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| Sunday, 20 June 2004 |
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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. Journalism and press freedom It was with keen interest I read on an article by that renowned Nobel Prize laureate, Amartya Sen which appeared in page 32 of Sunday Observer of May 2. He talks of great values of press freedom, besides keeping the public informed of current affairs. He refers how the courageous editor of The Statesman of Calcutta, Ian Stephens averted the Bengal famine in 1943, by exposing the miseries the poor had to undergo, even risking government reprisals in doing so. In this regard, some of our Sri Lankan journalists have much to learn about press freedom. That does not mean there are no well respected and dedicated journalists in our society; but they are a very few. It is said that press freedom is like a double-edged razor blade which has to be handled with great care. It is true one cannot place everybody, but you should be bold enough to stand for the right forgetting personal differences, prejudices or even petty gains. Journalism is a well respected profession. Bad journalism tends not only to mislead the public, but also promote enmity and hatred among people. I can quote many such examples, if necessary. Although the present govt. promised to bring about a new trend in the press freedom, there don't seems to be any noticeable changes happening yet. Apparently the govt. and its portfolios are not yet well established and therefore the bureaucratic devil is still having the upper hand and the new management still seems to be fighting shy to take up the challenge in order to eradicate this menace. Just changing the editors is not enough. Weeding out should be done at the grass-roots level. It is very obvious, there are some officers who lay obstacles to newcomers. The media mafia of the last regime is still active unopposed right under the nose of the new management after getting into their good books. Even in the govt. controlled media, there are still a few individuals who act in contrary to the basic rules of journalism. Sooner the authorities identify such elements and weed them out, better it is for the preservation of the true press free freedom and the functioning of a healthy government. A. W. J. Perera, Mt. Lavinia External and private students' exams It would be great service if you would turn your media attention to the plight of so many students who are being made to dance to all sort of tunes the university or higher education authorities play. Example one is, how long do they take to publish the results of the external degree examinations held every year? Or for that matter do they have the examinations every year consecutively and so on? The Peradeniya G.A.Q. examinations for the English degree for the external students, was held last December. When are they going to put out the results? In the past how long they took to issue the results? Have they given the relevant certificates to the respective candidates who have qualified? Do they have any convocations for external students? If so, how long a student has to wait? Do they send the relevant certificates for those who sit privately for various examinations and pass. For examples A/L examinations, leave alone the O/Ls if not why? Why they can't hold, other exams like G.C.E. O/L and A/L twice a year? If they hold like in the British period, twice a year, millions of students can save a year of further waiting to repeat the exams. You would have come across the few court cases where it was proved, that the entry to the universities for medicine have been messed about or rigged, thereby the real ones who should have entered, the universities have been dropped and the one who should have not entered have been selected by some foxy method of selections. There are many poor students who have to facilities to go to courts like the few rich ones, to contest their being not selected. They just suffer in silence after almost spending one third of their life time in the school to get this "shut out". Will God forgive? May be, a relation of yours, who knows sometimes, one of your staff's sons or daughters could be a victim in this foxy business. Mind you, if the students are subjected to injustices before they begin life, that too, by the nation's highest academics and at the summit or the pinnacle of finishing education in one's life, then I don't know where our future generation could seek justice and fair play. Private tutor, Colombo 9. Plight of insurance agents The insurance industry is fast developing with a number of new companies being established and new competitive products being introduced by most companies who are in business. The agents, who are labelled and called as associates, advisers, consultants etc., bring over 85% of the business for the insurance companies. Without this field force business cannot be achieved and insurance companies cannot exist competitive nor be in business. Has the Insurance Board of Sri Lanka or the Ministry of Finance or any responsible Government organisation looked into a