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| Sunday, 31 March 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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New trend in garbage disposal by Chitra Weerasinghe 'SRI LANKA 2010 PARADISE CITY OF ASIA'. That signboard near the Beira Lake caught my eye. How wonderful! I said to myself as I started reflecting on this ambitious move.
What is most depressing, or should I say annoying, is to see a number of residents living in by-lanes and alleys hanging refuse bags on their gates, fences and trees; some even hanging them on their neighbours' fences and gates. Why this new trend in garbage disposal, I asked a well dressed woman who perched her 'siri siri' bag on a tree on her way to work? We are never sure when the dirt carts or lorries will be coming this way. The cats and dogs in this area upset our bins scattering its contents all over the place and we have been asked by the conservancy labourers to hang our garbage disposal bags in this manner. Do you not agree that this bit of commonsense advice from these garbage collectors is a far better solution to our problem than having to cope with cats, dogs and dirt and the resulting stench? she asked. How far was this so? I could not help but ask a Municipal lorry driver I happened to meet. ``Yes! Missie. Election coming, road building, lorry cannot coming this way so we can coming only when sometimes road is no problem. Please keep dirt bag on tree," he said much to my amusement. Ah! How long are we to cope with this situation ? When do we begin working towards a cleaner environment? Will we be ready by 2010? If we are not, don't you think we should start right away - instilling that civic consciousness among our people. LOVE LEAPS FROM HEART TO SCREEN My daughter spends three-quarters of her love life on her mobile, said a top executive of a company - referring to the impact that the Short Message Service (SMS) facility launched recently by Suntel wOw had on his daughter. I laughed. And why should you laugh? SMS is meant to provide some fun too and not be solely a business facility quipped Suntel's Managing Director Hugo Cederschoild, quite pleased with the progress SMS was making among the younger set. That's food for thought. Come to think of it, SMS is the ideal form of communication for the coy girl who has been waiting to tell the guy she admires ``I love you," but has not so far, believing it is the man who should make the first move; and that young man who fearing a rejection of his love finds this SMS a better means. A short message on the mobile can, certainly provide solace and ward off embarrassing moments. Will this facility be patronised more by the younger jet set in love than the busy businessman? Time alone will tell. And Cederschoild should be happy for that could partly compensate for the hard work, research and development associated with this technique conceived by his painstaking staff who he says have been encouraged to ``think out of the box." BETWIXT DRINK - COKE AND BEER Have you ever given thought to the fact that today's independent, career conscious, disco dancing, night life loving, young women no longer wish to sip a Coke or aerated waters and so yearn for something that will give them a `little bit of kick'. Beer is considered a male's beverage and wines are too tannic. Talk to Rukn Luthra, Gallo International Services, Asia Division's Country Manager based in India and overlooking Sri Lanka and he will tell you that he found this to be the case from the market research and surveys on consumer habits and preferences in this country which he has been conducting during the past few years. The result of all those surveys is that his company California's E & J Gallo spirits and wines, has manufactured six fruity vines with strawberry, peach, black cherry, blackberry - not too tannic like a wine nor too alcholic. What is more. These drinks called `Wild Vines' have been created for various types of people- like the `ready for anything' person, one who finds life `full of excitement', the `romantic at heart', the `optimist in you . And these ``could be enjoyed whatever the occasion with all types of food," says Joseph Kenny, Free Lanka Trading Co. Ltd.,'s Executive Director who, together with Luthra was anxious to cater to this segment of our population. 'GAFFERS'- THE NEWEST FOOD OUTLET It is named `Gaffers'; it serves Mexican and Italian food, it was opened on February 23 at Havelock Road and is the latest addition to the chain of eating places. Its owner young Rajith Senanayake, who studied hotel management in Switzerland, worked in Cyprus and returned to Lanka in 1999, says he conceived the idea of having his own restaurant since it could be both fun and challenging. And why `Gaffers' for a name. ``That is my nickname and my friends suggested I use it, said Senanayake. Mexican and Italian food being pretty expensive in five-star hotel restaurants and he having a flair for these cuisine, says he could provide the Lasagna, Moussaka, Mixed Grills and the Mexican Buritos, Enchiladas, Tacos and Chilli Con Carne at reasonable prices. A meal at this restaurant could cost nothing more than Rs 200 to 325 and that is inclusive of taxes. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Could that be possible? I began to have my doubts. Eight years from now
may seem like a long time. But had we addressed our minds to creating a
paradise city seriously? I bet we had not - judging from the garbage
strewn all over the city by those who care not a rap for the cleanliness
of the environment.
