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Monday, 2 July 2012

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Drought travails

We have seen in the last few weeks ministers and officials complain that in the North and East there is a shortfall of rain. Agricultural activities have come to a stand still as a consequence. But there is no need for alarm. There is available expertise in drilling deep wells from which water can be obtained.

We already have deep wells that go in about 100 to 300 feet. But in this instance we require deep wells that can deliver water from deep reserves about 1000 feet. Such deep water wells have been supplied to India to overcome possible famines. Today water shortage should be a thing of the past.

Let the Minister apply to the U.S. Authorities for assistance in setting up a few deep water wells as in India and the shortage of water will be a thing of the past. As a few wells can feed a large areas it will revive agriculture. The tanks can be filled up again. I hope that the authorities will take immediate action and relieve all the damage already done.


Graffiti – ‘Writings on the Walls’

Scratchings, writings and drawings on various surfaces exposed to the public eye such as walls, rocks, desks and even in some toilets throughout the world can be described as graffiti, although this word has many connotations. Some of these are informative and historic such as the Sigiriya graffiti while others may take an obscene form. But all of these collectively convey some meaning and therefore they can be described as a primitive medium of communication which even the cave man made use of by making drawings and scratching on the walls of the caves in which they sought shelter from the rain and the sun.

In modern times most of these scratchings or graffiti are found very much on furniture and the walls of universities, schools, educational institutions and other places where the public gather and all of these exhibit the feelings, frustrations, failings and the aspirations of specially the youth of the country.

Even though throughout the centuries a great effort has been made to preserve some of these well known graffiti such as the renowned Sigiriya graffiti no serious effort has been made by civilised man to preserve other forms of graffiti. As such some of these appear and disappear without much notice. Nevertheless they form an important component of the literature and communication of the country and they are also of much psychological significance.

Most of these graffiti which include scratchings, short writings (usually in verse) and rough etchings on various surfaces are seen in our universities which are always patronized by the nation’s most educated and the most gifted youth drawn from various strata of society spread throughout the country. However, most of these graffiti, though interesting, go unnoticed by the society at large. But the fact remains that the thoughts, behaviour and life’s philosophy of the educated youth of this country could be best understood through the medium of these writings and scribblings.

Even though these graffiti have a literary, psychological and culture value it is quite surprising that no one has ever cared to make a serious study of them except of course describing them as the work of the idle minds of some frustrated elements in our society. However we cannot deny the fact that some do really appreciate some of these appealing ‘writings of the walls’. If we care to classify these we would find that most of these writing, specially in our universities, are on the theme of love and many others are based on themes of mundane importance and many of them are written in blank verse in Sinhala and a very few are written in English.

These graffiti would surely form an interesting study for anyone interested in sociology and early literary forms and like everything else in the world the development of graffiti too has a long and fascinating history. The forerunner to graffiti are the scribblings of various forms and during the very ancient times pre-historic man and the cave man scribbled lines and crude etchings on the walls of the caves and stones to express some of their emotional feelings like love, hate and sorrow.

However these scribblings are of much historical, cultural and sociological importance and they throw much light on the history and development of the human race and they provide us with a very good background for the study of the then social conditions.

Even in modern times whenever some people get the chance to scribble or write on some surface exposed to the public eye they do not hesitate to do so. Some of these scribblings such as one’s name, address etc. are seen in public places such as universities and schools and even in buses and trains. At the same time some elders as well as the youth revel in etching obscene drawings in public places. Specially during election time and during big matches these writings on the walls appear throughout the country very often marring the otherwise beautiful landscape and the country has to spend a large sum of money to erase them after these events.

While no one can say for certain when this act of graffiti or writings on the walls began there is no doubt that its origin dates back to the pre-historic times long before man developed the unique art of writing. So the next time you see any type of graffiti – be it obscene, literary or otherwise, try to understand the message it tries to convey. Do not imagine that a scribblings hand always shows an empty mind.


