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The premier cancer treatment hospital is situated at Maharagama. Many
cancer-striken patients from far flung places and most poignantly, from
tsunami ravaged areas go to Maharagama, many for only OPD treatment or
for investigations, for which they have to spend a day in the vicinity
of the Hospital.
Maharagama is situated in proximity to the capital city, Sri
Jayewardenepura and the commercial capital, Colombo and is thus very
congested. Consequently there is a great dearth of suitable residential
facilities for any migrant population, especially those who are
destitute and impoverished.
A very compassionate Bikkhu who had his temple in close proximity to
the hospital had graciously given his small temple hall to house poor
cancer patients and those who accompanied them. With the daily
increasing influx of patients the temple hall also was found to be
insufficient. But tragically this noble bikkhu also passed away
recently.
A group of very senior citizens in Maharagama banded themselves to
form the Maharagama Buddhist Society to resolve some of the emergent
cultural and social needs of the residents at Maharagama. Many of whom
had come from various parts of the country and now taken up residence in
Maharagama.
The main focus of the Buddhist Society was to address itself to the
problem of the transit cancer patients. Obtaining suitable premises
proved to be futile especially with the financial constraints besetting
the society membership.
The Government in recognition of the various social programmes
already completed by the Society, offered a small block of land adjacent
to the premises, where the Government was constructing a large
administrative block at Maharagama. The Society wishes to place on
record its sincere appreciation of the untiring effort made by the
Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to obtain this land to the society.
The plans for a two or three storeyed building with suitable
residential facilities for the cancer patients and those accompanying
them have been approved and the construction work on the foundation
already commenced.
The estimated cost is in the region of about 30 million. The Buddhist
Society has no assets. It depends solely on public support which
incidentally had so far, been generously extended to it but this has
been found to be inadequate.
The Association is striving to complete at least an essential part of
the building expeditiously in order to relieve the dire needs of the
desperate cancer patients. Hence it was decided to launch out on a World
Wide fund raising campaign.
The dreaded disease, cancer is rampant not only all over the Island
but even round the globe. Hence the Buddhist Society feels in fact that
every one would have the urge to help this worthy cause in order to
alleviate, at least some extent, the sufferings of the desperate humans.
The facilities that will be made available at the centre will be
extended to all irrespective of ethnicity, caste or creed. It is also
envisaged that if sufficient resources are made available, those who
reside at the centre will not only get free lodgings but board as well.
In order to facilitate all those wanting to contribute in some form
or other, some possible modes of contributions are suggested herewith.
1. A lump sum payment.
2. An instalment system spread over a period of time. These could be
(a) A monthly contribution (of whatever magnitude) directly to the
bank
(b) Issue of a series of monthly dated cheques sent to the Treasurer
to be deposited in the Bank each month.
3. Provision in the last will or otherwise to transfer some assets to
the society
4. Contributing a part of the massive collections made to stage
various ostentatious public functions, towards a charitable cause.
5. Offering material support such as cement sand, iron etc.
All monetary contribution could be made to the A/C No. 101360000436,
Sampath Bank, Maharagama. Please ensure to include the necessary
information to help the society to issue an acknowledgement. The cheques
to be drawn in favour of the "Maharagama Young Mens' Buddhist
Association."
The society has already been incorporated as a Charitable
Organisation by an Act of Parliament (No. 1299 in April 1993) and also
listed for tax concessions by the Ministry of Finance.
All further enquiries re financial matters could be directed to the
Treasurer Gunadasa Aluthge, 10/1, Vipassiyarama Road, Maharagama Tel:
2850773. Our e-mail contact is @mbamaharagama.org
The web site, www.ymbamaharagama.org We are making a special appeal
to all those round the globe to extend their generosity towards this
humanitarian endeavour to provide at least a modicum of relief to those
who are not only physically but also mentally ravaged by the dreaded
disease cancer.
Not only the Buddha Dhamma, but even the various religions have
stressed and extolled the great virtue of caring and helping the sick
and ailing. May you receive all the Blessings for your act of heartfelt
charity.
Asoka Devendra
At the weekly Cabinet press briefing on 18.10.2007 the Director
General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka had
said that the SLT has decided to reduce the present residential rental
of Rs. 495 to Rs. 345 and business rental from Rs. 1250 to Rs. 950 but
no mention was made about the start up fee of Rs. 1.50 per every
successful call as already announced by the SLT.
