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The new millennium has ushered in a new world order where countries
have begun closer ties with their neighbours. The emerging regionalism,
in turn, enhances on a larger canvas, the spread of globalisation.
Regional and global interaction calls for a lingua franca, and English
is the obvious choice.
The ability to work in English has made it possible for the private
sector to emerge as the biggest employer, offering an interesting array
of employment opportunities to young people, through global business
alliances.
But, these opportunities are open only to those with a good command
of English. And this shuts out the majority of our school-leavers and
graduates from the plums of employment solely because of their poor
English.
As adults, it is our duty to ensure that the young generation - the
future leaders - are equipped with a good knowledge of English for them
to be confident players in the global arena.
But, the Ministry of Education, the provider of education to the
nation, has failed over the years in this respect. Only 40 per cent pass
in English at O/Ls. Even those who obtain a distinction pass in English
struggle to express themselves in English.
Students learn English from Grade III to Grade X ie for 8 years, but
display an appalling lack of fluency in English when they leave school.
They are never tested in their oral skills at school. Most teachers
of English in Government schools are not trained and are so poor in
English that they need training urgently.
The same situation prevails in our higher seats of learning where
English medium undergraduate courses are conducted by Swabasha medium
lecturers who cannot deliver lectures in English. The graduates of these
universities face many set backs when they seek employment.
This tragic waste of young potential has to stop. If the Ministry of
Education is unable to cope with the number of English teachers who need
to be trained, the assistance of international schools already
conducting teacher training programmes should be mustered in this
national effort.
International schools impart education in English and are in a
position to assist the Government in training teachers of English. A few
international schools, sensitive to this urgent need for English,
conduct short-term English courses for school-leavers to enhance their
opportunity for gainful employment and for pursuing higher studies in
the English medium.
Resources available within the country should be utilised fully to
give our youth a good command of English which is the passport to the
emerging knowledge-based society. Let's not deny our youth entry into
that exciting world.
Upali Pannila,
Malabe.
I am disappointed with the LTTE, because the LTTE-organisation
announced some time ago that they cannot guarantee the security of
Danish, Swedish and Finnish monitors in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka
and further wishes the ceasefire monitors of the mentioned nationalities
to leave the country before September 1.
The Nordic countries (Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland)
are like one family and we have always promoted the peace and the Peace
Process everywhere in the world.
Furthermore, the Nordic countries have given shelters to many
nationalities who have needed a help, including Tamils and the LTTE's
supporters.
In spite of three of us belonging to the EU, among the Nordic
countries we have a special co-operation in the political and economical
areas and further we can travel from another Nordic country to another
one without passport.
Our friendship is very outstanding. When the Danish, Swedish and
Finnish monitors will leave Sri Lanka, it will be a big loss for the
whole Peace Process. The monitors work is unfinished.
The LTTE should estimate Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland
as the Nordic countries together and what we have done for peace
together; but not as an EU although some of us belong to the EU.
I wish that the LTTE would re-estimate a special position of the
Nordic countries and would trust in their skills and knowledge as
peace-builders.
Martti Nystrom,
via email, Finland.
Let us hope that at least this attack on the Pakistan Ambassador will
open the eyes of the world - who are only talking of terrorism in other
parts of the world but have no time to think of the misery that
terrorism has brought on this tiny island home of ours.
OLGA MENDIS,
email, Australia.
The above is the title under which T. Anandacoomaraswamy (TA) shared
the thinking on Prabhakaran and the Tamils in one of our respected
morning dailies.
This letter is a response. In the context of the Sri Lankan national
problem and the need to solve/manage that, it is absolutely necessary to
accept certain realities in the midst of our national brokenness.
1. In the stated article the role of Sri Ponnambalam Ramanathan and
Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam is stated and a comparison is made as
regards Prabhakaran, Thamilselvan and the Tamil Parliamentarians of
today.
A critical study of our national history will reveal that it is the
failure of the Ponnambalam brothers and their followers, coupled with
the insensitive mindset of the southern party politics that has led to
the present impasse.
