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| Sunday, 18 January 2004 |
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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.
Do technical colleges face threat of closure? I think the Technical Colleges of Sri Lanka face a threat of closure because of the lack of funds they get for maintenance and to pay the visiting instructors/lecturers who attend to the colleges for various courses. This menace has been going on for many years and the management finds, it difficult to pay the instructors on time who attend these colleges to deliver lectures. According to an official of accounts department of Dept. of Tertiary Education and Training, the technical colleges all over the island have to receive about 18 million from the Treasury to pay the instructors and for the maintenance of the colleges this year. This amount of money has not been paid to the Dept. of Tertiary Education and Training from the Treasury for release of funds for the technical colleges as the Treasury says that there is no fund in the Treasury to pay the technical colleges. If it is the case, I wonder why the government has created a Ministry for Tertiary Education and Training and a Minister is appointed to develop the technical colleges and improve tertiary education in Sri Lanka to create employment opportunities by providing technical education for the unemployed youths. The students who attend these colleges pay an annual course fee and ultimately the instructors may not attend these colleges if they are not paid in time and the students will be left in lurch. If there is a ministry and a department for it, there should be an allocation from the budget and what happens to the fund allocated for it. Could anyone in the Treasury or Department of Tertiary Education clarify it to the public? M. S. M. Hansaf, According to a recent telecast, rabies (hydrophobia) is raising its ugly head again. Rabies is an acute viral encephalomyelitis, involving the brain and the spinal cord, and once developed, it is fatal. The incubation period varies from 6 days to 6 months, depending on the bite site and the strength of the infection. In Sri Lanka, on average, about 300 victims die of the disease annually, due to neglect of treatment in time. The infective part of the virus is Ribo Nucleic acid (RNA virus), which has a bullet-shaped structure. Clinically, rabies are of two types. One is ferocious rabies where the animal becomes restless and furious. The other is dumb rabies, where the dog becomes paralysed and inactive and prefers to live in seclusion. In both cases, death follows inexorably, and the illness does not last more than a week. The disease is transmitted to humans, mostly by bites and sometimes, due to licks on skin abrasions or intact mucous membranes. The alternative name 'hydrophobia' (fear of water) stems from the violent contractions of the diaphragm and inspiratory muscles, induced by drinking water. The symptoms of the disease are fever, malaise, paraesthesia (abnormal sensation around the bite site), hyperactivity, aggression, convulsions, delirium, coma and complete paralysis. The Anti-Rabies Campaign, responsible for the prevention of rabies, seems lukewarm and makes no headway to save human lives from the lethal disease. According to a news report (DN, Jan. 25, 2003), the Campaign is spending Rs. 200 million annually, to combat this zoonotic disease, which is a colossal sum when compared with other expenditure by the Health Ministry, just to destroy dogs. It seems that there is something wrong somewhere. The wonder is that money goes down the drain and dogs stand by the side and grin at the officials responsible for their eradication. There are no stray dogs or street dogs in England. All domesticated dogs are vaccinated with anti-rabies injections. Why not the Anti-Rabies Campaign step down to find a similar solution to the problem in Sri Lanka ? I do not say that dogs should be killed, but through an intensive programme countrywide, they can be immunized, and Rs. 200 million is quite enough to meet the expenditure, provided the money is honestly spent. Aryadasa Ratnasinghe, On February 4 we will be celebrating Independence Day. On previous occasions I have seen VIPs and other dignitaries on the rostrum standing in different ways when they are expected to stand to attention when the national flag is hoisted. Some stand with their feet apart and some with their hands behind their backs while some stand with their right hand diagonally across their chests. I feel there should be some uniformity when people stand to attention on an occasion like this. I hope this letter would catch the eye of the organising committee of the Independence Day celebrations. P. A. Binduhewa, Surmounting HIV/AIDS in Sri Lanka Another AIDS Day has passed, and a great deal of disturbing facts about AIDS have emerged from recent newsitems in the papers. 'The reports revealed that there are about 7200 identified HIV epidemics in Sri Lanka where 12 of them are innocent children. Further, it shows that 60% of those victims are between 15-40 age groups. There are about 40mn identified H.I.V. cases in the world where out of that 19.2 mn are women and 3.2 mn are children. In Botswana 1/6th, of the population is affected with it and in South Africa that about 5mn cases out of their 42-mn population. In the neighbouring India there are about 4.5mn HIV cases with their population of 1bn. Our another South Asian partner Bangladesh will reach the first place in the HIV race in 2015. As this dreadful threat haunts throughout the world and it drags at the rates of one life in every ten minutes to the grave irrespective of the religion, race, colour, rich or poor. The threat cannot be underestimated and our authorities should arrange maximum precautionary measures as soon as before it took over our nation. As the researchers are still struggling unsuccessfully spending huge amounts for a HIV medicine, there are very little the authorities around the countries of the