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Perhaps cricket may the one pastime that the youth in Sri Lanka may
nurture their future conduct to a large extent. Their idols are firstly
their own school cricketers and more particularly thereafter the
national cricketers, whom they see at every international game over the
TV media.
In this exercise they are keen observers of the conduct of every
player, both local and foreign. In this respect we, are proud of the
conduct of our Captain - Kumar Sangakkara, his deputy Mahela Jayawardena
and the rest of the team. Though a fair exhibition of revelry could be
understood, they, by and large do not make a song and dance of their
achievements on the field.
It is an acceptable reaction when an important wicket falls or a
difficult catch taken for the team members to extend a gesture of
appreciation to the bowler or to the fielder. It is not an outcome
consequent to a demand or a command unlike in the instance of a
particular captain, who points a finger to the sky inviting the rest of
his team to jump over each others shoulders to grab him in an embrace.
Cricket enthusiasts expect the best examples of leadership qualities
to be exhibited by the captains, when they are on the field. During the
recent World Cup Preliminary fixtures we were able to witness some of
the best examples of leadership, understandably by almost all the
captains, whenever there had been a slip up on the field by a fielder.
However, there had been a few unsavoury instances on the field in the
recent encounters, where a captain was often seen with a very visible
facial curse whenever a fielder missed a catch or fumbled with the ball.
These are a very poor exhibition of leadership.
B Mark Jayaratne,
Colombo 8.
It was reported in the Sport Page of the Daily News on March 28,2011
that St Aloysius College refused to send their team for eight limited
over encounter against Big Match rivals Rahula College, Matara. It has
become a battle of two cities due to wrong and biased decision making.
St Aloysius College is a reputed school in Galle as much as Rahula
College, Matara. These are two colleges in two cities. Usually a big
match is arranged and played between two schools of the same district.
The residents of Galle wonder why it is called a big match? They say
Galle has several reputed schools ie - Mahinda, Richmond, St Aloysius
and Vidyaloka.
It is baffling to reason why the authorities did not make Vidyaloka
Vs St Aloysius a big event? After all these two schools are in the same
town. These two schools must be made to meet and be their big event in
Galle itself. Are we still having undercurrents of elitist thinking?
Tissa de Silva
Habaraduwa
The employees of State institutions serve both the Government and the
public. But they are divided into two groups such as Government servants
and semi-Government employees. The former after retirement enjoy
benefits like pension, after his or her death to the family, railway
warrants etc. But nothing to the latter.
Therefore, I wish to suggest to the Public Administration and Home
Affairs Ministry to consider the following benefits to those who retire
from the semi-Government services.
1. To give the opportunity of booking holiday bungalows relevant to
their institutions on concessionary rates to their families and another
10 adults with children to enjoy their purpose.
And if any other benefits that could be given also to be included.
2. In the case of ferry services which will soon be in operation from
Sri Lanka to India, the present and the past employees of Ceylon
Shipping Corporation, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard
should be given concessionary rates for their families.
Nazly Cassim
Colombo 13
The sidewalk pavements between the ubiquitous shops and the ever
moving vehicular traffic on the roads on either side of the flyover are
very narrow and positively most insufficient for a four people abreast
moving crowd. So that the dire possibility of an unintended heave or
shove or a chance unbalanced misstep of the packed pedestrian concourse
in transit could sadly eventuate an unwary walker onto the awful mercy
of the moving vehicles alongside. Widening and protective steel railing
fixtures should have been given top priority indeed!
The unprotected pavement stretches with its unfinished surface
pavings of unwieldy and unevenly positioned slabs along with ignored
sections minus any slabs too, give much anxiety and strain and extra
exercise to the senior citizens, the pensioners, the gentry on walking-
aid and sticks etc who also constitute the regulars of the roads.
Immediate surface "touch ups" should be very timely!
The north side (seaside) of the the roundabout is a total mess in the
peak hours giving the harassed traffic police also much heasdaches!
Causes are:
a) The using of the round' about pedestrian crossing as a bus stand
(ill-positioned) for all the buses going to Colombo from Mt Lavinia
South direction.
b) The vehicles following the Mt Lavinia-Colombo bound bus are found
decelerated and 'bottle-necked".
c) Dehiwala Station road vehicles are also found in disarray
unethically blocked by the rear of the bus halted from MT Lavinia at the
roundabout pedestrian crossing halt!
d) The crossing of the "right of way" pedestrains in helter-skelter
disorder due to the station ary bus at the halt!
