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| Monday, 13 September 2004 |
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Conserving fuel - the British way Britain had been a powerful energy generating nation with a rich homeland for coal mining from time immemorial. She has her own largest gas production 'British Gas' and several counterparts. British journal 'The Times' recently inserted the country's warning how UK should conserve fuel in the days to come and not in the years to come. "Era of cheap UK energy is over", says the journal. Power consumption will have to be conserved with 18 million households after gas bills soared to some 13% and electricity bills to 9.6%. English are the least governed of all nations of the world, according to the old simile, "Lawless as an Englishman". Yet, today they are prepared to sacrifice any hardship. Meanwhile a poor third world dot like Sri Lanka, spends a pretty penny over fuel, for an 'automobile carnival' flashing through Colombo highways, day and night. Who cares to turn off an unnecessary light for genuine purpose of energy conservation? We have seen enough citizens, not turn a hair to turn off a street-lamp by 6.30 a.m. or belatedly at 7 a.m. It is no wonder that spendthrifts like Sri Lankans, on unnecessary grounds, have any room for her ultimate common goal - nation building. What a pity. KASTURIARACHCHI WARNAKULASURIYA - Piliyandala. Request to provide books to upgrade school library at Sri Piyaratana School at Dodanduwa We wish to inform you that the Sri Piyaratana School at Dodanduwa is the first Buddhist School in Sri Lanka which was inaugurated by Rev. Piyaratana Thera in 1869. Now it is 135 years old and it has been neglected by relevant authority since long period. Sir Henry Steel Olcott well-known American Educationalist had been of immense help in developing this school and donated books, laboratory and other equipment including a 8 mm projector, the first of its kind to be used in Sri Lanka. However I have exposed to the whole island through the TV and printed media for further information to the relevant authority to draw their attention to upgrade this school. It's earnest desire of the people of Dodanduwa and Rathgama to develop this school with library and laboratory facilities to honour Sir Henry Steel Olcott and Rev. Sri Piyarathana Thera who were pioneers of starting this school. It would be much appreciated if any donations could be made in books to upgrade the library of Sri Piyarathana school at Dondanduwa. For further information please contact the principal, G. Piyaratana Maha Vidyalaya, Galle Road, Dodanduwa. D. Y. A. DE SILVA RAJAKARUNA - Rathgama. Apropos, the article in your edition of September 1 it has been stated that all Diplomatic appointments where UNF appointees are holding office should be replaced by proper officers who sacrificed so much for the alliance to come to power. The bane of this country is political affiliation taking precedence over suitability and competence, sad to say it is a phenomenon which has come to stay whichever party that comes into power much to the detriment of the progress and development of this country during the past decades. It is high time that persons of proven ability irrespective of their political convictions are appointed to positions of responsibility which includes Directorates of Statutory Bodies over a contracted period of time, so that meaningful work will be done without musical chairs taking place with every change of Government. MERRIL T. M. DE SILVA - Moratuwa. The world school milk day falls on September 29. The Government has promised to give milk to all school going children of this nation. The WHO's report on Poverty Transition and Health of 2002 recommends that liquid milk production should be upgraded in Sri Lanka to feed the malnourished schoolchildren and pregnant mothers. Based on the WHO recommendations the current Government feels that liquid milk consumption has to be encouraged. I suppose as a part of the Government policy, the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA) recently on the world milk day, promoted liquid milk to rural children in the Mannar area. While all round the corner everyone is interested in giving milk to the school children no one seems to be interested in increasing the milk production in this country. In 2002, Sri Lanka imported 65,821 metric tons of liquid milk and 56,000 tons of milk powder costing Rs. 10,488 million. Though 10.5 million was spent on imports, the 2004 budget of the UNF Government did not provided any assistance to the rescue of the dairy farmers. The long prohibited Slaughter of Cows and Buffaloes Act was revoked by a circular P/5/1/4 dated April 22, 2002 by the Ministry of Agriculture and still stands. Today the cattle population in the central province has reduced by 25%, as productive and pregnant animals being taken to the slaughter house. I am sure the situation would be the same in the other parts of the country. After the recent visit of the Minister of Livestock Development to India there is wide speculation of Amul setting up a milk powder factory. Why should the Government of Sri Lanka accept this offer? Is it necessary for us to grab whatever we get free? Surely the