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| Sunday, 24 November 2002 |
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Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Right of reply : Narrow conclusions Dr. S.K. Vadivale in a letter that appeared in the 'Sunday Observer' of 3rd November dismissed my contention that the Sinhala language is 6000 years old as fiction. He is obviously referring to an article of mine published in the (Sunday Observer, of July 1, 2001 that appeared under the title 'Sinhala 6,000 years ago'. Here I sought to show that the Sinhala language evolved over a period of time and that it goes back to the Old Indo-Aryan stage represented by Sanskrit (C.2000 B.C.) and further back to the Proto-Indo-European stage (C.4000 B.C.) represented by a hypothetical language known to scholars as the ursprache (A German term meaning 'early speech') which has been reconstructed by linguists on the basis of available linguistic evidence. In this essay, I sought to trace the origin of some Sinhala vocables to their earliest known forms. I subsequently elaborated on this in a recent publication of mine entitled 'The Origins of the Sinhala Language. A lexical reconstruction of Sinhala vocables to their earliest known Proto-Indo-European forms'(2002) which received a very positive review from Prof. Vini Vitharana in the (Sunday Observer, of May 19,2002. Dr. Vadivale it seems has not cared to digest the contents of my article but has arrived at his narrow conclusion by merely perusing the title. He further questions my citing a Mahavamsa story of King Buddhadasa (C.4th century A.C.) performing a 'caesarean operation' on a Chandala woman in an article of mine entitled 'Ancient Sinhalese medical lore' that appeared in the (Sunday Observer, of October 20, 2002. He says: "He does not say whether King Buddhadasa did the operation while the subject was under anaesthesia. Modern medicine prohibits more than two caesarean operations on one woman and those who have to be operated have to be when the patient is under anaesthesia and in the immediate presence of the anaesthetician". It is unfortunate that here too Dr. Vadivale has misread my article since I have clearly stated there that the Chandala woman in question suffered from a condition known as mulhagabbhini or the state of the foetus being in an abnormal position. This does not imply any connection with a caesarean section nor does it necessarily require anaesthesia. Surely Dr. Vadivale should know better. Asiff Hussein Physiotherapy at the Lady Ridgeway My little daughter was admitted to Lady Ridgeway hospital Borella, a few days ago as she suffered from fever and cough. As there was no improvement for two days she was transferred to the intensive care unit, due to severe breathlessness. She was sent back to the ward several days later. One of the nurses of the intensive care unit came and advised me to give chest physiotherapy for my daughter. She asked me to tap on my daughters chest and advised me to give her balloons to blow. I asked her about obtaining the services of a physiotherapist. They don't come even to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) for chest physiotherapy, she replied. However, I was unable to carry out what she advised me as my child cried more and more while I was tapping her chest. The next day a physiotherapist came and asked to put my daughter on a pillow. He put his hands on her chest and did some compressions. My daughter began to cough again and phlegm came out. I must be thankful to him however because I noticed my daughter got better. The important thing I should mention is, that he advised me that tapping on the chest would be harmful in this condition. My daughter became better day by day after physiotherapy. My child is all right now, but still there are some questions unresolved. The LRH is the most qualified healthcare centre for children in Sri Lanka. So why don't the authorities arrange to have a physiotherapist visit their ICU. What type of knowledge do the nurses have about physiotherapy? I shall be glad if someone looks into the matter. K. WEERAWANSA, I was entrusted with accompanying a group of French journalists representing 15 widely circulated travel magazines in France ,on a tour of 5 days in Sri Lanka. This tour was sponsored by Sri Lankan Airways branch in Paris with a view to getting publicity for Sri Lankan tourism. We visited Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Bentota. While the journalists were highly impressed with the natural beauty and diversity of Sri Lanka they unanimously agreed that if the harassing of tourists by touts and vendors continue in archaeological sites,particularly in Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya that we could not expect any increase in tourist arrivals in years to come for they would also be compelled as journalists to write about the ordeals that the tourists have to undergo while visiting archaeological sites in Sri Lanka. I have had this experience times without number but on this particular occasion I felt that it would definitely be greatly disadvantageous to us Sri Lankans. As a vehicle of tourists approaches the site the vendors run in all directions fanatically with their wares and forcibly thrust them on the tourists. Some vendors go to the extent of insulting the tourists if they do not buy them. I have seen that in most of the countries vendors and touts