|
Sri Lanka's links with China are known to-date back over two thousand
years. One of the drawbacks of our colonial period was that our links
with this great land were interrupted for a few centuries.
However, 'nothing is permanent' and the stage looks to being set for
our future association to be forged even stronger than at any time in
our past history. The Norochcholai Power Plant will, for instance, help
towards containing the ever rising Cost-of-Living, when it comes on
stream.
My first direct encounter with China was on an invitation extended by
the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)
to several members of the Sri Lanka-China Society, a couple of years
ago.
Although I had been to some thirty countries previously, the blend of
ancient and modern civilisations and the hospitability we experienced on
that visit made the Chinese experience rather special. Out of this grew
a desire to know more about the language (or, at least, the principal
form).
I recently learned that the Bandaranaike Centre for International
Studies was commencing a Beginners' Course in Chinese and promptly
enrolled.
The first thing I learned, when classes commenced, was that it is
difficult to purchase Chinese readers and English-Chinese dictionaries
in Colombo bookshops, so one is dependent on class notes and occasional
peeks into Chinese readers obtained by fellow students from overseas
sources.
The next thing I found in my first month (of nearly three so far) was
that the initial steps were fascinating and not too challenging. We also
encountered items which added spice to our studies. This included the
intriguing discovery that the Chinese for father is 'papa' and for
mother is 'mama'.
We have recently embarked on the more challenging task of memorising
Chinese characters. A set target of memorising around one hundred
characters by the end of the four month-long Beginners' Course (of three
hours per week) may appear formidable at first sight but we are making
progress.
The progress is accompanied in all the students by a sense of
satisfaction, which is in direct proportion to the challenges overcome.
A sense of comradeship and identity has grown among the students and
teacher in the class. It is likely that many of the students, who are of
a range of ages and diverse interests, will continue on to the
Intermediate and Advanced Courses. The course fees are well worth the
investment.
This undertaking of learning Chinese has, to-date, been a most
satisfying experience. The study of Chinese is gathering momentum in
countries around the world, including the United States. It is timely
for Sri Lankans to take up the challenge, at least for pleasure, if not
for commercial and scientific and technological reasons.
As Esther Tyldesley of the University of Edinburgh has noted in
Collins Chinese Dictionary 'Not only it is an absorbing and intriguing
language, which can express both brutal frankness and extreme delicacy,
it also brings with it great opportunities to explore and understand a
country and (a) culture that is very different from that of the West'.
(This article is adapted from one included in the souvenir 'Sri
Lanka-China Diplomatic Relations 1957-2007; Golden Jubilee Celebrations'
published by the Sri Lanka-China Society in May 2007)
Rohan H. Wickramasinghe, Committee Member,
Sri Lanka-China Society
"Between 1850 and 1980, glaciers in the European Alps lost
approximately one-third of their area and one-half of their mass." So
where were the SUV's from 1850 to, say, 1960 and the planes from 1850 to
the Wright brothers? What about the severe conditions of the little ice
age, prior to 1850, from which we are now recovering?
What about the ice free arctic a couple of thousand years ago when
Inuit travelled 3000 miles across the Arctic to Greenland in Kayaks?
What about the agricultural settlements in Greenland a thousand years
ago? What about the Nov. 2, 1922 edition of The Washington Post: "Arctic
Ocean Getting Warm; Seals Vanish and Icebergs Melt."
What about the fact that NASA just changed the hottest year from 1998
to 1934?
What about the fact there is no science that proves current warming
is other than a natural cycle? Everything is based on computer models
with a massive range of inadequate inputs.
HARBINGER
I live close to the forest reserve 'Wakera wathe' bordering
Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy.
This forest reserve and the bordering areas has become a killing
field and very often at night, residents living around are haunted by
the painful howling of animals caught in traps.
This happens close to the hallowed grounds of the Sacred Temple of
the Tooth and Malwatte Temple. There is no mercy for these innocent
creatures even in a reserve. You can't imagine such cruelty to animals
taking place in this sacred area. Very often pet dogs of the houses
around are caught in these traps.
Scathe said "Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand
in this web." Man has no right to kill another being. Animals too have a
right to live, killing is against the preachings of the Buddha who said
Sabbe Saththa Bhavanthu Suki Thaththa". I hope the authorities will take
necessary action to prevent this inhumanity.
All the preachings over the radio or television to build a Dharma
Rajya is useless but the dedication and commitment of the authorities.
If not all life forms will disappear leaving only a set of barbarians.
A. N. L, Kandy
Summons are served on a person for the following main purposes:
(a) To appear in courts and give evidence;
(b) To produce documents required by the courts;
Non compliance of summons is a criminal offence and the person who
violates, may be arrested immediately. Therefore, utmost care should be
exercised as regards receipt and compliance of summons. At the same
time, same care should be exercised when serving summons as well.
I regret to note that on several instances, summons have been served
via ordinary post where there is a possibility of loss in transit.
Summons have to be served either by courier or by registered post.
When summons sent by ordinary post, are not received by persons
concerned they may be charged in courts due to no fault of theirs.
Therefore, I appeal to the Legal Authority to ensure that summons are
properly served.
S. R. BALACHANDRAN, The National Chamber of
Commerce of Sri Lanka
Yes, tourist arrivals are increasing but the they would not come for
a second time due to harassment and inconveniences meted out to tourists
at checkpoints and touts at shopping places in tourist areas.
Let the authorities make arrangements to tackle these issues and
tourists delicately.
Rila
|