Indians are doing this with vested interests. Government should formulate a national dairy development policy. While the milk importers get their price increase through the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) quite regularly, the poor dairy farmers have not got a increment for milk for over two years. The milk producers are paid according to the fat percentage from Rs. 13 to Rs. 16 which is much below their cost of production. If farmers have to take up milk production seriously a minimum of Rs. 25 should be paid immediately or else sooner or later dairy industry in this country will take a slow death. The Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA) trying to provide milk to rural children is appreciated. But the SLVA if keen in the dairy industry, then should see that the cow and buffalo slaughter are banned immediately. SLVA should adopt a more scientific approach, if milk imports have to be reduced and encourage liquid milk consumption in Sri Lanka, then surely our productivity has to improved. DR. A. NANDAKUMAR - Hatton. Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama states that he is planning to increase the buying price of locally produced milk to Rs. 18 per litre from now on and subsequently raise it to Rs. 20 per litre. This is aimed at encouraging the increase of locally produced milk and thus also save foreign exchange spent on purchase of imported milk. While stating that this is a very wise move, I would like to point out certain facts that have brought down local milk production and paddy production. In 1987, a resolution was passed in Parliament to ban the slaughter of milking cows and buffaloes. I am sorry to state that the Agricultural Minister of the former Government lifted this ban and now milking cows and buffaloes and these animals with calf appear to be killed with a vengeance. We of the Kandy Humanitarian Organisation have bought a number of pregnant cows and cows with calf these past two years, thus freeing them from slaughter. We have written letters to the Minister of Agriculture, Buddha Sasana and the Prime Minister of the previous Government - staged demonstrations with a view to pressurising the Government to re-introduce the ban but have had no response. I reiterate my appeal to the Ministers of Agriculture and Buddha Sasana to re-introduce the said ban if the Government is hoping to increase local milk production. I also appeal to the public to send us more contributions to enable us save more valuable animals. For more information in this regard, contact 08-2222870. DR. C. GODAMUNNE - Kandy Humanitarian Organisation. In jogging my memory it was in April 1950, the illustrious artist M. Saralis, who was commissioned by William Pedris and Co., Pettah, to draw Buddhist Jathaka Kathas - depicting various stages of Prince Siddaratha's life in attaining Buddhahood, the father of reputed Radio Artiste (Singer) and Commercial Artist, Susil Premaratne, at present living down D.B. Wijesirwardena Avenue, Mount Lavinia built an upstair house along Galle Road, next to the present Super Market - seaside. This house was named, Siri Randana - and stands there even today. I attended the house warming ceremony, the first Peduru Party - I witnessed. Everyone sat on mats, Singers were Kingsley Jayasekera, Chitra Somapala, P.L.A. Somapala, Vincent de Paul Pieris. The Serpina was played by Professor Mohamed Ghouse (Ghouse Master), Tabla played by Maestro K. Nadarajah. A few days later - I witnessed another Peduru Party at 2nd Maligakanda Lane, house of my grandmother Caroline Weeraman. The singers were Jinadasa Gunasekera then an 'A' Grade Singer of Radio Ceylon, Cotta Road. Vasantha Sandanayake 'A' Grade - Singer, she sang Hindi Songs that day - also participated Singer/Tablist D.S.M. Gunatilleke, Chitralekha (V.P. Anulawathie, H.M.V. Singer), and her husband Wilfred Perera - (stage name Swarna Manthri). Years later Mohamed Sally - in his house opposite St. Joseph's - Darley Road - had a Peduru Party. Singers were Fiaz Sally, Shiraz Mohamed, late Shelton Perera, Mohamed Shafeek Mackeen and myself. Musicians were Mohamed Sally, - Serpina, Peer Mohamed - Dolak and Dolki, - Gunadasa, Mandolin - Tom Ramlan - Violin, - ended at early hours in the morning. Two more open - air Peduru Parties I remember during my teens - down Stanley Place - (Present Piyadasa Sirisena Mawatha), the road was blocked with a stage on a wall of a house - Singers Mohideen Baig, A.M.U. Raj - and Babu from Bombay who captured hearts of everyone present. The same month another open air Peduru Party at Skinners Road, close to Tower Hall - house belonged to A.C. Abdeen, Race Horse owner, his daughter Abida married Mohamed Mubarak Saleem (Baba Saleem) of Modera. Singers were Mohideen Baig, A.M.U. Raj, Babu of Bombay and S.A. Ahamed Mohideen - Music by Prof. Mohamed Ghouse, Tabla - Selvadurai and K. Nadarajah (Asokamala Fame). An English weekend newspaper sometime ago (not the Lake House papers) had given misinformation about the origins of the Peduru Party. Susil Premaratne - Age 76 still lives at No. 8, D.J. Wijesiriwardene Avenue, Mount Lavinia. Tel. 2715986 Contact for confirmation, please. MAURICE DAHANAYAKE - Nawinna. |
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