Citizens' mail
New Year is the time to celebrate the harvest of the fields. The
bountiful harvest of paddy, vegetables, fruits are the results of a
fertile soil, the sun, the water, the nutrients, carbon dioxide and
green leaves.
The carbon dioxide gas which human beings breath out is taken up by
the green plants to produce crops. In addition the plants also take the
sunlight, the water from the roots, and the nutrients from the soil.
Using leaves containing chlorophyll in this way the green plants produce
food.
Unfortunately many human beings have not understood that the rice
plants will produce rice grains, the coconut plants, the coconuts, the
mango plants the mangoes using the carbon dioxide exhaled by us.
While producing food the green leaves also give out oxygen and vapour,
which are much needed by human beings. New Year is the time to celebrate
the kindness of the plants towards human beings. While we enjoy this
kindness by the plants we need to learn to be kind towards the fellow
human beings.
Today many speak of the joys of being in one country, but very few
understand that a country can function as one, only if the different
communities understand each other. To communicate, to understand we need
to intermingle with each other.
The New Year brings ample opportunity to do this, therefore all must
use of this time. All functions planned during the New Year season must
ensure that all communities are involved in celebrating. This must begin
not only at Ministerial level but even in the montessories, daycare
centres, schools etc. During this season, it is especially important for
the people from the South to go and investigate as to what the people in
the camps and other displaced shelters require and provide them with
those needs in plenty.
Remember the trees do not provide for human beings because they are
good to them. It is the nature of the plants to provide. So we, Sri
Lankans must also learn to give to each other.
The joy of the season must spread around and cannot stagnate in one
corner of the country. True happiness is like a beautiful fragrance it
cannot be held or be confined to one place, naturally it spreads all
over and make many people happy.
Dr. Ajantha Perera Chairperson, Association
for Consumer Action
It is a relief to know that the Mexicans have finally understood the
clear situation in the NFZ in the North/East of Sri Lanka. It appears
that the Mexicans did not understand the languages of China and Russia
at the outset that said that Sri Lanka situation does not threat the
International peace and stability.
Congratulations to Dr. Palitha Kohona and the team for convincing the
Mexicans about the aim of the Sri Lankan Government in bringing the
democracy and peace to our Tamil brethren in the North and East.
Francis Kurukulasuriya Australia
This is something the authorities would have implemented long ago.
Having lived in USA, I was on a holiday to Sri Lanka in December '08. On
the second day of my holiday I fell sick after inhaling the poison black
gas emissions on the roads and I was suffering from respiratory problems
throughout my holiday.
In USA everything is done online. So no one can forged anything and
it is 100 percent foolproof. I suggest the Government should implement
something like that even though it is costly, that cost can be recovered
from the reduction in the cost of health of treating the population
falling sick by inhaling this poisonous black smoke. Sri Lanka badly
need good environment.
Robert Fernando
via email
The road leading from Swaripola to Dampe village which turns off to
Hedigama Road is in a very dilapidated condition with pot-holes, uneven
road surfaces, blocked drains etc., and when it rains this road is in a
terrible mess.
Buses (Route No. 295) ply on this road from Piliyandala to Hedigama.
Owing to the bad condition of the road vehicles have to travel very
slowly and vehicles need to carryout repairs very often.
Prajamandala Road which is on the Hedigama Road also gets flooded
during heavy rains since the force of the water from the main road flows
through this road and as there are no drains, the residents face severe
difficulties.
This road comes under the purview of the Kesbewa Urban Council.
Would the UC Chairman kindly look into this matter?
Corina Piliyandala
I was in your country from May to July setting up a small project,
whilst taking a break I came down with dengue fever in Hikkaduwa.
My concern is that I was misdiagnosed twice, and told I had nothing
more than fever. The first person was a local doctor; however the second
person I saw was an English speaking doctor at a well known private
hospital in Galle. By the time I saw him, my pulse was so weak I
couldn't raise my hand for more than 30 seconds without it losing the
blood flow, I now know this common sign of dengue, however he didn't
even take a blood test and just told me it was nothing.
A few days later I began haemorrhaging and I knew something was
serious, my insurance company intervened and got me to a Colombo
hospital, which was fantastic. Had I left it any longer I am not sure I
would have survived.
My concern is that the hospital in Galle could so easily misdiagnose
such a serious illness, and I am wondering how many people who are not
so lucky to have the help I did, die of dengue fever in Sri Lanka every
year which could be avoided by making better health checks.
I would like to raise awareness of this issue, in the hope of saving
the lives of others.
Beth Shepherd via email
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