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| Monday, 01 December 2003 |
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Letters | |
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Please forward your letters to editor@dailynews.lk in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Faced with what is increasingly becoming a humiliating military debacle in Iraq where an average of 3-4 US soldiers are either killed or wounded per day by Iraqis resisting the US occupation of their land. US President George W. Bush who is facing election year in 2004 must act swiftly and with his usual deceit in order to ensure that dwindling US public support for his Iraq invasion does not erode any further. Needless to say, any further erosion in public support would surely spell doom to the President re-election hopes. Since the pre-war claims that Iraq was in possession of WMD's including chemical and biological weapons has now been proven to be a pack of diabolical lies, it is now apparent that the primary objective of the war against Iraq was not solely to dispose of the former terror regime but rather to impose US influence in the region. The challenge facing the Iraqi people at present is therefore no easy task the aggressor not only wishes to occupy their land, but also seeks to exploit their natural resources and transform the entire spectrum of spiritual and cultural values of Arab/Islamic civilization. The continued US occupation of Iraq hence strikes at the heart of the Arab nations Islamic heritage, because in its essentials the American way propagates an unchecked and self-centred concept of personal freedom devoid of spiritual guidance, social and moral values. Those who cannot see the threat posed by the continued US occupation of Iraq including the US appointed Iraqi governing council will be well advised to take a look into the basic statistics about single mothers, alcoholism, prostitution, murder, rape, lesbian and homosexual marriages, and drug related violence in American society. They should do a reality check to find out what this American lifestyle is that the US seeks to export under the guise of 'Democracy' and 'Freedom' not only to Iraq, but also to most parts of the non-western world. This new American vision aims at nothing short of obliteration of all other ways of life including the Islamic identity of the Iraqi people. It is apparent that the hidden agenda of the US and its allies who have sent their forces into Iraq is to establish a permanent presence in Muslim lands with long term strategies to transform and hollow out the Islamic civilization. Lending relentless support to this vision is the worlds powerful and influential Jewish media which is engaged in a vicious yet subtle campaign to tarnish the good image of Islam. Nations such as Iran, Cuba, Syria and North Korea which refuse to follow the dictates of the US are quite often at the receiving end of a western media barrage, being referred to, as "rogue states" and falsely accused of being supporters of global terror with concocted stories and biased reporting (Reference - "The International Jew" by Henry Ford and The Protocols of the Elders (of Zion). President Bush must realize that it is not only the people of Iraq but a majority of Muslims worldwide with absolutely no links to Al Qaidah, who see the US military invasion in Iraq to be a crusade against Islam. They, the Iraqis most certainly wish to live by their own faith rather than by the faith of their occupiers. The call by the US for the closure of Madrasa's or Islamic religious schools (the Islamic equivalent of our very own Daham Pasalas') in several pro-western Muslim states under the false pretext that they preach violence and terror to students, portraying of the Islamic women's dress code (ie the burqah-a modest dress similar to what is worn by Catholic nuns) as a garb which according to western thought suppresses Muslim women are a few of the several sinister attempts being made by the Jewish media to taint the religion of Islam and its faithful followers. Finally, so long as the present US administration continues with its hypocritical policy of providing steadfast support for Israel's state sponsored terrorism against that displaced Palestinian people, all its talk about Democracy, Freedom and Human Rights is nothing but hogwash. EROSH RATNADASA - Kadawatha There is much discussion at present whether it is desirable to change auditors of a company after some time. The premier accountancy body suggests that a change is not necessary but a change of the audit partner would be adequate. Let me share with the readers my experience on this. The same auditors audited for several years, the accounts of the company I serve as an accountant. The auditors were always careful not to displease the directors of the company. Approval of the audit fees requested by the Auditors was a foregone conclusion. However, due to a change in ownership overseas, the directors were compelled to change the auditors. Many issues to which the auditors turned a blind eye over the years were rectified in their last audit. The reason? The outgoing auditors did not want to take the risk of, the new auditors highlighting irregularities, which prevailed in the company for many years, with the knowledge of the directors including the Director Finance. This is the reason why those who know the tricks of the trade insist on a change of auditors regularly. The change of the audit partner is certainly not the solution and every member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) knows it. There are audit reports signed by partners year after year without ever visiting the client or ever seeing the face of the accountant who is primarily responsible for the accounts presented to them for audit. Trainees who have to be guided by my staff carry out the audit. F. A. - Seeduwa Two of the three One Day Internationals between Sri Lanka and England scheduled to be played in Colombo were abandoned due to heavy rain and "bad weather". Our poor farmers and villagers knows well that Sri Lanka experiences heavy rain (highest rainfall) in October and November every year. I hope our Meteorological Department will have relevant rainfall records, at least for the last three or four decades which will show our rainfall pattern clearly. By the way, I happened to read a Japanese