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The current hot topic coming across the print and electronic media is
the Sakvithi scam. This is not the first time the so-called finance
companies and investment deities swindled the hard earned money of its
depositors.
The first of which occurred is the HPT scandal about two decades ago.
Then it was the Pramuka Bank, there may be a dozen others who escaped
publicity.
Neither the interest lusty depositors nor the financial authorities
have learnt a lesson from these debacles where millions of rupees were
swindled and the culprits fled the country. It is a phenomenon, that
would be depositors will invest their monies in an account which will
yield an interest at an above average rate. They do not have the
financial foresight to predict such investment companies will lapse or
are being run by the crooks who will amass the wealth and go into the
oblivion.
The modus operandi for these companies to have such a big clientele
of depositors did not materialise in a day or two. They give
country-wide publicity of their creditability and the never heard rates
of interest. These advertisements are not relayed in secret but by
public media.
The Central Bank which is the supervisory body and the authority over
Governmental and private lending companies has to be squarely blamed for
this debacle. They bolt the stable after the horse has fled. When these
mushroom companies were in operation, the Central Bank should have known
it. They cannot shed their responsibility for not performing the duties
entrusted to them by statue.
Had they been vigilant and duty conscious, these errant companies
should have been brought to justice.
What the CB did was allow these criminals to amass wealth, flee the
country. They thereafter gave publicity in banner headlines giving the
names of the culprits who are not authorised to deal in financial
dealings.
The culprits as well as the officials of the Central Bank who turned
a blind eye for this debacle also should be brought to justice.
J.N. Nugegoda
The citizens of Batticaloa are appreciative of the steps taken by the
Ministry of Health, in providing a long felt need for a cardiologist and
the necessary medical equipment at Batticaloa.
In the past with all the vagaries and discomfort of travel from
Batticaloa to Colombo, lodging in lodges, passing many a checkpoint
heart patients had a gruelling time.
The provision of a cardiologist, a very amenable gentlemen who
established an excellent rapport with the high and low, where various
relevant cardiological modern equipment is available is indeed a boon.
Batticaloa has been in the backwoods for far too long and today with
all the MPs representing the Batticaloa district, for very
understandable reasons are unable to be based here. Our only resort is
for the press to highlight our needs.
The Batticaloa Vigilance Committee appeals to Minister Dullas
Alahapperuma to help our transport problems by making available more
railway carriages for people to travel to Colombo as the present quota
of carriages is most inadequate to serve the overflowing passengers who
wish to travel by train.
Off and on we hear of the nation receiving extra railway engines, and
carriages and we plead that a few of them are utilised on the Batticaloa
line. As the trains ply, at some stations announcements are made of
relevant information to the passengers and one wishes to ask, what if
these short announcements are made in Tamil too.
Earlier, the Batticaloa line had the railway code BTLR, which stood
for BT standing for Batticaloa and LR for Light Railway, and at the
opening of the new Railway Station some years ago, a speaker in the
presence of the then Minister of Transport equipped that this code was
appropriate, since the Batticaloa people say that the BTLR as
‘Batticaloa Train Late Regularly’ which raised the ire of the then
Minister.
From the fleet of buses granted by the Indian Government very few
have been given to the Batticaloa CTB Depot.
With the stated clearing of the East, we appeal that the Government
makes us feel, that we are also a part of the nation.
PRINCE CASINADER Batticaloa
The law of the land should be common to each and everyone. There
should not be one for politicians and their off spring, another for
religious types, another for rich and powerful and another for the
common people. Everyone should be treated the same in the eyes of the
Law.
This is a basic necessity in a democratic and fair society. This is
the very fabric that binds a civic society together. The common people
appreciate very much the service it provides to our society. The
framework in our society is governed by Law and Order. Everyone should
endorse it and not mock it, least of all the clergy.
However, with recent events that took place between the Judiciary and
a few Buddhist Monks, it seems like the monks too have joined our
politicians and their kith and kin, being outside the realm of Law and
Order.
Now it seems like the monks too are following closely in the
footsteps of our politicians. The rules are very simple and civic in a
house of Law with regard to one’s conduct.
You do not have to be a religious scholar to work that one out.
The presiding Judge has to be honoured as he takes his place to chair
over proceedings.
