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| Sunday, 9 February 2003 |
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Letters |  |
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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.
I write with reference to the letter to the Editor that appeared in the 'Sunday Observer' of 12th January, 2003 written by Mr. Mohsen Mukherjee. On behalf of the 80 Club let me unreservedly apologise to Mr. Mukherjee and all followers of the Muslim faith. The 80 Club of Colombo comprises members from all walks of life and faiths and in the enthusiasm to celebrate important national or religious festivals, the club arranges programmes for its members and guests. In this instance the text of the advertisement had been placed by a member of the staff through sheer ignorance and was not intended to offend anyone. I am personally aware of the great significance of Eid-Ul-Fitr to Muslims and deeply regret this serious omission. 80 Club of Colombo Fertilizing coconut plantations As an ex planter, I wish to share my experiences with those in the trade, on the above assignment, mostly applicable to small holders for their benefit. Being an extremely important and vital assignment, which is very costly as well, it should be ensured that this exercise is methodically undertaken during wet weather, on which depends the future crops. For this purpose I have designed a system where upto 125 X 50 kg. bags of fertilizer could be broadcasted within a day, with a work force of around ten, with a tractor for internal transport. The fertiliser transported by tractor for distribution should be unloaded two to three bags at a time on the trailer and given to the workers in the respective trays for a application. For this purpose a few extra dishes to keep the fertilizer ready for collection would expedite the work in question. If the labour employed is taken as ten, two should be employed for the tractor for distribution of the fertilizer to the workers, while the balance eight is employed for broadcasting, going along with the tractor taking individual rows. If this exercise is to be further expedited, the palms unsuitable for fertilizing should be identified in advance, preventing waste of fertilizer and money. It should be also noted that the distance from the tractor and the area fertilized is kept minimum, for quick application, needless to mention that the ground conditions should be satisfactory as well, for easy movement of the workers. The advantage of this system, is where a proprietor with a days visit to his property could ensure that the total quantity of fertilizer supplied could be fully and correctly applied in his presence for the benefit of his plantation. Accordingly, forking and mulching could also be arranged to follow simultaneously, which should be completed within the shortest possible delay. This assignment, if undertaken as recommended above could be completed within five hours, achieving the best results. Tommy Wanigesinghe, All those who watched the Sri Lanka Rupavahini News at 8.00 p.m. on Sunday January 26th were not only shocked and aghast, but also were very sad to hear that our bureaucrats aid, abet and connive with interested foreign elements to destroy this beautiful land. A container load of 'seed potatoes' were detected with inherent germs, bacteria and dangerous viruses that were purposely introduced, that may cause great damage not only to potato growers, but also to other agro-plantations as well. It was revealed that when the Customs wanted to destroy this bad find, a high official of the Agricultural Department had intervened and got the consignment released to distribute amongst the poor potato farmer. Whoever the officers concerned are, they are national traitors. This is not an issue to be easily ignored or forgotten. We have heard on numerous occasions of instances when our plantation sector - say coconuts, tea, paddy, vegetables, mangoes, bananas etc. were adversely infested with various unknown viruses, germs etc. causing untold hardship to growers and consumers., Acres and acres of our agro-products had been destroyed in the past due to these funguses. There appears to be a calculated and concerted effort by interested foreign elements to damage, destroy and ruin our agro-based industry. This is for them to sell their various chemicals and other disinfectants as well as to sell their products to the local market. That is why so many multinationals are reigning high in this country selling their various chemicals to the innocent farmer. This can be easily seen on the TV in any channel, heard over all radio broadcasts and read in the newspapers day in and day out as these multinationals are advertising their products introducing various names on and often in high competition. In effect what they do is not only having connived with top Sri Lanka bureaucrats as in the above-case by spreading diseases amongst our agro plantations thus destroying or effectively lowering and reducing our agro - yields and their quality, but also making inroads to our market to sell their products and chemicals. Now that the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation has highlighted the cause of hitherto unheard of viruses, bacteria, funguses and diseases and how they are subtly and surreptitiously being introduced into our farms and plantations, the State should spring into action here and now. They should now launch a full-scale, high priority public inquiry into this finding, all the while keeping the public informed and aware of the proceedings and bring the culprits to book. No mercy whatever should be shown these selfish greedy officials. If and once found guilty they must be severely punished. Ranit C. Dissanayake, M. A. Sourjah's article on the above subject in the Sunday Observer of January 12, draws attention to a very important subject. I was a born, Muslim (Moor). My parents were orthodox Muslims and they wished that I be called a Muslim. As a result in all my important documents such as the school leaving certificate my race is mentioned as Muslim. Now I am converted as a Buddhist because I am married to a Sinhala Buddhist. I cannot call myself a Sinhala Buddhist because it is universally accepted legal proposition that one can change one's religion, but not one's race. I cannot call myself a Muslim Buddhist because