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At the beginning of the new year two pictures in the newspapers
attracted the eyes of the readers. One was that of the Archbishop
flanked by the respected senior Buddhist clergy at an almsgiving to
monks hosted by his Lordship.
The other was also that of the Archbishop together with Ven. Galeboda
Gunawansa, his Lordship as the chief guest at the trade exhibition of
the Skills Developmnent Centre of the the Sri Jinaratana temple at
Gangaramaya.
This type of religious amity is what the country wants. Many
religious leaders and dignitaries very often express lofty platitudes on
the need for religious amity but very little happens on the ground.
This message which has been admirably shown by the Archbishop should
be emulated by other religious dignitaries and should also be displayed
at the grassroot levels in towns and villages where joint action on many
matters is possible.
If this spirit prevails instead of so called unethical conversions,
there won't be a need for any anti-coversion legislation or burning of
places of religious worship.
NIMAL BHARETI,
Mount Lavinia, via email
On. 11.07.2006 an amount of Rs. 667,941.50 was credited to my
account. Wanting to know which of my kins abroad has remitted this
kindly sum I rushed to the bank, only to be told by the polite officer
that it's a 'misposting'. Again on 12.10.2006 Rs. 119340.60 was
misposted.
A further sum of Rs. 862,830.00 was credited on 16.10.06, again a mis-posting.
Mistakes do occur. But the bank never fail to debit all kinds of system
generated charges - all in the name of making profit. And the bank
little realizes that the customer is at the receiving end.
The state of affairs of these banks being so and the pensions
department not informing the amount remitted every month one wonders
whether we get the amount due to us. We have to wait for that month and
a week to receive the statement of accounts.
On top of this, if the salaries of public servants are paid through
the banks we can imagine the mess it will create or are we deliberately
sowing the seeds for another well planned scam? My guess is as good as
yours. God save the country!
ZAIN FAHMY,
Matale
A well established nursing home in Colombo has come under scrutiny
for dubious treatment of many patients. Recently a patient came to me
for a 3rd opinion, after getting a 2nd opinion from another eye surgeon,
after being told by the doctors of this private hospital, that she has
cataracts in both eyes and need surgery immediately costing about Rs.
100,000.
Since her vision was perfectly normal, she looked for a 2nd and then
a 3rd opinions, to be told that she does not even have a trace of
cataract!
Another lady who went in for a routine medical check-up was told to
get her eyes operated to prevent glaucoma, and surgery for a lump in the
breast according to the mammogram, both of which were proved to be
absolutely false statements by relevant specialists in the field.
Another 16-years-old child who had a headache for three days was put
on an anti-hypertensive drug for lifetime, after assuring that he has no
hypertension.
The mother, being concerned, went for a second opinion, only to find
the child not needing any medicine other than just pain killers.
This hospital, which in the initial stages earned high regards
notably about the treatment also for exemplary customary care, seems to
be going down in diagnostic acumen - or going up in making money.
As an Eye surgeon, my advice is: If any doctor asks you to get
operated while your vision is good, please seek a second opinion - you
may save lakhs of money and also may save your eyes.
DR. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI,
Dehiwela
Recently I read a news item that appeared in a Sunday newspaper under
the title "Failure to stand results in suspension". I was surprised that
we still have the Pukka Sahibs mentality in Sri Lanka, an independent
country since 1948.
This reminds me I was employed in one of the oldest mercantile
companies in Sri Lanka then Ceylon in 1946 situated then at the
Chartered Bank Building - 2nd Floor an incident that is still fresh in
my mind.
There was a young man in his teens who was recruited as a clerical
hand to the company and not even a week passed, this incident happened.
One morning whilst in the lift, with our colonial masters coming to
work, he got out first from the lift and he was not aware then the
Managing Director was also in the lift.
The Managing Director was annoyed and ordered him to be sacked
immediately.
The offence committed was without giving the Managing Director to
come out of the lift first, which was the usual practice during colonial
days of the Pukka Sahib's.
In another incident this same Managing Director when a senior clerk
applied for a distress loan of Rs. 75 then, since his wife was expecting
a baby.
This Manager had the audacity to write in the loan application form
"Don't bring beggars to this world" and refused the loan. This applicant
self respecting man had no choice, tored the application form in front
of the MD and resigned immediately from the company and left.
These are a few incidents, how Pukka Sahibs treated our people, hired
and fired.
In my opinion, the Chairman of a certain private bank of Sri Lanka,
is not a suitable person to hold office in the bank and win the
confidence of the employees and work as a team for the success of the
bank.
These incidents lead the employees of the company to join the
independent trade union (CMU) to fight for their rights.
F. A. RODRIGO SATHIANATHAN,
Australia, via email
The lecturers in the above course at the Advanced Technological
Institute, Dehiwala, have held various posts continuously in the State
Sector since 1974. In addition to holding full responsibility as regards
the agenda and practical activities of the above course, they have
fulfilled the necessary Post Graduate requirements, in addition to the
subject requirements of the first degree.
Therefore not enrolling students for the year 2006 - for the ongoing
course and also deciding not to enroll students for the year 2007, it is
obvious that the invaluable services they have rendered to the State
have gone unrecognised.
Today, when there is a greater awakening to, and greater awareness of
teacher gratitude, it is indeed a great injustice, for them to thus
leave the career after 32 years of dedicated service in a sense of
frustration and disappointment.
Furthermore, the inability of the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced
Technological Education, to further utilize the services of the present
lecturing staff who are equipped with diverse skills relevant to the
subject area, is a wanton wastage of a valuable human resource. Let me
further elucidate on the course underlying this state of affairs.
The National Diploma Course in Home Economics which was inaugurated
in 1976 was brought under the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced
Technological Education in 1997 and it continued unchanged till 2003.
Since 2003, the designation has been changed to a course of National
Diploma in Nutrition and Health Science. Diploma holders who have
successfully completed the National Diploma in Home Economics Course are
at present manning the teaching of Home Economics at the GCE A/L in
State schools.
As a result of limiting teacher appointments to Colleges of
Education, on the commendation of the World Bank, the then prevailing
National Diploma in Home Economics had to be revised and in the year
2000 new courses were started to suit other institutions relevant to the
field. But as vast sums had to be invested, only a few of the courses
were conducted.
As teacher appointments were limited to Diploma Holders of Colleges
of Education from 2003, this course had to be amended to National
Diploma in Nutrition and Health Science. But from the discussions held
so far, it has been revealed that this course is to be wound up
completely from 2007.
Of the students following the GCE A/L Home Economics as only a
limited number (about 30) are selected for the Colleges of Education,
closing down the only tertiary education course available to the rest is
a grave injustice meted out to them.
It is also clear that by this move, both human resources as well as
full laboratory facilities complete with physical resources are made to
go waste. Therefore it is the responsibility of the authorities
concerned to set up alternative courses for those students.
As requested by the Advanced Technological Institute, they have
already drawn up drafts - for these courses.
There are:
1. National Diploma Course in Early Childhood Education
2. National Diploma in Catering and Hospitality Management
3. National Diploma Course in Food Science and Technology
By drawing the due attention to the above facts, it is requested that
the necessary action be taken to avoid the injustice done to the
students who are following Home Economics in the secondary school and to
the relevant lecturing staff.
A. C.,
Maharagama |
