The monkey menace in the Ambalangoda Urban Council areas has caused
immense damage to garden cultivations in several wards of our town.
Most residents living in the UC area grow fruit trees like Rambutan,
plantain, sapadilla, papaw, passion fruit, guava, mango, avacado and
also economic crops like coconut, arecanut and jak, in their compounds.
The monkeys invade these trees during the bearing season and cause
immense damage to crops, much to the annoyance of the residents who have
taken great pains to nurse and bring up these trees.
Most residents have taken to home gardening at the instance of the
Agriculture Department to fall in line with Api Wawamu, Rata Nagamu
concept. They spend a fair sum of money in applying fertilizer and
caring for the fruit trees. Organic and inorganic fertiliser costs much
in the open market.
The invading monkeys do not spare any fruits in our homegardens. In
our town, with houses situated close to each other, these creatures are
in the habit of jumping on to the roofs of houses, which are mostly
tiled and darting across from one roof to the other. A large number of
tiles are damaged or displaced due to the weight of these animals.
They also perform acrobatic acts along electric mains and Telecom
cables along the roads much to the amusement of the helpless residents,
who have to just grin and bear it.
At times, crackers are lit and thrown at the monkeys, but they seldom
get scared or disturbed, as they are now quite used to the sound of
crackers. Arecanut and coconut trees are not spared during the ‘off’
season for fruits. They attack the flowers of these two varieties of
trees which are of much economic value.
Residents have spotlighted this problem on several occasions in the
print media, but the Wildlife Department authorities have not taken any
positive action to solve this problem. They seem to take the path of
least resistance.
We hope the Galle District Agricultural Committee would move in this
matter without any delay and request the Wildlife Department to initiate
action to trap these animals in wire mesh cages and transfer them to
jungle areas like the Sinharaja Forest where they will have a
comfortable time undisturbed by human beings living in towns and also
where there is enough fodder for them.
On March 17, I watched a news item on TV, where Polonnaruwa
Pradeshiya Sabha officials got the Wildlife Department authorities in
their area to capture the ‘Apes’ (the white variety of monkeys) and
transfer them to the Minneriya Wildlife Reserve.
These animals when captured will have to be transferred to the
jungles no sooner they are trapped in the cages, to prevent them from
fighting among themselves and getting injured or killed inside the
artificial iron mesh cages, as happened in the Bentota D.S. Division,
when a similar exercise was carried out sometime back. This project was
later abandoned. The trapped ‘Apes’ were transported in open trucks,
similar to the ones used to transport wild elephants to Yala and other
Game Reserves.
Lionel Lekamwasam Leanage - Ambalangoda
While I was addressing a planters’ meeting at the Darawalla Planters’
meeting at the Darawalla Planters’ Club, on October 30, 2008, I got a
terrible chest pain and was rushed to Glencairn Hospital Dickoya, which
was the nearest General Hospital. On our way, one of my colleagues
called the Glencairn Hospital to inform them about me, it was amazing
because when we reached, the doctors and their team were waiting for me
with the wheel-chair and had made all arrangements.
The doctors in charge at Glencairn Hospital immediately had made all
arrangements. These doctors immediately ran all the tests that were
available there and did their best, said that I have got a heart attack
and made arrangements to send me to the Nawalapitiya General Hospital.
As soon as I arrived at the Nawalapitiya General Hospital, without
wasting a moment the house doctor, his assistants and the nurses started
treating me and made me very comfortable. The next day I was transferred
to the Intensive Care Unit which was excellent. The team in the ICU
attended to each and every patient with a lot of concern and care. From
there I was transferred to the General Hospital in Kandy - to the
Intensive Care Unit. I appreciate the care and attention the nurses gave
the patients. The attendants were also kind and helpful. The doctor in
charge of me took the time to explain my condition and took extra care.
Not only with me but with all her patients and had time for each and
everyone.
