• Bana-preaching at 'Temple Trees'

• Thank you soldier!

• BoC and ATMs
  
  Bana-preaching at 'Temple Trees'

It has been customary to conduct Bana-preaching at 'Temple Trees' on certain full moon Poya days. In addition to the immediate audience there, an islandwide audience benefit by the means of transmission via TV and Radio. That is indeed a meritorious exercise.

Nevertheless, this writer considers that there is another wide field which is apparently unwittingly lying untapped for the benefit of our Tamil community members, who do not have a sufficient understanding of discourses delivered in the Sinhala language at 'Temple Trees'.

Similarly, there are our Muslim community members whose home language happens to be Tamil with no sufficient understanding of discourses delivered in Sinhala only. In the circumstances it is strongly recommended that they should be provided with some facility as simultaneous translation in the Tamil medium at the preaching centre.

It is now over two months ago that this writer spoke to certain officers regarding the translation facility. It is now hoped that the authorities concerned will kindly arrive at a decision on the matter as early as possible.

A request is also made kindly that the authorities consider the possibility of publishing in the media in all three languages (Sinhala, Tamil and English) the highly edifying discourse delivered by the Most Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero on the Vap Full Moon Poya day on 6th October 2006.

D. Kuruneru, Moratuwa

Thank you soldier!

Every single soldier of our country and every single army/navy/police personnel today in our island deserve sincere gratitude of every citizen.When one watches young army personnel flag down a vehicle to stop, check them in and out, call a man on a bike to stop - one cannot but realize he is putting his own life on the line to serve his duty. Anyone they stop could be a suicide killer; anyone can be carrying a gun.

Yet, they do stop them, they do search them and have successfully detected smuggled bombs and explosives.

Thank you solider, for doing this for us, the citizens, whom you don't even know personally. My concern, as a mother, for the young army personnel when I see them toiling in the hot sun and in the pouring rain, at road blocks which makes me send up a prayer "Ya Allah, Please protect them all".

It is heartwarming to see the present government recognizing their sacrifice, the President intermingling with them, the press giving them due recognition.

We, everyone must try to make their lives easier. May Allah bring peace to this little country of ours soon. May these young boys return to their mothers and their young wives and children safely. Soon. Insha Allah.

Dr. (Mrs.) Mareena Thaha Reffai, Dehiwela.

BoC and ATMs

There was an eye - catching advertisement in a weekend newspaper last week, by the Bank of Ceylon, which read as ...... Open a current account at Bank of Ceylon and receive a cheque book and ATM card ...... Draw money day or night when needed from 165 ATMs islandwide.

This ad. is to lure would - be current A/C holders, who will be issued with ATM cards. Boasting of 165 machines, the top brass at the Boc Tower, have failed to install an ATM at the Lake House branch, which is just a whistling distance away, in the heart of Fort.It is a common occurrence, especially during the third week of every month, when Lake House staffers receive their salaries, to see customers kicking their heels in despair while standing in the two snake - like queues, leading up to the doorway.

It is a pity to watch the two tellers, one lady and a gent trying to get some breathing time, but in vain, and their work stretching well beyond the normal banking hours.The 166th ATM will be a saviour, I hope !

L. K. Ananda, Himbutana.