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It is still unbearable
To feel, you are no more
Sir, you were a genius.
An understanding person
A perfect leader
Firm yet being soft,
Kindness personifying
With a sound personality
Smart and great!
Having adjudged best school Principal
As you did your task to the utmost
How graceful you walked!
How cheerful you looked!
You were never proud
Of your achievements
Never showed off your capabilities
Pupils as well as pedagogues
Revered you with much awe
It’s only seldom we find
Genuine people like you!
A colleague of mine
Once, said,
You might have been
The most popular person
In the whole of our Motherland.
People are not exaggerating
They are really commenting
Of a noble person
Who moulded the characters
Of many an offspring
I consider, I’m fortunate
Having served under you
Even for a little while
I’ve heard of you, long ago.
In reality, I valued you more.
You, I presume, was a deity
Sent from Heaven
To brighten this world!
But why? Oh! why?
Did you leave us so soon
May be, because the God decided
To take you
Back to Heaven
The Best Place
Suited for Best People!!!
One last wish,
Before winding up
May we be born
In our next birth, too
To work with you
But I think,
We must not be that selfish
Supreme bliss of Nirvana
To you, dear Sir, I wish!!!
- Kamala de Zoysa Panadura
The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) which is the
leading authority in controlling tobacco related affairs in Sri Lanka
should focus its attention to raise awareness among film/tele/stage
drama producers and directors of their responsibility to prevent from
promoting use of tobacco products in their creations.
I felt this is very important when very often we see promotion of
tobacco use through many of these productions, in spite of the existing
law which prohibits tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship of
tobacco products. The first show of a stage drama of an Italian story
translated into Sinhala and directed by an award winning film director
was staged a few weeks ago at Elphinstone Theatre. The main actress who
too is an award winner says in the story, ‘I can’t be without my
cigarette, where is it?” Another guy in the story offers her a packet of
cigarettes. The bitter part of this scene is another veteran actor in
the country lights the cigarette for her. When inquired from the actor,
his response was that he had not been made aware on the subject matter
and the story is from a foreign country.
Are these indirect promotions excluded from the ban of tobacco
advertising, promotion and sponsorship? What will be the future of this
actress if this drama continues to show (getting addicted to smoking)?
What example is the director in particular trying to give through this
scene to the society, especially to young women in this country?
The authorities responsible in implementing the tobacco control law
too should take action to educate these ignorant film directors and
producers that they are showing their productions in Sri Lanka, whether
the stories are from another country or here, hence they should be
abided by the Sri Lanka law.
MANJARI PEIRIS - Maharagama
I read with interest the letter of B B Perera of Katubedda on the
above subject (July 22). While agreeing fully with the sentiments
therein, it would be relevant to point out that in the ‘Mahinda Chintana
Idiri Dekme’ item 10 of the benefits promised to be given to the masses
in the forthcoming budget is the revision of the pensions of the public
servants who retired prior to 2006 to be brought in line with 2006
salaries.
It is hoped that Finance Minister will keep to this promise in the
2011 budget.
M E G DE SILVA - Ratmalana
The Kandy Police have started prosecuting pedestrians not crossings
in ‘Yellow Line’ it is a very good scheme to prevent accidents specially
for the old and feeble people. But the Police should attend to two
things.
1. There are no crossings in some roads and such as Cross Road, Kings
Street and many others.
2. Drivers who don’t observe these laws. Should also be charged. They
should wait till the people cross and not for the public to wait till
there are no vehicles for them to cross as it happening today.
This preference should be given to the pedestrian and not the
vehicles on these crossings. Several accidents have been reported on
pedestrian crossing due the negligence of drivers.
D C Godamune - Kandy
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