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| Sunday, 23 November 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.
Dr. Tara de Mel has bemoaned that the university education is moribund and she visualises its corpse being taken away to a cemetery either for burial or cremation by an undertaker. Her fears are reasonable, taking into consideration the recent incidents that took place in universities. The public have begun to think that universities are now madhouses instead of seats of learning. Our sympathy lies with them, too. Now university education has become a deadly affair. When Cardinal Newman was asked as to what the end of the university education was, this savant promptly answered thus: "Knowledge is capable of being its own end. Such is the constitution of the human mind that any kind of knowledge, if it be really such, is its own end". Knowledge had to be on par with the requirements of different spheres of human life. "Full development of one's own personality" has become the latest ideal of education. This word "personality" has a wide meaning. It embraces every aspect of human life, even the job a person does. Now the university education has become "job centred", because graduates clamour for jobs to suit their education. Last week I saw some graduates who had started a fast unto death. "Is this the end of university education in Sri Lanka?" I asked. They want jobs. The unrest in universities is mainly due to their frustration over their uncertain future, with certificates in hand roaming the country begging for jobs at the mercy of politicians who are mostly uneducated. I appeal to the government to intervene and solve this matter. O. M. Somawijaya, School admission controversy for year one in particular has lasted for nearly three decades with the introduction of the area rule laid down by the educational authorities. The law stipulates that education is compulsory for all children irrespective of caste, creed or religion. However it does not mention the kind of schools from which the mandatory education is to be obtained. all parents naturally prefer their children to be admitted to so-called prestigious 'popular schools'. Although Western Province Chief Minister, Reginald Cooray has brought to light the fraudulent practices resorted to by many parents the wild annual scramble for parents in their attempt to admit their children to popular schools still prevails. The Western Province Chief Minister has to be applauded; hailed and acclaimed for his endeavour to instruct the school authorities to launch supervisory boards for scrutinizing the accuracy of the documents submitted along with the school admission application. This exercise has stalled to a great extent the submission of fabricated documents. The chain of corruption descends from dubious educational and school authorities to the tempting grama seva offices, initiated by errant parents who are willing to throw ample funds to have the necessary documents fabricated. It has been proved that some parents who live away from popular schools (of their choice) have submitted fraudulent title deeds to meet the requirement of the close residency rule. In this grave act of corruption parents are supported by conniving officials in the public sector institution. The fabricated documents such as telephone bills, National Identity Cards, bank statements, electricity bills and water bills with new addresses are bought at a considerable price to prove that one satisfies the area rule laid by the educational authorities. This exercise has brought to light corruption at unprecedented levels and dimensions. A thorough scrutiny of such documents submitted has enabled some applications to be rejected. The parents of such applicants earlier were able to fight their cases through the appeal boards. The cancellation of the appeals' boards on the directive of Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, Minister Education to minimize corruption have made the applications once rejected not to be reviewed or re-entertained. This was made as parents resort to political influence which is unfair by genuine applicants. However those rejected now could only appeal to the objection boards, which give the school Principals the authority over school admission. A permanent solution for this persisting annual scramble has to be found. The establishment of quality National schools in the provinces and suburbs of Colombo would be one solution to this problem. Sunil Thenabadu, The media have constantly emphasised and reiterated financial difficulties encountered by those who have deposited funds in fixed deposits in local commercial banks. Owing to drastic decline in interest rates several effected personnel have written to our local newspapers appealing to the Ministry of Finance and the authorities of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to intervene with a view to increase the present interest rates of approximately seven per cent annum to at least 14 per cent per annum. During the past two years the interest rates paid by the commercial banks have dropped rapidly. The rate, which was around 16 per cent per annum two years ago, has now been gradually reduced to a very low meagre 7 per cent per annum.It is irrelevant to mention that the majority of the depositors depend totally on the interest earned monthly to make their ends meet from deposits made from terminal retirement benefits. As the last resort they have appealed to the related authorities via the media for redress. Very unfortunately no spokesman had made any comments to the local media in this regard. Senior citizens are awaiting in sheer desperation and anticipation for a favourable increase in interest rates. Sunil Thenabadu, Vedic Astrology based on myths? According to an article which appeared in the Sunday Observer of November 19 "Readers Forum" it was revealed that Vedic astrology is based entirely on imagination believing that the sun is a planet going round the earth with the possibility of a sun rise from the west. There is a book on scientific astrology which is well illustrated. It is in simple language suitable even for lower school students. On page 30 it reveals how medial science first began with ignorance about blood circulation in the body. It was unknown till William Harvey discovered it in 1616. Up to that time the medical profession believed that the body was filled with blood as in a bottle and it resulted in the wrong diagnosis always. At first the doctors refused to believe Harvey's discovery and began to insult him as a lunatic or a fool trying to destroy medial science. But the mystery of arteries, veins, lungs, heart beat, breathing connected with blood circulation was gradually discovered and now the stethoscope is an inseparable instrument of a doctor. According to scientific astrology the 12 different characters among human beings under the 12 zodiac signs are based on the seasons of the year. It has nothing to do with the planets which are only hardened balls of mud like the earth. The 12 charts clearly illustrated explain these facts. As such auspicious hours, lucky days, numbers and colours in Vedic astrology are all nonsense. But scientific