|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 7 November 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
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.
Dayan Jayatilleke's view, at least, his comments on the film, are debatable. Down the ages, one has to concede that no other religion, other than Christianity faced a barrage of criticism against free thought. One such work is Bertrand Russel's "Under the twilight of the Christian Church." There were many film directors like Federico Fellini "Sweet Life" and Pier Pasolini's remarkable film "The Gospel according to St. Mathew" though controversial (banned in Italy) tells the intelligent film goer. I think a more revealing work than the "Passion of Christ is Pasolini's film "The Gospel according to St. Mathew". If one reads Paul Davies' "The Mind of God" he would realize Jayatilleke and Wendall Solomons are groping in the dark. Elmo Fernando, It is now become a practice for the Philatelic Bureau personnel to go on a safari (Pinnawala, waterfalls, Yala and what next, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Wanni etc). After the Safari the photographs are given to one of the Bureau artists to look for places of interest to issue stamps for the already over crowded stamp issues for the year, to satisfy some dealers who are given a commission to sell our stamps abroad (and the Bureau staff to be gifted with presents) while the Sri Lankan collectors are being frustrated in collecting our own stamps (you go to any 'A' grade post office/Bureau) on the day of issue to be told the two or four sheets we got are sold out). Can an official give an answer to this pathetic state of affairs in the Bureau and who authorise the uncalled for Safaris? There are many reputed photographers and artists who will be too pleased to produce pictures and paintings to suit any occasion at no cost. (What is wrong in paying 001% of the Safari Cost?) N.V.H., On the Poya Day we were treated to a wonderful program on meditation for children on I.T.N. Even though it was not announced earlier I was one of the lucky mothers to have switched on to the I.T.N. channel in the evening. It was really a welcome program especially for my two children who are studying at an international school in the English medium, and Dhamma education for children in English language on T.V. is a welcome change for children who are studying in English. I was very glad my two children watched the program with great interest, this program was really effective, because it showed other than T.V. games, night clubs, and disco dancing young children have a better way of relaxing their minds. It was wonderful to see how the young children spoke of their experience and how encouraging they were, Hope I.T.N. will continue with wonderful programs like this in the future, especially for our younger generation. Programs like these are truly a blessing in disguise, thank you very much I.T.N. Hope other T.V. channels too will follow I.T.N. when catering programs especially for children. Mrs. Menaka Mihiripanna, Importance of English in Sri Lanka is gradually increasing. As a result of this some three or four subjects in schools are being taught in the English medium. This action was started with the help of two or three qualified English teachers in one particular school. But the number of English teachers was never increased proportionately. As a result children reading in the English medium classes may face a serious problem in the future. Pupils in the English medium classes may have to face another problem in the near future. That is the medium they apply for the O/L examination. In the current system a candidate do not have the ability to apply for the examination in two media. If he/she applies for the Sinhala medium, all the question papers for him/her would be given in Sinhala medium and so on. According to this situation shouldn't the "medium applied" on the application form (entry list) be filled with Singlish? H. D. , Bandula Gunaratne, Health Ministry, the sick giant It is widely publicised that the public service is deteriorated and as per Transparency International, Sri Lanka is ranked ninth in corruption of public sector among 102 countries of Asia-Pacific Region. Health Ministry is a sick giant with full of misfits and some of the high ranking officers have absolutely no administrative experience, which is a comment of an outstation consultant of the six giant appeared in the Lake House papers under the same Option, hence I have to give the number III. My serving the same Ministry for over 29 1/2 years, I too endorse it fully. These have been substantiated in the recent past that a veterinary surgeon was appointed to act for a Medical Officer of Health as per cartoon of a paper. I am having a problem of infringement of my fundamental rights and the violation of the declaration of human rights by the Director General of Health Services for over ten years in spite of my having sending innumerable letters since 1994. Being demoralised over this inhuman attitude, I appealed to the President, and every successive government's Prime Ministers, Ministers of Health and Public Administration who have instructed the bureaucrats of the Health Ministry to take immediate action and to mete out justice which too had been blatantly ignored. With the hope of getting justice through the Ombudsman, I appealed to him who held three inquiries with the Director, Establishment, Ministry of Public Administration and recommended my request which was agreed by the Director General of Health Services. The Hon. Ombudsman further confirmed to that effect by letter of 20.8.2002 and directed to grant redress & relief that too had been breached by the Director General of Health Services. Grieved over this, once again reminded the Director, Establishment, Ministry of Public Administration who had reminded the Secretary, Health by letter dated 22.12.2003 that the agreement reached between the Hon Ombudsman & Director General of Health Services is being dis-honoured & to adhere to the agreement and grant redress & relief early but that too had been ignored. Hope that this open letter would effect prompt action by the "Sick giant" which is at snail's pace. M. Chandran, Statistics are of utmost importance to the State, to formulate policies for future development strategies. The Finance Ministry should issue a questionnaire to the 40,000 graduates recruited recently to evaluate their preference of the sector of employment. Don't be surprised to find that amongst these graduates, Inland Revenue has overtaken the Sri Lanka Customs as number one spot for employment. I leave it to the readers to comment whether this is due to the high productivity at these departments or due to any other reasons. My conclusion is based on the dowry offered to my nephew working for Inland Revenue in comparison to what was offered to my son who works for Sri Lanka customs. No private sector establishment can match the fringe benefits attributable to employees in these two sectors. Buddhika Weerawardane, Recently 'Children's Day' was held with much fan fare. They also have Mothers's day, Fathers' day and for that matter 'Grandmothers' day'. Why do we have to remember mothers, fathers and grandmothers once year? Isn't it a fact that they should be remembered every day of the year, as long as they live? Is this not mere eyewash? Aren't Mothers' Day remembrance etc, the innovations of present day thinking and values. In the past there was no such thing and parents were well looked after as it was within their rights to be looked after and cared for as such. It was natural for parents to be looked after and cared for as they should be and not for any other reason. Human relationships and ties were well established and maintained as they ought to. This also created the extended family, which was in existence in some families, and was now life existed among people in the good old times. How is all this as it appears to be? Where does all this lead to, when family life itself is in disarray? Can we expect a better way of life for both parents and children? Ayesha Yusuf, Ampara Base Hospital - an oasis During a short stay in distant Ampara last week I visited a patient warded at the Ampara government base hospital. I was very much impressed by the specklessly clean government hospital, with courteous and duty-conscious employees. As far as I know of State hospitals Ampara Hospital could be an exception. As I was writing my impressions of the excellent maintenance of the hospital and its environs on 7.9.2004, by coincidence I was fortunate to see a documentary on Ampara Base Hospital on Rupavahini on the same day which highlighted the excellence of its upkeep and innovations carried out to add beauty. I was made to understand that Dr. Lanka Jayasinghe, DMO and his devoted staff have earned the praise ofthe people in the area and the political leaders of all hues by their devotion to duty and creativity. As was comprehensive shown on Rupavahini on 7.9.2004, the hospital buildings and surroundings are kept specklessly clean with well-kept lawns planted with indigenous and exotic flowering plants and landscaping done to enhance the attractiveness. S. Weerakoon, |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
