OPA career advisory service

The OPA has launched a Career Advisory Service for the public, where members of the public can contact professionals from the appended list of volunteers for advice on future careers or career information for their children.

The public can get information on a particular career, or if it is a taught course in the local university system, the entry requirements ie. the subjects to be offered at the A levels. Entry requirements for local Universities are also available in the web: http://www.ugc.ac.lk (and select admissions - local students - subject pre requisites).

The OPA hopes to extend the list to other careers in the future, as a service to the public.

List of Resource Persons for Contact, to get information on Professional Careers.

(Remote contact to be made by telephone or email)

Profession	Name		Institute		Contact Tel	Preferred time	Email (Optional)
			    		    	   No	 	  r Contact	

1. Accounting	Lakshman JK 	SLIM, CIMA	0777312285	5.00-7.00 pm	[email protected]
   Information 	Hettiarachchi	CSSL, BASL,
   technology			SLQA.
   Marketing		
2. Agriculture	Athauda Jayawardene	SL Org.		0777583850	9.00 am-9.00pm	-
				Agricultural
				Professionals
				(SLOAP)
3. Anaesthesia	Dr ATWP JayawardeneSL Medical Assoc	2717163		1.00 pm-3.00pm	[email protected]
				(SLMA)
4. Architecture	Archt VNC GunasekeraInstitute of 	2514360		9.00 am-11.00am	[email protected]
				Architects 		2514361	
				(SLIA)
5. Banking	Parama Dharmawardena	Inst of Prof.	0714745581	9.00am-7.00pm	Parama.Dharmawardena
				Bankers (APB)					@dfccvardhanabank.com
6. Chemistry	Prof.JNO Fernando	Inst of 		2645501		7.30 to 9.30 pm	[email protected]
				Chemistry (ICSL)	2861231		10am to 4 pm
						2861653
7. Dentistry	Gamini de Silva	SL Dental Assoc	2685443		8.00am-5.00pm	[email protected]
				(SLDA)
   Dentistry	Dr. N C Ratnayake	Govt Dental	0714317312	After 8.00 pm	[email protected]
				Surgeons Assoc	
				(GDSA)
   Dentistry	Dr. Suresh 	SL Dental Assoc	0777774764	8.00am - 9.00pm	[email protected]
		Thanmohpnathan	(SLDA)
8. Education 	Prof Dayantha 	National Edu	0777312238	9.00am-9.00pm	[email protected]
   Tertiary		Wijesekera	Commission NEC	
9. Engineering	Upalee Bulumulla	Institute of Eng	0773017208	9.00am-4.00pm	[email protected]
				SL. (IESL)
   Engineering	Hemal Peiris	Institute of Eng	2696283		10am-12.00 noon	[email protected]
   				SL. (IESL)
   Engineering	Benedict Ulluwishewa	Engineers Guild	0777314073	9.00am-9.00pm	[email protected]
				SL. (EGSL)
10. Engineering	WBA Jayasekera	Assoc Sc & Tec W	2507102		9.00am-11.00am	[email protected]
				(ASTW)
   11. Engineering 	Eng Tilak		Asso Sc & Tec W	2694927		9.00am-6.00pm				

   12. Gemology	Susantha Welgama	Gemology Assoc 	2432525		9.00am-5.00pm	-
				SL (GASL)
   13. Librarian-	Anton Nallathamby	SL Library Assoc	2698356		9.00am-5.00 pm	[email protected]
        -ship				(SLLA)
   14. Materials	AVM Duncan	Inst Sup & Mat 	4963375		10.00am-12 noon	[email protected]
         Management	Dissanayake	M. (ISMM)	
   15. Materials	V Ganesh	Inst Sup & Mat		2589313	                 9.00am-5.00pm	[email protected]
         Management			M. (ISMM)
   16. Nursing	Malanie Ranasinghe	Grad Nurses F	2694177		9.00am-4.00pm	-
				(GNF)
   17. Pharmacy	Prof. Tuley de Silva	Pharmaceutical	2584436		9.00am-6.00pm		     

Scourge of modern non conventional warfare: Antipersonnel mine injuries

Dr Gamini Goonetilleke

“One of the most serious man-made problems of our time”

In the Second World War land mines were used as defensive weapons by the German and allied troops to protect the large anti tank mines from being removed by the enemy.

