• Terrorists - Confusing definitions!

• Bakers' pound - 340 grams?
  
  Terrorists - Confusing definitions!

I would like to draw the attention of all readers to the FACE 2 FACE discussion regarding the freedom fighters and traitors, where Mr. Wimal Weerawansa and Dr. Kumar Rupasinghe's observations and ideas are given to the questions posed by the Sunday Observer.

I do not go deep into all the questions that were raised and the answers given to them. But I would like to highlight only two questions and the answers given by the two learned leaders.

Q 1. Can you consider LTTE as freedom fighters?

Mr. Wimal Weerawansa says freedom fighters will never kill their own people for freedom. Therefore they are terrorists.

But our learned Dr. Kumar Rupasinghe says it is difficult to consider Tigers as terrorists. What a shame Dr.? If they are not terrorists then who are they? Why don't you directly say that they are freedom fighters and saviours of the Tamil Nation who kill their own Tamil leaders and Tamil citizens who do not approve their brutal killings and their doctrine?

Q 2. Do you consider LTTE as terrorists?

Mr. Wimal Weerawansa's reply is short and sweet. 'Of course YES'. Many countries have banned LTTE as a terrorist group.

Dr. Kumar Rupasinghe for this question is beating about the bush. He cannot give a straight answer. He is talking about Karuna's group abductions? 'KOHEDA YANNE MALLE POL'. As Mr. Weerawansa says, if the Anti-War-Front Leaders are getting a monthly salary of Rs. one and a half million (1.5 million) from the NGOs who are funding the LTTE terrorists, how can they open their mouths against the LTTE?

Their motto may be 'LET THE COUNTRY GO TO HELL, WHO CARES? 1.5 million is much more worth than the motherland.'

Edin Perera, Maharagama.

Bakers' pound - 340 grams?

Bread is one of the most commonly used items of food of the poor man, and it is common knowledge that the weight of a loaf or pound of bread should not be less than 450 grams.

There are newspaper reports daily where errant bakery owners in the outstations have been heavily fined by the Magistrates for selling bread under weight.

But alas, what happens in the city of Colombo where all the authorities for the protection of consumers are set up.

In Wellawatte, just a stones' throw from the Police Station a bakery openly flouts the law selling a so-called pound of bread which weighs only 340-345 grams. I have over the past 10 days checked the weight of bread sold by this particular bakery and found that it is always in the range of 340-345 grams.

Now why don't the authorities check this bakery and bring the culprits to book. There is no point in apprehending the poor boutique keeper who retails the bread delivered to him.

Tilak Fernando, Colombo 6.