It is sad to see the present temporarily instability of the political
environment in our country. This is really a result of too much
democracy together with jealousy.
It is sad to see that other feral forces, within and outside the
Government, are showing nothing but jealousy towards the President when
he is giving the real leadership for the country.
As normal citizens with some brains, we see the problem. Chandrika,
ex-president, is still upset with the fact that she is not the President
and that her family members are losing the grip of the control of the
Sri Lankan political platform.
She shows immaturity and still thinks that she is the President and
people of Sri Lanka owes something to her!
In fact, the opposite is true; the whole Bandaranaike dynasty was fed
by the sweat of the people, and that dynasty should work hard to repay
their debts to the ordinary people of Sri Lanka. This family should not
concentrate on getting the power back when the country is at the mercy
of terrorists.
In fact, this is the first time for Sri-Lanka to have a real leader
who loves his country and works relentlessly, without fear, to uplift
the lives of all people in Sri Lanka.
This is the first time that we see the light at the end of peace
tunnel. Without a doubt Mr. Rajapaksa should be commended by all
international community, all political parties.
Everyone should feel responsible to liberate all the people from the
LTTE terror! In addition, we should listen to all genuine Tamil leaders
in this country and ask them to come with an acceptable solution to the
so-called Tamil legitimate grievances.
At the same time we should seek help from them to remove the Tiger
leadership and to establish a democratic environment for the people of
North and East.
Personally, I am very happy to see that Mr. Anandasangaree and
Douglous Devananda is effectively working hard to achieve peace and talk
a lot of sense when our JVP leaders are trying to make a mockery out of
a temporary instability to put down the Government.
Anandasangaree should become a second prime minister along with the
present Premier, not the Bandaranaike again!
The JVP and other opportunity seekers should mass rally the people to
demand the international community to remove the Tiger leader
Prabhakaran! Who are the real patriots? We see it and we should not be
told!
Are the JVP and other losers with the LTTE? Practically this is so!
God bless our President and the country!
JAY DESHABANDU,
China, via email
It was an excellent article written by Hemantha (Reference DN Feb.
12), the marriage proposal of any newspaper carries the advertisements
based on castes. In this day and age it sounds utterly ridiculous and it
should be banned in all Sri Lankan newspapers. Specially in Sri Lanka
with over 60 years of free education, people have not being able to
throw away the shackles of the cast system.
Today it is totally non functional and has no relevance. What people
fail to understand is that with education it creates a level playing
field with a broader outlook on life. People living in countries like
Australia where equity and equality is the bedrock of the society where
any form of discrimination is not tolerated and is against the law and
where education is far broader.
Sri Lankans living in places like this still practices the age old
caste system, though it has no relevance to the present day society in
any form. One can only think of not learning from the immediate
environment one lives in. It is sad when one has to depend for one's
superiority on a non existent factor.
NISHAN WEERATUNGE,
via email
The way the public have to suffer in the Magistrates Court of Mount
Lavinia is appalling to say the least.
In a small room of 8 x 10 about 200 people, the criminals, the
accused, the defendants, lawyers, and friends and relations and the
police - all have to either sit on just three benches or stand skin to
skin - packed like sardines.
When the names are called, the people have to squeeze through the
crowd and come forward. Meanwhile the police have to keep going in and
out making it even more uncomfortable.
Already the people are worried over their cases. To add to this, they
have to stand for hours not even knowing when their names will be
called.
While a case is being heard unrelated people also listen to all the
allegations and defence. Someone who later may be proved not guilty may
be presented in front of a crowd - and this can be quite damaging to
their prestige, if not publicly at least in private lives.
Surely, we are a civilised society. We can make the lives of those
who come to the courts with worries, a little more comfortable. The
police knows the list of the cases in order they will be taken.
The people can be given numbers and asked at least to stand outside
in the corridor, and taken in batches or case by case. Or, if and when
the seats get vacant, others can come in and sit.
This will not only make the court look more dignified than a cattle
shed, but also will give some breathing space, literally and
figuratively for those attending this august institution.
DR. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI,
Dehiwela, via email
Smoking is harmful, dangerous, suicidal and also harmful to others.
The effects of smoking on the lungs, on the heart and circulatory system
have been known for a long time.
A smoker may subject to various weaknesses, inabilities and may
become impotent. In addition to these hindrances, smokers' bad breath
gives a distestation to the partner. This is very bad for the happiness
of both parties.
Dr. Alton Ochsner, one time Chairman of the Department of Surgery,
Tulane University, once said sardonically: "Smoking may have at least
one virtue, by smoking heavily a man may have a heart attack; then he
would not live long enough to develop lung cancer."
Dr. Theodore R. Van Dellen states that cancer of the lungs, as well
as smokers' throat and smokers' bronchitis is caused by the tars and
other combustible materials in tobacco.
Dr. Grace Roth of the Mayo Foundation, University of Minnesota has
pointed out that 2.5 to 3 milligrams of nicotine is absorbed into the
blood from one standard cigarette. Nicotine causes the blood vessels to
constrict and it causes an increase in blood pressure, pulse and
decrease in skin temperature.
Dr. Irvin S. Wright of the Cornell University Medical College states
that the use of tobacco may mean the difference between life and death
for persons with diseases of the circulation.
Doctors point out that it is well-known in medical circles that
moderate smokers died sooner than non-smokers and heavier smokers had an
even shorter life expectancy.
If the doctors know more than others that smoking is suicidal and
really harmful why do some doctors condone it?
Famous doctor Martin Gumpert, once a heavy smoker, was forced to give
up smoking because of a heart attack.
He went on to say that it took a heart attack to make him realise the
dangers of smoking.
Another famous doctor Lemmon Johnson, after mentioning that tobacco
contains a number of poisons such as nicotine pyridine bases, carbon
monoxide and arsenic went on to say in the British Medical journal
'Lancet', 'that smoking becomes a general analgesia against life's
little or even big stresses and vexations.'
I know a friend of mine who due to ignorance of the 'art' failed to
'love' his life-partner, started smoking heavily and to 'drink' heavily.
Such people are reluctant to 'expose' their, weaknesses or ignorance
and to obtain necessary instructions from a competent person.
Before we can expect the public at large to accept the idea of
mastering the habit of smoking, doctors must set the example.
Doctors are the saviours of humanity.
Why do such saviours smoke despite all this evidence?
Heavy smokers might well ponder the words of Dr. Peter J. Stein Crohn
who stated: "when I think of the thromboangitis cases who would not give
up smoking after warnings and actually lost two legs by amputation, when
I think of coronary patients who persisted in smoking two or three
packets a day in spite of warning and who died prematurely, I marvel how
intelligent individuals calmly go about killing themselves."
ANANDA WIJAYAWEERA,
Ratmalana |
