• Reform higher education in Sri Lanka

• Errant drivers

• Price only! whither quality?

• Protect our buildings

• Whither SLMC priorities?

• National flags

• Airport route

• Crocodile tears

Reform higher education in Sri Lanka

I wholeheartedly welcome and acknowledge the initiative taken by Dr Tara de Mel to restructure the higher education system in the high schools and the College levels in Sri Lanka. It's about time, and she deserves credit for taking on this very sensitive issue.

I am a proud graduate from the University system of Sri Lanka, with post graduate qualifications from US universities and I work in a scientific research environment with close affiliations to many academic institutions and the international scientific community. Looking back at my undergraduate days then and now, the two things that I think that were (and are) most detrimental to the University graduates: (a) the political interference in the administration and student activities; and (b) the resistance by a minority, but loud segment of the undergrads to oppose (international) standardization by encouraging competition.

Both these facts do not serve the future of the graduates well. A good example of this is that it has become necessary for the Sri Lankan government to create and provide jobs for some graduates. Shouldn't it be the other way around, where the graduates have had the privilege of college education and hence they have a competitive advantage? This in itself shows that the curricula and training provided by the Sri Lankan Universities need to be continuously updated and geared towards the needs of the market place. Only an independent body of academicians and a board of esteemed trustees can do that. In addition, as any sociologist would agree competition also drives us humans to reach out to higher standards of accomplishment. Let there be private government monitored higher institutions of learning in Sri Lanka.

The involvement of politicians in the University system is deplorable and has gone on for too long by all parties. It should be obvious by now to our citizens that these interferences lead to nothing but disruption in the academic calendar and fostering a true environment of learning.

The undergraduates will have plenty of opportunity to pursue their political beliefs after they leave the University. Their mission is to learn and become productive individuals as soon as possible. That is their responsibility towards taxpayers, the rest of the citizens and in my opinion themselves.

I hope Dr. de Mel succeeds in making progressive changes in our higher education system.

DR. NIRANJAN NUGARA - USA

Errant drivers

I wish to add my views to a letter of March 14. All trishaw drivers have become a menace to other road users and the density of three wheelers in the general traffic is rapidly increasing. It is a open secret that most of them do not possess valid documents such as driving licence, insurance certificate etc. These drivers have no road manners at all! Wherever small spaces are found to drive thro' in heavy traffic, they simply do.

Trishaw drivers have no habit of waiting in traffic queues like other drivers do specially at junctions and traffic light signals etc. and often seen crossing signals even when red lights are on.

When entering a main road they simply do it without any concentration of traffic on the main road. Not only this but they never stick to their side when turning to the right instead keep onto the right hand side of the road which obstructs other vehicles.

Police constables making use of trishaws for their free transportation is a common sight. Due to this, the general public is under the impression that the policemen keep their eyes away whenever threewheeler drivers are violating road rules. May I bring to the notice of higher police authorities to my undermentioned suggestions.

1. Official transport to and from the stations should be provided for the policemen on duty on the public roads, so that they need not depend on other modes of transport.

2. All trishaws should be checked at random for valid documents.

3. Workshops can be organised to educate threewheeler drivers about good behaviour and road manners.

4. A separate lane on the left side of the road can be reserved for threewheelers (and cyclists/motor bikes) in the city limits like commonly done in European countries.

BANDU GUNARATNE - Nugegoda

Price only! whither quality?

With the latest news on the rise in price of bread, it looks like that many Sri Lankan families are going to be with less food at breakfast and at dinner. This is a good example of a nation suffering as a result of their trust in imported food than their own resources. For many years we Sri Lankans spoke of our need to depend on rice rather than on wheat flour. Most of these talks were limited to political discussions on television.

Even though certain groups emerged who claimed to love Sri Lanka more than their own life itself, they never protested when the paddy fields were filled up to build houses. Instead the fashion was to eat bread, butter and jam because that's what the westerners do too.

In fact, 2000 metric Tons of Wheat flour is eaten per day by the Sri Lankan society i.e. approximately 600,000 Metric Tons per month. Only the foreign land from where this flour is imported profited from the habits of the Sri Lankan nation. Even the best cookery lessons on television were not able to convince the public to eat healthy green vegetables and fruits so easily grown in this country. Looking at the statistics, no wonder that in a nation such as Sri Lanka depending on a high carbohydrate diet very few children and adults show outstanding talents or creativity and most persons seem tired and sleepy the whole time.

Fortunately the younger generation still has time to change. Yet with the media promoting on fast junk food simply out of their greed for advertisements are pushing the young generation too towards high carbohydrate diets. We have no choice but to pray and hope that at least some exceptionally wise smart young persons will emerge who can resist these detrimental advertisements.

It is time that the Sri Lankan families stop imitating the western world in diet. We need to understand that it is through dependency on our own food resources, and protection of our own food resources that we will find long lasting prosperity and definitely good health.

