The notable feature of the Batticaloa District election was that it
was held in an atmosphere of least troubles. At many polling areas the
voting in Batticaloa was slow mainly due to the hesitation caused
through fear of sudden emergence of subversive activity.
As the situation improved and with voter-confidence momentum
restored, they ventured forth to vote. Some of course were apparently
not sure of what to do as their political parties kept out of the
Batticaloa contest.
At Valachenai(Korelepattu Pradesiya Saba) an unknown person bent on
using violence for political purposes hurled a hand grenade at a SLMC
candidate’s residence injuring a police constable on guard.
Another SLMC candidate was physically attacked by an extremist
political element in the open but none came forward to identify the
person who made his escape soon after the skirmish.
Generally people in the East turn up to vote in much higher numbers
when terrorism was not intense.
Under the circumstances the 67 per cent (votes declared) was much
less on March 10. In our calculations at least 18 per cent of registered
voters were absent from voting or had not used their franchise in the
election.
The rejected votes at 12.22 per cent too are exceptionally high. In
the circumstances and under the above revelations, it is inappropriate
to state that the election is free and fair.
The many people in the District need peace, houses, schools and
teachers to educate their children, well macadamised roads and bus
services and also essential commodities at reasonable prices. Their
representatives voiced grief that they were denied of these minimum
rights during the 21 years of war.
Attendance of election staff and police personnel at polling duties
was good and creditable. The courtesy extended to the monitors by them
took an exemplary standard. Grama Niladharis were also present to help
voters without identity cards.
The absolute decline of terrorist attempts and subversions in the
once war ravaged grounds of the Batticaloa District is positively due to
strategic deployment of Police and Armed Services personnel in and
around the district.
All ranks of Police, Army, Navy and Air Force did their duty by the
nation in a grand manner without having to use arms and ammunition.
LIONEL GULAWITA
- Diriya Foundation
How many of us are aware or care about the spinally injured,
wheel-chair or bed-bound people living among us? How many of us are
aware of the problems faced by them physically, mentally and
financially?
How many buildings in this country - offices, schools, places of
worship, shops, cinemas, telephone-booths, public toilets - how many of
these cater to the needs of a paraplegic? How many people in our society
are even aware of who a paraplegic or a tetraplegic is?
The National Institute for the Care of Paraplegics(NIPS) is a
voluntary charitable organisation made up of a few caring people doing
their utmost to create this awareness.
It is an organisation dedicated to helping the spinally injured to
make something of their lives despite their terrible disability.
This is a gargantuan task. Rehabilitated patients discharged from the
hospital are scattered, many living in places that cannot be reached by
vehicle.
Some are the poorest of the poor. Often, the breadwinner climbs a
tree to pick a fruit to feed his family - falls and becomes the
paraplegic. The lack of proper attention for the patient by the carers
at home is more through ignorance and poverty than intentional neglect.
The NIPS aims at dealing with all these problems and much more.
At present, many programmes have been initiated to help the patients.
The patient adoption programme was begun some years ago whereby patients
discharged from hospital can be adopted by a NIPS member or any
interested person.
This entails visiting the patient, giving moral and financial support
and being generally helpful. This sort of attention has helped many
patients and their families to regain their confidence and to get back
to normal life.
Clinics are conducted for patients and their carers. Doctors advise
both parties on how to tackle their problems.
Patients write to the association seeking advice regarding their
problems and these letters are replied promptly despite lack of
secretarial help.
Equipment such as wheel-chairs, walkers, commode chairs, urine bags,
catheters, even special beds and water-mattresses are given to patients
according to their need, through the generosity of donors. Patients
requesting financial aid for starting self-employment programmes are
helped to make a start with a donation of Rs. 5,000.
All these programmes need funds. The NIPS is an approved charity and
donations are tax free.
A very important aspect of NIPS work is the resettlement of patients
discharged from hospital. A very important aspect of NIPS work is the
resettlement of patients discharged from hospital.
For this, plans are afoot to build a resettlement village with all
facilities. The plan is to make it a home from home until the patient is
completely rehabilitated and can safely be sent back home. Land is
essential for this project but so far the NIPS has not been able to
obtain suitable land for this purpose.
Government Departments and other non-Governmental organisations are
becoming more involved in this work and their support is of great
assistance to the NIPS. But this support alone is not sufficient. It
should be everyone’s responsibility to try to create a more positive
environment for these spinally injured people to become a part of our
society- not rejects.
“Thekka Nande,
Thekka Nande,
Thekka Mama koi?
Gaheng Vatila,
Konda Kadiila,
Kussiya Mulle Doi.”
This simple village verse brings out starkly the tragic plight of the
paraplegic. This is what NIPS is attempting to alleviate. Thekka Mama
must be made to get up and walk again.
LALITHA WIRASINHA
- National Institute for the Care of Paraplegics, Sri Lanka
When the international community rejected our country like a smelly
bad egg, for you Sri Lanka was your destiny.
Even when the Sri Lankan born intellects were expiating to developed
countries you chose this tiny island as your home forever. You are among
a few people who took the Sri Lankan identity to the international
arena.
We have no words to praise your contribution to our country. Your
departure will make an irreparable loss to the whole nation.
Paying our highest tribute to everything you did, I wish your rebirth
among us once again to make your loving Mother Lanka’s name glittering
in the international arena. Until then good bye to you for now ‘Arthur’.
HALEEN AMBEGODA
|
