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Sri Lanka foreign policyThe recent article on the above refers to the important relationship between the foreign policy and the defence policy of Sri Lanka. It is true to say that our foreign policy should be driven by the defence policy. But the article speculates two new axises namely: Indo-US and Pakistan-Chinese for Sri Lanka to choose. For me, this is only a wild imagination to defend Sri Lanka. Defending Sri Lanka from Tiger terror and from possible Islamic terror in the near future require one thing. That is a strong and determined military and a decent and committed and responsible citizens in the country. No one can and want to defend Sri Lanka other than its own good citizens. We cannot defend the country and the nation with those corrupted politicians. First of all we have to flush out those who try to sell off the country and the nation for their own benefits. Honest and committed leaders are the most essential requirements to defend the nation. Other factors are: never trust anyone else from outside especially Indians. Kill it before it kills you, should be the defence policy. Cultivate good freindship within all communities inside the country and hit very hard on terrorists. Whether they are Tigers or Jihad, does not matter. Prepare the military in uniform and also a good under cover squad to achieve this goal. To achieve all these, the country needs good, honest, dedicated brave and committed leaders. Self-determination and self-reliance is the only way to defend a nation. Do not preach to believe in others in defending yourself. Internationally, good and reliable friends are important in achieving this goal. But, think twice about Indians when it comes to trust. ARIYADASA YAPA, -------------------------------- Merchants ward an ambalama of sortsMerchant's ward is a class paying ward in the General Hospital Colombo now known as the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. This ward was less known as the Mercantile ward as the tabloid in the ward indicates. In spite of the many changes that have taken place in this institution Merchants ward has succeeded in maintaining its pristine glory over the years. No restructuring has taken place and the wooden staircase with its teak lined balustrade gives an ancient look to this archaic building with high roofed rooms, vintage wooden doors and still has its hand operated lift in place, all well maintained. Ambalama is an ancient Sinhalese name given to places of rest. These places were spread out through this isle where the weary travellers having trekked long miles rest their weary limbs before continuing on their journey. Vestiges of some of these ambalamas are still seen but not popular in this high-tech age. One could wonder, why the alignment between Merchants ward and Ambalamas. When an accused is convicted or awaiting bail before being sent to the cooler as a non-paying guest of the state, the terms of imprisonment are spelt out in the judgement viz Rigorous imprisonment, hard labour etc. It has been observed that when an accused is consigned to be a non-paying guest of the State in our prisons they develop maladies which they did not possess earlier or their existing maladies are exaggerated or exacerbated. Hence on this basis they come under medical scrutiny in hospitals associated with the prisons. Life in these hospitals are more comfortable than the squalor of a prison cell. Some graduate to more comfortable abodes by virtue of their illnesses vague or otherwise. Merchants ward is one such abode but is affordable only to those with power and pelf. The less affluent prisoner seeks the refuge of a non-paying ward chained to his bed with jail guards around. However in these paying wards the only indication of the existence of a prisoner is the presence of the khaki clad jail guards. In some instances some persons may have had access to private hospitals while awaiting court proceedings for granting of bail. It is jocular to see those who were hale and hearty being wheeled in trolleys and chairs to their wards and transported in ambulances making sure they do not collapse if they lay foot on terra firma. They could well be having a hidden disease which is probably not evident to the naked eye. Is there a lesson to be learnt. The answer is yes. If one anticipates a jail term for an offence be patient till one commences serving it. On entry attend to all ones illness trivial or otherwise hidden or visible. It will be most likely that a good part of the term will be spent on a hospital bed which is more comfortable than one has within the four walls of a prison cell. Of course this facility is possible only through kind courtesy of one or more certificates. ARAVINDA GAUTAMADASA, -------------------------------- Wanton killing of elephantsI am in agremeent with the views expressed by writer under caption 'Save the Elephant' that appeared in the Daily News of 7th instant. Biologist alarms us elephant population what was 40,000 a century ago is now sunk to a mere low 4,000 and if this trend is not arrested consistently, the country will be deprived of another natural gift before the end of this century. In this contest the party using the elephant symbol is all the more obliged to protect this magnanimous colossus like mammal. A direction from the party high command to rank and file to co-operate with authorities in bringing the killers to book, giving information for their detection, give evidence in courts to convict offenders, expose officials privy to offenders, expose illicit dealers in elephant-body-parts, help to apprehend corrupt officials for collusion with wildlife law breakers, punish train drivers for negligence resulting in death of elephants crossing rail tracks across age-old elephant walks, expose racketeers behind big money in killing elephants for exorbitant body-parts. It is hoped such meaningful measures will arrest this national catastrophe to a good measure. DHARMA SENEVIRATNE, |
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