Later on it was used for offensive purposes as well in view of its capability to inflict serious injuries and also produce fear in view of its ability to act as a psychological deterrent to advancing troops.

The injuries inflicted by antipersonnel mines went largely unnoticed and unreported until 1988 when relief workers especially from the international Committee of the Red Cross drew attention to the large number of limbless victims of mines in Afghanistan and Cambodia. Even today antipersonnel land mines are injuring not only combatants but also civilians in many countries across the globe.

Land mines are defined as any “ammunition placed under, on or near the ground or other surface area and designed to be detonated or exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person or vehicle”.

Mines are of many types

Large Anti tank mines

Claymore mines which are command detonated (used by the LTTE at present)

Antipersonnel mines

Antipersonnel land mines are small in size and are specifically targeted for human beings on foot. They are difficult to locate or detect by the usual metal detection gear and are activated by direct pressure.

These mines could be highly destructive and serve their purpose with telling effect. They are mainly used in guerilla war and in addition to causing physical harm, they also serve as a psychological deterrent to advancing combatants.

Since the increase in civilian conflicts beginning in the 1970s the landmine like the automatic rifle, has become the weapon of choice for many armies and resistance groups around the world.

They are readily available from governments and also a vast global network of private arms suppliers. The mines could also be manufactured by guerrilla groups relatively easily and cheaply. A land mine can cost as little as US$3 to buy and plant.

What makes land mines so abhorrent is the indiscriminate destruction they cause. Unlike bombs or artillery shells which are designed to explode when they approach or hit their target, mines lie dormant until a person,a vehicle or an animal triggers their detonating mechanism.

Mines do not distinguish between the footfall of a soldier and that of a child. Mines recognize no cease-fire, and long after the fighting has stopped they can maim or kill the children or grandchildren of the soldiers who laid them.

Those civilians most likely to encounter antipersonnel mines are the rural poor who live far from proper medical facilities. Peasants foraging for wood and food or tilling their fields are particularly at risk.

Children herding livestock are vulnerable as they traverse wide tracts of land in search of fresh pastures. Land mines have ruinous effects on the human body. They drive dirt, bacteria, clothing, metal and plastic fragments into the tissue causing secondary infections.

The shock wave from an exploding mine can destroy blood vessels well up the leg. This will necessitate amputation much higher than the site of the primary wound.

Plastic fragments from the casing of some mines become embedded in tissues or bone and are difficult to be detected by X-ray examination. When such fragments are overlooked at surgery they can cause serious bone infections.

The commonest method of triggering an antipersonnel mine is by stepping on it. This results in a traumatic amputation of the lower limb with sometimes less serious injuries elsewhere.

Others could be injured by handling mines. This results in serious injury to the hands accompanied by injuries to the face, chest and abdomen. Injury to both eyes leading to blindness and traumatic amputation of the hand is not uncommon.

The amputation rate following injury by antipersonnel mine is high. The amputation rate for these injuries is much higher than for those caused by other ammunition. The majority of the victims of the mines are permanently disabled.

An important aspect in the management of victims of mines, the majority of whom are amputees is the provision of an artificial limb as early as possible so that victim could get back to productive life.

Ideally the prosthesis should be cost effective, available within a reasonable period of time and most important, it must be appropriate to the future lifestyle of the victim. As Dr. P.K. Sethi the inventor of the Jaipur limb says “limb fitting is a complex business and social, cultural and economical considerations are important as technological issues”.

There are many types of artificial limbs available in Sri Lanka today. The Jaipur Foot Programme centres in Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Jaffna has provided the Jaipur limb to many victims of antipersonnel mines.

White Pigeon in Kilinochchi, Handicap International in Batticaloa and Valvuthayam Caritas in Mannar are the other voluntary organizations that have provided artificial limbs to these victims.

