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| Sunday, 3 February 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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On our natural wealth Natural Resources of Sri Lanka: 2000 Reviewed by Dr. Ranjith Mahindapala This publication is an update of the 1991 version of Natural Resources of Sri Lanka - Conditions and Trends. Although dated 2000, the publication has actually come out in late 2001. It is divided into 15 sections, with the first two sections devoted to Sri Lanka's population profile and on economic trends and growth, respectively. The publication deals extensively with almost all natural resources, viz, land, water, energy, mineral, forest, coastal and marine, and inland aquatic resources. There are also sections on water pollution, biological diversity, legal framework for natural resource management, and on sustainable development. A section on air would have been appropriate, particularly in view of the country's involvement relating to international conventions such as the Montreal Protocol and the Climate Change Convention. There views on natural resources are well covered, and the sections are a storehouse of information essential for researchers, planners and policy makers. In respect of each sector, there is a comprehensive status report as well as a critical analysis. In a publication of this nature, the main challenge facing the contributors is to present the vast body of information in a concise and readable manner. The main concern is to decide on what should be left out. The contributors have by and large, succeeded in this arduous task, and should be commended for their efforts. The land and water resource sections draws heavily from the recent developments in these two areas. The problems of soil erosion and concomitant land degradation, as well as the critical aspects of ground water are well laid out. A brief commentary on the current status of land use policy planning, both at the national level and as recommended and adopted in both plantation and non-plantation agriculture would have added value to the chapter. Indeed, some comments are available on the new water resources policies, but I suspect that the delayed publication may have precluded the author from providing comments on the developments in this regard in late 1999. The sections on energy and minerals are comprehensive, and provide an insight into the issues that need be addressed. Similarly, the sections on forestry, coastal and marine resources, and inland aquatic resources are well researched and contain the important information in a concise and readable manner. The section on water pollution is revealing with a critical review of the issues. The section on biological diversity brings into focus the country's commitments towards the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the strategies and issues on the implementation of the newly enacted Bio-diversity Conservation action Plan. The section on legal framework is well researched and well written, and provides a critical assessment of the current legal status relating to natural resource management. The individual sections too have a brief overview on the policies, legislation and institutional aspects relating to the relevant sector. As a result, there are some overlaps. A more meaningful presentation would have been to have all legislative and institutional information under one section. The book has several minor irritants. Firstly, the quality of printing. The glossy paper is not the best for reading under lights. A little more attention in the preparation of the tables would have improved the presentation. In several tables, the units are not given, which makes interpretations difficult. Much of the statistics given are only up to 1996.1997, and the reader might get baffled by the lack of up to date information in this year 2000 publication. This is all the more important as the introduction to the publication assures that the intention of the National Science Foundation has been to revise and update the original publication, incorporating the most recent data available and any changes in policies. Much research has gone into the preparation of this publication. The contributors the Editorial Committee and the National Science Foundation must be congratulated for bringing out this issue, albeit delayed. It will serve as a useful reference for everyone for years to come. Excellent contribution of analytical history LAND FOR MONEY: Dutch land Registration in Sri Lanka Reviewed by Padma Edirisinghe While a young history student in the University I used to be simply entranced by the very mention of the Lekam Miti of ancient and Medieval Lanka and the Thombos of the Portuguese and Dutch periods. But other than the scribbling of notes on these the mental involvement with these themes stopped with the entrancing. Strangely some 40 years later I mastered the topics to the optium thanks to Dr. K.D. Paranavithana's "Land for Money". Humbled and awed by the vast spectrum of knowledge cunningly encapsuled within a mere 164 pages I even phoned the author that despite his invitation to review the book that I felt too inadequate to do it. Bouquets have been already presented by the highest in the world of Sri Lankan academia as Prof. W.L. Siriweera, Vice Chancellor of the Rajarata University, Prof. S. Arsaratnam, former Professor of history and Dr. K.D.G. Wimalaratne, Director of National Archives, all displayed on the back cover of the book. The bouquet presented by the third I mention here. "Dr. Paranavithana turns the complex and dul theme to a fine topic, to many an interesting and devastating account. It adds a brilliance to our knowledge and understanding of the Sri