I had an opportunity of visiting the Lady Ridgeway Children's
Hospital after a period of several years.
It has been maintained very well, clean and beautiful, and the staff
too are very kind and courteous.
May be because of the babies and small children whose different
sicknesses had compelled them to show mercy towards the patients and
politeness to the visitors when compared to their counterparts in other
hospitals.
The nurses, in the Cardiology Unit, seem to be a dedicated lot and as
they vigil in the night towards those who are suffering. May the
incumbent staff and the future ones carry on their good work forever in
a hospital like this which is meant for children.
I also heard a sorrowful matter in regard to an operation of a child.
This hospital does not operate owing to lack of either surgeons or
medical equipments.
Parents are requested to go to Jayawardenepura Hospital to get
operations performed to their children where the cost is less. This is
very much hurting. It is very evident that only poor people rush to this
hospital to save their children-their 'asset'.
True, the President's Fund positively responses the needy patients
but the authorities have not thought of pumping the funds in a better
way for many to get benefited. I mean, to buy the necessary equipments
to the needy Government hospitals instead of spending for individuals.
The new President, Mahinda Rajapakse, who was able to stop payments
closer to a billion that was released from the President Secretariat
under the former administration, which amount to his conscious has
appeared to be 'utter waste' must divert his attention towards the
hospitals mentioned below to provide their necessities.
We have seen business establishments spending lavishly for their
advertisements or to promote their products sponsoring carnivals,
exhibitions, musical shows etc. Good efforts in attempting to thrive to
themselves while serving others as well.
But should not they consider donating necessary medical equipments
that are required to hospitals, specially like children's and cancer
hospitals.
Simultaneously, our surgeons to whom God has given the 'gift' of
successfully performing any kind of operations must also be lenient
towards the poor patients undergoing operations by offering very low
rates.
Because it is a 'life' which is invaluable and an ant too rushes to
its hole to save itself if it senses danger. By the time the doctors
feel about their own life when on the death bed it is too late to think
of not saving a life because of money.
NAZLY CASSIM - Colombo 13.
WHEN the Ambassador to the mighty United States of America in a
speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka delivered a
blunt warning to the LTTE and even went on to imply that the US
Government may militarily back the Sri Lankan Government it was music to
the Sri Lankan Government and practically everyone who opposed the LTTE.
The speech followed US Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice's praise
for the restraint shown by the Government of Sri Lanka in the face of
the LTTE provocations.
But Mr. Lunstead please be a little realistic true we (the Sinhalese)
are a gullible race, but if your speech is as sincere as the tone
indicated, we now want specifics (dates/deadlines etc.).
When do you and the American government plan to:
* Militarily train and assist the Sri Lankan Armed Forces?
* When will these programmes commence?
* How will you help us with the counter-terrorism initiatives?
* How will you block illegal financial transactions (which are
already taking place despite banning the LTTE in the US).
And when do you and the US Government plan to declare enough is
enough and that the LTTE has crossed the limits of restraint.
Mr. Lunstead you are asking the business community to become ceased
with the peace process.
Despite over 150 armed personnel having lost their lives (in the past
several weeks alone) in vain during a time of ceasefire, can you and
your Government as well as the world, not see that we are still ceased
with peace!
Your speech as great as it may sound should really be directed at the
LTTE.
SHENALI WADUGE - via email
IT was reported that some Cabinet ministers, TNA Parliamentarians and
some NGOs have expressed their discontent to President Rajapakse and
criticised the search operations conducted by Police in Colombo and
other big cities to round up suspected LTTE terrorists, drug dealers and
other criminals calling that such operations tantamount to human rights
violations.
The allegations are directed to the new defence advisor Mr.
Kotakadeniya too who has had immense experience in rounding up LTTE
terrorists and other criminals during his tenure as DIG Operations in
Colombo.
His actions saved many lives of politicians and innocent civilians
during this period.
