and Corruption if its party came into power, but what happens as the saying goes on "the dogs can bark but the caravan moves on". A few years ago by an Act of Parliament a Law was passed to eradicate Bribery and Corruption in the country, by appointing a permanent Commission. Since February 2003 the Bribery and Corruption Commission has been inoperative when one of the commissioners died and according to law requires that the vacancy is filled only by a retired Supreme Court or Appeal Court Judge, and the Commission cannot function unless all three commissioners sit. According to the media there are more than 500 investigations against politicians, including cabinet ministers and public servants. This is a very vital piece of legislation which the whole country was clamouring in the last several decades and now it appears to have come to a standstill. The Government and the Opposition should give all support and more teeth to the Commissioners, appoint another commissioner for the vacancy that exist without any further delay, provide more investigating officers to the Commission, clear the backlog and allow the Commission to function independently without any obstruction. There appears to be some doubts in the minds of the people that the Government and the Opposition are not sincere in the functioning of the Bribery and Corruption Commission and are out to sabotage. Perhaps politicians fear that their members may be found guilty and would be the end of their political career and tarnish the name of the party. Justice must not only be done, but should appear to be done. F. A. RODRIGO-SATHIANATHEN, Kelaniya. Self-seeking politicians, particularly those who have earned the rare distinction of being notorious in vote rigging through half a dozen ways, and proudly project their image as the village chandiyaas under cover of temporary immunity they enjoy, will fight tooth and nail to prevent the recall to life of the hangman, buried alive several years ago because some self-appointed moralists, pseudo social reformists, and above all paid agents of the underworld and NGOs wanted the hangman done to death. In the south, the crime rate is fast galloping and armed criminals, bandits, daylight burglars, contract killers, rapists, large-scale drug and human smugglers, and others have a field day. If the authorities cannot recall the hangman to deal with murderers who forfeit their own lives the moment they take away the life of another, and other despicable criminals, then it should introduce legislation to hang the corrupt politicians and others who shield and fatten criminals and promote lawlessness among their henchaiyyas. C.B., Panadura I agree with most of what was said by Deshapriya Rajapaksha's letter recently on MBAs produced by the local Universities. I also appreciate very much the contribution made in this connection by Dr. P. Hood of Anglia Polytechnic University in England. I wish to add that merely having a mission statement alone is not sufficient. What is more important is the progress made in achieving the objectives of the mission statements. Dr. Hood has not enlightened the public with regard to his findings in regard to the actual progress made despite many years that have elapsed since the MBA programmes began. It is true that management education must prepare students to contribute to their organizations and the larger society in Sri Lanka and grow personally and professionally throughout their careers. Questions have not been raised with many prestigious and traditional degrees awarded by the local universities in Engineering, Medicine, Law and many other deciplines but these comments are restricted to MBAs only. It is because management education faces challenges from strong and growing global economic forces, conflicting values and also due to changing technology in products and processes. An evaluation has to be made with regard to quality of the curriculum, curriculum development, qualifications of the faculty, intellectual contributions of the faculty, resources available, recruitment of students, linkages established with other world renown universities conducting similar programs and on many other matters. USA has an independent body known as AACSB to do the accreditation. Many leading universities in countries in Asia including those in Japan, Hongkong, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Korea, Australia and other developing countries like Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico and also Canada and many European countries have obtained accreditation for their business degrees from AACSB. The European Union too has such a quality assurance Institution in Brussels. Peer review is an indispensable step in the process of accreditation. Once an accreditation is obtained the local MBA's become transportable across the world. Our MBAs will be able to seek employment in world class organisations globally. Some brain drain cannot be avoided, in the end I am sure some of them will return to serve their motherland. Since quality experience is critical issue in the Business world I am sure the local business community would welcome better quality MBAs with wider experience once this happens. The public sector too would benefit if Public Service Commission changes recruitment policies to accommodate those MBAs who wish to join the service at different levels. The present rules permit recruitment only at the lowest levels. I do hope that the Minister concerned would direct the Universities to seek International recognition for the MBAs in the national interest by seeking accreditation either by AACSB or EQUIS. C.K. , Ratmalana. Intercity travel from Kandy to Kurunegala Seeing the bus arriving, commuters run towards it clamouring to get in even before the bus is stopped. When the bus is brought to a halt with difficulty avoiding grappling commuters being run over, the able-bodied commuters fight their way in pushing aside children, mothers, women, the sick, the feeble and infirm not sparing the venerated clergy, true to the commuter discipline of survival of the fittest prevailing in the bus stand. The bus immediately leaves over loaded and those left out wait hoping to get into the next. The next comes and the same drama is enacted with no lesser severity. This was the pathetic scene witnessed by me at the Kandy Goods Shed bus stand experienced by commuters to Kurunegala in the intercity bus. This was not all. Those who grapple their way into the bus meet with another obstacle inside. Most of the seats are found laiden with hand bags, books, umbrellas and parcels etc. indicating they are booked much to their astonishment. Such commuter has no option other than to keep mum and decide between travelling standing or get down. Add to this, the particular spot where intercity buses to Kurunegala are parked is in a heavily crowded narrow stretch of land used by buses to several other destinations as well making commuters to run for their dear life when several buses reverse and take off without warning. There is nothing much to do to arrest this situation. It is only a simple matter of organizing a system of an orderly queue and supervise that no one violates. An alternate spacious site is suggested, as well. Over to the transport Ministry of the Central Provincial Council for an immediate remedy before an imminent tragedy. M.B. JAYARATNE, Kurunegala. There is a big hugh and cry that the Death Sentence should not be reintroduced. If this is the argument why don't we call for a referendum, as we all know the verdict will be in favour of the Death Penalty for crime and rape. The crime rate in Singapore is very, very low because everyone knows that the punishment is very severe and that there is no escape when it comes to rape and murder. The Death gallows should be active once again and in case if vacancies exists for the hangman's job - (Alugosuwa) they should be immediately filled and in case if there are volunteers for this job they should be trained and absorbed for this job. I personally feel many would happily volunteer to do it especially to make this country a better tomorrow, so that it won't be too far when we could once again call Sri Lanka the Pearl of the Indian Ocean? LI KUAN SHU, Kandy. These days we can see an unusual advertisement on TV channels about a new brand of milk product entering the market. A cow jumps up and down madly on stage exposing her udders inviting the audience to taste her special milk. Whether human or animal, this creature represents motherhood and she is to be respected anywhere. If this cow were aware of this insensible picture it would go to the courts and sue for the damages for tarnishing her image. The thrill of drinking milk is usually expressed by the calf which is playful and runs around its mother and not the mother cow which feeds the calf. This reflects the growing puerile advertising trends. I hope there will be a revise version to this soon. MADDUMA BANDARA NAVARATHNE, Embilipitiya VIPs or RIPs? MPs MPs are duly elected representatives of a nation MPs sit on the fence, yet keep both ears to the ground O, to be an MP in 'Paradise Isle" is heaven on earth 'A rare and very promising clan, and time serving are the MPs,
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