He/she performs a process that is vital to the well being of our
nation.
In fact the services of our judiciary are needed today more than ever
it was ever needed in the history of our nation.
If the court house is no place for a Buddhist monk, then they should
refrain from entering it.
Regardless of anyone’s status in society, the Law and Order should be
equal to everyone.
There was a golden opportunity to set an example by the clergy to
show the nation about discipline and the regard for Law and Order,
especially in the face of adversity.
Unfortunately, that opportunity was lost and so was the respect for
the perpetrators.
CHAMINDA TILAKUMARA
It is heartening to note that the Supreme Court has directed the
Electricity Board to formulate a block based tariff scheme.
The current tariff structure is quite irrational and unfair, it
charges the highest per unit cost for a given tariff band starting from
the first unit itself.
The Water Board is also charging customers in the same manner where
users above 15 units have to pay the highest unit cost for the tariff
band from the 16th unit itself.
It is time that the Water Board also formulates a fairer tariff
structure.
K.G.E. Nugegoda
The other day I happened to visit the safety vault at the Bank. Both
my wife and I are authorised to have access to our vault. This time our
10 year old grandson, who was on a short visit from abroad accompanied
us.
The Bank official in charge refused to allow the child inside the
vault room for security reasons.
The child was highly disappointed as he could not satisfy his
curiosity about safety vault. So one of us had to stay behind with the
child out side the room.
The dejected child kept on asking me “what security reasons? I am not
a thief? Why are they not allowing me to go inside with grand ma?”
This is a sad commentary on the bureacratic rigidity and lack of
human kindness on the part of some public officials.
They would rather offend the tender feelings of the child than bend
the law and be flexible under reasonable circumstances.
A.G.P. Wattala
I was highly gladdened to read a news item (DN October 2) on the
above caption which stated as follows: Sarana Senior Citizens
Association, Bowwagama, Nawalapitiya in collaboration with the United
Elders’ Society, Pasbage Korale had made arrangements to celebrate the
World Elders Day on October 5 at 9.00 a.m. at Bowwagama Samagigama Lions
Public Hall.
It is heartening to hear that some selected senior citizens would be
felicitated on that day. In fact, this is an exemplary act to be
emulated by all the Young Men Associations in Sri Lanka.
The youth should respect and serve the Elders in our society. If this
noble work is carried on by the youth and the able bodied section of the
society, the elders will happily face their old age till they breath
their last. But, the opposite only usually occurs.
In certain families, the sons who are henpecked neglect their aged
parents on the insistence of their beloved wives and resort to admitting
their fathers and mothers to the Elders’ Homes where the latter languish
without filial support and love. Some sons who wish to enjoy their
conjugal life take their aged parents to their sisters’ homes and leave
them under the care of their brothers-in-law.
Perhaps, their sisters may be poor to look after the parents. Under
this situation, it is the bounden duty of the sons to help their sisters
financially. Nevertheless, such financial backing too is lacking among
the unsympathetic sons.
Hence, the religious leaders and other preachers should organise
special meetings on the ‘Importance of caring for Elders’ to inculcate
the parental love and affection in the minds of the young men.
Besides, the Government too should provide the necessary facilities
in hospitals and transports.
I have observed that the young men do not forego the comfort of the
seat for the sake of the elders who are compelled to travel standing, in
public buses.
Therefore, the Government should strictly enforce the reservation of
one or two seats in the public and private buses just as the front seat
is strictly reserved for the Buddhist Clergy.
M.Y.M. MEEADHU Kandy
It may come as a surprise to many that the AlQuran, the holy book of
the Muslims has a chapter named Mariam (chapter 19) after the mother of
Jesus.
It talks of her miraculous conception as follows:
Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her
family to a place in the East.
(16) She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then we sent
to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
(17) She said: “I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come
not near) if thou dost fear Allah.” (18) He said: “Nay, I am only a
messenger from thy Lord (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.”
(19) She said: “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched
me, and I am not unchaste?” (20) He said: “So (it will be): thy Lord
said `That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto
men and a Mercy from Us’:
it is a matter (so) decreed.” (21) So she conceived him, and she
retired with him to a remote place. (22) And the pains of childbirth
drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): “Ah!
would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing
forgotten and out of sight!” (23) But (a voice) cried to her from
beneath the (date palm-tree):
“Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; (24)
“And shake towards thyself the trunk of the date palm-tree: it will let
fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. (25) “So eat and drink and cool (thine)
eye.
