According to the clause of prohibition of tobacco advertisements
under the existing tobacco control law 'tobacco advertisement' means any
writing, still or moving picture, sign, symbol or distinctive colours or
other visual image or any audible message or any combination of the
aforesaid that promotes or is intended to promote, viz;
Smoking;
The purchase or use of a tobacco product;
A trade mark registered in respect of a tobacco product or articles
that include tobacco products;
A brand name associate with a tobacco product;
The name of the manufacturer of a tobacco product.
Therefore to transmit or broadcast such an advertisement through any
television programme too should not be allowed.
However we come across several films/tele dramas depicting smoking
scenes through many television channels even after the ban. Some of
those television channels who are under their slogans of identity.
'The Nation's Pride', 'The Nation's Channel' and 'People's Channel'
have depicted smoking scenes through films and teledramas during the
past few weeks'.
Here the State media too is violating and disregarding this law. It
is high time that the authorities take action in regard to violation of
the existing law.
Also we have noticed certain shopkeepers allowing their customers to
smoke within the shop itself. The notices issued by the tobacco industry
have informed shopkeepers that smoking is allowed in small kiosks.
Therefore both the public and the shopkeepers should be adequately
and clearly made aware of the existing law. If not the industry may have
loopholes to creep through.
We await the appointment of the Authority soon, so that people may
report of violation of law in this regard!
MANJARI PEIRIS - Maharagama
When I was driving along the Bibile-Ampara road I saw heaps of
seedlings of the species Eth Demata (Gmelina arborea) and some other
species in poly bags lying along the roadside by the Nilgala Medicinal
forest boundary.
When I inquired it was revealed that these plants have been brought
by the Forest Department to be planted in the gaps of the forest. Eth
Demata is an introduced plant species native to India, Pakistan and some
other countries but not to Sri Lanka.
Nilgala is a savannah type forest which has a unique ecosystem and
well known for its medicinal species such as Aralu, Bulu, Nelli, Gammalu
etc. Being a savannah forest, it catches fire every year and only the
fire-resistant trees can survive.
But since late, the grass that has invaded the forest which makes the
fire so intense that it destroys all the regeneration that comes up and
therefore there are no trees to replace the dying trees.
If the Eth Demata trees are planted to fill these gaps within this
forest, and if they survive, it would definitely suppress the other
natural species unique to this forest because of its fast growth rate
and change the whole ecological balance.
It is not a fire-hardy species and saplings that are planted would be
destroyed by the fire and the funds incurred for the exercise would be
wasted.
Although Eth Demata is also having medicinal properties, it cannot be
compared with species like Aralu, Bulu and Nelli on which the villagers
in the area are so dependent on.
Eth Demata fruits are eaten by herbivorous animals and seeds
germinate readily when passed through the digestive system of these
animals.
Therefore the seeds can get dispersed throughout and invade the whole
forest.
Fire can also induce germination of these seeds which has a hard
coat.
I came to know that some trials had been carried out some time ago by
the Medicinal Plant Conservation Project where grass was uprooted to
prevent fire for some period and this allowed the seedlings to establish
and are surviving now.
Techniques such as this could protect the natural regeneration as
periodical fire is necessary to maintain this ecosystem.
Therefore, the introduction of alien species is not a solution to
enrich this valuable ecosystem but proper management techniques should
be applied.
What I cannot understand is that the qualified and trained Foresters
are committing these blunders and are incapable of managing and
conserving such unique and fragile ecosystems.
People in certain areas are still suffering due to the improper
decisions taken by the Forest Department by the introduction Pines and
Eucalyptus in unsuitable sites where all water resources has dried up.
Therefore I appeal to those responsible to stop this type of
activities and preserve the valuable Nilgala forest which is being used
by communities to collect medicinal products even from the time of the
Sinhala Kings.
Dr. SARATH ERIYAGAMA - Peradeniya - via email
On December 26, after work I got into a Kandy-Matale private bus from
Akurana. Within a few minutes time, a heavy bag of 5-6 kilos straight
away fell on my head. The passenger who kept the bag was worried only
about the breakable goods in the bag.
No other passengers or the conductor bothered about the incident
other than a lady who is attached to Kandy Hospital who got down at
Balakaduwa came to help me. My heartful thanks to her for the
humanitarian help in the needy hour.
The owner of the bag said that if this would have happened in another
country, the private bus owners should pay the damage disclaiming his
irresponsible behaviour of keeping a very heavy bag in a broken luggage.
Rack in an unsafe way specially in a upcountry route which contains
lots of bends and curves. If I would have bend a bit or else if the bag
would have fallen vertically the result would have been fatal.
There were so many children after a Christmas party and two infants
also among the passengers closer to me.
Adding to all my pain and worries of the aftermath, the owner of the
bag before getting down from the bus said "Madam, your time is bad".
It is not only my time the time of the entire commuters of the
country will be bad if this kind of irresponsible passengers, private
bus authorities and the law makers exist.
Will the private bus authorities who make big issue over the
slightest things will take care of the passenger's life and safety
rather discussing only about the fare hikes?
Minister of Transport, please answer my question. Who is responsible
for this and against whom shall I file action? And who is going to pay
me the damages?
FATHIMA UVAISE - Matale
I am a parent who was deprived of admitting my only son to Ananda
College in 2007. I have fulfilled all the necessary requirements
according to the Education Department Circular No. 2006/20 of 2006.05.30
and have been living in my residence which is 450 yards away from Ananda
College since my birth.
At the Appeal Board I was made to understand that my son has gained
248 marks for admission but according to the Circular No. 2006/20 I
should have received 252 marks.
I am at a loss to understand how children who gained marks such as
187, 194, 196 and 198 gained admission only for the sake of residing in
close proximity while my son was rejected.
It is clear that the school has acted in contrary to Circular No.
2006/20 when children of parents who have been residents for periods
less than six years have been admitted by producing forged documents.
A great injustice has been done to me by ignoring the period of 39
years of my residentship. My son's Fundamental Rights too has been
violated by this great injustice. Please may the authorities concerned
look into this matter and grant me redress.
D. W.C.A.R.S. Tillakeratne - Colombo
Saddam Hussein is now dead (Reference DN Jan. 2). He deserved to die
but not on the day of EID UL FITR, a day of utmost significance to all
the Muslims.
It marked the end of the Haj pilgrimage, held annually in the cities
of Makkah and Madhina, Saudi Arabia. It is the American way of showing
disdain and contempt for Muslims and the religion of Islam. It should
also serve as a lesson to American lapdogs and lackeys in the Middle
East region.
The Shiite's have now got their man and their revenge. Both Sunnis
and Shiite now should concentrate on their real enemy the Americans, the
British and other occupiers of their country.
It is also an American trick to get that mobile phone video clipping
of Saddam hanging and also set up the person taunting Saddam, and now
this clipping is out worldwide, fuelling the already violent sectarian
clashes in Iraq.
So that the Iraqis would be busy fighting and killing themselves
instead of concentrating on the real enemies, the occupiers of Iraq.
ADHAM OTHMAN - via email
Merril de Silva's suggestion published on October 21 is undoubtedly
good provided it could be made to work without breakdowns.
We all know State undertakings - they are slow and notoriously
negligent of duty. They would either be on strike (demanding that more
people die!) or would arrive after the corpse has begun to decompose.
Who could then entrust the last rites of a family member to another
Funeral Secretariat?
I am not being cynical but this is what it will turn out to be if it
were ever to begin.
P. D. L. GUNAWARDANA - Battaramulla |
