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| Sunday, 1 December 2002 |
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Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Violence in Universities : No ragging here I was shocked to read that ragging has erupted again, and another life is lost to this senseless act. Toronto where I live, is home to three large universities attended by more than 100,000 students. Half of them are children of immigrants from about 100 different countries. Yet I haven't heard of any ragging that impinged on the rights of students. Two of my children entered two of the universities recently, and they haven't come across any kind of ragging. Taunting, bullying and racism are illegal in schools and universities. There is zero tolerance for these activities and students could be expelled from schools and universities. Students in middle and highschools are taught racial and human relationships that are key to mutual respect and love. It's time (in fact gone by) that Sri Lanka introduces subjects on these human values in schools as pre-requisites for university admission. A degree without these values is of no value at all. Naga Ramalingam - Canada
University administration and indiscipline Regarding university violence at present the University administration and the Vice-Chancellors are turning a blind eye to these problems. I read an article in the Readers' Digest regarding University disorder and lawlessness during the trouble days of unrest in the American Universities in the late 1960s. A College President who took effective action to curb violence and bring order in the university says this problem existed in all universities in the world at that time. Youth has much to offer, idealism, generosity, dedication and service. But the last thing a society needs is indiscipline. Society recognises the validity of protest regarding current burning issues. If the protests are of such a nature that the normal operations of the university were in any way impeded or if the rights of the community or any member of its community were abrogated peacefully or violently, such actions are deplored as a violation of everything that the university community stands for. A university he says, should keep all lines of communication open, even, dissent but not at the expense of the institution's general functions. There must be no violation of others' rights on obstructing of the life of the University. Such actions must be OUTLAWED as illegitimate means of dissent. There seems to be a current myth that University students are not answerable to the law of the land. But it is not so, for, all members are subject to the duly constituted laws of the university community and all the laws of the land. Without law and order the university is a sitting duck for any small group from outside or inside that wishes to destroy it or to terrorise it at whim. If you invoke the law you will lose the university itself and the larger society that supports it. When the law is enforced they will speak of police brutality, foul language and physical abuse. They call for amnesty, the head of the institution on a platter and complete submission to all demands, is what is sought. Must it be so? Must universities be subjected to such intimidation? It is high time that a stand is taken. When the stand is made necessary by those who would destroy the community, let them take the blame and the penalty. No one wants the enforcement of the law on any campus, but if some necessitate it, as a last resort and responsive to mob tyranny, let them shoulder the blame instead of the sympathy of the community that they would hold at bay. When lawlessness is afoot, all authority flouted, then we either invoke the normal forces of law or we allow the university to die beneath our helpless and hopeless gaze. Action cannot be just piecemeal but should be concrete and lasting for the interest of the future generations of our children, society and university community itself. V.K.B. Ramanayake.
The responsibility for the brutal slaying of university student who was against ragging should lie with the Jayewardenepura University academics and the administration, because there were similar serious incidents of ragging and clashes between the raggers and anti-raggers for the past several years without any intervention from the authorities despite the students reporting these problems. This type of sadistic behaviour was completely eradicated in Colombo and Kelaniya medical faculties by direct intervention of the academics like Professors Lalitha Mendis, Carlo Fonseka and Colvin Goonaratna to name a few. Academics and the administration in these institutes were proactive and prevented even the so-called 'mild' ragging by being strict and punishing the raggers or their sympathisers without being cowed down by wrongdoers affiliations. The entire batch was suspended for weeks in Colombo medical faculty in the early 90's when two students were caught ragging a female student. Professor Fonseka resigned from his post until the senior students gave him a written guarantee that they will not rag the new students. Furthermore, it is a known secret that in these places if caught ragging there will be dire consequences at exams and this threat alone is enough to put fear into the sadists and their henchmen not to engage in this primitive practice. Therefore, these places are now free of any ragging incidents and the new students are welcomed in a very civilised manner. Unfortunately, we know that this is not the case at Jayewardenepura University. Even some academics support ragging and protect the sadists. This minority also ridicule and prevent the few who try their best to prevent ragging. Most of the academics look the other way during the rag season. Therefore, from Vice Chancellor down to the office peon should be educated about this inhuman practice and made responsible for the new entrants welfare. Also, they should be held responsible for any inaction. Then only the ragging will stop and the universities will be a safe place for our children. P. Jayasinghe- Colombo.
