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'Let's learn English': What the book says

EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS: A question occasionally asked at school and inter-school quizzes is 'who was the world's first woman Prime Minister?

The answer is invariably correct. Every Sri Lankan child learns, early in his school career, that Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the world's first woman Prime Minister.

Ask them better ask their teachers, when Mrs. Bandaranaike became Prime Minister for the first time.... How many will be able to give the correct answer - in 1960 on July 21. There is no doubt or dispute about that historic date. However, this is what the Government textbook tells children.

Sirimavo Bandaranayake

She became the first woman Prime Minister in the world in 1971. During her time Sri Lanka became a republic.

The lesson on page 73 of the Grade 5 reader 'Let's learn English' is on 'Some famous Sri Lankans of the past'.

There are five pictures with a note below each picture of 'Siddi Lebbe' 2. C. W. W. Kannangara, 3. Sri Arumuga Navalar, 4. Sirimavo Bandaranayake, 5. D. S. Senanayaka in that order.

Even the lady's name is mis-spelt. Would teachers of English in Grade 5 classes be able to set the record right? To do that would they know when Mrs. Bandaranaike first took office? If they did would they have the courage to contradict what is printed in the textbook?

I asked a few teachers in primary classes, all between 28 and 35 years of age. Some were vague, their guesses wide of the mark.

One said it was in 1978, another said it was in the 1980, while a third thought it was in the fifties!

Could the year 1971 be a misprint. If it were so, it should have been corrected in the next reprint. This textbook was first printed in 2001, and the copy before me is a reprint done in 1971.

This is what the book tells children of C. W. W. Kannangara.

He was the Minister of Education of the Government of 1932. He wanted to give a free education to every child on the island. He is sometimes called the Father of Free Education.

Well! Well!! C. W. W. Kannangara was Minister for Education not only in the Government of 1932 as stated here. He was Minister for Education from 1931 until the State Council was abolished in 1947.

It would be more appropriate to say that he made education free to all, from the Kindergarten to the University.

What is the correct usage - Minister of Education or Minister for Education?

More excerpts from 'Let's learn English'.

Anuradhapura is a very old city. A long time ago it was the capital of Sri Lanka.

We can see ruins of the buildings of the old city even to-day. Ruwanmeliseya dagoba and the sacred bo tree are two very important places in Anuradhapura. (page 22).

Educational Tour - On the first day we'll visit Anuradhapura. There we'll be able to see Ruwanmeliseya and the moonstone. (page 70).

Why Ruwanmeliseya and not Ruwanveliseya by which name the dagoba is known.

The lesson on town and city starts with this question: "Do you know how your village or town got its name? Read about now these towns and places got their names."

Read about how? Should it be read how.... got their names.

Alongside of a picture of the Galle ramparts with the clock tower, is this note: In Sinhala gala is a place where people keep animals for the night.

A long time ago there was a famous gala where people going to the South in bullock carts kept their animals for the night. This gala later became Galla. English people called it Galle. (page 20).

This same note is repeated on page 40. gala is printed with a dash over the g. This mark should have been over the first a to denote it is a long a, pronounced as in ask and art.

This mark or sign is used in pali texts printed in Roman letters. Could we not use double a to denote a long vowel as the Dutch do, as for example in Maastricht.

There are some other place names spell with double a and there is Maaseik in Belgium.

The preface says: This series 'Let's learn English' Grade 5, prepared by the Primary English language project under the auspices of the National Institute of Education, as part of the new Educational Reforms Programme, is published by the Educational Publications Department. - Signed Wijayanayaka Rajapaksa, Commissioner of Educational Publications. 11. 10. 2001.

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From books to bytes



The National Library of Singapore


Drama Centre


Plaza and Lobby


The Courtyard


View from the Pod

NATIONAL LIBRARY IN SINGAPORE: When I stepped into the National Library Building at Victoria Street in Singapore a few weeks ago, I was almost amazed.

At first glance, I was struck by the fascinating 16 storey building with the fluid curves of its all-white panels set against the tall glass windows which evoked a sense of flight and imagination.

My memory went back to December 16, 2003, when I visited Sigapore's National Library, which at that time, was situated at Stamford Road in a familiar much-loved red-brick building.

Somebody in the library told me that it closed its doors for the last time on March 31, 2004 after 44 years of service. The new building is over five times larger than the old National Library and is situated in the heart of Singapore's cultural and arts area.

The building consists of two 16 storey blocks, with three basements. The blocks are linked by sky bridges on every floor.

