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| Monday, 17 June 2002 |
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Re-introduce history in school curriculum Dr. Lorna Dewaraja's excellent article under the caption "Debunking Sri Lanka's history (on Apr. 17) and Andrew Scott's plea for introducing History as a separate subject for G.C.E. (O.L) (DN May 8) should be given serious consideration by the Education and Government authorities. The "banishing" of History as a subject from the school curriculam in the 1970s deprived generation of students of knowing their country's history. One of the earliest examples, was the introduction of Ceylonese History to schools by Marie Musaeus-Higgens in the form of short stories from the History of Ceylon. The Director of Public Instruction J. Horward in his Foreward to this book dated 9th October 1909 states as follow: "It is surely unnatural that Ceylonese children, especially Sinhalese children should be brought up on stories about King Alfred or Robert Bruce, and should have no familiar associations connected with Sita or Duttu Gemunu. It is to meet this want that the author of this book has told in simple language some of the tales of Old Ceylon, beginning with the fine old story of Rama, which belongs to Ceylon no less than to India. I commend this book to all who are teaching young children, and shall be glad to see it in use as a Reader in Schools". Professor Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan who was Professor of Philosophy in 6 Universities, Vice Chancellor of Andhra University and later President of India in his small book The Present Crisis of faith states as follows: "History is not a mere series of intrigues and aggressions, furies and devastations, pillages and conquests organised by kings and rulers, despots and dictators. This is not the whole story. We should not be satisfied with deeds and misdeeds of our emperors and statesmen, the dates of their births and deaths, their triumphs and defeats. There is the cultural history, the social history and the history of the sciences. In a true sense history is the struggle of man to reach beyond himself, to approximate to the ideal of freedom and concord. History should teach us how nations have to each other and took from each other. In that way we must prepare us for the future order". President J.R. Jayewardene in his Foreword to the new translation of the Mahawmsa into English by Dr. Ananda Guruge, states as follows. "I am confident that this publication will go a long way of reviving a widespread interest in the history of Sri Lanka. For Sri Lankans in particular a deeper and comprehensive knowledge of their history is indispensable not only for appraising the present realistically but also for planning the future course of our national development with foresight and confidence. I commend the study of history as an essential and ineluctable discipline beca-use, in the words of Francis Bacon, History Make Wise Men". A salutary vision and a development creating an interest in Ceylon history over the Television by the commentator Jackson Anthony is very appreciative. He has solicited the historians of eminence in the calibre of persons J.R.P. Suriyapperuma. Prof. Mendis Rohanadheera, Prof. J.B. Dissanayake to have audience with the public of the periods of our past titled maha sinhal wansa kathawa. An individual subject, Sri Lanka's history in the G.C.E. (O.L) and the gradual introduction of stories from Ceylon history in the lines enunciated by Marie Museaus-Higgins are a sine quo non in the school curriculam. Cecil Jayasinghe - Kandy
Channelling has been the practice of most of the people even for a simple cough and cold. Channelling has been very beneficial for speedy recovery of most of the chronic and severe ailments, but at a price. The fees charged by the Consultants could be reduced for the benefit of the poor patients and Govt. Pensioners if the consultant could prescribe the drugs in their generic name which has the same action and therapeutic value except for one or two drugs which may be superior in quality and action. It is regrettable to note that some consultants have increased the consultation fees at their whims and fancies charging each patient Rs. 300 plus the Rs. 50 being the room charges which too could be reduced to about Rs. 30. This is very sad when you think of the poor patients and the Govt. Pensioners who comes for treatment after pawning their jewellery and in some cases selling their only property for surgery. R.D. - Kandy In 2001 PA budget the US resident visa fees was increased to Rs. 25,000 and in response to this the US Embassy in Sri Lanka increased the USA visa fees by US $ 190 (SLRs 18000/- app). The US Embassy issued a statement that they are reciprocating the increase made by the Sri Lankan government and said that in the event a reduction is made they will act accordingly. In the 2002 UNF budget the resident visa fees was abolished. The budget was ratified by the parliament in mid April. The US Embassy still charges the, higher visa fees and have not reciprocated the UNF government's reduction in the 2002 budget. The US Embassy says the resident visa fees abolishment has not been made official and Embassy has not been informed so they continue charging the same visa fees. This high visa fees is affecting students and visitors to USA. P. PERERA - Colombo 3