Very sorry poor lady - a response A few months ago, a female spoke on Rupavahini on the constitution of blood. Months later on a letter dated October20 on "spelling mistakes" Mr.Asoka Munaweera of Panadura felt very sorry for that official for her single spelling mistake of which he imagines the said female was totally unaware. I am that official he spoke of with 35 years experience in the field of human blood analysis. The spelling "waist" for "waste" was a printing error on the part of my student which I pointed out to her. I did not want to justify myself as I know my competence and did not wish to make a fuss over something trivial. Yet on November 17 there appeared the letter again with an addition of "I felt very sorry for the poor lady" Whatever I may be lacking in I don't need that gentlemen's pity. If I have any shortcoming in spelling or otherwise I am not ashamed to admit it and learn from it. While commending the gentlemen on his keen and sharp observation I wish to state that the persistent reference to it on two occasions is rather irksome. With his persistent nature and ability in letter writing and assuming he has time to spare I would kindly request him to use his talents for a better purpose than ridiculing an oversight. There are injustices rampant in our society which need highlighting than petty issues such as this. Corruption, cheating, lying, stealing, abuse, murder, suicide are issues crying out for attention and solution. Monica Perera- Kelaniya
Consultants referring patients to hospitals were not given any commission or 'cut' by the hospital. They were not influenced and were able to maintain high professional stands till recently. However a certain hospital has commenced a new culture by offering the 10th C.T. Scan free for the consultant referring the patient. This attempt to bribe doctors in Sri Lanka is unsavoury and contemptible. In order to grab money patients are subjected to unnecessary investigations. A patient sent for CT examination has to undergo other unnecessary tests called Health Checks so that the hospital could make money. I hope that the worst medical practices will not be introduced to Sri Lanka in the name of modern technology. Dr. Neville Fernando- Nawala.
I am a depositor of Pramuka Bank. The sudden suspension of its operations by the Central Bank (CB) has left me shocked. I believe all the other depositors as well as the general public at large must be feeling the same. A question has arisen as to whether we should be dealing with banks in this country? Mind you all are approved and are under the supervision of the Central Bank. But sudden moves of this nature by the CB makes one feel that one's hard earned money is much safer under one's pillow. Not that I don't blame the management of Pramuka Bank also for this debacle. But what was the CB doing all this time? Insolvency cannot have arisen overnight. The statement given by the CB officials just highlights their bureaucratic arrogance as not a single word of assurance is given to the helpless depositors. Who is the CB trying to safeguard? Certainly not the present depositors. Whatever decision the CB takes over this debacle, they have to take full responsibility for their action which has jeopardised the interest of Pramuka's depositors. If Pramuka Bank opens, there will certainly be a run on the bank and if it is to be liquidated either way CB has a duty to give a firm assurance to each and every depositor that their monies will be refunded. I hope for the sake of this country that the CB would not put Banks into a similar category as Finance Companies or just another company. The call of the day by this bank is to allow them to use Parate executions to recover their loans overdue. So CB please give due consideration, as no one will grumble other than the defaulters. I hope CB will live upto what it stands for. Indrani Gunasekera- Dehiwala
University students who serve as office bearers in various student bodies gain valuable leadership qualities. Such qualities help them in their careers later. Most employers prefer to select candidates with leadership qualities as management trainees. Therefore the university authorities should compile a directory of office bearers of association in all universities. This directory which should be published annually should carry the names of officials for at least five years. It is suggested that the trade chambers should take up this matter with the relevant officials of the university system. The information contained in such a directory would be valuable to the members of trade chambers when selecting personnel for their companies. This could also lead to these office bearers acting in a responsible manner as they are aware of the resultant benefits to them, as their names would be made available to potential employers. C. B. Jayaweera.
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