The Jaipur limb is ideally suited to the Sri Lankan amputee as it is cheap, readily available and most importantly the amputee can walk without a shoe and can even get back to the field. The other types of artificial limbs or the Western types are very costly and are not for the rural amputee.

It is estimated that 110 million land mines litter farmlands and highways in 64 countries across the globe. In spite of growing pressure to halt their production, export and stockpiling antipersonnel mines continue to be widely used.

More than 2 million land mines were laid around the world in 1993 alone. Around 2000 civilians are killed or maimed every month as a result of land mine explosions somewhere in the world.

Since beginning of the North-East conflict in Sri Lanka in 1983 at least 10,000 personnel of the Armed Forces and the Police have been either killed or maimed by mines.

The number of armed combatants and civilians living in the North-East of the country killed or maimed by this device is not known and will never be known.

In Sri Lanka the importance of antipersonnel land mine injuries from a point of view of the healthcare delivery and rehabilitation aspects lie in the fact that, today they are the commonest indication for the amputation of the lower limb.

This trend has been observed since 1990 although earlier, injuries due to road and train accidents, industrial accidents and trap gun injuries accounted for the majority.

With no end in sight for the present conflict in Sri Lanka, more combatants and civilians are bound to be injured by this deadly device. This is specially so in view of the fact that civilians will start moving to “liberated” areas which were once combat zones littered with antipersonnel landmines.

An examination of the devastating medical, social and psychological effects of mines experienced by a population living in some war-torn countries will reveal that many a civilian has been killed or maimed by antipersonnel mines.

The worst figures are from Cambodia, which has a population of 8.5 million people and a war ravaging for 12 years. Cambodia has the largest number of amputees amounting to 36,000 all victims of antipersonnel mines.

In Angola a country affected by an internal conflict for the last 30 years, there are 20,000 amputees. However the situation in Sri Lanka is not so bad at present, but the future is yet to be seen.

It is estimated that there are at least 2 million mines scattered in the North-East of Sri Lanka. One hundred and fifty sq.km is said to be affected of which 12.3 sq km is documented while 136 sq km is suspected to be strewn with mines. The Jaffna peninsula is the worst-affected with 228 villages out of 550 being affected with mines.

From 1985 to 2005 there have been a total of 1282 civilian victims of mines. Of this 1092 were injured with 190 deaths. In all there were 973 male casualties while 256 were children. Forty seven percent of the victims were inured in the Jaffna Peninsula.

To be continued next week

Questions and Answers

Bank of Ceylon Customer Pension Scheme

Question: Your question and answer column of 16-08-07 in the Daily News I also had a similar problem with the Bank of Ceylon pension scheme. I closed my account but continued her pension account and now getting paid the correct amount.

Even after 25 yrs they should pay the bonus. I have a copy of the Bank of Ceylon circular and sending a copy herewith to be sent to Mr. Ponniah. You can ask him to contact me.

-S. K. Mahalingam, Colombo 10.

Answer: We thank you for the information provided by you, especially the copy of the 1981 Bank of Ceylon circular titled “The Unique National Pension (1981) scheme of the Bank of Ceylon.”

We understand form Mr. Ponniah that even the Bank of Ceylon is unable to trace a copy of their circular. Mr. Ponniah’s problem is now in the hands of the office of the Financial Ombuasman whom we understand is long awaiting a response from the Bank of Ceylon on this matter.

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Anomaly in conversion of my pension to

1997 salary scale

Question: Thank you very much for your prompt action and the response in the Daily News of 26-07-07 to may above problem. Accordingly I met the Director General on 01-08-07 and he directed me one of his assistants.

I produced all the relevant documents including a copy of my registered letter to the Director, Pensions Department. The officer said they have not received my registered letter and took a copy of my letter and the pension award letter.

He confirmed that I had earned 18 increments. Now although over a month has elapsed, I have not heard anything. I shall be very much obliged to you sir, to please help me.

- W. R. P. de Mel, Panadura

Answer: We contacted the Pension Dept. giving your details and the Pension No. We are also surprised that they are unable to trace your papers or the officer whom you had met. This is the sad state of the Pension Dept.