Had such operations continued right throughout, then Lakshman
Kadirgamar would not have had this untimely death.
Many of our intelligent officers would have been still alive. This
timely action by the police is to safeguard every citizen, every public
place and economic targets from a possible terrorist attack.
Those Parliamentarians and NGOs who oppose this search operations
imply that they are not at all in danger and not vulnerable to any
terrorist attack.
In that case, they should flatly refuse security personnel enlisted
to them for their protection by the Government at taxpayers expense, as
they don't need to fear of any possible terrorist attack.
In this context, I salute the Defence advisor Mr. Kotakadeniya, the
IGP Chandra Fernando and the Police for doing the right thing to protect
the citizens.
I am sure our new President will not unnecessarily interfere with
maintaining law and order to please few Parliamentarians or interested
parties.
MALIN ABEYATUNGE - Australia.
A newspaper headline of January 19 states that the SLMM has found the
Government not guilty of bombing the SLMM offices.
They have also cleared the LTTE of the offence.
This is the sort of humiliation that our Government has invited upon
ourselves by employing the outfit that constitutes the SLMM.
The SLMM are now hell bent in trying to establish that it is the
Karuna faction that has been responsible and that it is the Karuna
faction that is doing all the killings and that we should disarm the
Karuna forces. Is the government going to tolerate such cheek?
The Government has a duty not to let any outfit insult our country.
Unless it wants to bring down further humiliation on us the Government
should dismiss the Nordic monitors and appoint instead Pakistan, India
and China as the monitors.
If India declines then Pakistan and China may oblige. We will then
have self-respect.
L. JAYASOORIYA - via email
IT was indeed sad to find a local journalist covering the present
Australian cricket tour reporting that the 'Sri Lankans domiciled in
Melbourne were happy to see the backs of our cricketers as they flew out
to Brisbane'.
I must mention that this is far from the truth. We too have contacts
in Australia and the actual position is that our fraternity down under
had been looking forward to welcoming our cricketers, in spite of their
recent poor performances.
True, they were disappointed with the news that Sanath Jayasuriya
will be missing out due to injury. But the Sri Lankans over there were
overjoyed that our cricketers were coming to Melbourne.
This fact was evident to everyone who followed the proceedings on
television as well.
No doubt, this reporter, a former cricketer himself had added more
than a pinch of salt and dwelt on his own fantasies when he made those
unworthy comments.
On the 17th instant, the same scribe began his report by stating "Sri
Lankan cricketers are in for another whipping..." (sic). Of course we
chalked up a comprehensive win against the proteas - bringing smiles on
Sri Lankan faces after quite a period of time.
Surely, there should be some professionalism and balance when
reporting news.
True, everything has not been tickety-boo in the Sri Lankan dressing
room according to news reaching us. But everyone should rally round our
team, especially when its morale is low.
Our captain and the majority of our players are a commendable lot and
should be encouraged at every turn by all segments of the Sri Lankan
community, including the media. Why kick a man when he has fallen? It
seems that this reporter is being instigated by some interested parties.
Let me remind this reporter that if he does an honest job his supper
will definitely be tastier.
PRIYA PEIRIS - Moratuwa.
WE understand that a private Bill has been submitted to Parliament by
Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera requesting to establish an Authority on
Alcohol/Tobacco Control.
This is a positive approach towards control of tobacco/alcohol
consumption and promotion of those products. But we would have preferred
if the Bill submitted by the Ministry of Health on behalf of the
Government proceeded, instead of a private Bill.
If it was delayed in the hands of the legal department due to certain
issues on the influence of the two industries. This is the reason that
it paved the way for several companies in the related businesses to go
to courts seeking legal rights.
Also, it had created opportunity for many institutions and NGOO to go
to courts against those companies and score their marks. We cannot
believe and accept that these institutions are really keen in making
this country alcohol/tobacco free paradise.
M. JAYASURIYA - Mt. Lavinia. |