Daily News Online
 

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

News Bar »

News: Independence of Judiciary essential - President Mahinda Rajapaksa ...        Political: Effigy will wash away- Minister D.M. Jayaratna ...       Business: Making enterprises more productive a challenge ...        Sports: Nehra helps India bowl out Aussies ...

Home

 | SHARE MARKET  | EXCHANGE RATE  | TRADING  | SUPPLEMENTS  | PICTURE GALLERY  | ARCHIVES | 

dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette
 

 

 

 

 

 

Code of conduct

There is something called fiduciary relationship which exists between doctor and patient, lawyer and client, priest and devotee etc. You are not expected to reveal the information you gather about a person with whom fiduciary relationship is maintained. I remember in a Court case a Catholic priest refused to divulge the confessions made by the devotee saying that the message was only for God and not for others. The Court upheld his argument. Further you must not slander a person after his death. This is the code of conduct which has to be maintained not only by professionals but by all cultured people.

I am rather disappointed to read the scandalous reports about late pop singer Michael Jackson issued by his doctors. The Western media which preaches code of conduct to world at large did not follow this code of conduct themselves.

I hope our Sri Lankan medical professionals will not follow this disgraceful practice, so that we could die in peace without having to bear the scandalous reports being raised from our grave.


University ragging

This was many years that happened to me but I remember it as last week. Those days I passed my SSC with credits then applied to the Law College. I think I went for a test as well. I was informed later on that I got through or was selected. Then I went to this office at Hulftsdorp to see my results. I was greeted by one or two senior students, went to see the results then as I was coming along the corridor one of them tried to drag me into a room then I noticed there were a few more inside as well. I made a struggle to escape then ran off from the premises and never went back again.

Somehow it sensed to me that they were trying to rag me that is why I ran away. I heard of these things in my college and the signs were there of a rag that put me off altogether. Suppose if I was not given a rag or an attempt to rag me, then I would have done law. I am so sorry to hear still this business of ragging or kind of bullying taking place.

I have been to UK universities and I was never subjected to any kind of ragging or harassment, why in Sri Lanka? Almost every weekend or mid there were discos, get-together at the student's union and they were quite friendly and treated with respect. In these universities, quite a few different cultural background students get-together, not just British and they get on quite well, you are not cornered or left along. If you need to be left along then they respect it as well, but no ragging as such. Sorry there may be but the few I went to were quite different.

I think the attitude must be changed and the students must be welcomed than harass them. The time has changed and they must be more civilised and let the newcomers understand that University is a welcome place and not be afraid of coming there. I must say that I couldn't get into any University in Sri Lanka but in fact there were two, one in Colombo then the other in Kandy then much later the other same up or there must have been but I was not aware of them. My friends became doctors of medicine but I was nowhere near. Which University would take with just two Advanced Level passes?

That is a different issue, the important issue is make sure these senior students don't give a hard time when the newcomers come in with lots of future hopes. Please make these Universities a happy place for the future generations.


War and what follows

I wish to share the following I read and believe is ideally suited to accommodate into our nation's psyche in the aftermath of war against terrorism.

As citizens, we are affected by a variety of issues at the local, district and national levels. Depending on the impact of these issues on our daily lives and the lives of others, different roles and responsibilities may be required of us.

Some attempt to meet this challenge - to make the difference - by choosing the route of participating in community organizations' effort to help those in need in variety of ways. Others make financial contributions to support causes of interest and concern to them.

But many resist taking any kind of responsibility. They find it easier instead to look to others to be the messiah to solve all the world's problems. Rather than take any active role they feel no responsibility for making clear choices about the quality of their citizenship. They may even claim they are doing no harm to society, but the saying, 'If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem,' is very true. 'Think globally act locally' is a good guideline.


Value of old coins

When I was recently standing near my gate a gentleman on a motor bicycle stopped and politely inquired from me whether I have any old coins for him to buy. When I asked him what particular coin he was after he said that his particular interest was in old one-cent coins of the forties bearing the emblem of King George VI and Emperor of India on one side and a palm tree on the other side. He offered to give me a thousand rupees for each such coin.

I remember having just one such coin and giving it to my grandson in case he needed a specimen of one at school. The person who came to me asked me to keep such coins for him when he would call again. As he was leaving he added that he was a Muslim which I told him was of no concert to me. Can any knowledgeable reader please inform me through this journal whether there is such a value for these old one cent pieces and whether these could be used for any illegal purposes.


Lower age for NIC to 14

I agree with Palitha Jayasinghe (October 19) requesting to lower the age of getting NIC to 14.

When I was 14, I was too tall for a girl of my age. More often than not Security Personnel manning checkpoints did not believe that I was not yet 16 to have the national identity document. Now I am 23 but I still remember how embarrassing the situation was for me.

Girls grow a lot faster than boys after they have reached 12. Allowing the boys and girls who are 14 years old to apply and get NIC will release them from many inconveniences.

I am requesting the lawmakers to make it a reality.


Star class

Hotels increase charges

It is reported that "Sri Lanka's star class hotels have decided to increase their charges for occupancy and services to be on par with international destinations, so that Sri Lanka will not be classified as a cheap destination..."

However another news report states that, "Empty terrace tables at Parisian cafe's, fewer sunbathers scattered along Italian and Spanish beaches, the global economic crisis has cast a dark cloud over Europe's top tourist destinations", for the discerning reader/traveller, very little money is being spent on holiday destinations - everyone's trying to cut their coat according to their cloth.

In the light of the above, in these trying times, when an integrated effort is being made to attract the tourists, a marginal increase would, in my humble opinion, suffice.

We should motivate tourists, with rates that are comparatively lower than other countries.

If we've survived this long on present rates, we should not 'Kill the goose that will lay the golden egg'. To, 'Feather our own nest' and 'Make hay whilst the sun shines' would be counter productive.

We are making every effort to re-establish our country in the minds and eyes of those wishing to visit us let's make our offer attractive.


Free travelling

It is quite heartening to find that certain private bus services provide free travelling facilities to senior citizens. I too got this chance once or twice in such bus services.

But, I feel that this free travelling concession should be granted by all CTB buses and other private bus services without any discrimination.

It is really a great solace to the poor senior citizens. In the meantime, they should be given seating facilities reserved for the aged.

It is a sad scene to observe that young men travel comfortably seated in the bus while the elders - the disabled men and women keep on standing in the bus amidst jolting and pushing by other passengers.

Therefore, I appeal as a senior citizen to all right thinking men and women to provide maximum convenience and facilities for senior citizens not only in the buses but also in public places - like hospitals, post offices, banks etc.

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

TENDER NOTICE - WEB OFFSET NEWSPRINT - ANCL
www.lanka.info
www.defence.lk
Donate Now | defence.lk
www.apiwenuwenapi.co.uk
LANKAPUVATH - National News Agency of Sri Lanka
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.army.lk
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)
www.news.lk

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2009 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor