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Thank goodness that the Government is now conscious of the need to
address the rights of the Tamil speaking people by implementing such
policies as that Sinhala and Tamil nameboards to be used on the State
owned bus service.
This is a positive first step that should be applauded, but it needs
to be extended and rigorously enforced to all public services, so that
there is no racial discrimination against any Tamil, so as to justify
the call for a separate State.
Another step forward will be to recognise English as a another
national language given the vital importance and usefulness of it in the
world that we live and the fact that it is a language more spoken by the
Sinhalese and Tamils than any other language. If it has served Singapore
so well, why do we still spurn it?
It really is up to us Sri Lankans whether we continue to indulge in
petty tribalism and thereby support the cause of separatism or fight for
social justice, equality, fraternity and liberty to create a better
world.
The time has come to do what is right.
LALITH DE KAUWE
England
Diabetes, like heart ailments, blood pressure etc. is a disease that
can be only controlled and not cured.
In Sri Lanka, diabetes is the No. 2 killer and continuous medical
attention is required to avoid permanent disablement.
The first stage is when the feet become benumbed and wounds appear
due to injuries caused without one’s knowledge especially when walking
without footwear. These wounds when neglected turn into ulcers and then
it is too late to be treated normally. At this stage, the solutions
available are, either suitable amputation or intensive medication.
(which takes 3-4 months and is expensive).
I understand that in some countries, especially in India, there is a
modern equipment called Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) which is used to
clean up diabetic ulcers like a vacuum cleaner, and the wounds are
healed in 1-2 months. This treatment is not expensive and is also much
quicker than the usual medication.
There are millions suffering from diabetes in Sri Lanka and most of
them cannot afford expensive treatment to cure diabetic ulcers.
I therefore, appeal to the Government to import this modern equipment
(VAC) and distribute them to the State hospitals. It should be admitted
that a Government has the responsibility of not only providing food and
clothing, but also medical facilities to its people. I presume the
relevant authorities will take necessary action in this regard.
S. R. BALACHANDRAN
I refer to the letter by Tilak Fernando of Colombo 6 regarding the
condition of the rail tracks in Sri Lanka.
As stated by Tilak, regardless of the number of carriages etc. on the
lines, the quality of service permissible on the system would be
governed by the quality of the ‘permanent way’ on which the carriages
and other rolling stock run.
I do not live in Sri Lanka anymore but I do visit there frequently
and when I do I always take a train ride to Kandy, mostly for nostalgic
reasons.
My Sri Lankan friends in Australia, who are professional Railway
engineers always chide me for taking the train. In their professional
view, the ‘permanent way’ is a death trap. Having taken their comments
seriously I made closer observations on the signs along the way to Kandy,
signs for ‘Drivers eyes only’.
When the train climbs up the track after Polgahawela and Rambukkana,
the track is littered with warning signs to the driver. ‘Slow’ ‘Not more
than 15kph’ etc. the reason is ‘weak sleepers’. I am sure that the
engineers in the railway department are fully aware of the dangerous
condition of the tracks, an accident waiting to happen.
More attention to this aspect, albeit less headline grabbing, would
go a long way to improving the train services.
I offer this comment in a purely constructive way. I realise that the
country is burdened with many problems and that the condition of the
railways has now deteriorated to a parlous state, but somebody needs to
make a start and it would be nice to imagine that there still are people
in authority with a sense of patriotism to the country.
PATRICK BERENGER
Refers Gehan Wijesinghe’s article on house sparrows in the Daily News
of September 4. I have read in more than one nature related magazine
published in the U.S.A. and the U.K., that the principal reason for the
depletion of sparrow populations in urban and semi-urban areas is the
loss of their habitat.
Sparrows feed on the seed of grass and other plants. With the
increasing construction of building, roads and even manicured lawns in
urban areas, the natural feeding grounds are lost to the sparrows.
I have made it a point to observe this depletion of habitat as I go
jogging for two hours, each day, three days a week, in a beautiful park,
full of bird life, in an upscale neighbourhoud in San Francisco.
Flocks of sparrows are seen feeding on the grass regularly. When the
park landscape is mowed and the grass trimmed about once in each two
months, the sparrows gather to presumably feed on ground nesting
insects.
I often wondered where the sparrows nested. The answer came recently
when the park’s gardeners trimmed the hedges covering thick underbrush.
That is where the sparrow nests apparently were, as I now find the
sparrows have suddenly reduced drastically in numbers, but not the red
breasted robins who most likely nest in trees and continue to thrive in
the park along with tiny green-blue hummingbirds.
Alas, I have now lost the companionship of my sparrows on the ground
and seek solace in admiring a pair of majestic red tailed hawks nesting
above in tall trees, but jogging while looking up is a dangerous sport
not only for me but also for the squirrels who scamper alongside.
LAKSHMAN RATNAPALA
USA
Tuan Riza Rassool taking exception to my letter published in the
Daily News on August 3rd has not at all answered my question. I refer to
his letter of 23rd instant.
The Greek philosopher Epicurus (c. 341-270 BCE) once posed the
question - Is God willing to prevent evil but not able?
Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent, i.e. not merciful.
This fundamental question has been conveniently bypassed by Rassool to
stray into a field in which he thinks he is strong.
It is not incumbent upon me to answer his unsubstantiated commentary
to my letter unless he gives proof and evidence for the existence of a
one unique God to the exclusion of all other Gods present and past.
Remember we have a plethora of gods past and present passing through
the corridors of time. Arthur C. Clarke once wrote, “Science can destroy
religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever
demonstrated, so far as I am aware, the non-existence of Zeus or Thor,
but they have few followers now”.
To this I may also add Baal and Wotan, Dhyaus and Indra all father
Gods almighty and powerful but fallen from their thrones due to the
machinations of raging fanatics who have created another God in their
place.
The conclusion is that God conceived so differently by the three
Abrahamic religions have had their day. The Christian God is
increasingly less believed and the God of Islam can be maintained only
so long as theocracy and authoritarianism could be sustained.
We have had a galaxy of self proclaimed prophets presuming to know
the ultimate truths of life.
They not only presumed but insisted that they alone were right and
gave prophecies which are clearly false.
Mankind has paid a heavy price in believing in the faiths they
founded. Instead we have had rivers of blood flowing with non-believers
killed, dissidents tortured and executed, valuable monuments and
artefacts destroyed.
Further there has been right throughout history, invasions and land
grabbing, obliteration of other cultures and races, suppression of women
and minorities, wars with raping camps, crusades, inquisitions, five
centuries of witch hunting, empire building and colonial wars. What
miseries have mankind not suffered with competing theologies?
A world without Taliban, forced genital mutilations, honour killings,
without a US President who orders his bombing raids after speaking to a
moral preacher who is supposed to have died some 2000 years ago after
being tortured to death, would be a paradise on earth.
Say no to theology or any of the irrational sciences.
Bright and intelligent people believe only on evidence - not on
theological fantasies that end in controversy, strife, war and bloodshed
even to this day.
B. A. ARYATILAKE
Maharagama
All articles written by J. B. Muller, were excellent. It’s a pity to
see criticism regarding the second one.
I had some good friends from this community - educated and not so
educated and they are excellent. Regarding racism - they do not
understand what the word means.
L. De Silva
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