Lankan society in the 17th and 18th centuries. Prof. Siriweera described the book as "an excellent contribution to the tradition of analytical historiography of the Dutch period in the history of Sri Lanka the profusion of illustrations painstakingly obtained from a museum of Netherlands add flavour and intensity to the text illustrations as the drawings of a group of villagers lined up before a land court in the year 1786 and that of a group of headmen at a reception at the Governor's residence in Colombo and that of the much famous Tholka Mudaliyar gracing the colonial era are of much sociological value too. As to the actual content the author has culled most of it from the unique series of records of 457 volumes aligned to the Head and land thomboi registration and today deposited in the National archives. The Thombus were written initially with mercenary objectives quite oblivious to the fact that centuries later that they would engender much human interest other than providing a welter of economic, social and commercial information. Other than a stray person or two who would delve into the thombos to retrace his or her genealogy even the human interest is very often webbed to the issue of tracing back land ownership, a situation that the thombu compilers may not have foreseen in those early times. The 457 volumes of Thombus that the author has made use of wit admirable concentration have been written in medieval Dutch and it is Dr. Paranavithana's mastery of this language that has made it possible to put out this work. Following the footsteps of his great relative, Dr. Paranavithana seems poised to end up one of our academic giants doing yeoman service by enriching our knowledge sometime left untapped due to language difficulties. One wishes that the proof reader had been more alert. The English sounds halting in some instances but in defence it must be said that the dean was not authoring a book of English literature. Books like ' Glimpses of world history' by Sri Jawaharlal Nehru where the English standard is on par with the intensity of content matter may remain a distant dream in our land. But the author has done his optimum best, all round. A translation for the Swabasha reader seems imperative in the context of the vast knowledge capsuled. Roots, branches & history The Colombo Chetty Community Reviewed by Manel Ratnatunga Do you want to know who the Gratiaen Award Ondaatjes are? From where did they come, and who married who, and who are their children? Our mothers' generation would have revelled in a book such as this and would have spent many delicious hours discussing what ATS Paul has written in this marvellous Who's Who about the Chetties. For us today, a wonderful font of knowledge about a very vibrant community of our nation. Names we have all heard - the Muttukrishnas, Aserappas, Casie Chitties, Pauls, Fernandopulles, Candappas to name a few are all here in a scintillating run of their achievements along the generations. The first Ceylonese Medical Officer of Health; Founder President of the Association of Surgeons of Ceylon, who achieved the rare distinction of obtaining both the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians and the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The first Ceylonese Director of a British Company (Lewis Brown) rising to be its Managing Director; the first Ceylonese to be a member of the High Court of Justice of the Netherlands; first to act as Crown Counsel; first to import an automobile and an air conditioner; first to introduce neon advertisement (Berec ad. on top of the Savoy Cinema). A Chetty was admitted into the Colombo Club for Europeans only. Then there is Lady Corea. Do you know who her father was? And who was Mabel, the patron of Bishop's College? And who, the lovely Vanaruha? ATS Paul, the surgeon, writes with the precision of his surgical skill. He tells that Chetty merchants were visiting Ceylon in their own sailing vessels carrying diamonds from Golconda, emeralds from Rajasthan, rubies from Burma and so on from various states of India from pre Buddhist times. Their arrival here is documented in our history during the time of King Rajasinghe II and the governorship of the Dutch. Once they settled in Ceylon, these traders and money lenders dropped out of the money-lending livelihood as it was considered repugnant and switched to the learned professions where they rose to great heights of fame. The book takes you on a romp through Colombo when fields and forests lay beyond Pettah and the Fort, from where a wild elephant might emerge. Do we know Pettah was originally Janpeta and why? And that it was just a village street owned by the Colombo Chetties. And why 'Colombo' Chetty? How did that name come into being? I must admit I never knew half these interesting facets about a clan of people who have made great contribution to our nation and belong with pride to Sri Lanka. This easy to read compilation is a must for our public and private libraries. Sankha Reviewed by Wijitha Nakkawita The Sinhala Drama Panel of the Cultural Affairs Department has published a special volume 'Sankha' in connection with the annual State Drama Festival. The volume contains fifteen articles by eminent writers and artistes on the development of local Sinhala Drama as well as the various aspects including the development of stage craft and the international drama's influence on local dramatists. 'Sankha' while highlighting the State Drama Festival's contribution to the dramatist's art also provides interesting reading for the layman but is of special significance to the student especially to one who has the intent of becoming a professional and competent dramatist of tomorrow. |
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