the two terms are self-contradictory. Will someone help me to solve this riddle? Sithy Iyne Weerasiri, Reportedly there have been massive demonstrations and protests in the U.S. and Europe against the war on Iraq. According to an opinion poll in Germany, 76% of Germans oppose even a UN-approved war, while 75% of French people think their government should use its UN veto. In Spain and Italy, which according to Mr Blair were supportive of the British position, currently polls show anti-war majorities of over 60%. In spite of the US media fully backing the Administration's war cries, the American people are strongly opposed to any war waged unilaterally and without UN authority. It is significant that Bush and Blair keep complaining about the lack of democracy in the Middle East while ignoring their own people's overwhelming opposition to war in their relentless pursuit of the war option against Iraq with or without UN approval. M. I. M. Siddeeq, Hatred does not appease hatred It is really consoling to see glimpses of Canadian community's humanitarian concern over US's latest war initiative against Iraq. Also it is time that all human beings with an atom of wisdom in them join hands with those that (Saturday) marched the streets of Lethbridge, Vancouver, Toronto and elsewhere on the planet, if not physically, even spiritually at the least. There is great potential to avert "another Vietnam War" with the Canadian masses opposing US's need to create chaos in the world. Peace and harmony! Isn't that what everyone wants? For there can be no happiness in the absence of peace based on justice, love, freedom, respect and concern for human life. Yet, what do we experience? Violence, terrorism, suicide bombing, death and destruction: tit-for-tat killing leading to misery and untold suffering. Look at what is happening in the Middle East for over half a century: the conflict between the Jews and the Palestinians, the ever escalating cycle of violence in many countries, large and small. Will it ever end? Let us consider the aftermath of that fateful September 11 terrorist attack on US, killing hundreds of innocent people: the reaction to this attack: the so-called "War on Terrorism". Has the attacks on Afghanistan and creating a puppet-regime there crushed terrorism? Not by the least. These measures only doubled and trebled the threats and hazards to human lives not only in the US, but also invariably in Canada and the United Kingdom. Masses live in constant fear of violence, murder, pollution and man-made epidemics engineered by the underworld with disasters unprecedented or never dreamt of. Results of tit-for-tat activities would not end with these. Greater and greater taxation of the innocent people would, invariably, be needed for the deteriorating security situations, adding greater woe to suffering. When would this animosity and hatred come to an end? Historically, war is waged to secure wealth, ethnicity, religious faith, trade and to grab power over territory and various other scapegoats by violence and force. Wars are also launched through perception of fear. In the present context, it is clear that US is bent on war due to her fears and wishes to get rid of Saddam Hussein before he overpowers the US with his weapons of mass destruction. The world is forced to watch on helplessly as super-powers espouse war and try to justify it on plausible pretexts of this nature. So, hope for peace and harmony is at stake. Ananda Wijesinghe, Expedite extension of southern rail track I think was during the latter part of the former UNP government, that the extension of the railway line to Kataragama was inaugurated with much fanfare. It was mentioned that the first stage was supposed to be a distance of about 18 kilometres and the whole project, a distance of 120 kilometres was estimated to cost Rs. 2,000 million. However with the coming into office of the 'United National Front' government in December, 2001 Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has once again divided the country into several regions for the purpose of rapid development. This part of the country is supposed to come under the Minister of Southern Region Development. According to media reports we see that new power generation plants, an international airport, a harbour at Hambantota, the Salterns, an oil refinery, private sector development projects, etc. are on the pipeline. These new projects are expected to solve the economic issues and unemployment in the South which has prevailed for decades in the area. Therefore top priority should be given by the new government regarding the extension of the southern railway track to Hambantota and later to Kataragama as it would facilitate in the movement of goods, agricultural produce of the South, fuel and also a major slice of the passenger traffic which now is the sole monopoly of the private sector. With the extension of the railway to Kataragama a major portion of our tourist traffic will also bring in a good revenue to the government. If the railway track is laid without much delay it would help the future industrialists and entrepreneurs as well as the farmers and the people living in those districts. The extension of the 120km rail track could be expedited by dividing the construction of this line into 4 or 5 'Zones' and obtaining aid from four or five friendly countries who have pledged support to our Prime Minister. This could be on long-term basis as was done in the case of the accelerated Mahaweli Development Project during the "Jayawardene Government". Then it could be completed in 2 or 3 years time and would be ready to takeover the transport of men and materials for the Hambantota Harbour Project, the proposed oil refinery and other power stations etc. which have been planned by the present government or else, it should be explored whether this section of the rail track could be completed as a BOO/BOT Project. Unemployment has become a key drawback in the Ruhuna, although it has a very high literacy rate. Industrial development activities too have been low in the South due to lack of a proper and efficient transport system. The extension of the railway to Kataragama would usher in a new era of development and employment for the South which the Southerners have been yearning for a number of years. We as Southerners also wish to remind the government that the people of the South