proper retirement scheme for these workers who do not contribute to the EPF or ETF. These agents roam all over the country looking for prospects and explain the benefits that their companies offer in return for the premium that they pay towards the promised benefits of a suggested policy. On the performance of these workers, their supervisors or managers-in short who ever is in charge of them-get elevated, paid, sent on trips abroad, or properly compensated-in other words properly looked after for the performance of the agent who toils in the field. Why don't the relevant authorities formulate a proper working condition for these ignored workers and draw up some sort of duties and benefits which will take them to a respectable, acceptable and recognizable positions. After all, we must not forget that the insurance sector is very important, as good as the banking and Financial Services sector. If these insurance companies are honest and sincere with their field force, I suggest that they enlighten the public about the facilities and other benefits that they offer their agents. The writer of this letter is also an insurance agent who is labelled in a most accepted and respectable title. Even after fifteen years of continuous service with an international insurance company there is no sight of a proper and acceptable provident fund or pension scheme formulated. But, promises and assurances are unlimited in this company. I hope this letter will catch the eyes of those who dominate the market and give them the heart to implement a Pension scheme without strings tied, or make these neglected workers contribute to the EPF and ETF. Unhappy consultant, Matale. Appreciation : M.D. Gunewardene On June 14th, 2004 was the 25th death anniversary of M.D. Gunewardene. Born in 1907 in the village of Telikada, Baddegama in the Galle district, he joined Mahinda College, Galle, for his primary and secondary education. After a distinguished school career under the tutelage of F.G. Pearce, Principal of Mahinda College at that time, he entered the University College in the year 1925 at the young age of 18 and passed out in 1928, obtaining the B.A. (London) with English, Latin and Sinhala as subjects. In 1928 he joined the tutorial staff of Nalanda Vidyalaya, Colombo at the time under the management of the Buddhist Theosophical Society (B.T.S.) and served Nalanda for a period of 17 years. Amongst the contemporaries who tought with him at Nalanda were the teacher stalwarts of the calibre of the late Ven. Heenetiyana Dhammaloka Thera and The Ven. Ananda Sagara Thera (later Sagara Palansuriya) and the late Messrs J.N. Jinendradasa, D.C> Lawris, S.A. Wijetilake, D.T. Devendra, N. Wimalasena, W.E. Fernando, C.E. Strange , T. Cadaswamy, M. de.S. Jayaratne and D.L. Dissanayaka to name a few. In 1945 he trained himself at the Maharagama Training College and thereafter in 1946 he was appointed Principle of Poramadulla Central College (Kandy district). He held this position till 1949, when he assumed duties as Principal, Piliyandala Central College. In 1956 he assumed duties as Principal, Thurstan College Colombo, succeeding S. Schockman. The best years in his life as a Principal were at Thurstan, where he served with the usual dedication and enthusiasm to bring the college up to a very high standard. It was during Gunewardene's tenure as the principal that the Thurstan students under the direction of the late Dayananda Gunerwardene, that great dramatist, (who was a teacher at Thurstan) produced the well=known Sinhala drama `Nari Bena'. Such was his intrest in Sinhala drama, and hge gave the best moral encouragement to the late Dayananda Gunewardene in the production of that ever-popular drama, `Nari Bena'. Gunewardene was a genial gentleman, but he was a stern disciplinarian. A Buddhist shrine room, a two storied science block, a new hall and an office complex were added to Thurstan during his tenure as the Principal. A keen tennis player himself, he got two tennis courts built and the staff and the students alike appreciated this and he even joined them at tennis. Mr Gunewardene retired from Thurstan College in January 1967 and was succeeded by late Mr P.M. Jayetillake as the Principal. M.D. Gunewardene passed away on July 14th 1979, followed by his wife in May 1998. He is survived by his two sons Indralal and Buddhi and the daugther Lakshmi. Even though 25 years have passed since his demise the services rendered by this educationist will be cherished forever. In the present times we need men of his calibre to achieve the highest standards and a high degree of discipline in the field of education in this country. Dr. J.G. Jayatilaka, Rajagiriya. Communal violence : Alarming signals The recent violence in Bulathsinghala and the earlier one in Kandapola are alarming signals Government as well as the Opposition should be alerted to take all possible steps to arrest and avert a possible dangerous trend. In this context, it is necessary to take note of what is stated in (Chapter VI of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry 1977 (Sessional Paper No. VII - 1980) under the heading "Measures necessary to ensure