2. TA has also stated that the Tamils face discrimination because of
language and standardisation and that these issues must be addressed.
After having said this, TA goes on to state that "the Tamils have had
more than their share of equality".
To justify that statement TA has said that the Tamils have had two
Chief Justices, two IGPs, etc., and thus questions the discrimination
and concludes that this discrimination so-called is a figment of the
imagination and a false projection.
It is this type of thinking that prevents the solution of the problem
in our midst. And also helps the Southern party politics to feel good.
The Tamils reaching dizzy heights in their chosen area of life and
work is no answer to the age-old problem. Despite this or because of
this argument the bulk of Tamils suffer in several ways.
To give an example, recently because of a motor car accident I had to
go to the local police. Despite the law and all Constitutional
provisions, the police did all their work at the stated police station
in Sinhala and I had to 'converse' in Sinhala and 'listen' to Sinhala
and sign the statement prepared by the police.
Some may say that I must learn Sinhala. But that will not solve our
problem. For there are those who cannot work in Sinhala and because of
their social and economic situation cannot learn Sinhala.
Like in the case of the Hizbollah, the Hamas, the Al-Qaeda etc., we
in Sri Lanka, all of us from Point Pedro to Dondra Head, have created
the present situation.
What then is the remedy, given the present situation?
This is what Mother Teresa of Calcutta has stated in her 'The Joy in
Living':
1. "On the 'old Yugoslavia' situation: Our mission is not one of
politics but of love, and the truth is that bitterness solves nothing.
Our message is one of peace and reconciliation because the alternative
is a conflict which produces hunger, suffering, anger and hate for all."
2. "If peace and love are not allowed to take their rightful place at
the table of negotiation, then hatred and anger will produce a conflict
that will continue for many years to come. It will solve nothing and
thousands of innocent lives will be lost."
It is Mother Teresa who, in this same book, has stated: "If the
Christians can be better Christians, Buddhists better Buddhists, Hindus
better Hindus and the followers of Islam, Judaism better followers, then
our world will be a better place."
It is my considered thinking that we in Sri Lanka from our four Faith
communities have failed our people in Sri Lanka by not 'living' the
'life' of our chosen Faiths.
We need to revisit the roots of our Faiths and live and work
accordingly. Is this possible? Can we try? I am sure we can!
SYDNEY KNIGHT,
Rajagiriya.
We must understand that the LTTE stands firmly for nothing less than
Tamil Eelam, a separate Tamil State. Otherwise, they will be denied of
being world leaders. Also, the Tamils who sacrificed so much for Eelam
will rise against them. Nobody should be deaf to this fact.
However, the LTTE will never be able to get Eelam either by war or
through a Peace Process. Therefore, the only alternative for them is to
prolong or drag on the negotiations for a settlement for a decade or two
more.
That is why they are keen on the CFA and the ISGA which on the long
run could establish a de facto Eelam and then Eelam de jure will not be
far away. In the meantime they keep themselves strengthening and
destabiling the economy and the security of the country.
So they will never agree to a political settlement; nor for direct
talks with the Sri Lankan Government because their survival depends on a
hidden agenda. Any discussion anywhere for a peaceful settlement in fact
will never give them Eelam. Nothing less than Eelam will ever quench
their thirst.
Therefore, they will adopt means and measures to indefinitely delay
or postpone the peace talks on whatever ground they think is right and
legitimate because their motto is the end justifies the means.
Therefore, in order to frustrate their long goal the Government
should first offer a solution. Obviously the LTTE will reject it
outright. Then the Government should call them to their solution.
Whatever they offer it will not be acceptable to the South. So, let
the International Community step into rescue both and initiate
discussions on all options.
The UNP will not support either the LTTE or the Government because
they will mark time to gain from whatever failures or lapses falling
from the Government.
Then what is the solution ? To go on as it is as long as the LTTE,
the Sri Lankan Government and the people get tired of this situation.
And, wait until a solution emerges as time is the best healer of
problems. So, be prepared for a long wait. Or, then what ?
E. M. G. EDIRISINGHE,
Dehiwala. |
