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The recent statement by Indian national security advisor Mr.
Narayanan urging Sri Lanka not to go to Pakistan or China for its
legitimate defence requirements should provide an occasion for serious
soul searching to all patriotic Sri Lankans. The statement, perhaps not
the official Indian stance and most probably only a ploy to appease the
masses in Tamil Nadu still reflects deep mistrust.
While the statement has evoked a sharp reaction from the print media,
key political parties, former diplomats and services chiefs, the Sri
Lankan Government continues to maintain silence over the whole episode
which is inexplicable.
We Sri Lankans have never been known or would like to be known as a
nation of opportunists with short lived memories or for ingratitude to
those who have unconditionally and unequivocally come to our rescue at
defining moments in our history.
Who can forget the timely military assistance that our good and
lasting friend Pakistan and China have been rendering to us repeatedly
in the past. We owe a great deal to them for their friendship,
understanding and material support to help preserve our territorial
integrity.
And what have they asked us in return? Nothing and none can differ
with this view. Efforts aimed at impairing Sri Lankan relations with her
traditional allies and partners must not be allowed to succeed.
Relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka remain robust and growing
even stronger with each passing day. In fact Sri Lanka by taking a cue
from the impressive economic growth that Pakistan has demonstrated
consistently over the past few years must expand these ties to other
areas of mutually beneficial relationship.
It is also perhaps a historic opportunity for us to reassure Pakistan
that Sri Lanka does not view relations with her through the narrow prism
of traditional defence ties alone but shall like to embark upon a new
and a much wider relationship. Our relations with China are similarly
progressing along solid grounds.
Sri Lanka remains the sole arbiter of choosing her partners and must
never delegate this hard earned and sovereign right of independent
conduct of her affairs to any outside power.
In fact by choosing strange bedfellows and our inability to
differentiate between masters and true friends, we already have and
still continue to suffer a great deal. If we forget the lessons from our
past or lose the confidence of our abiding friends, we will have no one
but our own selves to blame.
MANIEL GUNATHILAKE
KOTTE
We, the readers of Daily News are very thankful for highlighting the
present deplorable state of affairs, prevailing in the teaching
profession.
I myself was on the teaching profession for well over 35 years, so
the above article caught my eyes most attentively.
I served as Assistant, Vice, Acting and finally as Principal in which
acquired a wide knowledge in every aspect. My feelings urged me to write
to you on the same subject, pointing out the facts said below. Otherwise
I fail in my duties.
It is indeed a sorrowful state of affairs, concerning all whether in
the profession or not. This could be probed impartially without any
delay and find out the actual causes. Sooner the better and wiser.
There are three types of vacations. In addition causal, medical, 1/2
day, short-leave, maternity leave and the husband (lately).
If teachers come late, they miss one or two periods. They may be
important subjects in the curriculum. For some teachers, it is a
part-time - their main focus is on private tutorial classes.
The Government has set aside a colossal amount of money on education
which is mainly for acquiring knowledge - the fundamental basis for
education.
Children of teachers may be attending to the same school. Their
studies also are affected. There are complaints by the parents. That
teachers teaching important subjects, invariably get absent for some
reason or other. Teachers should be sticklers of regularity, discipline,
punctuality etc. Mother, father and Guru are highly venerated as
deities.
Sri Lanka had once a high literacy in the region of SE Asia. Now it
is gradually deteriorating.
Finally, one word “Honour” the noble profession by all means’.
J. E. VETHANAYAGAM
Moratuwa
The Sri Lanka Library Association, one of the leading professional
associations in the country is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary
in June.
Founded by a handful of eminent elites in the profession of Library
Science like Dr. S. C. Bloc, Prof. Ian Goonatilake, Prof. W. B.
Dorakumbura, T. G. Piyadasa and Prof. Jayasiri Lankage in early sixties
for the benefit of then young librarians and the reading public, the
very association has now attained its gray-haired age.
The Association was enacted by an Act of Parliament. (Vide: The Sri
Lanka Library Association Incorporation Law No. 20 of 1974).
It became one of the founder Associations of the OPA (Organisation of
Professional Associations in Sri Lanka). Also, some of its senior
members were fortunate to hold various key positions in the Council of
the OPA. Hence, the association has contributed its due share and
expertise for the entire hemisphere of Sri Lankan professionalism.
Since its inception, SLLA has pioneered and played a leading role in
Library education to the utmost satisfaction of the entire
librarianship. No body can find a library professional in this island
who has not read his or her first library lesson from the SLLA.
With the help of its energetic tutorial staff, the Association
conducts three-tier LIS courses leading to Diploma in LIS in three
languages in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Batticaloa and Jaffna.
In addition to above mentioned professional courses, SLLA with the
intention of enhancing knowledge of ICT (Information Communication
Technology) amongst young library professionals conducts special courses
on Library Automation both in Sinhala and English media.
The Association confers Corporate membership, Life-membership,
Associateship, Fellowship and Chartered Librarianship to its members who
satisfy the required standards stipulated by the Council. Every year,
SLLA adds a substantial number of trained LIS professionals to the fleet
of elite work force.
Every year, it organises an annual conference on a specified theme
that suits for the modern day technological advances in the field of LIS
for the benefit of the membership as well as the general public. By such
means Association prepares the LIS professionals to keep abreast with
the upcoming challenges in modern librarianship.
All the targets of the academic and professional achievements of the
SLLA have been fulfilled due to the untiring efforts and devotion of its
membership. Contribution of the qualified members towards the national
development is significant in the discipline of Library and Information
Science.
Most of the professional associations in the country such as
Institute of Engineers, Institute of Bankers and Institute of Chemistry
have their own premises to house administration and education
facilities. It is disheartening to note here that the SLLA has not so
far fortunate enough to have its own premises despite promises made by
the politicians who graced several yearly ceremonial events and
conferences of the Association.
All the activities such as administration, record keeping and
computer practical classes are carried out in meagrely spacious two
rented rooms of the OPA Center. The SLLA is conducting its lectures for
every level, from the very start to present days in the rented out
classrooms from outsiders.
Library profession of the country is fortunate to have a leader who
started his career as a University library professional and enthroned as
the Fifth Executive President of Sri Lanka. It is undoubtedly a
remarkable event for the entire library profession of the island.
We, as members of our august institution hope President Mahinda
Rajapaksa would kindly intervene in this venture to assist the
activities of the Association by donating a suitable block of land for
the SLLA premises. We strongly feel that this generous gesture is
nothing but the fulfilment of some conditions of the ‘Mahinda Chintanaya’
towards the empowering human knowledge.
JAYATUNGA AMARAWEERA
Librarian, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
The vicinity of Bonjean Road at Kotahena is an important area where
we find Marie Stopes - the clinic for family planning, Kalimuttu eye
clinic, the butchery, some food outlets and the Municipal library for
people who gather for knowledge.
I have observed that behind this library there is a public
convenience with walls and roofs in good condition but the bottom floor
and the toilet basin are filled with soil and excreta and in a very
insanitary condition. Mostly old people who want to have a call of
nature urgently patronise this public convenience outside the basin
thereby making the situation worse.
I hope it is high time that the Colombo Municipal Council in good
sense restore this place to its normal condition as a usable public
convenience which was built at a high cost in this area as it is an
urgent need for the floating crowd.
The health Department of the CMC can do the needful and instruct the
PHI of this area to do occasional inspection to see that the sanitary
standard of the Colombo city is maintained and the need of the people is
fulfilled.
THUNNAALAI S. A. Masilamany
Colombo 6 |
