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“ 20% of Buddhist monks suffer from diabetes, 80% of monks die of
heart disease” - was the headline of a news item which appeared in a
newspaper recently.
Reading the above news item gave me some pain of mind that we
Buddhists are responsible for this state of affairs. A monk has to
accept whatever food is offered to him. We offer food rich in oil, salt
and sugar. Let us stop this from today. When giving dane let us limit
the number of curries to five, one being a mallung. Very little oil,
salt and sugar should be used. Dessert to consist of plenty of fruits
and any two items from ice-cream, curd and honey and jelly for the
diabetic priests. If we know that a priest is a diabetic, preparing a
special meal for him would not take much effort. This message must be
spread to all Buddhists via the newspapers, radio and TV channels. Monks
can also mention this during their sermons. Daham pasal teachers could
inform the parents through their students. Volunteers could visit the
nearest temple and test the monks for blood-sugar using test strips. The
detected cases should be referred to the nearest hospital for necessary
treatment. For this, a method should be adopted without delay. Buddhist
monks get very little exercise. Experts could prepare a set of exercises
for Buddhist priests. Where there are a large number of priests,
donation of exercise-bikes and a tread mill will be of immense help.
Dr. R.A. Gunasene
Kegalle
It is good to note that public indignation has been aroused over the
many transgression against girls and women.
However, I feel that the death penalty for the crime is not the
answer to the problem.
All life is sacred. Punishment will come in due time, either in this
world or in the next.
The USA has not abolished the death penalty, but has that lessened
crime.
I feel that Education is the only answer to this problem beginning in
the home. Women may no longer consider themselves the weaker sex, but
there are still places where they need the care, sympathy and support of
a masculine arm. If men truly realize that in every woman, lies the
future of the human race, things would be different.
Very often in homes, boys are given a preferential treatment.
They get used to being served by mothers and sisters alike.
Perhaps it is our Eastern custom. So they think (not all of course)
that women are just chattels to be played about with. It is time we got
over that complex.
Mothers should teach their sons to respect all women, beginning with
their sisters and female relatives. Even a father should respect his
daughter. Education in schools should be revised. Sex education should
be made compulsory, beginning from grass-root level. Ignorance is an
ailment that can be cured. The girlchild is vulnerable. Sometimes this
is due to the over-prudishness of the mother, especially in the
villages.
This is something that needs the attention of those concerned.
Seminars should be organized to educate parents on the dangers their
children face through ignorance.
Now if we look at the other side of the picture, women should gain
the respect of man not bring out the best that may be hidden in the
breast.
Being a traveller in public transport I have often heard comments
made even by young boys over the way women and girls dress. Surely we do
not have to ape the half-naked fashions of the West.
Take for instance the way girls are clad in various children's
programmes – when they grow up they will not hesitate to walk half-naked
on the public road. I am no prude but enough is enough.
Finally, who said ‘A woman carrying a child, could safely walk from
Point Pedro to Dondra?’ is that true today? I have my doubts.
C Dassanaike
Peradeniya
Several restaurants and hotels have sprung up in the coastal belt
area in Maggona. Some of these have become very popular. However, a
certain popular, large Lodge and Restaurant here does not seem to
respect the environmental regulations. The restauranteur litters the
beach area with empty beer cans. By this act he seems to pollute the
environment deliberately. The empty beer cans are definitely an eye-sore
to foreigners as well as the local people. The public hope that the
municipal authorities will take action to curb this misdeed immediately.
Munidasa Kamburawala
Payagala South
My nephew, presently in Saudi Arabia had made arrangements to settle
down in Australia after marriage in September, 2012. After finalizing
all formalities, the final document needed by the High Commission office
for issue of a visa was the Police Clearance Certificate.
The main information required for this purpose were the date and
places of residence from birth, copy of the identity card and copy of
the passport. I submitted the relevant form duly filled to the Mihindu
Mawatha counter on June 28, 2012 with a payment of Rs. 500 plus a
stamped envelope for Rs. 30. The unit was ill equipped with a few chairs
only and without any shelter for the visitors. As this was a rainy day
it is left to the readers to understand the difficulties I had to
undergo.
My nephew was born in 1985 and lived at Kelaniya till 1999 (14
years). After selling his house in 1999 they were in a rented house at
Kelaniya for one year until they built a house at Wattala in 2000 where
they live to date. Police media spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana informed the
public through the media the entire process in obtaining a Clearance
Certificate. He said that a certificate will be issued within 21 days
and for any inquiry, he gave the contact telephone numbers of the unit.
A Police Constable from the Wattala Police visited us and noted the
information required on July 16, 2012.
After 21 days I made inquires many times from the Clearance
Certificate Unit and was informed that they were awaiting a report from
the Piliyandala Police.
On July 26 I went to Mihindu Mawatha and was told the same story. I
explained that the certificate is urgently needed and that we have
nothing to do with the Piliyandala Police. They then directed me to the
Main Unit at Police Headquarters. A kind Sub-Inspector there opened my
file and told me that the information given by the Peliyagoda Police
covered 1985 to 1999 only and wanted me to write a letter deleting the
period we lived in the rented house.
I gave the letter and he promised to send me the certificate within
two days. After a week I was told that the file is still lying on the
Asst. Commissioner’s table for her signature.
As this certificate was urgently needed my B-i-L visited this unit
again on August 6 and found the file still idling. He explained to them
the urgency of this document and finally we received the Police
Clearance Certificate on August 15, 2012 exactly after 48 days.
1. This unit looks congested with a staff of over 30, poorly arranged
tables with stagnated files all over the cupboards.
2. This unit has to be brought to a convenient place immediately,
without allowing innocent civilians to undergo all the hassle to reach
the place, which is in a high security zone.
3. The staff should be groomed to inform the applicant immediately of
any shortcomings on the given contact telephone numbers as the whole
country has to travel to this unit for the purpose.
4. Any delay in submitting this certificate to the Embassy will cost
the applicant a massive amount of money.
5. Immediate action should be taken to streamline the process by
empowering the DIGs of the areas concerned to issue the certificate, as
this is only needed for the applicant’s past 10 years.
6. Could any innocent civilian who lives 200 kms away visit this unit
in Colombo for a simple matter and travel back home the same day? What
about the expenses and the inconvenience he has to undergo for the
faults of the law makers?
The present system has to end immediately and deserves decisions from
the ministries concerned to avoid innocent civilians from far and near
presently undergoing inconvenience.
Malcolm
G. Vindurampulle
Jayasundera Place in Maharagama is the most used and busiest, yet
untarred road. It is close to the Maharagama Supermarket, main bus
stand, medilab, all banks, largest bakeries (Manel and Kaldo), biggest
hardware stores (Illukkumbura and Jayasiri), montessories and the JMC.
With a large number of vehicles including three wheelers and push
bicycles the little children and the aged who accompany them find it
difficult to walk on this gravel road especially on rainy days due to
the large number of mud-filled potholes.
The residents of Jayasundera Place presented a signed letter to the
chairperson of the Pradeshiya Sabha, Maharagama on 7.6.2011 and a
discussion between the two parties took place on 9.7.2011 on the subject
of tarring the road.
The chairperson had endorsed on 18.7.2011 that necessary funds be
allocated for the purpose. A second discussion was held two months
later, but so far no tangible action has taken place. Meanwhile
Wattegedera Road which is far away from the Maharagama junction was
tarred long ago. I suggest that the responsible officers from the
concerned departments arrange a suitable date and together with press
reporters make an inspection of the road. They will then realize the
urgent necessity to do the needful as early as possible.
V.K.B. Ramanayake
Maharagama
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