the safety of the public and to prevent the recurrence of such incidents". Relevant portions are reproduced. Page 270 - "The lessons to be learnt from the facts I have mentioned are that (1) if lawlessness is not immediately ripped in the bud, it can grow fast and spread over a large area; (2) if the law is not enforced both by the Police and the Courts with deliberate speed, it will cease to exercise that essential discipline over the lives of lawbreakers, which is the guarantee of peace and order in the country. I would attribute the callous and criminal behaviour of villages and colonists in August 1977 to the success which attended their incursions in March and May 1977. The tragedy was heightened by the failure of the Police, who had been warned, to take preventive action at once". S. Thambyrajah, Colombo 3. Unlike the previous decades, the past two decades have produced so much of garbage which I feel is the root cause for the epidemic of dengue. This is only due to foreign employment with which we earn heavy foreign exchange and a heavy load of garbage as well. Daily collection of garbage ends up in several localities in the country with mountains of garbage. Are these mountains properly inspected by the authorities concerned, for the breeding of mosquitoes? If it's properly carried out, it is extremely good as they consist of millions of plastic and tin cans, polythene and other forms that can collect rain water. As a routine exercise setting fire daily to these mountains of garbage, should be carried out as well in order to put an end to this menace. The writer wishes to know from the health circles as to why the spray of DDT which had a tremendous effect on mosquitoes, not carried out and whether it is completely banned. H. N. Wimeleratne, Wattala. The vanishing elephant It must surely be only in Sri Lanka that the authorities remain mute and unmoved, while 14 elephants get knocked down by trains! This was recently reported on the TV, as happening in the Minneriya area. In other countries a train going through wildlife habitation is driven so slowly, that it can immediately be stopped. Also, barricades are erected at dangerous spots. Most of all, a plentiful supply of water is made available on both sides of the rail track, as animals beset by thirst, throw caution to the winds in their search for water. Is it not astonishing that no action appears to have been taken, while 14 elephants are mown down by trains, like so many ants getting crushed on the rail track? In fact, the TV report did not mention any action even being contemplated. Apart from animal lovers, should not those who overwork elephants, like log merchants and monks, who now lament the dearth of elephants to march in peraheras, take an occasional stand against their abuse? We have yet to see a Mahanayake come forward in their defence, as indeed, in spite of appeals, in the defence of any animal in this land of animal cruelty. Compassion towards all beings taught by the Buddha, seems to have become a non-starter with most of the Sri Lankans. In the present case, how can we be sure that the elephant tusk hunters, clutching their gunny bags, weapons, saws and a firecracker or two, do not take up their positions behind the bushes on either side of the rail track, when the 5.30 leaves the Minneriya sub-station? Prema Ranawaka-Das, Moratuwa. The latest land grab The heading on the front page of an English daily recently referred to the foreigners buying up land in the south of Sri Lanka. A large extent of coastal areas of Hambantota, Matara, Galle, Kudawella, Hummanaya, Mawella, Thunduwa, Seenimodara, Unakurwa, Goyambokka, Palli Kudawa and Godellawella have already been purchased by a European woman agent. It was also reported earlier that 30% of the houses in the ancient Fort of Galle have been grabbed by foreigners over the counter. This process is continuing at Hambantota and the surrounding coastal areas. In all these sales of lands and houses there had been "Middlemen", who, to use a suitable term making "Filthylucre" and obtain a fair slice of free money in the shady transactions. These "Middlemen" buy the land from the owners for a song and sell those to the foreign entrepreneurs. One such person is said to have bought the land at Rs. 600 per perch and sold it to a European woman at the rate of Rs. 28,000. This middleman is said to be the proud owner of 2 fishing boats and a latest Prado. There are five such persons in Tangalle who frequent office of lawyers to put through these transactions, according to the news item. Incidentally, the European woman has claimed citizenship in Sri Lanka having registered her marriage in a local church. The advertisements of land sales have been done through the Internet and reservations have been done in the same manner. In various parts of Sri Lanka elderly foreigners married young Sri Lankan women, built mansions, bought Real Estate for them and thereafter, crossed the Rubicon. This is justifiable as the properties remained in Sri Lankan hands. In my opinion this must be encouraged. Bandula Seneviratne, Colombo 8. |
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