|
I am a regular visitor to Sri Lanka because of family reasons. During
the current visit one of my relatives was diagnosed as dengue positive
case.
It was a humbling experience to me although my relative was lucky to
escape with a mild infection. Many of the patients I encountered at the
OPD of a leading private hospital had dengue. The anguish, the pain and
the sorrow on their faces portrayed a story of helplessness and
vulnerability in being born to an indifferent social order.
There is no doubt that there is an epidemic of dengue fever in
Colombo. It has been so for some time now. It is however disconcerting
to see that there is no overt campaigns or actions taken by the
Municipal authorities to contain this virus. I have also not seen any
publications or write-ups on the impact of dengue on the economy or the
society at large.
It is imperative that the Municipal authorities have a planned
program to eradicate the dengue virus. Investment on preventive measures
no doubt provides savings on the outlays for treatment. We have been
successful in the past with similar diseases like malaria but why is
there such inaction with this epidemic?
Although I have fortified my living quarters with mosquito screens
and air conditioning the streets around me have several garbage dumps
which are excellent breeding grounds for the dengue mosquito.
It appears our attempts to solve the garbage issue have not been very
successful due to very many political reasons. We also appear to have
lost the opportunities to solicit foreign donor help when the hearts of
the world were opened to us during the tsunami.
It is true that we are engaged in an imperative war against
terrorism. It is also true that we have an army of public servants who
have the accountability and responsibility for the maintenance of the
infrastructure in good order.
If the garbage question cannot be resolved within the country it is
time we seek foreign assistance. I hope the relevant public authorities
will take immediate action either with or without foreign assistance as
to sit on public funding and do nothing is a crime against our helpless
society.
JANAKI WIJEGUNASEKERA,
Colombo 5
The fitness kingdom show to select the fitness kingdom - focused
manhunt - 2006 and the fitness kingdom Queen - 2006 was telecast on 'Derana'
- a private TV channel on Sunday September 17 night. A distinguished
gathering from the business, media, film and glamour world were present
on the occasion.
As the compere introduced the twenty contestants vying for the
fitness kingdom focus manhunt - 2006 and the fitness kingdom queen -
2006, to the audience packed in the 5-star hotel, they came on to the
catwalk with gusto - specially the young ladies - hips swinging, arms
swaying and posing for judges in as so many conceivable ways as possible
- other than standing on their head - to score the maximum points - and
the background music provided for these gyrating ladies was none other
than the strains of 'Danno Buddunge.'
'Danno Buddunge' is a devotional song, and quite rightly it finds a
place in all 'Bhakti Geetha' programmes. In civil ceremonies the strains
of 'Danno Buddunge' can be heard, at the commencement of the proceedings
and also at the time of lighting of the traditional oil lamp. The
strains of this immortal devotional song brings calm, peace and serenity
to the locality.
The first few lines of 'Danno Buddunge' are as follows:-
Danno Buddunge - Sri Dharmaskandha
Paemi Rakhithi Sonda - Seele Nibhanda,
Cleshe Nasna Bhikku - Aththeye Boase
What the composer wanted to convey through these lines are as
follows:-
Those who are aware of the Buddha's teachings - Always observe sil
with commitment and sacrifice, Bhikkus who had triumphed - over the
cravings of the body are many. Surely, this is not the ideal song for
the ladies to swing their hips and gyrate on the catwalk exhibiting
their curves.
SRILAL JAYASURIYA,
Ratmalana
Hunupitiya by name is an old railway station, although the travelling
public, office workers, mainly schoolchildren who depend on school
season tickets are suffering untold hardships due to frequent delay or
sudden cancellation of Colombo-bound trains.
The trains running early in the morning on the main line via Colombo
stop at Hunupitiya and on to Colombo. Meanwhile, between 9.20 a.m. to
11.32 a.m. no trains were available to Colombo Fort which had caused
untold hardships to passengers.
Although the train time scheduled notice board indicated to
passengers that a train was due at 10.20 a.m., the said train never
comes on schedule and is delayed by about half and hour to forty five
minutes.
Generally more than one hundred commuters who congregate at the
railway station to travel to Colombo to visit patients in hospitals,
schools and for various other requirements are stranded due to the non
availability of trains on time. However, in this two hour period more
than five trains are scheduled to run to Colombo.
We hope the Minister of Transport A. H. M. Fowzie who has
continuously been with the people and dedicated to the welfare of the
bus and train commuters would look into this matter and take appropriate
measures for the benefit of passengers.
Tuan Kuraishin,
Hunupitiya
Very recently I visited the Water Board at the Peoples Park Building,
Colombo 11 to verify a water bill which appeared incorrect to me. I was
surprised to see the new set-up with units functioning in glass cubicles
for different purposes including one for customer services with
particulars computerised.
The area engineer whom I met to rectify my matter was courteous
enough to listen to my problem and directed me to another officer who
lost no time in getting my file, and having checked the details on the
computer, remedied the matter.
It was more surprising to me when I noted the staff attending to the
duties immediately after their lunch unlike the staff of other State
institutions who enjoy themselves talking, laughing and joking exceeding
the lunch hour too.
NAZLY CASSIM,
Colombo 13
This is with reference to my letter under the above caption which was
published in the Daily News of July 27.
The Panadura Urban Council is in the process of removing the garbage
from the place where it was collected.
Already a sizeable quantity has been removed but they are now being
dumped in the Sri Maha Vihara temple premises in the midst of the town
being a highly residential area with two hospitals in the vicinity
causing a health hazard.
The situation is much more worse than which prevailed earlier with an
unpleasant smell emanating, mosquitos and flies on the increase. It has
also been revealed that water soaked with garbage is seeping into the
wells in the area.
I wish to draw the attention of the Central Environmental Authority
to look into this matter and take appropriate action against the Urban
Council for the unbecoming step taken by them in the disposal of garbage
by removing them to a religious place of worship.
At the same time they should be instructed to remove the garbage to a
non-residential area far away from the town.
H. W. Goonesekera,
Panadura
Tissa Central College, located in the outskirts of the historical
city of Kalutara inaugurated with only 9 students on November 05, 1936
was made a Central College on June 30, 1945 in pursuance of the concept
of Central Colleges introduced by the late C.W.W.Kannangara, the Father
of Free Education in Sri Lanka.
By now the student population stands at 2695 with a tutorial staff of
106 where there should be 112 teachers according to the educational
circulars. Similarly, there is provision for 5 principal grade officers
while there are only two including the principal at the moment.
Until 2001, the college was running six parallel classes but under
the Provincial Council policies, the number has been reduced to four.
All the three disciplines, Arts, Science and Commerce are functional
as much as sports, Cricket, Soccer, Volley-ball, Netball, Rugger,
Hockey, Badminton and Chess are conducted efficiently.
The School Cadet Corps and Saukya Dana units in the College are
equally performing well. The curriculum of studies include Information
Technology, Construction Technology, Arts and Crafts, Valuation,
Commerce and Accounts, Home Science and Economics. The college
Aesthetics Division has achieved many all island victories.
The Old Boys Association is financially sound. The School Development
Society and the new School Care Society are functioning smoothly.
W. A. de Abrew, W. A. de Silva, O. W. Perera, V. L. Wijemanne, H. S.
Fernando, A. R. de Silva and W. K. Wijemanne were among the former
pioneers of the college.
The original land on which the college is standing was a gift by a
number of local philanthropists led by W. Alison de Silva.
Wilfred Weerasinghe,
Principal |