played a major role at the General and Local Government elections. We hope the Minister of Southern Region Development will take up the challenge. Lionel L.Leanage, Recently we heard in the media that authorization is to be given to some 'Private Zoos' to be set up in Sri Lanka. Some zoologists, conservationists and scientists have expressed their concerns about this on ethical and moral grounds. I think these concerns are on personal basis and not in the national interest. If these intellectuals have concern for the suffering of animals, why do they keep mum on the large scale slaughtering of cattle and pigs in Sri Lanka for food. It is said that most of the methods used to kill these animals are unhygienic. I cannot understand why these intellectuals do not see the fish and meat stalls which have mushroomed in the country under poor sanitary conditions. Caging an animal cannot be justified under any ethical or moral ground. If our intellectuals have their own standard or degree for caging an animal, what is that standard? If our intellectuals are already concerned for the flora and fauna and the living creatures, it should be genuine, without working on agendas that would only benefit them. I think most of our intellectuals have one foot in Sri Lanka and the other in a foreign non governmental organisation with a lot of implications for the Sri Lankan political context. WALTER WIJENAYAKA, Secretariat for persons with disabilities A National Secretariat for persons with disabilities with noble objectives under the Provision of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act No. 28 of 1986 now functions under the Ministry of Social Welfare. Several views have been expressed by the disabled themselves through the media of the unsatisfactory services about what is happening at this Secretariat. It is high time that the Minister of Social Welfare take a serious view on this matter and appoint a probe committee to look into the affairs of this Secretariat and replace the present management if needed. L. S. R. de Silva, Vastu is not merely calculations and physical dimensions, it is deeply related to Indian philosophy, religion and cosmic energy, which is, present all the time around all of us. Nature has provided us everything to fill our life with all colours of joy and happiness. Vastu means to enhance our observation power and vastu's application makes us more aware towards our surroundings so that to place the things in there right order. Failure to do so can cause various problems in our like tension, insomnia, several diseases, litigation etc. So lets go for the discovery of joy and happiness through application of Vastu in our house. The basis of Vastu is element. There are five elements, which we use in Vastu. Every direction represents one element i.e. North East represents for Water, North West represents for Air, South West for Earth, South East for Fire and Brahma sthal (Centre place) for sky. If the position of the House is not according to these elements and directions than Vastu Defect occurs. For the convenience we can divide these defects in four parts: a) Vastu Vedh (obstacles), b). Practical Vastu Defects, c) Vastu Defects of a Building, d). Vastu Defects of Land. A). Vastu Vedh: Vedh means 'Obstacles.' Therefore, this category contains mainly the problems of the main door, created by some undesired article. For example, if a tree (dead or alive) is just in front of main doors, this is Vastu Vedh. A well, a temple, a pillar a pole and plant of cactus, these things is front of main door create Vastu Vedh. Shadow of a building on the main door and road end on the main door is also considered in this category. B). Vastu Defects of a building: As indicated itself by title, this Dosh related to the improper structure of a building fall under this category. The location of a Kitchen, Master Bed Room, Meditation Room, Children Room, Stair Case, Overhead Water Tank, Under Ground water Tank, Well Generator, all things should be in right directions, if these things are not in appropriate directions, it means the building has Vastu Dosh of this category. C). Vastu Defects of a Land: The land smelled proper and good is much more suitable for construction while foul smelled land is not good for construction besides this the size of land, the extension of the land, slope and sand of the land is also included in this category. Vastu Defects: If the Vastu Dosh is present in a house in any form then the members of the house cannot be happy and prosper after so many efforts. In this situation, we observe the following problems in a household. * Tension among the house members Remedies: Apply these simple steps at your home and feel the difference. Before getting started all you need is to have a good compass and check the exact directions, (North-South) by placing it at approx. centre (Brahmsthal) of your built up area. Now go through the lines given below, carefully. 1. Ideal location for lawn, fountain and water bodies is North East and water drainage should also be in this direction. Check the flow of water if it is in South East direction with immediate effect. 2. Never grow cactus or succulent plants in your house or garden. 3. Never place the horrifying or crying objects and paintings in your drawing room. 4. While working in kitchen, gas burner and your facing should not be towards North, as it is believed to concern with financial losses. It should ideally be East facing. However, if you are unable to do so then place a small mirror in front of you. 5. Mirrors in bedroom are not found to be suitable from health point of view. Keep it covered while sleeping. 6. Never place mirror on South wall. It should be on East or West wall. 7. Ideal Postures: While sleeping, head towards South or West: While working: facing East or North: While meditating: facing East or North 8. Working or sleeping behind a beam or stair cases can put extra stress on you and better be avoided or false ceiling should be used. 9. Pray and meditate daily for 10-15 minutes as it always makes us enable to self-realising and enhance our observation power to correct the Vastu Defect in a most natural way. Things, which are not suitable to our eyes should be placed somewhere else, this is the first and important basics of Vastu. Dr. Somesh K. Sharma, Dr. Puneet Sharma, |
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