are kept outside the sites and are not allowed to enter into temples,sites , shrines or museums where there is an entrance fee levied from the tourist. In Sri Lanka touts and vendors enter into museums,temples and sites and threaten the government officials guarding the sites with death if they do not cooperate and assault the guides and drivers if they do not promote their cause. Most of the journalists that I accompanied told me that it was a great pity that they could not at all profit from their visit as the entire visit was a terrible incessant struggle(particularly in Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya) against aggression and that they at no moment could appreciate and admire the splendour of the archaeological sites in Sri Lanka. The authorities concerned about developing tourism in Sri Lanka seem to be worried only about figures and statistics. If this human aspect is not looked into our tourism is doomed. National Tourist Guide Lecturer, Politics is another tragedy in universities in this land of Buddhism. A bright youth with a good future ahead had been brutally murdered . This is not the first death in a university. Everytime a student meets with death due to dirty politics creeping into the university system, we all shout loud, voice our concern, vehemently condemn such dastardly acts and the end results is with time the whole incident is forgotten and confined to history. All Sri Lankans are to be blamed equally, fairly and squarely for this pathetic situation in our higher education system. We call upon the Government and specially the Justice Minister to take steps to bring in a motion to Parliament to re-introduce the death penalty. Just bringing in various acts to Parliament and getting stringent laws passed is not enough. Such laws must be translated into action without fear or favour by the law-enforcement agencies. At a time when law and order of the country is at the lowest ebbs in its over 2550 years over history, it is hurting and saddening to hear that top politicians still keep in interfering in justice and affairs of the Police. The most recent incident is the brawl at Trans-Asia Hotel when two factions of leading Businessmen clashed. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has again an example to all other politicians in refusing to interfere in police investigations despite the fact that Matara District MP Mangala Samaraweera had alleged that the PM had intervened on behalf of one businessman. It should be reminded that it was the JVP who first introduced the culture of violence, mayhem and murder of forces personnel, politicians informants and all who were against them way back as 1971. It was the JVP who led the way for the LTTE too, to take up arms against the Government and the Sinhala people. We also call upon all concerned, please do not let this sorry incident be a by-gone thing as time goes by. All culprits must be brought before the law and deterrent punishment meted out to all found guilty of doing this act of violence, and all those who aided and the riots irrespective of their social strata and political affiliations. RANJIT C. DISSANAYAKE, Starscope now a phantasmagoria The forecasting in the Sunday Observer Magazine on November 3 revealed the latest trends of vedic astrology. There is no reference even for one planet in each of the 12 forecasts which appear to be like the stock brokers friendly advice to one another in their club while waiting for the second round of drinks. As such the same precasts in that manner reshuffled under the 12 zodiac signs can go on for ever without writing weekly news forecasts by a professor. However, from November 3, the meaningless planetary positions copied from the ephemeris had been replaced with the zodiac signs and periods through which the earth passes round the sun annually. It is in full agreement with scientific astrology recently discovered based on the four season of the year discarding planetary influence which is guess work. For scientific astrology the year starts from 21st March, the day the sun is right on the equator. It is the shadowless noon of the year. C. PERERA, A thought towards the environment It was an unforgettable day on June 16, 2002, when I visited Kandalama Hotel Complex at Dambulla, with my sister and brother-in-law, who organised the entire family tour. Many years ago, back in 1992s there had been a controversial situation regarding the construction of Kandalama Hotel Complex. Many people came up with the idea that this particular hotel, if built, would bring numerous environment hazards. However, according to the present phenomenon that take place at Kandalama Hotel, I feel that it is one of the very few environmentally friendly places one could come across. The following day of our arrival at the Hotel we were on a nature trail, including the visit to the eco park, animal hospital, compost manufacturing area etc. The explantation was done by Mr. Piyasena, an employee of the Hotel. He is an amicable gentleman with a great passion towards nature. Bird watching with him in the early morning hours, had been one of my pleasant experiences. Being a student in Biology I always loved the activities regarding nature and its protection. Uncle Piyasena (that's how we later called him) had few binoculars for us and a big book called "birds of Ceylon" by Dr. Sarath Kotagama. He was able to detect each and every bird that flew around, hopped