• Anura's attack on Nirupama. Justified or not?

• Homes for the aged, or Mahalu Madam

• Conflict of interest at C. S. E.

• Nirvana
  
  
  Anura's attack on Nirupama. Justified or not?

Many political analysts had given their own interpretations of parliamentarian Anura Bandaranaike's tirade against Nirupama Rao, Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. Not even a political greenhorn believing in upholding the interests of the country above anything else would have antagonised the Indian Government by groundlessly attacking its representative in Sri Lanka.

It of course happened 30 years ago when J. R. Jayawardena riding high after his victory attacked Mrs. Indira Gandhi and her son which led to near irreparable damage to our relations with India which resulted in India covertly but very effectively training the fledgling terror movement that eventually became the ruthless LTTE.

A lot happened thereafter. JRJ and successive governments in Sri Lanka were careful in all actions and statements to avoid any hint of open disharmony. It worked well and now India plays a very critical role where all political parties acknowledge no permanent solution to our ethnic issue can be found without the participation or blessings of India.

For Anura Bandaranaike, a one time Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and son of Sirimavo Bandaranaike on whose behalf India intervened when JRJ removed her civic rights, to launch a scathing attack on Indian representative was unacceptable to say the least. What makes his action utterly despicable is that, it was done not in defence of any other interest of Sri Lanka but in defence of a billionaire businessman.

Mr. Bandaranaike's folly was to defend this person at a time when India's goodwill and good offices are needed more than ever. His timing of the attack could not have been worse.

Mr. Bandaranaike's action has shown well and truly that he no longer upholds the selfless commitment to the nation displayed by his father and mother but is more interested in safeguarding buddies irrespective of the cost to the country.

Lionel Mendis, Rajagiriya.

Homes for the aged, or Mahalu Madam

Soon we will be celebrating International Elders' Day, as we are all aware our population is ageing fast. There are many issues that we should think about and find solutions to before they become problems.

Today I would like to write about a subject that is not very popular.

The Homes for the aged, or 'mahalu madam'.

Life styles in Sri Lanka have changed drastically during the last thirty or forty years, some for the better and some for the worse. Our families are small, parents and three children the maximum, our homes are small, gone is the safety net of the extended family. Most of our children reside in other countries. These are some of the reasons that Elders' Homes have become a necessity.

Now I know that there are many who blame the children when their parents are in Homes, and then there are parents who do not want to go to Homes as this would bring shame on the children. Let us look at the practical aspects of three generations living under one roof. Today domestic help is beyond the reach of an average family.

The houses are small, or as it is increasingly happening, many opt to live in high rises. In a two bedroomed house or flat where could one give space for an elderly couple or single elderly parent? Let us say that the parents live with the children in this restricted space.

What happens when the younger children go to school and the parents to work? The old person is left at home all by herself or himself, with strict instructions not to open the door, not to go to the kitchen etc. The person spends the time looking at the walls, and an active body and an active mind begins to degenerate. So it is much better for old people to live among their own peer group.

It is very necessary that good senior citizens' Homes/Residences be built. The homes should be built in such a manner that it would be comfortable for senior citizens, with ramps, railings, and large toilets where one could take a wheelchair in. Our young architects should focus their attention on such buildings.

The buildings will be of no use if we do not have trained staff to care for the seniors. Both the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Services should focus their attention on these aspects of caring for elders. They should train young ones and school leavers in geriatric care.

Children should not feel guilty that they have to admit their aged parents to Homes. They are safer there than being alone at home. But shop around for a good Home. Talk to the staff in the Home both the senior and minor staff, check the toilet facilities, check the type of food that would be given to the residents. If they are maintained by an organization, check their credentials.

There are many Elders' Homes that are mushrooming. Many of these are paying Homes. Some ask for fantastic non refundable sums plus a monthly fee. Retired government servants, pay large non refundable deposits to the owners of these Homes, plus their whole pension as monthly board.

I am quite concerned about these Homes. Are they registered? Will they take the pensioners' hard earned money and decamp? Remember what happened to pensioners and others who invested in fraudulent Finance companies?

I am trying to do up a Directory of all Senior Citizens' Homes in and around Colombo. So if you have any information about Senior Citizens' Homes, please send the information to me, at No 15, Gemunu Mawatha, Borupana Rd., Ratmalana.

Sujatha Wickramasinghe, Samarajiwa.

Conflict of interest at C. S. E.

According to recent newspaper reports, Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange (C.S.E.), Nihal Fonseka had written to Dr. Reddy of the Apollo Hospitals, inquiring from him details of certain concessions allowed by the BOI to Apollo Hospital which is a topical issue these days.

While it is not the intention to question the action on the part of the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange in writing such a letter, one has to question whether Mr. Fonseka could get involved in this dispute as he definitely could be considered an interested party or at least one who is not independent on the issue.

It is public knowledge that Mr. Fonseka is the Chief Executive of the DFCC Bank which is a Harry Jayawardena-controlled company. Hence to any reasonable person a huge conflict of interest is clearly evident, as Mr. Jayawardena is in the middle of the Apollo controversy and a truly independent judgment cannot be expected.

The public of this country wishes to have in places such as Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) individuals possessing high ethical and professional standards, without business interests likely to conflict with the duties they are expected to carry out.

If standards are allowed to deteriorate in this manner the investor confidence naturally would get eroded leading to a drop in all indices and share prices. This should never be allowed to happen.\In the circumstances, Mr. Fonseka should either withdraw the letter written to Apollo Hospitals with an apology or ideally speaking, tender his resignation from the highly prestigious position of Chairman of Colombo Stock Exchange.

C. X. Nesarajah, Colombo - 6.

Nirvana

Over the last several weeks Mr. U. Mapa has been telling us how difficult it is to achieve Nirvana. 'Nirvana presupposes your presence enjoying your absence.'

That is not difficult, it's impossible.

Nihal Ratnayake, Dehiwela.