Book review

Five books to sustain greenery

Dr Wasantha Welianga is known for his green economy concepts. His latest contribution, five books in all, cover paddy fields, flowers, rivers, birds and fish. The books are co-authored by Chintha Kossinna.

The authors emphasize how modern children have lost touch with nature. They elucidate how children must cultivate compassion to nature.The books, written in English and Sinhala, are finished attractively in full colour. Children are given insights to think anew on what surrounds them: fish, flowers, birds, rivers and paddy fields.

Paddy fields are a common sight in Sri Lankan society, but its beauty and value are hardly discussed. It has become a subject discussed only among environmentalists. Most modern farmers too seem to ignore beauty and value of paddy fields. They concentrate more modern farming systems that encourage pesticide and fertilizer.

‘Flowers’ contains interesting ideas about the flower world and lesser known information. Many pay attention to flowers as a religious entity, but not as an environmental item. The authors lead children to think seriously on flowers.

Rivers are part and parcel of the eco system. Its contribution to the environment is irreplaceable.

But humans do not seem to know it.

They continue to pollute the rivers.

Industrial waste gets mixed in these pristine rivers and finally takes a toll on environment. Most such pollutions are unauthorised and illegal.

The books are appealing not only to children, but also to adult readers.

Written in easy-to-understand language, authors deserve applause.

- Priyanka Kurugala

Muslims in Lankan Tamil media

K S Sivakumaran

A young man in his enthusiasm to print has hastened to publish a little book on a vast subject that needs a broader and wider research on the subject- Lankan Muslims’ contributions to Tamil cedia. However it is a stepping stone for further research and compilation by knowledgeable people.

It is a common sight to see many Moors and Malays are actively involved in print and electronic media in this country primarily because they are either bilingual (Sinhala/English) or (Sinhala/Tamil) or even Trilingual (Sinhala/Tamil/English). Some of the translators in institutions are mainly Muslims. In induction classes with practical exercises for new recruits, one sees more Muslims following the Sinhala-Tamil or Tamil-English courses.

Brief comments

M J Fisteen Mohammed within the 82 pages of a book published by Faith Publication. Apologetic in his own admission the writer has chosen to give brief comments under the following heads: Lankan Tamil Media, Lankan Muslims, Lankan Muslims and Tamil Journalism, Muslims in State Radio Services, Muslim contribution in State Television, Muslims in private televisions and radios, Muslims in Lankan Tamil Cinema, World Announcer, Muslim Media Forum, In Conclusion, publisher M H M Faahim’s comment and the writer’s thanks to everyone.

Explaining what the term Media means the writer also points out that at present apart from the print and electronic media there are other forms of media like the Facebook, Internet, Twitter, the Internet, Net Radio and E-Paper playing the role of communication.

Arrival of Arabs

Talking about Muslims in Lanka, the writer says that the first person to write about the Muslims here was M C Siddi Lebbe.

According to him more than 1200 years ago Arabs came down to Lanka and settled from Galla up to Beruwela and took to trade. Then Islamites from Tamil Nadu too came down to Lanka.

They came from places like Nagoor, Karaikkal, Thondi and Kayatpaddinam.

Soon after both ethnic groups mixed and became Muslims.

At present Muslims live in Mannar, Yaalpaanam, Puthalam, Silaapam, Madampe, Neerkolumbu, Kaluthara, Beruwela, Magoon, Paiyagala, Alutgama, Hambantota,, Gaala,Weligama Matara, Mahanuwara, Matale, Mawanella, Kurunagala, and in the eastern province says the writer.

Lankan Muslims used what is known as ‘Arabu Tamil’. The first monthly magazine was ‘Puthinalangari’ published in 1873, edited by Neina Marikar and Wappuchi Marikar. ‘Muslim Nesan’ was published in 1882 by Muhamad Cassim Siddi Lebbe.

The rest of the book gives a lot of information of Muslims working for the Lankan press and electronic media, although the list has missed a few notables.

However the book could be modified to give a comprehensive record of the contributions of Muslim towards the development of Lankan media.

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