on the ground or that hid behind the shrubs and foliage. He at once came up with the name of the bird and few of its morphological characteristics. According to him he had not read a degree or had followed any course. Practice had made him a person with a vast knowledge on nature. The birds we watched included herons, pelicans, jungle fowls, red faced mal koha, white breasted kingfisher, blue breasted kingfisher, egrets, swallos... just to name a few. A large number of bird species are seen at the Kandalama forest area. It is said that few migratory birds too could be seen in certain months of the year. His knowledge on the flora and fauna was exciting. A clear description was given on every tree, shrub, creeper we passed through. The entire forest area was full of different kinds of animals and plants, most of them being indigenous, some endemic and few exotic. A particular building is created at the eco park where the unwanted material from the Hotel are sorted out in large containers before taken away for recycling. These material include tooth brushes, bottle lids, old newspapers, razors, plastic bottles, empty cans, cigarette end etc. Thanks to uncle Piyasena, who I feel is an unsung scholar, I gained a valuable knowledge of nature and was able to experience enjoyable holiday in a natural surrounding at Kandalama Hotel amidst the picturesque forest cover. Vishaka Senadhira, I refer to my letter on the above heading which appeared in the 'Readers' Forum' on October 13. In that letter I mentioned that an applicant who submitted an application in April, 1996 made another fresh application in the 3rd week of September, 2002. This particular application has received the prompt attention of the authorities concerned. As they promised, they had sent the new N.I.C. after one month. There again they had made a big blunder. The NIC which he received last week also gives the same old number. There are no changes. As advised by the officials of the Dept. of Immigration and Emigration he has obtained a new NIC. Now, will he be able to get a passport with his new NIC ? Will the Dept. officials issue him a new passport or will it be returned ? I like to know the views of the Commissioner of Registrar of Persons Dept., as to why this particular applicant received his new NIC with the same old number and will the Controller of the Dept. of Immigration and Emigration issue a new passport to this new NIC? I kindly make an appeal to these two higher officers to let me know their views through the 'Readers' Forum' please. M.S. Mohamed Farook Stop the fragmentation of coconut lands Coconut estates, either big or small, are being fragmented and sold in blocks ranging from 10 to 20 perches of land, mostly for housing purposes, which has proved to be a natural disaster for the commercially viable crop that earns foreign exchange. The unscrupulous felling of coconut trees with good yields has also made coconuts to go up in price, the current market price being Rs. 14 to Rs. 18 a nut, which is prohibitive to the housewives who make use of the nuts mostly for culinary purposes. The companies or agents that take over coconut estates and carry out most land sales, buy large extents of coconut lands, at a low price, sometimes even below the market price, spend some capital expenditure in preparing the ground with roads and drains, and, thereafter, block and dispose them keeping a large profit margin sometimes ranging from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 each block, depending on its situation, locality and facilities available. Very often the owners are not much benefited but get lured for money. It is true that housing problem in Sri Lanka, mostly within urban and sub-urban areas, has become an acute necessity. But, it does not mean that coconut estates should be cut down to solve the problem. The government must step in and stop unwarranted fragmentation of coconut estates, purely for economic reasons, which deprives the government of foreign exchange, other two export products being tea and rubber. The enforcement of law, similar to the tea and rubber estates (Control of Fragmentation) Act, will save our coconut plantations going under the hammer. We see large areas have become barren lands which were once flourishing with coconut trees with high yielding bunches of nuts. The coconut palm is, indeed, a Tree of Life to the villager, oil is derived from the kernel, shell produces fuel, cadjan covers the roofs, husks yield fibre, the trunk is used for timber and serves many other useful purposes. So, why destroy it? Aryadasa Ratnasinghe, Terror and crime at universities In the past ragging in the university was considered a joke for the freshers since senior students did their ragging in a mild way, preserving the dignity and the respect of the university. Four decades later when the universities expanded, discipline has weakened and ragging has developed into violence and terror. Today ragging involves mostly brutal humiliating action. Tomorrow it will become worse, and could lose invaluable human assets from violent ragging unless it is stopped now. It is high time to impose some laws and penalties to control ragging. I suggest the following methods to be considered to control acts of terrorism and brutality by university students commited in the name of ragging. (1) Forbid politics in the campus. R.J. SAPUWIDA, |
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