Periodical checkups vital to eradicate blindness - Eye Surgeon

by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

The consultant Eye Surgeon of the General Hospital, Nuwara Eliya Dr. Priyanga Iddawela told a large number of planters and other distinguished visitors at a conference held at the Grand Hotel here that the prevailing and alarming eye diseases including the incident of cataract and other related diseases were very high, particularly among the workers in the plantation sector.

He said this was perhaps due to their prolonged exposure to sunlight, malnutrition and other setbacks.

The Eye Surgeon giving a full details of the eye diseases, arising out of high blood pressure, diabeties, said if periodical checks and other preventive measures were not taken, the victims could become totally blind within a given period of time.

Hence, he appealed the young planting communities and others present at the conference to take adequate preventive measurers and also advise their workforce in estates in this regard.

Dr. Iddawela, said that the Nuwara eliya General Hospital and the Eye unit was fortunate enough in getting an upto date and modern screening equipment at a cost of five million rupees from a donor the 'Orange Electricals Limited, which was indeed a generous gift by this organisation for the benefit of the public of Nuwara Eliya.

He also thanked the service organisations such as the Lions Club, the Rotary Club and the Ceylon Planters' Association for their co-operation and willing support towards hospital, by which the Eye Surgeon said that he could combat the prevailing eye diseases among the people of Nuwara Eliya especially among the plantation workforce.

Dr. Iddawela who dealt at length on the impending dangers of eye diseases in the district and in the plantation sector, emphasised the need for constant checkups, by which they could avert the crisis of eye diseases among the young and old.

Considering the lay out of the sumptuous dinner and drinks, he quipped that while wishing a good dinner and other amusements, he wished them to get their destinations safely: Mr. Johann Rodrego, the Outgoing chairman of the P.A. thanked the eye Surgeon for his understanding to do all the operations for which they were so grateful and expressed his gratitude for his goal to eradicate blindness by way of cataract operations in the Nuwara eliya region.

Private sector employment for youth

by A.W. Gunawardhana Matara Corr.

The World University Service of Canada (WUSL) which is providing vocational training for youth in Sri Lanka since 1989 held a forum recently for employers to meet trainees in different trades for the purpose of selecting trainees for employment.

The WUSC - is providing vocational training to youth through partners for gainful wage or self-employment. In the district of Matara and Hambantota nearly 500 youth are given training yearly in TV and radio repair, motorcycle and threewheeler repairs, auto electrical, motor mechanism, lathe welding and mechanised carpentry.

Training is providing according to the standard set by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission, so at the end of a training they become competent in the trade.

On the job training is also an integral part of this training where trainees get more skill at the practical level.

At the Forum held recently in the Breeze Hotel at Ambalantota, 153 ex-trainees and 53 employers participated. Employers were from industries and manufacturing agencies in Colombo and the region.

It is noteworthy that among the trainees there were female trainees who have followed training in welding, TV and radio, three-wheeler, motorcycle repair and mechanised carpentry. It is a remarkable achievement that 32 agencies participated in this employer forum and have selected 53 youth for employment.

Most job demands are from welding and masonry sectors, said Wimali Ratnayake, Program Officer - Hambantota and Matara Districts.

Plea to renovate vihara

by Theja Vidyarupa, Akuressa Group Corr.

The wall paintings and several statues of Godapitiya Sri Sudarsanarama temple belonging to Kandyan period are in ruins.
The old Vihara Mandira is also now in a dilapidated condition.

This temple located at Godapitiya about half a mile from the Akuressa town close to Tibbotuwawa bazaar was set up in 1867 under the direction of late Ven. Nalagama Piyaratana Thera with assistance of Buddhist philanthropists in the area to guide the faithful in the religious activities and to protect Buddhism from various influences that at that time, dayaka sabha said.

The dayaka sabha under the patronage of Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sobitha Thera Chief Sangha Nayaka of the Matara division and Weligam Korale and Viharadhipati request the authorities to take steps to preserve the paintings and statues and also to renovate the old vihara mandira.

Monsoon destroys vegetation at N' Eliya

The North East inter-monsoon has completely destroyed large extents of vegetation and tea plantation around Nuwara Eliya. The rain and heavy winds continue to lash the area since September 12 consequent to the tsunami.

According to old residents this year's rains and blowing had never been experienced in Nuwara Eliya for several decades.

People in huts and shanties around Nuwara Eliya have to specially undergo much inconvenience as they live with their children, infants owing to adverse weather conditions and severe cold during the night times.

