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.
S.R. Balachandran - Council Member
The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka
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.
Dr. Hector Perera - UK
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.
VIDANA GAMAGE RATNASIRI - Matara
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.
V. K. WIJERATNA - Panadura
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.
Anushka Wimalasena - Hokandara South
Star class
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.
WASANTHAKUMAR PERERA - Ja-Ela
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.
M. Y. M. MEEADH - Kandy
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