Karavila reduces blood sugar level It has been admitted both by doctors and native physicians that 'karavila ' (Mormodica charantia), the bitter-gourd, reduces the blood sugar concentration in persons suffering from diabetes, the most degenerative disease now afflicting both the young and the old. It arises when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin (Type 1), or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin produced, (Type 2). Insulin is a protein of vertebrates, secreted by blood cells in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, in response to increase in the blood glucose concentration, after a meal (the normal range being 75 to 115 mg/dl). Its main function is to lower blood glucose level. The Western drugs in use are metformin, daonil, glibenclamide, clamide, euglucon etc., which keep blood-sugar under control. There is no permanent cure for diabetes except dieting. Karavila is best eaten raw before breakfast, having cut it into small pieces or beaten up in a grinder to be drunk in liquid form. Cooking and frying reduces the potency to lowdown the blood-sugar level. Another method is to cut the fruit into small pieces, put them into a cup and add cold water, before going to sleep. In the morning, drink the water before breakfast. Bitter is best for diabetes. Some drink the juice of 'kohomba' (margosa) leaves, before breakfast, and it is considered very effective to low down diabetes. Some add little milk to reduce the bitter taste. Karavila is not only a good vegetable but also a medicine. The outlook for diabetes complications is rising at an alarming rate in Sri Lanka, as the incidence and prevalence of the disease are on the rise. According to WHO, diabetes is the fourth main cause of death in most developed countries, due to sedentary lifestyles, no exercise, over-eating starchy foods and sweet products. Eating sweets is eating poison. Let us eat karavila to control diabetes. ARYADASA RATNASINGHE - Mattegoda
Snails devour political posters In place where the local bodies have failed to remove posters, pasted in the recent past covering most of the parapet walls, snails (gombellas) has started to devour on them, causing an environmental problem, and harm to lawns and landscaped gardens in the vicinity. With the onset of monsoonal rains, snail population has increased by many folds. Taking a close look at this sudden invasion of snails, particularly at night, it is noticeable that they eat only the remaining portion of dried up paste used to stick posters, which is a paste made with wheat flour. As natural predators like the 'atikukula' are very few in the urban areas to combat this menace, it is advisable to remove these posters during these wet days, and sprinkle prepared granules of metaldehyde based bait, sold under various trade names in garden shops at affordable price and small packs. NAHEER TAIP - Wattala.
Channaka Gooneratne writing (DN May 22) from Los Angeles sees highways and expressways as vital segments of infrastructure leading to economic prosperity. In our country planners and decision makers do not think of the prosperity of the country or the people at large but their own prosperity. Having seen and lived among the superhighways of America he would no doubt wish we too should have our own network of such roadways. The problem is that the new highway has to be build over marshy land that fulfilled the needs for ecological balance for thousands of years and private homesteads and vegetations of villages and rural folk who have lived and cultivated their lands for generations. All for the sake of shortening the travel time by about 10 or 12 minutes. There was an alternative plan put forward by a renowned architect a couple of years back. But perhaps road engineers consider this plan by an architect as an intrusion of their field and has frowned on it. Now for someone like Channaka Gooneratne who moves through elevated highways in his daily travels the value of this plan is not lost. The plan of Surath Wickremesinghe was to have a concrete-built elevated highway over the existing Colombo-Katunayake rail track. His total plan was to have it extended to cover the other most congested trunk road - the High Level Road. Here too it is impossible to broaden the existing trunk road due to roadside development already taken place. Therefore Surath Wickremasinghe proposes to have the elevated concrete highway over the Kelani Valley rail track too which would ease congestion on High Level Road to a minimum. Surath Wickremasinghe plan will not displace anybody and not pose a threat to the ecology and environment and it should in addition be an added attraction for tourist inflow. It is hoped at least the present Government will study and decide on it before committing further fund to the highway over the swamp, houses and private land. METTHANANDA WIJEKULASURIYA - Polgasowita
Be wary of American universities with salesmen A friend of mine in Sri Lanka made some enquiries about Universities in the USA. Apparently his daughter was approached by a representative claiming to be from a University named Senior University International. I want to caution prospective students from Sri Lanka that the term University is used far too liberally and easily in the US. The word does not have the same meaning as it does in Sri Lanka. If one wants to find out the credentials of a specific University, please contact the American Center and get the list of ACCREDITED state and private schools from them. The place that was trying to find students is not a real University. It is what some deceptively call a "distance learning" center. They are not recognized by anyone for any standards, and nor do they offer quality programs (in general) no matter what terrific claims they make about their degrees! They also do not have a physical campus and only offer correspondence courses and classes on the Internet for those who are not qualified to enter a real University in the USA. Now some of those have standards, but most of them are not monitored or there is no quality control and one should waste money trying to subscribe to those universities. Please do not be gullible and fall for claims and fancy websites and big talking Americans who are basically sales reps trying to sell a product of dubious quality and origin. Recognized State or Private Universities do not require sales reps. So I will like to send a URL which will give you a list of nationally recognized state Universities in the US. Do not fall for false claims and websites. Here are 2 useful URLs for getting a list of state universities and all the information about the credibility of a real university. www.utexas.edu/world/univ/state/ www.usuniversities.com/ MANO RATWATTE - Via email, USA