Simple solution should be the "pushing forward" of the present halt a
few paces ahead to the YMBA area.
W Meadows
Much has been published in the print media on this subject recently.
It is reported that under the present system there are four categories
in which a person could apply for Dual Citizenship. They are -
1. That a prospective applicant should be a Degree Holder; or
2. A senior Citizen above the age of 55
3. Own property to the value of Rs 2.5 Million
4. Have a Bank Deposit of US$ 2.5 Million
It is reported that there is a need to change all this, make the set
up more transparent and there is no hidden agenda or security factor
targeting any particular individual. It is also reported that moves have
been under way to deny this facility to certain individuals or to do
away with it altogether.
This has however been emphatically denied. There is also a denial
that the present fee of Rs 200,000 will not be increased. Both the
Sinhala and Tamil Communities for reasons best known to them left the
Country mainly due to the War which lasted for 30 years - a situation
that was created by politicians of all hues.
There was also a clarion call from the Government in power calling
upon all Sri Lankans to return to the Motherland and help in its
development.
I am of the firm belief that there should be no conditions imposed
under the circumstances and no fee should be charged for wanting to be
citizens of the country of their birth.
Senior Citizen
Dehiwala,
Quacks are known as bogus medical practitioners,
Their nefarious activities should alert all quarters.
They do resort to practices highly irregular,
Day-by-day, their involvements seem to be growing larger.
Tricksters are they and they do untold damage to patients, For they
appear to do their job sans care or caution.
In their vocation, uses are few; abuses are many,Apparently, they
carry out them for the sake of money.
They perform abortion on helpless and hopeless women,
Most of who have become victims of immoral men.
Imposters and confidence tricksters are they,
With their thriving practice, they've come to stay.
They continue to pose a threat to the general public,
For the steps taken against them are not at all drastic.
The medical profession is indeed a noble profession,
From those involved, it demands dedication and devotion.
These imposters with parasitical instincts are increasing,
Genuine practitioners with common interests are diminishing.
Organizations like the GMOA shouldn't remain silent,
Somehow, they must put an end to the malpractices
prevalent.
Abortion is killing; killing in any form is a grave crime,
The image of the noble profession is blackened with grime.
Human values, morality and respect for law and order
are at - stake,
Overhauling the prevailing system can bring the
much-needed - break.
M I Mohamed Ansar
'Dharul Azam' Matara
A priceless gift that God gives us is Health. The health top
maintenance in Sri Lanka, is at National Hospitals.
I was subjected to ear block on both sides due to excessive phlegm
caused by taking in lot of milk and milk products. I went to the ENT
clinic of Colombo National Hospital recently. The staff is a set of well
trained staff I could see from the way they treated patients. There was
a queue and patients were entertained well in no time. There was no
slipshod work. Every patient was examined by doctors and if necessary
sent to the computer section to record the hearing of the patient and
finally treated by an ENT Surgeon.
The National Hospitals in Sri Lanka is not second to any other
hospital. The best treatment given is at National Hospitals.
SA Masilamany
Colombo 06
Close to Katukurunda railway station there is an unguarded railway
crossing endangering the public.
On one side of the railway track stands a hairpin bend unnoticed when
trains approach.
Constantly the place is busy with motor traffic and foreign tourists
due to the tourist zone in Katukurunda lagoon area.
The public have made many complaints to the authorities to install
colour signals or man-operated wooden gate. But unfortunately all pleas
have fallen on deaf ears. CMK
A service of sea-planes can be operated from the scenic beauty
Kaluganga lagoon in Kalutara to Bentota, Hikkaduwa and other down South
popular tourists destinations.
A few years back when the country was without any disturbance,
shuttle service of single sea-plane was air-borne from the Kalutara
lagoon to Bentota tourist zone.
It was operated by a private company owner and earned a sizeable
income too. Kalutara lagoon is one of the best surfing destinations to
foreigners who love water sports.
C M Kamburawala
A lorry "spiriting away" iron rails belonging to the railway was
detected on a random check recently carried out by the police. It now
gives a clue possibly to many mysterious disappearances of heavy
man-hole covers and lids on our roads.
The job of tracing the culprits also termed as "the fences" operating
in the various towns supposedly feeding the king pins of this lucrative
scrap iron business racket becomes easier for the police as the circular
and rectangular iron slabs carry indelible "tell tale" letterings such
as FHNWSDB - SEWERS/Telecom cables etc embossed on them.
W M
Dehiwela
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