And if thou dost see any man say ‘I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most
Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.’
” (26) At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in
her arms) they said: “O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought.
(27) “O sister of Aaron, thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy
mother a woman unchaste!” (28) But she pointed to the babe.
They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?”
(29) He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me
revelation and made me a prophet; (30) “And He hath made me Blessed
wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as
I live; (31) “(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing
or miserable; (32) “So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I
die and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”!
(33) Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth,
about which they (vainly) dispute.*
(Incidentally, if anyone is interested in obtaining an English
translation of the Quran, they can get one free by calling Almuslimaath
on 2736577)
It is noteworthy that Allah had asked her to eat the dates for
childbirth. It is found that this wonderful fruit has oxytocin, a
hormone which assists in childbirth by making the uterus contract
systematically. Not only that, fresh dates is a premium source of
vitamin C and are fat free, cholesterol free, and are a good source of
fiber. Dates also contain Vitamin A1, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, 10 essential
minerals and more than 20 different amino acids, helping us digest and
assimilate carbohydrates easier and control blood sugar levels and fatty
acids content in our bodies.
Since the sugar in it is a combination of sucrose and fructose it is
perfectly safe for diabetics too.
The selenium in it lowers the risk of cancer and heart diseases, as
well as helps us keep our immune systems healthy.
As a single date contains around 23 calories, this very low calorie
count and the huge amount of healthy substances in dates make them one
of the best nutrition sources for a diet plan menu.
Dates are the number one remedy to eradicate anemia from our blood.
It’s high fiber content helps in bowel motion and also prevents bowel
cancer.
Prophet (sal) asked us to give chewed dates to newborn baby and
science has found that it helps the child to overcome hypoglycemia so
that it can face the new environment better. Prophet (sal) also said
“Indeed in dates there is cure” (Muslim).
During Ramadan, Muslims have been eating a lot of dates since it is
sunna (recommended in the religion) to break fast with dates. Since it
has the correct amount of nutrients, it sustains the blood sugar very
well. Many of my friends and I have been fasting during Ramadan, which
means staying without food or water for 12 hours at a time, for more
than 5 years, just by taking three dates and a cup of coffee or tea with
or without milk for sahar(early morning meal). Some of them are
diabetics on medication too, but did not find any discomfort.
Like the coconut tree, every part of the date palm tree, the trunk,
leaves, the flower and the fruit - all are useful to man in different
ways.
Even the seeds can be ground and roasted, to make what is known as
‘date coffee’ which makes a delicious drink. It can be also be mixed
with wheat flour to make bread.
Many Arabs survived for months or years on dates and milk of camel or
goat milk which substituted the low fat content.
What with the rising Cost of Living, may be we all need to look at
this miraculous fruit more appreciatively and not only consider eating
more of it, but also planting it in Sri Lanka. Whether our soil and
weather are suitable to grow the date palm tree is to be seen. If it
does, may be we will find the solution for poverty in this simple plant.
DR. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI Dehiwela
A recent trend at all Supermarkets is that the consumer is charged a
sum of Rs. 5 per polythene bag at the payment counter for the removal of
purchases.
This I am told is on the instructions of the Central Environment
Authority to dissuade or minimise consumers from using polythene bags,
so as to avoid the clogging of drains, pollution etc. which can do
untold damage to the environment. An excellent idea which should be
applauded by all civic minded citizens of the country.
Now let’s look at the other side of the coin. I walk in to a
Supermarket and purchase (a) four varieties of vegetables (b) Rice (c)
Fish (d) Meat (e) Dhal (f) Onions (g) Potatoes. Assuming I do not make
anymore purchases of non-packeted items, the items purchased has gone
into ten polythene bags. I am charged Rs. 5 for using one polythene bag
to take home ten other polythene bags for items purchased.
How foolish can some be. Sorry, I may be wrong since maybe these 10
polythene bags are of a special type which disintegrates automatically
when emptied.
ASHLEY DE ABREW Nugegoda
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