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Monday, 24 October 2011

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Shakespeare localized at Shakespeare drama competition

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.


A polished police service soon

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.


Pedestrian crossings minus zebra stripes

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.


Train colour light signalling system

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."


Jamboree in the holy week

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.


Roundabout rules are ignored

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.

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