book, translated into English, titled "Totto-Chan" The Little Girl at the Window, written by Japanese Author, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi in 1981. The author describes her own experiences she had at her Japanese school "Tomoe". A chapter in this book under the topic "Sports Day" reads as follows: "Tomoe's Sports Day was held every year on the third of November. The head-master had decided on that day after a lot of research, in which he found out that the third of November was the autumn day on which it had rained the fewest times. Perhaps, it was due to his skill in collecting weather data or perhaps, it was just that the sun and clouds heeded his desire, that no rain should mar the sports day, so anticipated by the children, who had decorated the school grounds the day before and made all sorts of preparations. Whatever it was, it was almost uncanny the way it never rained on that day." I hope this para would be a good basic lesson for our Cricket Pandits to learn and act accordingly, in the future. M. H. MOHAMED YAKOOTH - Colombo 15 Kitul trees are abundant in Sabaragamuwa, specially around Kitulgala area. This is a natural resource which could be tapped for humane use by way of honey, jaggery and toddy. It is good that the Government has reduced the licence fee of tapping Kitul trees from Rs. 250 to Rs. 50 by this budget. In the best interest of the poor people engaged in this field, we request the Government to do away with this tax and allow them to tap this natural resource freely. K. U. PUSHPAKUMARA - Pitakotte There was a lot of heart-burn among animal lovers when circular No. P/5/1/4 of 22.4.2002 was issued by the Animal Products and Health Department. It revoked the law prohibiting slaughter of pregnant cows, calves, buffaloes. Protests arose, but protests on behalf of our animals fizzle out sooner or later. Surely we should be made of sterner stuff? Look at the English animal lovers - with what avid determination, they pursue prohibition of fox hunting, the sadistic sport of their rich and royalty! Now we hear that this circular cancelling the previous rule is invalid, as it is not possible to annul a law by a circular. When it is a crime to kill a human being, is it possible for a politician to issue a circular that the offence has suddenly become not punishable, so he can easily bump off an enemy or two? We shall be grateful for any smart, impartial lawyer informing us whether a law prohibiting slaughter of pregnant cows, calves, buffaloes can be cancelled by a simple circular, permitting wholesale slaughter of the lot? And for what purpose? To increase export of flesh, they say, and to make room to import cows, calves, buffaloes to replace those killed, with commission attached to the deal. Is "commission" the deciding factor that floods our market with milk powder, while the living udders, laden with fresh, rich milk are chopped off to get more commission again through flesh export? Even the colonial powers did not dare to export flesh from here, which was left to the previous Sinhala "Buddhist" regime to do, now eagerly promoted by the present one. Judging from the never-ending advertisements and tempting TV programmes showing animals being fattened for slaughter, they cannot wait to add to the blood money already in circulation! It should be remembered that the Buddha-word that no happiness can come by inflicting suffering on other beings has been dinned into the minds of over 75 per cent of our population. Surely what is now evident here from the very top to the very bottom - psychotic, irrational behaviour and a chronic inability to separate truth from fiction is due to forcibly repressing one's convictions and acting in opposition to them? Can rules of law really be revoked just like that - by a simple circular - to accord with a pernicious will of Government? Prema Ranawaka-Das - Moratuwa I fully endorse Lalith Perera's view that public officers don't care public complaints (Nov. 20). This is a fundamental problem of these officers who have been given enough training locally and abroad at public expense. "Complaint is a gift and an opportunity". These institutions get genuine feedback through 'Letters' and other means free of charge. Else, they have to conduct expensive surveys to check if they perform as required. Therefore we request these institution authorities to please read public opinion and act accordingly. Also, please let everybody know what action has been taken through 'letters'. K. U. PUSHPAKUMARA - Pitakotte Sri Lanka tourism got a good boost at the recently concluded World Travel Mart in London. The local travel industry joined hands with SriLankan Airlines and the Tourist Board to promote 'Sri Lanka Land like no other. However the only blunder was whoever responsible made was to feature a dance troupe attired in Western dress. There are many Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, India whose dancers never dress nor dance anything alien to their culture. We should showcase our culture dance and music to the foreigner. The foreigners don't want to see a second grade act of their own country performed by outsiders. There are dozens of traditional dance troupes and we also have the State dance ensemble, they should be given a chance and not Westernised cultural troupes. 'Sri Lanka - is not only a land like no other but also its people' it seems. C. ATUKORALA - Piliyandala We often discuss about various pollutions such as air, water and sound. The pollutants of air are toxic gases, of water chemicals and of sound cacophony noises. We want fresh air to breathe, fresh water to drink, wash, cook, and silent environment to have peace. The above pollutants are certainly health hazards. But above all, most importantly mind pollution which is moral hazard enemical to one's spiritual life. The pollutants of mind are anger, jealously, crime, violence, robbery, murders, enmity, hatred, drugs, theft, cheat, a few to mention. Light dispels darkness. Brighten the mind with benevolent actions and deeds such as loving kindness, compassion, sympathy, forgiveness, tolerance, charity. These noble qualities dispel all other malefic attitudes. "Why eat a rotten unripe bitter fruit when a luscious sweet fruit is at hand." "Sound mind is sound body". J. E. VETHANAYAGAM - Moratuwa |
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