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Tuesday, 6 September 2011

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Arsenic toxicity in Rajarata

Opinions have evolved through the suspicion or identification of arsenic as a cause operating chronically through water giving rise to a syndrome associated with kidneys of human beings in a specific area of Rajarata.

Curiosity among medical circles has been aroused on this in areas associated with proximal ends of limbs among the higher age groups of agricultural community of Rajarata during past two decades.

Clear records seem to be available only among the human species. Relatively long life span of human beings compared to other animals is shown as the reason for this providing the way for the cause to operate for a long period. However similar reports are not recorded even among elephants who live almost a similar life span to human beings and exposed to the environment of Rajarata where tank water plays a crucial role in agricultural and animal life cycles. Therefore it could be suspected that a hereditary factor is also involved in this issue.

Nevertheless the activists in Veterinary Medical Science must not be complacent or satisfied about this situation since further vigilance especially in the field of wild life could bring more light on this issue.

Although this is not a perfect analysis of the problem, this is written with the intention of drawing attention for contribution from Veterinary Medical Science aimed at revealing the real truth behind.


Doctors, Doctorates and Professors

With reference to the series of articles and letters on the above subject appeared in a Sunday newspaper, I wish to add the following and emphasize the necessity of wider publicity and awareness to the society and factual statements on the correct usage on the above. It would be useful if the other newspapers would also publish these statements to confirm that they too reflect the importance of correct usage of titles!

Doctor, is commonly a title used in Sri Lanka for those Registered in the Sri Lanka/General Medical Council as a medical practitioner.

Doctorate, however, is awarded for those who earned a PhD or similar/equivalent qualification usually through Research studies at recognized universities, listed in Documentation for the purpose. Furthermore, a Doctor (Honoris Causa), ie a Honorary Doctorate can be also conferred on a person by a Senate or equivalent Academic body of a recognized University as mentioned above.

Professor, is usually a cadre position in an Academic department of a University and is referred to as the Chair. For those promoted on merit, the position and the title is conferred. In both instances and also for the position of Associate Professor there is a very rigorous scheme of assessment in the Sri Lankan Universities. At this stage it should be made clear that the Doctorate and Associate Professorship/Professorship are two separate titles and that for Professorship an earned Doctorate would be of an advantage. After a specified period of service and other requirements the title senior professor would be conferred by the Senate of a University. Finally on retirement from the University, the Senate of the University could confer on its own criterion, the Emeritus professorship.

Legal usage

Doctorate is an Academic title/qualification either earned or honorary and as such, the person could use the title continuously as specified by the respective university unless for some rare valid reason according to the regulations of such a university it is withdrawn.

Professor title is somewhat different. While in service at the respective university the title Senior Professor/Professor/Associate Professor should be used. On leaving the University service, the Professor title can be used only if the Senate of the respective university as per its criteria, has granted the status of emeritus professor.

While the University Grants Commission is very specific on the use of word “University” for a higher education institute, it would also have to include the legality of the use of these personal titles when considering the amendments to the University Act.


Unprotected, unattractive canals in city

Several unprotected, unattractive and oily canals are cutting across through various congested places in Colombo. These canals are not only an eye-sore and risk for health but are also dangerous to human life. Those canals clearly appear to have never been given a thorough cleaning from the bottom itself. The stagnated waters in many canals are a breeding heaven for mosquitoes and a hell for those who breathe the odours.

A few days ago, a small child fell into such an unprotected canal at Maligawatte and drowned. There is a possibility for more casualties. There may be plans of evacuating the people from such areas in the future, still the canals need some sort of fencing.


TV needs to allow viewers to listen

Almost always, background “music” in TV dramas drowns the dialogue. Music which is part of a show such as an Independence Day marchpast, a Royal wedding, the Kandy Perahera, viewers want to listen to the band, the church ceremony, the famous drumming.

They do not want the history, politics and opinions comments without a pause while the procession or ceremony is going on. There were two commentators who try to outdo each other drowning the live sounds of the spectacle, in a TV programme which irritated many viewers.

Is there no one in a position of power sensitive enough to know when a commentary is acceptable and when the commentators have to be told to just “shut up”?

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