astrology gives a perfect guide for the selection of marriage partners based on birthdates only. Dr. C. Ranasinghe, Pali education in Dhamma schools A circular dated October 3, has been issued by the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs with a view to conducting an examination purportedly for regularising the qualifications of Dhamma school teachers and for granting them certain privileges which are yet to be disclosed. It has also enumerated certain categories of Dhamma school teachers in service with certain qualifications to be exempted from the said examination. Accordingly graduate Dhamma teachers in service with qualifications in Pali are not eligible for exemption from the said examination. Even Dhamma teachers who have passed the GCE (O/L) examination with a credit pass in Buddhism are considered eligible. While Dhamma teachers qualified in Pali are very much perturbed. It appears that provisions of this circular letter if implemented would eventually deny the services of qualified Pali teachers to Dhamma school students. Hence it would be prudent if Dhamma school teachers in service (with qualifications in Pali) are exempted from this intended examination since imparting knowledge in Pali language is an essential requirement in dhamma school education. Peter Wijesekera, This in response to Mr. Wanduragala's article published in the Sunday Observer of November 9 titled Cruelty to Animals in the name of cricket based on the report published on October 26 by Reggie Fernando - London correspondent.It is very much appreciated by all animal lovers and kind hearted rational Sri Lankans. Having read the original article on October 26, I despatched a letter to the Minister of Buddha Sasana under registered cover on 29th october enclosing the original paper cutting of the article requesting to stop this cruel and brutal act. English people are kind hearted animal lovers unlike our Sri Lankan "Kalu Suddas". Let's hope that the Minister of Buddha Sasana has already initiated action to stop the killing of innocent strays, who have an equal right to live, just as much as we human beings. The ultimate solution to this problem lies in the modern humane methods of anti rabies vaccination and sterilisation of females rather than "mass cruel murder". Kind hearted, Concept of traditional homelands There are incidents in this country which an ordinary citizen is unable to understand and which require clarification from intellectuals, especially the NGOs, peace lobbyists, some professors, Norwegian facilitators and of course the leaders of all political parties, none of whom, for reasons best known to themselves, have touched on this subject, in order to enlighten the masses. If the North and the East are the traditional homeland of the Tamils, doesn't it invariably follow that the rest of the country are the traditional homeland of the Sinhalese? I believe that no right thinking person could say no. Thus, the Sinhalese homeland have to be administered by Sinhalese only. The same way the LTTE is administering some parts of the country on behalf of the Tamils. Thus, it invariably follows that the Tamils in the rest of the country will have to migrate to their Tamil homelands. This theory is as logical as two plus two being equal to four. If not, it will be a gross travesty of justice in that Tamils whilst enjoying for themselves some parts of the country are sharing the resources of the country with the Sinhalese in the rest of the country. Thus, no sane person can envisage a situation where Sinhalese are expected to share the resources in the South with the Tamils while the resources in the North become the exclusive preserve of the Tamils. A Tamil can migrate to the South, as they have already done, establish himself in business or engage in any other profession, send his children to schools and universities and enjoy various other benefits, while the Sinhalese are not entitled to such benefits. Adding insult to injury, they are expected to pay illegal taxes even when they visit North just for one or two days while the Tamils visiting the South are not subjected to such taxes. In fact, over 20,000 Sinhalese families have already been ethnically cleansed from the North and nobody is clamouring for their long rehabilitated in their original places. In any event, can somebody give an instance where a single nation is having two different traditional homelands in two different countries, geographically separated by a vast ocean. One might call this writer a Chauvinist but if I am a Chauvinist, the way things are happening the LTTE can be called chauvinist thousand times. If I am wrong in my observations, I expect the individuals/organizations referred to above to prove me wrong supported by facts and figures. D. H. Gunadasa, Industrial workshop in residential area D. M. Colombage Mawatha - Nugegoda lying cheek by jowl with the Open University Nawala is a residential area. There are no industrial establishments located in and around D. M. Colombage Mawatha. Most of the residents are Open University academic staff, medical officers and lawyers. Recently a large industrial workshop has been set up. Already the residents in the area and the Open University students are experiencing the adverse effects due to the continuous noise generated by power saws, loading and unloading of iron girders and beating and bending of iron scaffolding and dismantling of heavy machinery and the inevitable pollution. The unceasing noise emanating from this workshop is a veritable disturbance to the staff and students of the Open University as well as to the residents. The university authorities, undergraduates and residents are confused about the situation. Has permission been granted by the UDA to set up this workshop in a residential area and in such close proximity to the university? Has the Sri Jayawardenapura Municipal Council granted permission for the setting up of this establishment and is the Central Environment Authority aware of the setting of this industrial workshop in a residential area? The risk of environmental pollution by the emission of gases, smoke and from the burning of oils and waste is positive health hazard. Further the disturbance to the undergraduates and also the inconvenience and disturbance caused to the residents has to be considered. I am a visiting lecturer of the Open University and I live at Colombage Mawatha and I am adequately aware of the magnitude of the noise and smoke pollution and of the health hazards. Before full scale elaborate and heavy industrial machinery are installed and the workshop commences full operations it is time that the relevant authorities responsible for the protection of the environment, the Urban Development and Municipal Council authorities inquire and ascertain how permission had been granted to set up an Industrial Workshop in a residential area, on what basis such permission had been given and if the workshop is unauthorized what action it should take to dismantle and prohibit the workshop from operating. We hope that the concerned authorities will take timely and expeditious action. Prof. H. C. Handihetty |
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