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Blueprint for national revival

One of the most noteworthy features of the Freedom Alliance election manifesto which was launched Thursday is its visionary character. In its range and breadth, the document approximates the stature of a blueprint for national revival. That it could lay the basis, as President Kumaratunga termed it, for a "peaceful and prosperous" Sri Lanka - if honestly and conscientiously implemented - is beyond question.

While hair-splitting on where Sri Lanka went wrong has been almost a national pastime over the past 25 years, the transparently obvious cannot be ignored that it is the Lankan tendency to flee from the narrow but correct path of righteous living which has brought on ourselves the multifarious ills which are assailing us.

From this point of view, the manifesto did right to emphasize the primacy of virtue and religion in any national rejuvenation effort. It is our hope that Buddhism and the other religions of our land would from now on focus on truly virtuous living, which is the sole end of religion and morals.

The people would have been also greatly encouraged by the emphasis placed by the manifesto on a negotiated political settlement to the ethnic problem. It is plain to see that only peaceful approaches could bring peace and there is likely to be overwhelming support for direct talks between a future Freedom Alliance government and the LTTE and other groups, as the manifesto suggests. Equally welcome is the proposal to have transparent negotiations.

We could also take heart from the fact that the elimination of corruption is being placed high on the national agenda, along with emphasis on the need to ensure law and order and good governance. As mentioned by the President too, the law enforcement authorities, such as the police, should be granted the required independence to enforce the law stringently against wrongdoers. This would have a substantial impact on efforts to eliminate corruption, because the latter thrives in an environment where the corrupt act with impunity.

We equally welcome the manifesto's emphasis on the imparting of a skill-based education to the young and the ushering in of an economy which would be more responsive to the need to strengthen the local industrial and agricultural base while being open to foreign direct investment. Particularly positive is the stress on the need to empower the small and medium scale industrialists and agriculturists.

It is obvious that the economy couldn't be externally-oriented at the expense of the domestic sectors. The former should complement the latter and both should develop in tandem.

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Intelligent robots

One day they will make you a cup of tea in the morning. Right now, though, they can walk, dance, clap and even play the trumpet. They are a new generation of humanoid robots which can perform many simple tasks. And they are getting better all the time. Naturally, they are all from Japan, the world leader in robotic technology.

The latest trumpet-playing robot is from Toyota, the world's second largest carmaker. The 48-inch tall robot played "When you wish upon a star" with a trumpet, bowed to the audience and waved its arms at its unveiling on Thursday.

Toyota's auto rival Honda has already stepped on the robotic road with Asimo, another humanoid robot. Sony has introduced Qriq, the world's first jogging robot. It also sells a robot dog. NEC has released a speaking robot, while Hitachi offers a cleaning robot.

Robots are still expensive toys sold only in a few countries. But costs are coming down as manufacturers realise economies of scale. Experts predict cheaper and more versatile robots that can perform a wide range of household chores, in less than a decade. Tomorrow's robots will be more responsive and more intelligent.

Is it really possible for a robot or a computer, basically a machine, to have any sort of intelligence ? This is a question that still haunts scientists and writers, long after the publication of Issac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. Arthur C Clarke tackled the issue in his novel '2001'. Steven Spielberg's movie 'Artificial Intelligence' featured a robotic 'boy' who experiences a range of emotions.

In fact, robot manufacturers and universities are engaged in research on artificial intelligence. Advances in computer technology could lead to the introduction of silicon 'brains' that can assimilate, process and analyse billions of bits of information in a nanosecond. Combining such a 'brain' with a robotic body with 'eyes' and 'ears' will make an intelligent robot. Fears that such robots could dominate humans sound far-fetched now, but it is hard to predict how robotics would advance over the next few centuries.

In the meantime, as robots become commonplace, we will realise their advantages: They do not have to be fed, clothed and paid. They do not make any demands. Best of all, they never fall asleep at work.

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