According to the change in the weather patterns, they predict that the present conditions will continue for some time. It would be recalled that several events that were organised to be held in Nuwara Eliya at the moment either had been cancelled or shifted to other areas due to the prevailing weather conditions.

Nevertheless, the usual weekend holiday crowds have turned into this resort as usual undeterred.

Remanded after robbing Swedish couple

Six young men from Mawanella area, whilst in this holiday resort had robbed a young Swedish couple and relieved them of their belongings from their parked vehicle near the Victoria Park, including a valuable digital camera, a mobile phone, and their credit card, and within minutes using the credit card, purchased goods including foreign liquor from a leading establishment to the value of Rs 30,000.

However, the young Muslim youth, were arrested while they were enjoying foreign whisky, with the breeze of the Lake Gregory in its vicinity by a team of policemen led by Chief Inspector Neville de Silva, and all the suspects were produced before the District Judge Miss Amali Ranaweera, remanded one of the suspects on his pleading guilty to the charge, and put off this case for identification and sentence.

According to the police the value of the stolen property had been Rs. 160,000. The victims were a young swedish couple Mr. and Mrs. Haywala, and they had been robbed while they were enjoying their stroll inside the Victoria Park, having parked their vehicle outside.

Man of action who lived life to the full

Sir Samuel W. Baker oration delivered :

from P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

The British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Mr. Dominic Chillcot, who was the chief guest at the John Knox International School at Nuwara Eliya at the opening of the Sir Samuel W. Bakers Exhibition, and a new liberary for the school, and who delivered the Sir Samuel W. Baker Memorial Oration amidst a large and distinguished gathering, said that leadership is important in all walks of life.

No more so than in schools where the character of a school is often set by its Principal someone with the intellectual strength and liberal values of Mr. Prabath de Silva. The Principal is not just a man of brains, moderation and integrity.

He said someone else with bags of character was of course, Sir Samuel Baker, the explorer whose deeds were commemorated at the opening of the wonderful library.

The British envoy said that Samuel Baker was quintessentially a man of action. He lived life to the full. He came to Ceylon in 1845, because he had heard that it was a paradise for sport. He wasn't referring to cricket or rugby, of course, but to shooting wild animals. This passion for killing living creatures in the wild is not something the 21st centuary immagination would regard as sport.

He went on to say that after much ordeals, Baker went back to Britain, and was convinced that Nuwara Eliya was ripe for cultivation. He and his brother put together an expedition and came back within a year, after a difficult start he saw his plans to make these hillsides bloom had come true. All in all he spent eight years in Ceylon.

Mr. Chilcott, was asked as to what his view of Sir Samuel Bakaer about the colonial government here, and in particular, the role of the Governor.

He said that for a man in action, who loved the outdoors and in particular the rugged landscapes of the hillcountry, Samuel Baker was appalled by the way the government in Colombo had exerted so little energy and neglected Nuwara Eliya.

The British Ambassador tracing the history of Sir Samuel's Role in Ceylon and particularly of Nuwara Eliya said that one of the first things a governor should do is to travel around the country and get to know its character and the ways of the people closely.

He should identify the ways of the people initially. Then having identified the areas with most potential, the governor should be prepared to invest accordingly and encourage developments. He said that on both these criteria, knowledge of Ceylon and readiness to invest in the country, the governor of the day comes out badly.

Mr. Chilcott said that a number of Baker's recommendations for governors or the governments. They should have boundless energy. They need to have a deep knowledge of the country ideally through having worked and junior level within the same administration which they subsequently head.

They must be willing to invest in the infrastructure to promote development. They have much to learn from private sector. He asked whether Samuel Baker's thoughts on colonial governors have any relevance today? He said it is possible to see Baker as a man ahead of his time in some respects.

He is almost advocating public-private partnerships, a very modern concept, in public administration. He certainly argues or greater expertise and professionalism in governors.

And he sees infrastructure improvements, where the responsibility for action lies with government, as key component of development.

He said affording high quality English language medium education for the children of Nuwara Eliya, regardless of their background, is a very worthy vision for today's circumstances.

Mr. Dominic Chilcott was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Jane Chilcott and their young son Arthur. Later then visited the Mancaff, an institution for handicapped children in Nuwara Eliya and met its project Director Stubbs and his charming wife Rangie, and exchanged their views and also met the large number of inmate children in the institution.