world are able to do other than educating their people only for safe sex. As the precautionary measures taken in Lanka in regard of this matter we can see there are some advertisements in newspapers, T.V and public places appealing the public of the importance of committing to a single partner for their sexual relations and use of condoms for safe sex. But I deduce these measures are not sufficient to combat dreadful threat. There are other most important areas that we should reach other than the general public, e.g. our migrant work force comprising not less than 500,000. Among them many are women who are obviously subject to various sexual harassments. All these people are living away from their loved ones in M/East, Africa and Europe with multinational work forces where the possibilities of HIV. are much more imminent than in S/Lanka. Apart from sexual relations HIV can be transmitted by blood transfusion and injection needles. Hence, those living in a very remote area with unsatisfactory medical facilities, are in danger of contracting HIV Apart from the thousands of foreigners arriving the country there are thousands of foreign workers also arriving the country daily and join with their eagerly waiting loved ones. All our foreign workers have gone abroad after a strict medical screening, which covers the HIV test too. But after spending years in foreign lands who knows whether the people returning to the country are free from HIV. I think the Foreign Bureau of Employment has a huge responsibility towards the safe return of the foreign workers. Foreign Bureau of Employment established specially for the welfare and the safe return of the foreign workers and charges a sum of Rs. 3200-12000 from each of them before they leave the country. This fee is depending on the salary they receive and the fee has to be paid every two years. Therefore, apart from the benefits provided to the workers by the Bureau, it has a responsibility to work out a plan to see that foreign workers who are returning to the country are free of H.I.V. The Bureau can educate the foreign workers to have a H.I.V. test before paying their two yearly charges or else make the H.I.V. test compulsory before paying their two yearly charges. M.R.M.K. Munasinghe, A large number of Buddhist associations and other organisations have requested the relevant authorities of the State to hold full inquiries and reveal the real situation which led to the unexpected death of Rev. Gangodawila Soma Thera whilst in Russia. His death brought shock and grief to the majority of citizens in this island, and much confusion has arisen in the minds of the general public as to the cause of death. After the post-mortem examination held at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital by three senior Judicial Medical Officers attached to the Ruhunu, Colombo and Colombo North teaching hospitals in the presence of a Consultant Cardiologist, it was announced through the electronic media that the death was caused due to a Heart attack. It was also mentioned that there was a 'block' in one of the Arteries on the Left side of his heart which takes Blood into the heart. Also, it was reported in an English weekend paper that the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Russia had last week communicated by letter to Sri Lanka giving information of what had happened in Russia after the Venerable Soma Thera landed in Russia on October 11. It was reported that the Thera had felt a severe chest pain before he landed in Moscow. But, in spite of the pain he had decided to fly to St. Petersburgh where he was to be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Buddhism for his book named "Buddha Stupa" authored by him. At St. Petersburgh Airport he had been received by one Dr. Shanthie Jayasekara, and after knowing the Thera's chest pain, he had been admitted to a hospital where he had recovered. Later on, he had been transferred to a "Sanatorium" to have some rest and to be given physiotherapy exercises before he was to undergo surgery for a "by-pass operation." It was also mentioned further that a person from Australia by the name of Kosala Jayasinghe had informed the Embassy during the last week of November, that the Thera was very satisfied with the doctors and others. It was also stated that the priest had refused to go to Moscow on the request of the Sri Lankan community there, and had stated that he was satisfied and that they need not worry about him. The embassy had also reported that it had despatched its panel doctor, K. A. Karunaratne and Rupasiri Perera, the President of the Buddhist Society in Moscow to St. Petersburgh on December 6, to enquire into the health of the Thera. the Embassy had also sent US 9,000 Dollars to be spent on the priest's operation, by which time the priest had also received the award from ITU after a simple ceremony at the sanatorium itself on December 4. Dr. Karunanayake had also reported to the embassy that the monk had been suffering from 'Diabetes Mellitus type 2' for ten years, and by that time his condition had improved a lot and there was nothing to worry about. Mr. Perera who accompanied the doctor had also reported that they met the Thera and gave him the money, and had also stated that the priest was worried about the attitude of the people about his illness and had also stated that he had received many telephone calls from people. They had further reported that on December 8, the priest had been admitted to the hospital once again, for further tests and examination, before he was to be operated. He had also mentioned that it seemed the doctors had favoured immediate surgery as he was a diabetic. It was further reported that on the morning of December 12, the Thera seemed to have got a severe heart attack and passed away at about 8.00 a.m. In view of above, I think the Buddha Sasana Ministry should issue an 'Official' statement regarding the findings of the post-mortem examination and the Ambassador's report to clear the doubts and confusion which has arisen in