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Vehicle imports, public utilities
and development
The news that car registrations are soaring gives
credence to the view that wealth generation in this country is
proceeding at a steady pace. That more and more Lankans are
getting into the upper income bracket is the construct many are
likely to place on the statistics highlighted by us on our
business pages yesterday to the effect that the national
expenditure incurred on vehicle imports and spare parts in 2011
has grown by 87 percent. The value of such imports too has
increased from Rs 117 billion to Rs 219 billion in 2011.
Given that poverty has been shrinking steadily over the
years, the inference is inescapable that wealth has been growing
correspondingly in this country. Moreover, no person with what
could be considered an average income could come to acquire and
maintain a ‘family car’, for instance, and this consideration
too could lead one to believe that upward social mobility has
been on an increasing trend over the years and that,
consequently, earnings of the general populace are on an
upswing.
All this is good news for a country which is beginning to
pick-up the pieces after a wasting, long-drawn conflict. To be
sure, the elimination of the LTTE and the connected law and
order issues, is paving the way for unprecedented development
activities in this country and we have the evidence of our eyes
that infrastructure development, as a result, is soaring quite
notably. The national economy is apparently being transformed
and more and more income-generating opportunities seem to be
opening-up. In the rural areas too, increasing infrastructure
development activities are enabling business and commercial
opportunities to sprout and this is helping in alleviating mass
material hardships.
The average rural dweller no longer lives in ‘splendid
isolation’ but is networking with the larger society in business
ventures which are yielding a profit, thanks to the facilities
thrown-up by the ICT Revolution. For instance, a farmer in far
off Buttala could communicate with his collaborators in Colombo
and learn easily about the needs of the market and get his
production and marketing act together.
But a look at our Letter’s to the Editor page yesterday would
reveal that we cannot lapse into a state of complacency over
these heartening developments.
The letters from Sri Lanka’s rural hinterland, for instance,
complain about a host of instances where development has not
been pushed to its logical conclusion. For instance, some areas
expose eye-sores, such as, dilapidated common amenities,
including run-down culverts, bridges and hospitals; all
essentials as far as the rural dweller is concerned.
There is also the disheartening news that more and more
primary schools in some areas are facing closure. All this does
not certainly add up to a gloomy picture but are a reminder that
we cannot afford to be simple-minded on issues, such as,
national development. There is more than meets the eye on these
matters and this, the state and the public would need to bear in
mind.
There is much by way of material advancement that could be
applauded but we need to ensure that growth does not fall short
of the all-important standard of equal and even development.
As in the case of most other things, development is also a
process and one could not expect miracles in material
advancement overnight. The ‘gaps’ in development which our
letters bring to light, are a reminder that the growth process
is always in need of state guidance. There needs to be an eagle
eye on redistributive justice in particular.
So, more and more vehicles serve to remind us that our
economy is dynamic and productive. More and more persons are
entering the affluent social strata but such indicators should
not lead to the misguided notion that all is very well. Much
more needs to be done in terms of development and our
dilapidated public amenities are a reminder of this truth. |
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'Engineering education and practices: issues and
future challenges’:
Prof. Paul created pathway for Lankans to learn engineering
Late Prof. Robert Hoisington Paul, who was born
on February 9, 1904, had his early education in Singapore and
subsequently at S. Thomas’s College, Mt. Lavinia. Prof. Paul is one
of the acclaimed teachers in the field of electrical engineering, a
man with a great vision, dedication and commitment to his
profession; a gentleman and an-engineer par-excellence, who created
the pathway for many Sri Lankans to learn engineering in Sri Lanka,
and most rightfully, being remembered as the 'father of electrical
engineering education in Ceylon'.
Full Story
Master-builder of engineering knowledge
In the spotlight today is Emeritus Professor
Samarajeewa (Sam) Karunaratne, who was Senior Professor of
Electrical Engineering and the former Vice Chancellor of the
University of Moratuwa. He is a leading figure who played a
pioneering role in the development of the use of computers in the
field of engineering. Presently he is the chairman of the Sri Lanka
Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), an institution
established for the purpose of educating and training Information
Technology professionals required by the fast growing IT Industry in
Sri Lanka.
Full Story
Deduru Oya - first irrigation project to utilize SL expertise
The Deduru Oya is a famous and beautiful river
in Sri Lanka. A number of folk stories centering around this Oya
have been created. People in the villages call this Oya, 'Appata
Putha Kiw Oya.' Stories have originated around the Deduru Oya
exemplifying its unpredictability. During the dry season the river
is very silent like a sandy ground. However, when it rains the sandy
ground automatically turns into a wide river. This situation creates
difficulties for the people who live in the low lands.
Full Story
Community-based solutions to fore
District and Divisional Reconciliation Committee
meetings conducted by Secretaries in the North:
Reconciliation Committee meetings were conducted
at Divisional Secretariats in three Districts of the Northern
Province between February 25 and 27. The meetings were chaired by
Divisional Secretaries at Vavuniya, Vavuniya South, Karachchi,
Pachchilappalli and Chavakachcheri, supported by Prof Rajiva
Wijesinha MP, Advisor on Reconciliation to the President.
Participants included Grama Niladharis, representatives of Rural
Development Societies, School Principals, religious leaders, police
officials, medical personnel and officials concerned with social
support mechanisms.
Full Story |