Rush like reed is a tall plant like grass with a hollow stem that
grows in or near water. These are commonly found in wetlands such as
tanks, small water holes and paddy fields in village areas. Rush and
reed are the main raw materials of a cottage industry of long years in
Sri Lanka, which produces mats, hats, bags and such similar items. Since
all raw materials are natural, the products are truly nature-based.
These items are more popular with foreign tourists who visit Sri
Lanka, especially in the Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Pinnawela, Kandy,
Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura areas. In some of these
aforementioned places the industry is carried out, mainly by women.
The skills and knowledge of patterns used in this industry are unique
and are part of the traditional knowledge of weavers in Sri Lanka.
However with the open economy introduced some time back and the
associated competition, the market for rush and reed products has
diminished.
The vast knowledge associated with it as well as the skills, have
almost completely disappeared. Those engaged in the craft are found to
suffer financially, although they have not given up their their industry
in toto. The rush and reed industry deserves to be given more
encouragement and assistance. It is high time that a programme to
promote the industry was launched by the Traditional Industries and
Small Enterprise Development Ministry.
The younger generation should be mobilized and trained in the arts
and the skills of reed weaving.
The patterns and methods should be transferred from the elder
generation to the younger.
Another suggestion is that a machine to ease the weaving aspects in
the industry presently done by hand, should be invented to speed-up the
process. New patterns as well as products to suit the modern day market
such as file folders, hand bags and wallets could be introduced.
There are prospects in the foreign export market which should be
tapped, and the industry converted into a money-spinner.
In parallel, a programme to conserve wetlands that provide raw
materials for the industry should be initiated.
There is an expertise of over decades in the rush and reed industry.
HARSHI NADIE PERERA – PILIYANDALA
The City of Colombo is turning beautiful and more work is in the
developing stages. The UDA and the CMC should be commended for their
efforts in developing the city. But at night, most of the junctions are
ill-lit. The Borella, Orugodawatte and Dematagoda junctions are so
well-lit that they look like day time. At the same time, the T.B. Jayah
Mawatha junction (near Lake House Advertising office) and the Armour
Street junctions appear gloomy, like in the gas-light era.
If a study is made with regard to street lights it would be seen that
most of the Colombo streets and lanes have more lights than required.
This is due to the fact that every MMC brightens his own area, so as to
win elections. But no MMC takes interest to do the same at junctions.
They leave it to the Council to attend. These shortcomings have to be
attended to by the highest authorities of the CMC but they do not seem
to care despite seeing the situation when they travel in vehicles.
Regards the poorly lit T.B. Jayah Mawatha junction, the Street Lights
Unit of the CMC is just there, but no attention has been paid as yet.
Would it not look better if all the junctions and roundabouts are well
lit?
Nazly Cassim Colombo 13
Jayalalitha Jayaram has forgotten that the Tamil Nadu people are more
interested in cricket than in the cinema trade in which she was once
employed as an actress.
She has cast into oblivion the fact that the LTTE is still a
prohibited organisation in India, UK, USA and other countries. She has
also forgotten that the LTTE murdered Rajiv Gandhi. Jayalalitha Jayaram
was on Prabhakaran's list at that time. The LTTE based in Tamil Nadu
assisted in innumerable ways the continuation of terrorism in Sri Lanka.
As the Indian government realised that the LTTE was proceeding beyond
control and was also a threat to Tamil Nadu, the Indian Navy co-operated
with the Sri Lanka Armed Forces to check the in-flow of arms and
ammunition by sea.
I appeal to Jayalalitha to visit Sri Lanka and examine the
destruction caused during the period of terror. Peace among the people
in Tamil Nadu as well as in Sri Lanka is a blessing now.
It is inhuman to rouse up the people in Tamil Nadu against Sri Lanka
as the Tamil people in the North and East, as well as the Indian
community in other parts of the country live happily now.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa ended terrorism and has also shouldered
the responsibility of restoring the country to its previous glory with
the assistance of the Indian government.
All economic, administrative, health and social matters requiring
attention in the North and East are being accomplished on a priority
basis by the President who will always safeguarded the territorial
integrity of Sri Lanka.
R.L. Gurugamage - Dodanduwa
People learn English spellings automatically by their perception. So
the authorities have a duty to check spellings of name boards before
they are publicly displayed.
The name board of Chapel Lane in Nugegoda, displayed near the
Nugegoda bus-stand is mis-spelt. Students who observe this name board,
might learn to spell the word 'Chapel' erroneously.
The authorities should take immediate action to make the
rectification.
PALITHA JAYASINGHE – NAWALA
We Sri Lankans living in the Gulf were extremely pleased with your
recent editorial. We were really in a state of shock as to what went
wrong suddenly to cause tension among us after centuries long peaceful
coexistence.
We were machans to each other from our childhood so how can we become
enemies overnight, by a few peoples’ hidden agenda with some ulterior
motives? Let your marvellous editorial be an eye-opener to the misled
crowds. In the meantime my gratitude to the minority Muslims for their
restraint and avoiding being provoked.
We pray that God protect our country and bless our motherland with
permanent peace.
Let us congratulate you for your excellent editorial and request you
to publish such work in your sister publications in Sinhala and Tamil.
We admire your patriotism to our beloved nation.
S.H. Moulana - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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