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Letters to the Editor:
This is the Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) pilgrim season which usually
starts in December and ends in May.
With a view to prevent medical problems of the Sri Pada pilgrims,
following precautions are recommended.
(a)As hypothermia (excessive cooling of the body) is a common problem
faced by the pilgrims.
Sri Pada pilgrims should carry adequate clothing especially
waterproof overgarments and reserve garments which should be carried in
a plastic bag.
(b) Pilgrims should carry sufficient refreshments such as biscuits,
sugar, candy, "aggala", toffees, "aluwa", sesame balls and glucose
packets. It is very useful for the pilgrims to carry one or two bottles
of drinking water in their hand luggage ("Sahalluwa").
(c) Pilgrims should have adequate rest and refrain from climbing to
the point of exhaustion. Climbing Sri Pada in the evening and night is
less tiresome than climbing during the morning and afternoon.
(d)It is advisable for the pilgrims especially for the first time
climbers ("kodukarayas") of Adams Peak to travel in groups ("Nades") and
take advice and instructions from their group leader ("Nadegura") who is
usually a senior person who has climbed the mountain a number of times.
Pilgrims especially the first time climbers should never leave the group
without informing the "Nadegura" because it is very difficult to trace
the pilgrims if they lose their way.
(e) If there are any medical or surgical problems, the pilgrims
should get in touch with the medical officer of the nearest first aid
camp.
During the pilgrim season there are a number of voluntary Medical aid
camps organized by Sri Lanka Saukyadana movement.
There are 5 such camps each one manned by experienced staff
consisting of a doctor, medical students, nurses, first-aid workers and
other volunteers who are trained to manage the medical and surgical
problems of the pilgrims.
Dr. D. P. Atukorale
A crisis resulting in injustice has emerged over the Mathematics
Paper of GCE (O/L) 2008. Mathematics is a compulsory subject and the
candidates who sat the examination under the New Syllabus were the
unfortunate victims.
The Department of Education introduced the New Syllabus in
Mathematics from the year 2008 to encourage the students so that they
may develop a liking to mathematics and thus bring down the percentage
of students who fail in this subject. In the year 2007 GCE O/L
Examination 59% of the candidates failed in Mathematics.In this year's
GCE O/L Examination two similar questions have been included in the
papers both under the new and old syllabuses with different time
allocations to answer them. Candidates who sat the examination under the
new syllabus were thus immensely inconvenienced.
Students who sat for the paper according to the new syllabus were
given lesser time with fewer marks being allocated for the questions.
In case of students following the old syllabus 14 marks were awarded
for the questions with 18 minutes given to answer them. However the
candidates who sat under the new syllabus have been given only 10 marks
with only 12 minutes to answer them. Therefore they have been subjected
to a grave injustice. Even the brightest students had found it difficult
to answer the question paper.
Mathematics is one of the core subjects of the whole examination.
Thus the Ministry of Education should have acted more responsibly in
formulating this paper. The paper was complex and confusing. Most
candidates found it difficult to understand the questions.
This year, most candidates who answered the mathematics paper under
the new syllabus came from the examination hall with tears in their
eyes. Some students fainted during the examination.
It is unfair to blame the teachers for this situation. The teachers
are confronted with a difficult task in teaching mathematics. Further
the Education authorities should know that according to the present
educational system promotions are automatic.
Most students of the Grade 9, 10 and 11 know little mathematics.
There are some students who do not know even the multiplication tables
and basic addition and subtractions. Thus the teacher within 40 to 45
minutes has a very difficult task as to teach mathematics. This is the
reality.
The 2008 Mathematics paper the students had to answer 10 questions, 5
from each part. Even the teachers would have found difficult to answer
10 questions in 2 hours. Some questions were complex and it takes 10 to
15 minutes to understand such a question. Some questions had 5 to 6
parts and it takes much time to answer such questions.This type of
question paper not only discourages students but also the teachers and
the parents. According to the old syllabus 8 questions had to be
answered in 3 hours whereas in the new syllabus 10 questions had to be
answered within a limited time of 2 hours.
We hope that the Educational authorities would take due cognizance of
these factors in formulating the Mathematics paper in the future.
I do hope that the plight of the students who sat under the new
syllabus this year would be justly considered in marking the answer
scripts.
Edward Peiris, Moratuwa.
What peace of mind, satisfaction and assurance have we got that the
danger and horrendous threat of the non-biodegradable polythene's
ruinous influence is now non-existent and is under check and control.
There was a big lull in the issue and usage a year or so back,
possibly on the supreme court order then - now, ironically polythene
bags are in free circulation again.
Are the manufacturers spewing out the correct article under
authorized supervision, one wonders?
The public is not aware of any official strictures either!
The handing over to the next generation, interminably and harmfully
blocked obnoxious drains and drainage systems and infertile useless non
porous impermeable, dioxin and toxic emanating lands, even prime, should
be most conscionable and beyond just rationale indeed! Just imagine Sri
Lanka with such constricted and limited land space, unlike many other
countries who benefit sideways, have to unnecessarily forego even the
little expanses available on account of inconsiderate and non-practical
and bad planning of the various local government authorities and
agencies.
Simple solutions like resorting to recycling these bags for
conversion to software items like buckets, basins, soap dishes etc. and
also soluble macadam surfacing and recycling too of papers keeping in
mind that otherwise at least 30 odd valuable forests will have to be
"cropped" for Sri Lanka's general paper requirements purposelessly and
detrimentally.
The progressive Municipal Council of Weligama had given a wonderful
start three years back with planned collection of garbage leading to
recycling processes on paper and polythene and also turning all the
other heavy garbage into compost as fertilizer thereby even as a master
move have converted worthless/harmful rubbish into good cash!
Where or what are all the local government councils doing thus far?
Here's for a healthier and more beautiful Sri Lanka.
W. Meadows Dehiwala
The United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada have
their official embassies or High Commission offices in Colombo and cater
to visa needs for Sri Lankans who wish to travel to their countries.
What puzzles me is the fact that when one applies through the
official channels and submits one's application, it is very difficult to
obtain a visa even for a short trip to these countries. The rules are
very rigid and the fees are also very high.
One has to prepare a lot of documents, such as a sponsor letter from
the country of visit, bank statements, property proof etc., and face
interviews. In most cases the applications are turned down after a short
interview of about ten minutes or so and the applicant loses the visa
fee money which is very high.
Supposing that these visa applications are refused on reasonable
grounds, how that is the same applicants are successful when they apply
through numerous agents or intermediaries! If the rule is the same how
can some agents procure a visa for their clients after charging very big
amounts of money.
I appeal through this column to the respective Ambassadors and High
Commissioners to conduct a thorough study of the system of issuing visa
and make it simple for any genuine applicant to obtain these visas
without much hassle. Or are they also on the know and turn a blind eye
to corrupt practices within their offices?
I know a family who after failing to get a visiting visa to go to the
USA on legitimate grounds to see their ailing mother through the normal
process of applying through the embassy, paid a big amount of money to
the agent and got the visa through the agent for multiple visits.
It is time all those who have undergone similar experience also
reveal to the newspapers their ordeal and at least in the future put
things right.
Ceylon Khan Colombo 10
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