|
dailynews |
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER LINKS |
|
|
|
|
Anandasangaree, a new Sinhala constituency and confusions of termsThis is only a short note in view of the confusion that has been created by Anandasangaree, long known and respected as a younger friend and companion. It is the solution to our political quagmire, and the adulation that a willing Sinahala public seem to be giving him. Anandasangaree has been headlined, in seeking an alternative to Devolution and Federalism, as advocating what has been called a solution - which apparently also the Sinahala public has embraced simply because it is from Anandasangaree. Anandasangaree called his solution 'The Indian Model' apparently nameless otherwise. The Indian Constitution is not a so-called nameless one, Not Federal, or merely Devolutionary, it is a Union Government, and constituted accordingly. The evolution and final institution of this concept was due to a circumstance that carried a lesson. It was during the premiership of Jawarharlal Nehru and the States of India, in particular the Southern States, had become totally disillusioned with the adopted Constitution in operation. There were threats of distancing themselves from the Centre and even separation, if the realities of India were not honestly accepted. It was here that Jawarharlal Nehru stepped in using his monumental authority, and at one stroke as it were, created and carried through the concept of Linguistic States on paper apparently a divisive concept. The results were the opposite. A number of Linguistic States came up and created an All Indian bond that never existed before. Nehru was vindicated. To be brief, whether we want the open Indian mode or not is another matter. Apart from using the proper wording to describe the Indian Constitution, the apparent following of Anandasangaree by Sinhala element is sad indeed. This is all no reflection on Anandasangaree. May he prosper, may the mainstream Tamil Political leadership joint together and along with the new mood between Government and LTTE, we shall certainly find our own solution. No more is required than joint right thinking, talking and acting.For myself I had the privilege of my own thoughts going back to my work in an earlier time with S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, as in a recent article in the papers. Devolutionary Government, Federal Government, Unitary Government are all the same if we all know how to use them, and on the Government side in addition, the Government functions as a Participatory Government and not a Unitary Government. Prof. C. Suriyakumaran, Election postersI read with interest about a giant banner put up by Kotte residents which was published in your paper together with a photograph which stated that the people's preference will be given to candidates who have the fewest posters. Sometime back a circle of my friends decided to note the numbers of those candidates who illegally display such banners and to see that we do not give our preferences to them. I now find that we were not alone in such decision. During the Parliamentary election, the police regularly tore down these posters resulting in candidates stopping such display. This time the police does not act like that and posters are being pasted even on parapet walls of residences. Some posters even describe them as leading lawyers. Are they lawyers who do not know the law? I questioned one candidate who had pasted his poster on my wall. He stated that his supporters had done it and he will see that it is removed which he has not done to date. Other candidates had now pasted over his poster. Serves him right! If a person cannot guide his supporters can he guide a city if elected. The people are fed up with this type of election. They all prefer the ward system, as they are interested in local problems like garbage, drains, potholes etc. Every government agreed to go back to the ward system but did not bring in legislation. Every time they stated that there is no time to change the law. Why cannot they amend the law immediately after the election so that this excuse cannot be trotted out next time? Meanwhile what the voters should do is to note the number of the poster pasters and see that they do not get their preferences. This is the only way of educating these polluters. C. A., E-volutionWith the coming of computer, today, we are in an era where man is working at the cutting edge of computer technology. It seems that today the computer that revolutionized the world has become a very essential machine used to make work easy. Really, thanks to computer technology not only our personal affairs but also other office works have become very easy. In fact, by now, the number of those who learn computer is on the increase. Likewise, at present there are a number of institutes including state institutes offering various computer courses. Computer subject is taught in State schools as a subject. The word 'Internet' is a word directly related to computer. It has been found that the number of those who use Internet has increased all over the world. Internet is an international computer network through which computer users all over the world can communicate and exchange information and is a collection of WorldWide Web. Internet is used for various purposes such as buying goods and getting information. We are now in a position to access any website on Internet to browse information in an instant due to technological progress over the last few years. In fact, the many like to access websites as there are millions of websites on Internet that arouse curiosity. Among them there are a number of indecent websites too. These movies produced by unscrupulous pornographers with a view to selling can also be watched buckshee. Some seem to be making use of Internet as a means of making money. The best example for this is the mushrooming 'Cyber cafes' also called 'Internet Cafes'. We see there are a substantial number of Cyber Cafes in and around the city. One has to pay a sum of money in order to get the Internet service from these places. Today, it appears that these Cafes have already become places that spread obscenity. Most of those engaged in Internet surfing in these places are students and they play games and also watch X-rated obscene movies from the Internet. Likewise, the many who surf Internet are curious to access these indecent websites. The persons coming to these places are at liberty to surf Internet as what the Cyber Cafe owners need only money. It is in fact the owners who often incite them to browse Internet. In fact, computer is a machine that should be used for good purposes, however by now, it is being misused for some illegal activities such as printing counterfeit notes and producing pornographic materials. These are actually anti-social activities punishable by law. These things come under crimes related to computer and also called computer crimes. L. W. GAMINI CHAMINDA KUMARA, An inappropriate appointmentThere have been news items of Anandasangaree's holding a brief for Prof. Hoole over his appointment as Vice Chancellor of Jaffna Campus (DN 17/3). Also the respected journalist Lucien Rajakarunanayake expressed the view that the opposition to the appointment was the work of Tamil Tigers (DN 20/3). Those who have read Prof. Hoole's articles titled 'No holds barred' in the Daily News some time ago would recall Prof. H's praise for LTTE traffic cops and their civil administration. His other works are replete with unmerited obloquy on Sri la-sri Arumuga Navalar whose memory is cherished to this day by the Hindus, the world over. Thus Prof. H is neither anti-LTTE nor agreeable to the Hindus. It is nothing but naivety to advocate special pleading on behalf of Prof. Hoole despite his doctorate. C. RUDRA, Dr. R. S. Spittel Surgical WardG. Punchihewa has been a lone voice of the Gal Oya Valley and many are the fine stories we have read off his pen. His proposal to name the Surgical Ward of the Maha Oya Hospital after Dr. R. S. Spittel is a fitting tribute to the man who gave so much for the people of that area. I propose that many more endorse this sentiment to see this wish fulfilled. KANCHANA DAYARATHNE. |
|
|
 |