our minds about the sudden death of this most respected Thera whose name was a household word in almost all the Buddhist homes. This will also put an end to the loose talk and other statements which are being circulated among the general public. Over to you Hon. Minister of Buddha Sasana. L. Leanage, Why are cricketers guilty of match fixing? I write in reference to 'Booty in cricketer's room' published in the first page of Sunday Observer of 21st December 2003. Match fixing was a common topic all over the world during last few years. At the moment it has reduced a bit and can be risen at any time. So what is match fixing? It is betraying a match for money. First of all we must search whether they have a right to do such a thing. Everybody loves cricketers and a cricket team, represents the every person of that country. So they are answerable to the country and to the people as well. They spend much money that come from poor person to rich person's pocket. Everybody's hope is them, because everybody loves cricket. Therefore, the cricketers' duty is winning matches to make cricket fans, hopes come true. Then only they know that the cricketers do their best for their money. According to these things cricketers don't have a right to fix a match at all. Most of the cricketers who become victims of this menace are very good cricketers. Because the success of a match is in their hand. In other words, they can turn the match to the defeat as well as success. Match-fixing goes like this. First two people or two groups bet on the final score or success on a game for a large amount of money. Both parts want to make them win. So they meet cricketers secretly without denoting the other side to defeat a match on purpose for a large amount of money. Then cricketers compare the money that they get from that match and from those people. Then they come to a decision to fix that match. Actually because of this cricketers become sort of gamblers without their knowledge. That's why it is very difficult to prove that they did such a thing. Last few years we could hear about many match-fixings, but only two or three incidents were proved by the ICC. If they carry on like this, ordinary people would shy away from cricket and cricketers would not be money-makers any longer. I would like to emphasize my view again and again that they don't have a right to fix a match at all. They have to think about the country and the people than everything. Because people spend much money on cricket and it is a sin to lose the ordinary people's hopes about cricket as they are suffering from many other problems. Dulamani Namaratne, Unqualified personnel in private hospitals It has been observed that in most of the hospitals and medical clinics in the private sector, the practice of recruiting unqualified personnel to take X-rays, is continuing unabated. This is an illegal and highly irregular act. According to the Atomic Energy Act, a licence to use a radiation equipment is issued only if qualified radiographers are employed in these private medical institutions. Considering the harmful effects of X-rays (Excessive radiation can be carcinogenic) these quacks should not be permitted to even handle an X-ray plant. They have no knowledge of radiation, its ill-effects and the correct usage. By subjecting patients to excessive doses of radiation and very often repeating X-rays, they are endangering innocent lives. I wonder whether the health authorities are aware of this malpractice and ponder why the Atomic Energy Authority is not taking legal action against these institutions. These quacks are hell bent on bringing discredit to a once glorious profession. M. Emmanuel, The need for shelter to every human being is very important. This very important aspect in our lives are not being solved by any government which was in power. During the Premadasa era there were banners stating "Shelter for everyone by year 2000". Now the year 2000 have come and gone but the housing inadequacy remains unvaried. The housing problems in our country is very acute and the need for shelter to every citizen is very important. We note that some private business organisations are encouraged by the State on this venture and they are contributing to ease this shortage to a certain extent specially to the middle and lower class citizens. A recent news item stated that an American firm is to build four thousand low cost housing units in Kotte, prices at Rs. 375,000 each. This is very encouraging and it is hoped that this will be a reality soon and more and more houses of this nature to suit the individuals will be constructed in the near future throughout the island. It is also hoped that the government will step in more seriously and give all possible assistance to the citizens to build their own houses by subsidising cement, roofing sheets, etc, even by obtaining grants from donor countries and ease this housing shortage to a greater extent in the near future. M. T. A. P. Fernando, Govt. considers amending W.& O.P. laws With reference to the above news item in the Sunday Observer of Oct. 5, I wish to thank the Defence Minister Tilak Marapana for his kind and sympathetic consideration in amending the laws of the W.& O.P., for young wives of ex-servicemen lost in the war, to re-marry and receive the benefits they are presently receiving that. In this context I wish to remind the Minister that ex-servicemen, whether disabled or not, and have lost their wives wish to re-marry for the sole purpose of care and attention and a mate for company to attend to all their needs in sickness and welfare. But should they demise, the wives would be stranded without any income to support themselves and children if any. Due to this disadvantage the widow of ex-servicemen has little chance for re-marriage. Therefore this problem should also be identified by the government and the second wife should be given a pension or benefits as given to the young wives of ex-servicemen lost in the war. Maxworth, |
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