Nevertheless increase in price of bread is a violation of the consumer rights as bread is declared as an essential food item by the Consumer Affairs Authority. According to the Consumer Affairs Act No. 9 of 2003, the Consumer Affairs Authority must safeguard the consumer of unnecessary change in price of essential foods through creating healthy competition among wholesale traders. Unfortunately very little association exist between the Consumer Affairs Authority and the Consumers. Otherwise, the consumers can pressurize the Consumer affairs Authority to decide as to which food items need to be declared as truly essential food items. Furthermore, it was sad to note that the so called Bakers association was only ready to raise the price of bread, rather than controlling its actual weight and quality.

Dr. Ajantha Perera - Chairman, Association for Consumer Action

Protect our buildings

City Fathers and Senior Citizens of Moratuwa hold strange views with regard to old buildings. The M.A. Fernando Memorial Clinic and Health Center built by the late E.P.A. Fernando in memory of his parents, the W.A. Peiris Memorial Hall (Town Hall) built by the late W.A. Peiris in memory of her beloved husband have already been demolished.

Even the King George Memorial Building put up for the Home for the Elders by the late Mr. and Mrs. A.H.T. de Soysa has been replaced by a so-called modern building! All these buildings were not old.

They represented different architectural designs of the period of construction and could have been preserved if only the advice of eminent engineers and architects were sought.

If any alterations were necessary, this could have been done within the buildings, thus preserving the elegant appearances that these buildings carried with them, like the Tower Hall and Elphinstone Theatre.

In some countries the State provides assistance and advice to protect old buildings for the sake of architectural value and it is not too late for the Sri Lankan Government to give serious consideration in this respect.

WIMALASIRI DE MEL - Moratuwa

Whither SLMC priorities?

The SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem while addressing the Jaffna Muslims' Convention Puttalam recently reiterated that he was not prepared to join the UPFA Government although invited in order to win the rights of the Muslim community.

He little realises how shameful it was to insist for the ports Development Authority portfolio, shipping, Muslim affairs etc., and nothing else during the PA and the UNF governments.

He further went to the extent of accusing the SLMC rebels for supporting the UPFA government, forgetting the wrath and curse he earned from the community for crossing over to the UNF. He now insists the UPFA Government to accommodate a Muslim delegation in future peace talks. In this respect, he should be ashamed of himself for requesting, since he had failed as a Muslim delegate during the UNF regime taking part in all delegation flying all over the world.

The SLMC party and the leader should refrain from making us the scapegoats to meet their own ends, although living in hardship we are living with peace and harmony.

S. RAMEES - Nagavillu

National flags

A Buddhist monk of yore in his yellow saffron pulled down a British flag from its post, trampelled it and hoisted the Sri Lankan Lion flag in its place. He was a national hero then, as Sri Lanka was under the jackboot of British imperialism, He is treated as a hero today, even after Sri Lanka freed herself from the Colonial yoke.

Recently we saw this act highlighted in the print and electronic media. Furthermore, colourful posters have appeared on the walls of Colombo at public places and elsewhere, announcing a meeting to be held to commemorate this event.

Is this publicity by way of posters, which may provoke any ordinary man, necessary?

Since we gained Independence, way back in 1948, England and Sri Lanka have been the best of friends.

England has helped Sri Lanka in many ways, especially after 'tsunami'. If for instance, the history of the world is reversed, Sri Lanka captured England and hoisted the Sri Lanka Lion Flag at No. 10, Dowining Street and if any Britisher pulled it down, trampled it and hoisted the British flag, will even a single Sri Lankan like it. No, not even a faint hope.

If Prince Charles who was in Sri Lanka recently, saw the poster on the wall which I referred to, what could have been his innermost feelings.

It is definite that he would have got a rot gut or lump-in-the throat feeling, even though he is a 'Eating-drinking man'.

It is about time that the Sri Lankans let bygones be bygones and live in the sacrament of the moment.

Bandula Seneviratne - Colombo 8

Airport route

I have been to Sri Lanka recently and was appalled by the rotting, burning garbage on the way to Katunayake, from Peliyagoda junction. I guess the politicians fly in the limos so fast past these smelly dumps that they don't have time to look out?

Also please light up the road with fluorescent lights. Even the airport looks half dead at nights. What a dismal picture of welcome and goodbye to and from a beautiful island. Ah, yes, don't forget the potholes at the checkpoints and speed humps.

KINGSLEY PETER - Canada

Crocodile tears

Recent reports say that Ranil (UNF) wanted Sinhalese and Muslim representatives to be included in the proposed but not yet seen or read 'Joint mechanism'.

Why this crocodile tears suddenly for the Sinhalese and Muslims? When he signed the CFA with Prabhakaran, did he ever think of Sri Lanka as a Nation, Sinhalese, Muslims and the moderate Tamils?

MALIN ABEYATUNGE - Australia