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It is nonsensical to say that Thamil Selvam's death is a setback to
the peace process in Sri Lanka. He was no peace dove. He was never
sincere about achieving peace through dialogue. He went to Geneva to
fool the world after setting up the stage to unleash violence here.
How come that those people who now say that the death of a member of
an organisation declared as terrorist and banned in a number of
countries, is a setback to the peace process in this country, did not
say the same thing when the LTTE killed President Ranasinghe Premadasa,
Gamini Dissanayake, Lakshman Kadirgamar and other Government leaders?
Certain Western countries which like to see a weak and divided Sri
Lanka before preying on other countries may be regretting the death of
the LTTE leader echoed by their lackeys here. That is their fallacy -
mistaken belief or faulty reasoning.
That is their problem. If such countries or politicians are sincere
about achieving peace, what they should do is to convince the LTTE to
come to the negotiating table.
Whatever it may be, finding a political solution to the national
problem should not be delayed. It is the responsibility of all political
parties to join hands, shedding vituperative politics, to find a lasting
solution and end the bloodshed.
UPALI S. JAYASEKERA,
Colombo 4
The construction of the longest bridge of 300.4 mts across the
Mahaweli at Manampitiya is a landmark in the engineering history of Sri
Lanka. The new bridge on the All Road to Maradankadawela,
Habarana, Thiriconamadu which is also being upgraded will be a fillip
for the Negenahira Udanaya programme of the Government. Batticaloa, a
lagoon locked city, had only the A 5 Road linked to Badulla via Mahaoya
before the construction of the railway in 1927.
The longest Railway Bridge of 900 ft (274.2 m) across Mahaweli, at
Manampitiya was constructed in 1922. The construction engineers had the
foresight and with the data available from the Irrigation Department
constructed 13 flood openings on either side of the main bridge and the
rail track was kept 18 ft (3.3 mts) above the river bed level.
Even during a major flood, people could get across using the railway
bridge where a foot path was provided. There was no road access between
Manampitiya and Polonnaruwa until the railway bridge was converted to a
rail - cum - road bridge in 1950. This has been a great asset for 57
years for the development of the area.
I feel this should be an occasion to salute those engineers and
workmen who worked under very adverse conditions in the thick jungle and
have gone beyond the veil. I am happy to mention that we have still one
of them H. C. A. Senarathne, bridge engineer who is now 92-years-old.
B. B. PERERA,
Ratmalana
I write with reference to the letter written by Kanchana Perera on
November 16 on writing the date. Actually, writing the year first or
last does not create any confusion as long as it is written in full,
with the month appearing in the middle.
Generally, I find that documents written in English have the year
written last while the Sinhala documents have the year written first.
There is no harm in following a uniform practice as advocated by the
writer.
However, a more serious trend is setting in the country today
concerning writing the date.
This is where documents are issued, particularly by the private
sector, in which the month is written first followed by the date and the
year. This style appears mostly in computer generated documents such as
invoices based on software originated in USA, as writing the date in the
middle is the practice there. This creates much confusion and ambiguity
especially when the date is 12 or below.
A date written as 03.05.2007 in this style would mean March 05th to
the writer, but it will be read as May 03rd to a reader here. I believe
this would have serious implications if a document with the date written
in this style has to be produced in a court of law. Hence, Government
intervention is necessary to stop this practice immediately.
DR. JANAKA RATNASIRI,
Rajagiriya
I refer to the comment of Meedhu from Hemaththagama. Either the
loudspeaker noise from religious, commercial advertisements or
otherwise, it is a nuisance and a health hazard. Loudspeakers are used
to increase the noise.
And particularly mosques have at least three loudspeakers mounted on
top of the building to spread the prayer message to be heard over miles
and miles away from the mosque. One could imagine the effect of such
sound level to the people living in the Mosque's neighbourhood. Do you
really need loudspeakers to practise any religion?
There should be a total ban of use of loudspeakers for any reason at
any time including religious or commercial use.
Disturbance and irritation from noise causing health hazard does not
disappear after three minutes of loud noise five times daily from early
morning until night time. The effect of loud noise continues throughout
the day from time to time five times a day.
According to his letter that Mosques are in Muslim villages, and I
would like to remind that Mosques are built in almost every village and
some are within about 10 km distance from the other.
In fairness to all different believers or races, there should be a
ban on loudspeakers at any time of the day. The use of loudspeakers
first started by the Mosque about two or three decades ago.
How did people practise their religion earlier without the use of
loudspeakers? In countries like Australia, loudspeakers are not used for
any religious affairs. Being a Christian country, even Church bells are
not allowed to sound that could disturb others.
If there is a large gathering a permit to use an amplifier is granted
only to keep the sound level confined within the building to a time
limit up to 11 p.m. These are the countries that protect the rights of
people to live in peace without hassle from various nuisances. There are
many Muslims living in this country and there is no complaint about not
allowing them to use loudspeakers to call people during prayer time.
There is no obstruction to Muslims for their freedom to practise
Islam without the use of loudspeakers.
RANJITH CHANDRASEKERA
Necessity knows no law. This applies to every aspect of human nature.
Though the degree or the measure may vary from soul to soul, it is the
same with learning.
Learning a language is a habit. But the habits should be gentle true
to language and acceptable. If the habits are awkward, rash or wrong,
proper uses should be introduced.
This is where the teachers come to the forefront or to the stage.
Teachers shouldn't be a page or two above the pupils.
They should be trained in the respective fields, should be armed to
the teeth with relevant Educational Psychology, Child Psychology,
Methodology, use of audio visuals teaching technique and above all
subject matter. That surpasses all other needs to be a successful,
efficient and good teacher. But still, if the learners don't pay
attention or are not interested to learn, teachers, cannot force the
bitter pills by force. We can lead a horse to a water hole but cannot
make it drink.
Human nature too is thus.
There are a few bright cases some average and most dull. This cannot
be helped. Some, are humble, genuine, humane, obedient, gentle and all
out to learn what they are taught by the teachers in schools.
But most are on the contrary, that's where the problem arises. You
can't make all doctors or engineers.
There should be hands for other sectors of society. So why bother too
much about this. You can conquer the nature only in some aspects. But
not the human nature, that is viscious, poisonous, and deadly when goes
out of control.
There is a saying nothing like trying. Parents go to buy knowledge
from shops. That's where they go wrong.
School subjects have become commodities today, advertisements,
posters and hand bill galore in the electronic and printed media and the
high ways. School teachers are ignored.
Some parents say they send their children to school as a general
procedure but learn outside. They despise, criticise, run down, and
humiliate school teachers in front of their dear ones and praise two
penny, three penny shoppers who sell English and other subjects.
D. M. B. P. Dissanayake,
Kegalle
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