It houses two libraries, the Central Lending Library in Basement 1, and the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library from Level 7 to 13. It also houses the Drama Centre from Levels 2 to 5, which is managed by the National Arts Council.

The larger block includes an open civic plaza. Patrons can enjoy gardens, a cafe, the National Arts Council's Drama Centre, and program zones throughout the library for activities and exhibitions, including an open plaza accessible 24 hours a day.

Interactive kiosks and cyber services along with exhibits and public programmes further enhance the public's experience of the new library.

On the 16th floor, there is a closed viewing point called 'The Pod'. It is only used for functions and events, and is not a viewing gallery. From the Pod, it has a panoramic view of the island of Singapore, and also outlying islands, and neighbouring countries such as Malayasia and Indonesia.

There are also many gardens in the building but only two are opened to the public. They offer a good view of the city, and one is the Courtyard on Level 5 and the Retreat on Level 10.

The building has three panoramic elevators with a city view. The National Library Board headquarters is on the 14th floor of the building. The building has escalators from Basement 3 to the 14th storey. It has a car park with 246 lots.

History

The National Library of Singapore traces its history back to the establishment of the first public library as a result of suggestions by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Modern Singapore.

This library, known as the Hullet Memorial Library, was co-located with Singapore's first school, the Raffles Institution, at a site now occupied by the Raffles City Complex.

It moved to a separate Library and Museum Building in 1887 under the name of Raffles Library as part of the Raffles Museum, before moving to the Stamford Road premises in 1960 under the name of the National Library of Singapore.

As Singapore gained its independence in 1965, and as the country's population spread into the suburbs, the library, in collaboration with the City's urban planners, established a presence in the suburbs by building a library branch in most of the new town built by the Housing and Development Board.

These branch libraries were each considered a physical extension of the original library at Stamford Road, rather than distinct institutions in their own right.

Lending Library

The public lending library in the new building and located in the first Basement with an area of 6,407 square metres. It has a collection of over 200,000 books. It has a children's section and special rooms for events and functions in the library. It also has a collection of 726 magazines and 74 newspapers.

Two outdoor gardens in the library is a venue for library programmes such as storytelling or reading sessions. The gardens are open only during these sessions.

Reference Library

With an area of 14,265 square metres, Reference Library has a collection of 530,000 print and non-print materials. The centre is named after the late Dr. Lee Kong Chian, founder of the Lee Foundation, which donated $60 million to the library.

It has a full range of facilities such as access to electronic databases, documents delivery service, microfilm, reprography and audio-visual are available. Other facilities at the library include wireless access to the Internet, as well as the use of reading and meeting rooms.

Drama Centre

The Drama Centre is owned and managed by the National Arts Council. It is a mid-sized performing arts centre occupying the third, fourth and fifth storeys of the building.

It has a seating capacity of 615-seat theatre, a black box and three multi-purpose function rooms.

The theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting, rigging and sound systems. It also has an orchestra pit on a lift that can also form a front stage extension.

With its plush seats and good acoustics, audiences are assured of a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

The new National Library at Victoria Street will continue the learning legacy of its predecessor, provide users with an avenue to tap on the knowledge of the world, ignite their imagination and open their minds to the infinite possibilities of the world.

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Mega concerts for Sam The Man

SING ALONG: Dynamic International Entertainer Sam The Man performs every Friday and Saturday as a guest artiste of the Galadari Hotel's California Grill. He is accompanied by the Ernest Francis Combo - Every Sunday Sam is at the Akase Kade (a.k.a. S.TAR)

On Saturday March 18 it will be yet another Sing Along with Sam The Man at the Fingara Town And Country Club in Boralesgamuwa. Its a members night at the club and will be held by the poolside with plenty of singing and dancing.

Aptly termed 'Unforgettable' Sam The Man will sing all those unforgettable songs of the years goneby in his own inimitable style. Anneslye-Corrine and Ronnie are also billed to perform at this event.

On Saturday April 8 it will be 'Melodies and Memories with Sam The Man' - a Sing Along organised by the Sri Lanka Women's Conference at the BMICH.

Sam The Man will take you down memory lane with songs from Pat Boon - Perry Como - Elvis Presley - Louis Armstrong - Tony Brent - Jim Reeves Harry Bellafonte etc.

Sam will be accompanied by Thushara on keyboard, Sumith on Lead guitar, Ranga - bass guitar and Chummy on Drums.

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