It will be observed that as a result of the above fee if 100 calls
are taken from a residential telephone a consumer has to pay Rs. 150 and
if 200 calls from a business telephone Rs. 300 making a total of Rs. 495
and Rs. 1250 per month respectively.
This levy is an indirect fee to cover up the revenue loss consequent
to the reduction in the rental and even to collect more revenue. Thus
the benefit of reduced rental has been nullified by the introduction of
a start up fee.
I wish to request the TRC to intervene in this matter so as to waive
off this unreasonable fee by the SLT and the consumers get the benefit
of the reduced rentals.
H.W. Goonesekera
******
The Sri Lanka Telecom authorities have so far not responded to the
many articles that appeared in your esteemed journal challenging the new
tariff (from 1st November 2007) which they claim would reduce the
charges by 8.7 per cent.
It is the responsibility of the SLT to prove to the Supreme Court and
the public that the revised tariff results in a reduction of 8.7 per
cent as ordered by the Chief Justice. The best way to prove their bona
fides is to indicate in the monthly bill what the charge would have been
under the old tariff.
It will be sufficient if this is done only for three months. In this
electronic era, such information can be provided without any difficulty
and at no extra cost. Over to you, SLT - to prove your bona fides.
Nihal Mendis
The Galle Fort which has received wide publicity in recent times is
one among the seven UNESCO recognised World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka,
the others being Singharaja Forest Reserve, Ruwanmeliseya - Anuradhapura,
Sri Dalada Maligawa, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla Ran Vihara and Sigiriya.
This bears ample testimony to Sri Lanka being a rich repository of
cultural treasures and monuments. However what is lamentable and cause
for concern is the threat the Galle Fort the 38th World Heritage site is
currently facing. It is speedily being transferred into a tourist resort
with almost 100 houses and other premises now being foreign-owned.
A number of these buildings have been converted into hotels, motels,
bars and shops. Such commercial activity in this one time highly
residential area is a cause for deep concern among the locals who have
resolved to stay put in the Fort inspite of these constraints. This much
cherished heritage site is gradually losing its old world charm.
Although the Government introduced the 100 per cent levy on foreign
purchase of property the foreign buying spree is going apace unabated.
Has the government benefited from the 100 per cent tax? What we learn is
that various ruses such as forming of BOI projects and buying on long
lease have been adopted to avoid the tax.
It is universally accepted that a world heritage site is an
invaluable asset a country can boast of. Its archaeological and
historical value is so to say immeasurable and hence countries which
possess such sites have introduced numerous measures to preserve those
sites from natural decay and from other threats such as pressure for
development, tourism etc.
These antiquities and monuments are also subject to neglect and
sometimes wanton destruction due to lack of adequate physical and legal
protection as rightly emphasised by the eminent Justice Dr. A.R.B.
Amerasinghe in his recent book on cultural heritage and cultural
property. He also refers to the lack of public sensitivity as a cause
for neglect.
Justice Weramanthry in his review of the book authored, by Dr.
Amarasinghe points out "In Sri Lanka there is a danger that exploitation
of these resources may well occur in the areas of some of our precious
historical sites.
Whatever financial benefit to be gained from such an enterprise, we
cannot afford it and this is a matter which needs most careful
consideration not only by the authorities but by the general public as
well."
Hence Galle Fort the only historical monument recognised as an
archaeological reserve and world heritage site in the whole of southern
Sri Lanka need to be preserved at all cost from the vagaries of modern
development efforts and foreign cultural and social intrusion.
The almost 90 acres of land and the buildings in the Fort of Galle
are prime property and hence should be precluded from foreign ownership
or in the alternative should attract a special levy over and above the
current 100 per cent tax applicable to foreign purchase of property.
Many important personalities who hailed from the Galle Fort and other
intellectuals have from time to time highlighted the vulnerable position
this invaluable monument is currently facing.
However the response on the part of the authorities has so far been
indifference and failure to comprehend the magnitude of the problem. Dr.
Weeramathry rightly stresses "All threats to cultural heritage and
cultural property need to be addressed by a concerned public, a vigilant
administration and a more sensitised legal system"
Therefore it is the duty equally of the people and the administration
to ensure that this cherished world heritage site is preserved as a
native owned treasure with its old world charm and native culture.
M.I.M. Mubarak
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