When it comes to the General Hospitals we all have the thought that
the standards and attention is very poor. But I was amazed at how the
doctors were so dedicated and the nurses doing their duties with love
and care. They were making sure the patients were comfortable and cared
for, as if they were their own family.
Both Nawalapitiya and Kandy General Hospitals were well equipped and
had all the medication that a heart patient needed.
I am very grateful to all three General Hospitals for doing their
best and taking care of me and many others like me. Special thanks to
all Government Hospitals and the Government of Sri Lanka. A special
thanks to all the doctors and their teams.
Mohan Rajendram - Bogahawatte Estate
Hardly a day passes without the public being acquainted with an
incident of a gold chain snatching from a lonely working girl at some
isolated spot. Despite cries raised by the victim the robber flees the
scene without any qualms. If he senses that he is being followed by a
sympathetic passer by, moved by the plight of the loser he has the
audacity to swallow the item. Female train travellers are the easiest
targets.
The modus operandi of the snatcher is to spot an unaccompanied girl
or woman wearing a gold chain, seated or hurrying to get off the train
and while the train is still moving he jumps off it and escapes with the
loot.
If by chance he is caught the robbed item is not visible on his
person since it has already entered its resting place through the mouth.
The old adage prevention is better than cure should be practised if
the owner is concerned about the safety of her valuable item. The
general opinion is expensive jewellery should not be worn when
travelling by public transport as they may tempt any would be snatcher.
A situation should not be created for him. During festive seasons when
crowds gather snatchers have a field day.
Anton Perera - Moratuwa
Colour Light Signals (CLS) have been installed for the control of
vehicular traffic at important junctions throughout the country.
Authorities spend lakhs of rupees on CLS for each junction for the
convenience of both the motorists and the pedestrians. But as far as the
Colombo city is concerned, Traffic Police frequently bypass such CLS and
control the traffic manually. Why should a cop stand on the middle of
the road, risking his life too, when vehicles would move according to
the CLS? What a pity?
Sometimes ago letters appeared in the English dailies written by
concerned citizens about the traffic cops involving in such foolish
activities by stating their own experience confronted and drawing the
attention of the Police Headquarters to put a stop to it. But the Big
Cops relevant to the subject were not interested at all and hence the
dangerous exercise continues. An exception is accepted during the time
of VIP movements but not at other times. Following are the shortcomings
of the traffic cops.
1. Vehicles proceeding are allowed to move despite the appearing of
red lights. While those who are to drive at the sight of the green
lights on other directions are compelled to stop their vehicles. In
case, not properly watched by drivers there is a possibility for an
accident occurring.
2. By this senseless act of the cops, pedestrians who watch for the
red light to cross the road, do so and seeing the oncoming vehicles,
they walk back to their position. This is a very bad situation. A life
may be at risk.
3. By this senseless action of the cops, school children who are
taught of road discipline are bound to pay scant respect to road rules
when a cop behaves in such a way.
As there was heavy traffic congestion on the Urugodawatte/Wellampitiya
Road, the flyover was constructed to ease the traffic. But it does not
serve the purpose. Because of the cops who man both the Urugodawatte/Nawagampura
Junctions paying little concern to the CLS. Some even attribute the
traffic blocks to the presence of the traffic cops near the CLS.
Therefore, the DIG Traffic should apprise all Traffic OICs to inform
their traffic cops not to act against or bypass the CLS when performing
their duties standing under the CLS.
Further, they do not advise or fine (to fine is a must to stop
repetition) those who stop the vehicles after passing the white or
yellow lines drawn metres before the CLS. Then of what use is them
standing under the CLS? But we see vehicles stopping feet away from the
CLS.
The most important duty of the cops is to watch whether drivers obey
the traffic rules and road signs. To actually perform it, they should be
in mufti. This is something that private bus owners opposed if memory
serves me right. No rats will play before the cats.
NAZLY CASSIM - Colombo 13
|
