The Annual Interschool Shakespeare contest is a great extra activity
for children. This year there were over 30 schools participated and it
was fantastic to see the talent of young children.
I have been attending the Shakespeare contest almost every year and
enjoyed them very much, but I now notice a change creeping in. I am not
an author, critic, actor or director, but just a lover of Shakespeare.
The love for Shakespeare and classics was planted in me by my father
when I was just 10 years old, and it has grown in me and with me.
What I feel is that the contest should not be localized.
1. Actors should wear the costumes that were worn by the characters
in those days, not sarong and banian or jeans and T shirts.
2. The language should be Shakespeare's own language, not modern
English.
Think on this, how would the Sinhala Literary Intelligentsia react to
the performing of Maname or Sinhabahu in a westernized modern manner
with not only top hats and tailcoats but also with an alteration of its
style of language and contextual meaning. I personally believe that such
a change should not be made permissible despite the fact that one has
artistic freedom and liberties.
3. The best actor / actress should be judged at the preliminary
judging and not at the finals. Personally I felt that there were many
good actors and actresses among the schools that did not enter the
finals.
If costumes, language, context and pronunciation are not important,
then this competition should be called 'Shakespeare localized' and not
The All Island Shakespeare Drama Competition.
Kay Es
The Additional Solicitor General Palitha Fernando PC, in his opening
speech in the lecture on 'Accountability of Police Officers' organized
by the SL Foundation Institute together with collaboration of ANCL and a
couple of state agencies recently, stressed the need of a good rapport
between the police and the public if law and order is to be maintained.
He said that the public has a fear to visit a police station for any of
their necessity as the latter treat them in a disgusting manner.
Therefore, he urged that a background should be created for those who
wish to visit the station.
He said a policeman in uniform should have the courage of facing any
situation, eventhough he is lonely. He has to be proud of his uniform.
He related regretfully that in some instances policemen of junior grades
are denied of executing their duties by senior officers instructing them
to act contrary for whatever the case may be. He added that by this
unwanted intervention even a duty conscious officer gradually becomes a
bad egg.
He further said that steps are being taken to finish cases of 'abuse
on children and women' within six months and that the relevant policemen
handling the case would produce everything related to the case to the
court when required without any delay.
DIG Gamini Dissanayake, representing the IGP said that the Police
Department had to recruit policemen without giving them full training as
there was a dearth of police personnel for deployment during the terror
period. He added that has been the cause for policemen to misbehave or
lack discipline towards the public. He assured such recruits will be
given a full training in order to maintain the good name of the Police
Department.
A woman PC of Grandpass police requested the DIG that something
positive has to be done to stop calls coming from the top to release
suspects arrested, specially for selling illicit liquor.
Nazly Cassim, Colombo 13.
The Zebra crossings on the Galle Road, one close to Alfred House Road
and the other close to St Kilda's Lane has only the two main stripes
from one side of the pavement to the other. I have noticed that this is
the format that had been followed now on the newly painted crossings at
various places too.
At the Kollupitiya junction, close to Liberty Plaza that the
pedestrian crossing is unique - two different sets of stripes within the
main two stripes are painted so that people whilst crossing do not come
face to face. That makes the crossing easy and faster. When painting
Zebra I think it's best crossings to adopt the style that you find at
the Kollupitiya Junction.
Mohamed Zahran, Colombo 3
Those who are unaware of the colour light signalling system can
create unwanted doubts among the train travellers. The colour light
signalling system for a faster movement of trains in the suburban areas
was introduced by B.D. Rampala in 1962. The lock and block signalling
system could allow only one train between two stations whereas with the
colour light signalling system a train could move every three minutes
and a fast train could overtake a slow train being directed to the other
line.
To clear all doubts I would like to give an extract from the booklet
issued by Rampala in 1962. "Although when you look at the separate
signalling aspects and their interpretations it looks very complicated,
you will find it quite simple when you understand the fundamental
principles which are almost the same as what is now in operation. The
system is fool-proof and automatic with over-riding controls by a
controller. Any defect in the system will result in the signals
displaying a stop signal.
In order to make full use of this signalling system and operate at
high efficiency and speed, drivers must follow the signalling very
methodically."
B.B. Perera - Retd. Railway Engineer
Twenty ninth Asia Pacific Regional and Sri Lanka Scout Centenary
Jamboree is scheduled to be held Dambulla from April 1 to 6, 2012 during
the Holy week and as such Christian scouts are faced with the problem
regarding their duties towards religion. The scout promise is 'to do my
duty to God".
School authorities and parents are in a quandary, to allow or not to
allow Christian scouts to attend the Jamboree.
To be at a Jamboree, where scouts from the Asia Pacific region and
else where gather in our country, is a lifetime experience. If Christian
scouts are to attend the Jamboree they have to forego their duties
towards God.
In 2010 too, a Jamboree was held down South on December 26 to 30
during the Christmas week that prevented Christian scouts from attending
that Jamboree and caused much bitterness and problems.
Hope the chief scout commissioner would consider changing the dates.
Christie Ferdinando
We were taught by driving instructors, that it is the vehicle on your
right which has the right of way.
However this tradition seems to have disappeared from Colombo
certainly at the Galle Face Hotel roundabout. Moreover while one is
using the roundabout the buses that ply on the streets of Colombo speed
even passing the roundabout although the Police are standing and
watching.
Sydney Knight
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