Batticaloa town faces dangers due to accidents Presently the Batticaloa town is struggling with large crowds of people. In every direction we find vehicles, pedal bicycles, motor cycles, heavy vehicles, lorries and bullock carts plying along the roads. The authorities of Batticaloa Municipal Council and Police Department should instruct all the vehicles coming to Batticaloa Town from the East side Kallady and from the North side Urani junction to reduce the speed of the vehicles while entering the town area and the instruction should be strictly adhered to. Otherwise no one would be able to prevent grievous accidents in future. K. SOMASKANDAMOORTHY - Batticaloa
Stamping on affidavit, receipt Pasting a stamp on an Affidavit, receipt, promisory note or any other document and placing the signature on it, it gives a good recognition and validity to such document or instrument. And the person who places his signature on such documents feels that he did a legal act or deed. So there is a great value in this action. This is a very old practice and the people had been used to do it as a legal requirement. The people did not ask to abolish or remove this year-long practice of using a valid stamp on a document even though they have to spend on that, their hard earned money. Therefore, I feel the abolishing of using a stamp n0a document is a bad decision who ever advocate to do away with it. And the Government is losing a good sum of money every year by abolishing this year long practice which is not a burden to people at all. Every day there are so many transactions taking place and the people are voluntarily contributing money by, buying stamps to be pasted on their documents of mutual transactions. The parties legalise their action by placing the signature on the stamps. P. L. SOMASIRI - Galle
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) The recent article on 'Career Guidance' dealing with the subject of CVS serves definitely as guidelines to those who are fully engaged in this particular line of employment. Dr. Mahipal Sachdev of Apollo Hospital aptly describes the clutch of symptoms that affect the vision and a set of precautions to be adhered to 1) what causes the CVS, 2) the symptoms that one should watch out for, 3) how common in CVS, 4) what can be done to ease the symptoms while working, 5) basics of eye-care and so on. All users of computer should read this to avoid CVS and to protect their eyes. I made a few photocopies of this article and distributed to some of my friends and relations who are fully engaged in this particular line of employment. J. E. VETHANAYAGAM - Moratuwa
A.R. under the caption 'Teaching History' (DN, May 13) asserts that the farmers during the period of 1970-1977 were an abandoned lot. I beg to differ. With the restrictions placed on imports on food items there created a scarcity and a demand, and farmers took to agriculture with renewed enthusiasm and were rewarded with good income through better prices. The hardworking Jaffna farmers were richly benefitted. As a result of free imports being allowed in 1977 the farmers, particularly Jaffna, lost a good market for their produce. This imprudent action of the Govt. put the Jaffna people into frustration. If one were to delve into the economic success of any developed country one would invariably find that its priority had been to become self-sufficient in food. With a fertile soil and excellent climate, growing all our food-needs is not something impossible. U. M. S. GOONETILLEKE - Polgasowita
Japanese grant for Marga Mithuro Apropos news items of 12th April, 2002 Sri Lankan road users are grateful to the Japanese government for making available this grant to promote discipline and manners among them. This is most opportune as road discipline and manners have gone to dogs. Hence it should be used properly and not inordinately channelled elsewhere. The public awareness program planned is to be implemented through the media, as well as through seminars and workshops. In case of the latter, the question is how participants are to be selected? I suggest that road rule violators be compelled by the Police to follow this program, on withholding their driving licences. it's only on production of a certificate of attendance that their driving licences be returned. Moreover, this program should be conducted for at least a week. It will then be a deterrent against future violations, due to loss of income from being away from work. I also suggest that road safety drives be recommenced in all schools. Around four decades ago, I remember attending such a drive in Moratuwa conducted by the Traffic Police. Through these school road safety drives, we as children gather valuable information on the use of roads, road manners and courtesy towards others. Unfortunately the present generation had been deprived of this information. A data bank of traffic rule violators should be set up at each office of the Superintendent of Police. It will then be easy to monitor violators and punish them accordingly. Frequent violators should be heavily fined and driving licences confiscated. Like in Singapore, the pedestrians should be compelled to use zebra crossings. Jay walking should be banned in crowded cities. They should be spot fined by special road wardens appointed by the police on a commission basis. This will solve the unemployment problem to some extent. P. LUCIAN FERNANDO - Moratuwa
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