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Stopped smoking at last!

I had been in the habit of continuing to take the drugs prescribed for diabetes and hypertension only after checking my FBS and blood pressure. However, when I visited the Divulapitiya government hospital, during the latter part of last year and consulted Dr. Aruni at the OPD, she was surprised that I did not attend a Medical Clinic. On her insistence I was registered to attend the Family Medical Clinic in the hospital.

The V.P. at that hospital was Dr.(Mrs.) de Saram, who changed some of my drugs and advised me to have greengram for breakfast instead of the food made with wheat flour or white rice.

On securing employment elsewhere, I now changed to the government hospital, Chilaw. Here again I had the good fortune of meeting the V.P. Dr. (Mrs.) Kadotgajen, who also like in Divulapitiya took much interest and I learnt from her to have red raw rice for my two main meals.

This V.P. has two assistants and I have always had the opportunity to contact the young male doctor seated opposite the V.P. He was instrumental in getting me to kick the smoking habit, which practice I had adopted as a teenager. At that time the price of a ‘4-aces’ cigarette was only eight cents.

He wanted me to reduce the number of cigarettes to at least two a day, because I told him that this was my only enjoyment as I was alone. Then he asked me whether I did not mind getting a stroke. He explained the dire consequences of a stoke.

Nevertheless, I didn’t think of giving up smoking, which had been continuing for 53 years, as I’m now a sexagenarian. However, giving much thought to what the doctor told me, it was possible for me to stop smoking permanently. I am glad that it just pass a month since giving up completely. Now I realise that the cost of my cigarettes was more than what I spent for my three meals. ‘Hats off’ to the young ‘left-handed doctor, for helping me to kick the habit, which I thought I could never stop. May God Bless you.

G. Eric Muscreen
Kakkapalliya

‘The future of our younger generation’

In the early 1960s while being a student at Sivali MahaVidyalaya, Ratnapura, a particular issue arose regarding ‘The future of our younger generation in Sri Lanka.’ Being courageous, I asked my master, Mr. Edwin Fernando,” Sir, what will happen to the younger generation in the future?’’. Mr. Fernando who was our Sinhala teacher in the Advanced Level class, who had graduated from the Peradeniya University and a teacher of repute responded “I say, first of all you have to be a graduate from a recognised university.”

There the matter ended. At this moment, all the other students looked at me and laughed. This happened on a day in April 1966. Today, I am a retired teacher and lecturer at a recognised university. This story is a simple example of the plight of the younger generation. This also in a way addresses the mismatch between the job market and the education system of Sri Lanka. Education reforms must address these burning issues which have a bearing on the younger generation.

Gunadasa Gamage
Kaduwela.

Cracking coconuts

Coconut cracking, a Hindu ritual, is performed in the belief that it helps rid one’s egotism, jealousy and lust - a laudable exercise with good and pious intentions. Resorting to the ritual is breach of those intentions is an affront to the sanctity or holiness of the ritual, whilst being disrespectful towards the religious ritual.

On the other hand, coconut cracking is no Buddhist religious ritual. It is a ritual alien to Buddhist teachings. Nevertheless, business oriented Buddhist temples, as a means of income generation, have shrine rooms for Hindu Gods and a place for coconut dashing. The so-called Kapuwas who have lodged themselves take the misguided Buddhist devotees for a ride. Ignorant Buddhist devotees, unaware of the real purpose of the ritual, perform the ritual with intentions of taking revenge from those against them, gaining victory over enemies, overcome ‘bad’ periods in life, win court cases, pass examinations and obtain favours from Hindu Gods. The Kapuwas pray for them, on the payment of Panduru, to obtain favours. Hilarious, no doubt.

The Maha Nayakes and the Buddha Sasana Ministry should step in to correct the wrong performance of the Hindu ritual.

Is this not a case of ‘Nuts cracking Nuts’?

Upali S. Jayasekera
Via e-mail