Spoken English course for some cricketers

To lack the verbal skills in English of Kumar Sangakkara or a Russel Arnold is not surprising, but the problem is that some of our cricketers, when chosen as the Man of the Match or rewarded for their individual performances at cricket matches and are called upon by international cricket commentators to comment on cricketers’ playing skills and their individual performances, stutter and speak incoherently causing embarrassment to themselves, the interviewer, as well as to those who watch such Presentations. Very often the commentator has no option other than to cut short the interview.

Such embarrassing episodes in recent times, have become a common occurrence at Match Presentations.

The lapses on the part of some of our cricketers are obviously due to their unfamiliarity with spoken English as the cricketers unlike formerly, are drawn from schools and homes where English is hardly spoken or not spoken regularly. This situation should have been duly noted by our Cricket authorities and remedial action taken by them, but as usual when it comes to the needs of our cricketers, cricket officials have been wearing blinkers and as a result, they have failed miserably to address such problems of cricketers.

Such embarrassing moments could have been avoided had our cricket authorities taken timely action by providing our cricketers with a crash course in Spoken English handled by a competent and experienced tutor in English.

It is high time that, at least now, our cricket authorities acted responsibly to save match Presentations from becoming an ordeal for some Sri Lankan cricketers of today as they find it difficult to express themselves clearly in English and make themselves understood.


Police Day and Malays’ contribution

I thank Nazly Cassim whom I have never met before for highlighting my father’s past “Ceylon Police Gazette” Notification Part II No. 3895 of March 28, 1928 on the above caption in the ‘Opinion’ column in the Daily News of April 10, 2012.

I am the youngest son of ex-Ceylon Police Sergeant No. 598 Ahamath Packeer Ally referred to in the article. He served for 36 years as a First Class Grade Sergeant and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal by the King in 1925. His grandfather Cunchier was Quarter Master Sergeant in the Ceylon Rifle Regiment. His father C.R. Packeer Ally was a Lance Corporal in the Ceylon Rifle Regiment. His son A.G. Ahamath was Sergeant 2489 in the Ceylon Police. This family had rendered continuous service for four generations according to the Police Gazette notification .


Our public toilets

With the reasonable assumption that the authorities are neck-deep in tackling our age-old problem of cleaning up nauseatingly besmeared bespattered toilets, an article from one of our popular dailies caught my eye in that a municipal council in Sweden has put forward a motion that all males should use toilets seated down especially, the urinating aspect. This seems out-landish probably, yet, one has to admit that seats can never be used in our toilets because of the indiscriminate and the non-aim (sic) of our uninformed users.

The councillors also pledge efficient bowel movement along with negated prostate ailments. This may be a big break-through with no other practicable approach. Why not an all-out effort and campaign in the city only for a start, with big illustrative suggestive posters and placards at all crucial points.


Unprotected railway crossings

During the recent past several deaths were reported as vehicles met with accidents at railway crossings which are not protected. The electronic media flashed such news and the scenes were almost unbearable. Billions of rupees are being spent for road development for the convenience of motorists and the public. Why not spend to save the lives of people by introducing some form of barrier at railway crossings ?

As an initial step a villager could be employed on a temporary basis to work from six a.m. to six p.m. for a monthly wage of 15 or 12 thousand rupees. At night, the flash of a train will give the necessary signal for the workman to get active. As many accidents have occurred at bends which could not be seen due to trees and bushes covering them, such areas should be cleared even if there are protests bu the owners.


Non-availability of stamp

For a long period of time postage stamps of the Rs. 2.50 value denomination has not been available in the country. These stamps are mostly used at Land Kachcheries and Courts as prescribed for searching matters. Now, two or three stamps have to be used to cover the value of the Rs. 2.50 stamp. This is certainly a waste of money for printing less denomination stamps. The authorities concerned should rectify this shortcoming immediately.

 

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