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| Saturday, 8 September 2001 |
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Letters | |
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The elephants lived in their habitats harmlessly until we humans created cause for a conflict by depriving them of their right to live in their natural environments gifted by Mother Nature. Not only elephants but various other species of animals too live in jungles and civilised humans in their habitations. As it necessitated in the past, and as it necessitates in the present, and in the future too, jungles will be felled for the needs of humans. As a result, not only elephants but other animals also that depend on greenery to survive will be compelled to walk to various destinations in search of food and water as the jungle felled areas are dried. In doing so, they happen to walk down to human vegetations to appease their hunger and quench their thirst as there is no alternative. Animals that live on flesh too will be compelled to move from jungle to jungle and finally cross over to human habitations in the near future. The problem will worsen when ferocious animals like lions and tigers keep moving. The elephants only kill, but, lions and tigers will eat humans. We are not afraid of tamed animals but we are afraid of wild animals. Because there is no relationship between the parties, the doubt of a threat to lives and the properties in the case of humans arise in them when met with face to face or otherwise then, the party that quickens attacks through fear of each other. In many instances, it was the elephants that overpowered the humans because, they are suffering from an anger in silence or the destructions caused to their habitats and disturbances caused to their living conditions. This is the conflict we are talking about. When felling jungles for human needs, the needs of the animals have not been taken into consideration. Haphazard methods resorted to have created this situation. Eventually, every wild beast will walk into human habitations as time goes on because there will exist no jungles for them to live in. The day is nearing when humans and animals will be compelled to live together. Until such time they cultivate an acquaintance with us in urbanised areas as they have with our aboriginal inhabitants, the fear which is the root cause of the conflict will exist. There is also indication in holy scriptures that very soon the humans and animals living in the wilderness will join to live together. This conflict could in all probabilities become the turning point to the new world prognosticated. It has already become I feel. There was news in the recent past in the Daily News of elephants walking into the premises of a hotel associated with jungles in the North Central Province anticipating food and go away harmlessly when given. This is a regular happening, the news further said. So the day is not so far when all of us on earth will become intimate friends if this association continue to be. L. A. W. LIYANA ARACHCHI Our attention has been drawn to the Odds and Ends in your columns (DN Aug 11). We sincerely express our deepest appreciation of the great relief brought to us by your columnist Hana Ibrahim. In the last para she mentions that there are more than 88 different classifications of the Left Hander, but in our own country I regret to mention that a local English, Sinhala Dictionary edited and compiled by a learned Sinhalese Scholar describes left handed as backward ‘Adhaksha’. Hana Ibrahim has even highlighted most of the difficulties encountered by a left hander. Suffice it to mention that most leaders in the noblest professions including statesmen and sportsmen and women come from this supposed to be backward (Adaksha) category. Naming a few past and present, happens to be the world renowned scientists: Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton statesmen and leaders: like Sir Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Harri S. Truman, George Bush, Ronald Reagen, J. David and Benjamin Rockefeller Franklin, Sir Henry and Gerald, Joan of Arc. Sovereigns: to mention a few King George iv, George vi, Queen Elizabeth ii Warriors: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte Sportsmen like Garry Sobers, Clive Loyd, Brian Lara, Musicians: Ludwig Von Beethovan, Robert Schuman, J. S. Bach, Bill Gates, Artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo, Michelangelo, Picasso, Raphael. In the local arena mention must be made of Jon Westborg (Ambassador for Norway in Sri Lanka) M/s. Karu Jayasuriya/Regionld Cooray,Keseralal Goonesekera, Mahinda Samarasinghe M.P., Hon. Sarath N. Silva (Chief Justice), our own Police Chief Lucky Kodituwakku and I should fail in my duties if I do not mention the name of N. Bambaravanage, (Controller of Emigration and Immigration). In his case we are made to understand that five in his family brothers and sisters are all left handers (which could even go to the Guinness Book of Records) and they hold very high positions both in Government and the private sector. Then comes our cricketers like Sanath Jayasuriya, Arjuna Ranatunga, Kumar Sangakkara. Artistes like Sabitha Perera, the famous duo Edward Jayakody and Charitha Priyadharshini Pieris, Nilmini Tennakone and many more, that constitute more than the 10 percent of the world population. This list is only a fraction of the prominent leftys. Due to limitations of this script, it is difficult to mention the names of others. We are proud as your columnist has at least suggested a Bill of the Lefty’s (not Leftists). This suggestion was even mooted by our chief guest Reginold Cooray at our last International Commemoration Day Celebrations this year which fell on the August 13. While Hana is at the forefront of this campaign for the liberation of the Leftys the world over and especially in our own country we feel that we are not by any chance handicapped. Right is always not the might as shown in the list of the Lefty’s above. Till recently the Left Hander was overlooked and even cornered in society the world over. But today we have even over run the performance of many a right-hander. In most of the developed countries there are special counters in shops opened for the sale of the left handed items such as scissors,canopeners,kitchen utensils like sauce