Not being able to trace the case by name of the pensioner or the pension number. No wonder so many pensioners keep writing about their problems. Hope the “Citizens Charter” or any other effort keep writing about their problems.

Hope the “Citizens Charter” or any other effort by the Government will address the performance of the Pensions Department in relation to assisting pensioners with their problems. Do you remember the name or any other details to contact the officer you met at the Pension Dept. for us to contact him. Else you have to make another trip to meet this officer.

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Inclusion of Pension for calculation of withholding tax on interest.

Question: When calculating the total income for the purpose of withholding Tax (WHT) deduction, on the interest income, the Government pension is considered to be an exempted income. I am a Bank of Ceylon pensioner. Please let me know, my pension is also considered as per with a Government pension for that purpose.

- Mrs. Iranganie Nanayakkara, Thalawathugoda

Answer: For the Tax year 2007/2008 total interest income upto Rs. 300,000 is tax free. Interest income between Rs. 300,000 and Rs. 600,000 will attract 2.5% Tax and interest income above Rs. 600,000 will be taxed at 10%.

You are expected to declare to each of your Banks all interest income from other Accounts in the same Bank or interest income from other Banks as well. This will enable the bank to decide whether WHT should be deducted or not and if so at which rate. Your pension does not come into the picture.

You may have erroneously declared your pension income as interest income to your bank. The tax on your pension is paid by the Bank of Ceylon as in the case of all banks paying tax on behalf of their pensioners. Thus your pension as received in your hands is in par with Government pension as far as the tax exemption is concerned.

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SLBC upcountry Tamil Service

Question: The SLBC commenced broadcasting an muslim religious programme in their upcountry Tamil service from the 17th of September 2004. This programme was aired between 3.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. and was a very much welcome and a good programme.

Now suddenly SLBC has discontinued this programme without any notice and instead have it on Fridays only from 6.15 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. I, as secretary of the Writers’ Association of Ukuwela has written about 40 letters to the SLBC requesting them to revert to the daily broadcast but no action has been taken.

- A. Mohamed Jaleel, Ukuwela

Answer: We contacted the SLBC and we were informed that the UNESCO funded them with equipment and training to commence a Tamil broadcast for few hours on the upcountry broadcast programme. Accordingly the Tamil programme was commenced to cater to all Tamil speaking people in the upcountry.

Subsequently due to certain request by the upcountry muslim people they allocated one hour daily for a muslim programme which turned out to be a religious programme. This brought protest from other religions requesting air time for their religions.

As a result SLBC took a decision to air the muslim religious programme only on Fridays from 6.15 p.m. to 8.00 p.m., Fridays being a religious day to the muslim community.

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Collection of Plant Waste from State Owned Jungles

Question: I am an Exporter of Niyagala seeds since 1980 from Sri Lanka to a European country, collecting this plant waste from the jungle area in and around the island during the Seasons of Every year during December to February.

Royalty Payment to the Seeds:

Every year I used to get the Forest Department Permission to export my Collected Seeds. This year when contacted for same they say you will have to pay the Royalty to the seeds which are been (although this is plant waste) collected from the State-owned Jungle and to pay the Royalty for the same. But they are unable to direct me for the payment where to pay this Royalty.

As such I kindly request that please let me know where I am to pay this Royalty Payment and to proceed with my export work. As I am earning foreign exchange form the plant waste which is no use to any one as such. Please let me know through your publication “Daily News OPA Service” and oblige please.

- Eswaran Kathiresan & Co - Dematagoda

Answer: To export Niyagala seeds the Conservator of Forests will have to issue a permit. Without this permit the Customs Department will not allow the export of such seeds.

At the time of making the application, the “Royalty” amount to be paid will also be informed to the exporter and the money had to be paid to the Forest Department which will be credited to Government revenue.

Unlike from your private land if the seeds are collected from your private land if the seeds are collected from the State Owned Jungle you have to pay this nominal Royalty. In the past you may have escaped due to small quantities being exported has been overlooked.