pans with the lip on the right side, carving and chef’s knives,guitars and other musical items, tools such as the handsaw,the pocket measuring tape,and even many stationery items. One such shop that markets these items in the U.K. Anything Left Handed, 18, Avenue Road, Belmont, Surrey, SM2- 6JD, United Kingdom. Here in Sri Lanka we launched a campaign to issue a left handed ruler to students who participated at our recent celebrations and which we intend to extend to other schools with the kind assistance of the Chief Minister W.P. This Left Handers’ ruler was an idea of our Treasurer, Primrose Mascaranes whose proposal the Committee approved, then came who will sponsor. Looking for a sponsor it struck to us our own head of the National Lotteries Board, who being himself a Lefty very voluntarily obliged and said O.K. This ten percent or more of the world population are most commonly considered to be more adaptable, more creative, artistic, modest, more intelligent, talented, intuitive, (unbiased) fair in judgement and decision making than the righthanded contemporaries. Our international brotherhood is a sanctuary dedicated for the prosperity, betterment and even to establish a Charter for the Leftys, under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This was even suggested by Hon. Reginold Cooray at our Intl. Coommemoration Day festivities. We rally round for this worthy cause and Hana Ibrahim (perhaps a right hander-may be) out of all the columnists the world over, your columnist has initiated us to take this step forward on our behalf. It is very fortunate that the Left Hander’s have no party politics,no differences whatsoever either official or otherwise, because we stand left handed by birth for which we stand as a universal unbiased family of members only concerned nothing but the Left Hand. Bravo the Leftys. TERENCE E.DE SILVA Unhelpful municipal bureaucracy Local government bodies are created for looking after the needs of local residents and ratepayers. Unlike state service wherein the ratepayer is remote from the officials, local body officials are in direct contact with the needs of the ratepayer. As a long time and retired local government officer who have served in town councils and urban councils and for a brief period in municipal councils, I am aghast at the way the top bureaucrats manage the affairs of the Kandy Municipal Council. One who needs the authority of the municipality to run a business or a clarification of water rates or assessment or even to repair a damaged drain, the ordeal one has to suffer at the hands of the top officials is so woeful and disdainful. The Commissioner who is a paid official from the municipality, a person from the government service is not concerned with faults and defaults of the subordinates. The works engineer shuns the complaints of the ratepayers and is so wooden headed that grievances of the ratepayers are secondary. Many people who live in Kandy have had experience of the past service of efficient and humane officers many of them males compare very unfavourable with the present bureaucracy and consider that the municipality is very unhelpful for the ratepayers. Most of the officers are females and not concerned about the spirit of local government service and service to the people. W. M. WEERAKOON Subsequent to the attack on the Katunayake airforce base and airport, shipping companies imposed a war risk surcharge of US$ 350 per 20’ container shipped to Sri Lanka. After successful representations made by the Minister, Ronnie de Mel Lloyds of London had reduced this Surcharge by 85%. ie: a surcharge of US$ 350 should now not exceed US$ 52.50. The Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council has confirmed this fact in their Circular No: 62 of 2001, dated 23.8.2001. However, it is surprising to note that there are some shipping companies who still insist on the Surcharge of US$ 350 per 20’ container and others who have reduced this Surcharge to only US$ 150 (instead of the agreed US$ 52.50). It is not reasonable for these shipping companies to penalize both importers and exporters in this manner. Further, I consider this refusal for co-operation as an insult to our country. It is time that these companies are identified and I appeal to the ministry to take suitable action against shipping companies which levy a surcharge of more than US$ 52.50 per 20’ container. Even if these companies reject ministerial intervention, the authorities should insist that these companies give a press notice confirming that they would be charging a war risk Surcharge in excess of the accepted US$ 52.50 per 20’ container. KANORJI ANGARE We receive notices from statutory bodies, such as the Dept. of Inland Revenue, Municipal Council, Electricity Board etc., pertaining to overdue payments with probable legal action. It is very surprising that such notices stating that action will be taken within...days from the date of the said notice are usually received by the person/persons concerned well after the stipulated date, probably due to delays in posting the notice or delays in the postal service. It is very unfair to penalize the customers with stern action when in most instances the overdue payment in question has already been settled by them. I am aware of several instances where officers of the Electricity Board have proceeded to disconnect the electricity supply without giving adequate notice to the consumers. They have caused immense inconvenience to the consumers without even assessing their credibility. I suggest that the respective departments when serving such notices to the customers should state that action would be taken within - days after the date of receipt of the notice. Since these notices are usually sent under registered cover, the customer cannot deny receipt of the notice and will have to comply with the requirement stipulated therein. Further, a responsible officer should be appointed to give a hearing if and when representations are made by a customer and grant extension of one or two days if the case justifies same, without resorting to stern action immediately. Such co-operation if extended by the Statutory bodies will not only avoid unnecessary harassment to the public, but will also create a better understanding for mutual benefit. K.A. |
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