• New one way road system in Colombo

• No one wants LTTE

• Ajith Samaranayake's writings

• Heart attacks common during festive season
  
  New one way road system in Colombo

SINCE recently we notice that formerly tried out and failed one way road system back on our road network again.

Somebody who has seen this type of broad highways abroad may have thought of this system, without realising the infrastructure we are having compared to those countries where that works well.

If we are to benefit from this sort of system, first of all we should have to have a proper network of road system with overhead flyers to overcome the congestion caused by roadways which cross these new broad one ways.

Also we have to have a road network, so that the congestion we plan to overcome by this system can be continued right throughout the city or at least until the next main entry point to the city is encountered; i.e. the points at which Galle Road, Negombo Road, Kandy Road, etc., meet city limits.

Also there should be a prior plan without closing various roads on various days, e.g., the vehicles moving towards Galle Road via Baudhdhaloka Mawatha were unnecessarily blocked at the Duplication Road junction on several days.

I am unaware what the situation is at this time of writing. (These decisions should be taken by some intellectual considering the possible consequences before hand without trying out the trial and error method.)

And when we reach Galle Road from landside lanes the road signs to direct vehicles towards Galle side are still there.

If somebody obeys that road sign and turns to that side and meets with an accident who will be responsible for that? I would like to suggest a few effective probably better ways of combating this traffic congestion:

The traffic light system has to be organised in such a way that when we travel along a highway (considering the fact that majority of the vehicles travel along the highway compared to the number of vehicles turning to subsidiary lanes or adding on to the highway from the sidelanes) we can adjust the timings such as when we reach the next signal post from the previous one at the average speed limit within the city, it should be lit green.

This will ease the congestion on the roads, utilize the road to the maximum with minimal road idle time and motorists won't speed up unnecessarily when they learn that if they do that they will have to wait at the red signal light anyway unless they adhere to usual city limit speeds.

This was quite opposite along the new extension along the Baseline Road towards Kirullapone from Borella where we had to stop at each and every signal post for the red signal with all the vehicles stuck at these causing heavy congestion and at the same time most of the roads being underutilised which I wonder whether improved a little bit now, but can be improved tremendously with the proposed system.

Another way to improve it further is to have these signal posts connected to a Central Control Unit, so that depending on the direction of traffic congestion the time of the day, durations of green/red being lit up can be altered in a conducive manner, so that the congestion is relieved through that only, rather than Police officers controlled signaling which will lead to unnecessary chaos due to motorists not seeing them (that should be why the signal posts are made taller than the usual height of human beings, so that every motorist can see that well ahead) and thus trying to obey signal lights whereas the motorists who see traffic officer's signals obeying them leading to accidents.

In the long run, motorists will become immune to red light and disregard that when they get the habit of proceeding while red light is on, which is promulgated by traffic officers themselves (not an uncommon happening even now.)

Then only a proportion of presently deployed Police officers (who sometimes actually increase the congestion unless they are witty enough - so very much subject variable) to ease traffic congestion can be utilized to deal with the motorists breaking road rules, whereas the rest can be utilized to curb the perpetrators responsible for the rising crime in the country.

DR. LALITH SENEVIRATNE - Maharagama

No one wants LTTE

I think it is time for the terrorists and Prabhakaran to surrender and face the consequences. (Reference DN Oct. 9) You can run but you can't hide. Your Balasingham repented before his demise.

The Tamils had enough of your lies and torture. And the Sinhalese, Tamils, Malays and others are now united.

Terrorism is over. No one wants you!

Eddy - via email

Ajith Samaranayake's writings

Although I did not know Ajith Samaranayake personally, I was extremely saddened at his death as I am an ardent admirer of his work.

His penetrating analysis of issues and nuances of langauge were of superior quality and provided me with much enjoyment. Every article of his that I read was highly educative and evocative.

As Brian Aldiss said: "There are two kinds of writers: Those that make you think, and those that make you wonder". Ajith was both types rolled into one. I wish the work of such talented writers as Ajith Samaranayake, Reggi Siriwardene, Tarzie Vittachi and Mervyn de Silva are perpetuated through the publication of volumes dedicated to them. If this were to happen, I would be one of the first to rush for copies.

DR. RUWANTISSA ABEYRATNE - Canada, via email

Heart attacks common during festive season

ACCORDING to my clinical experience as a specialist when I was serving the Institute of Cardiology, National Hospital, Colombo (1973-1996) the incidence of myocardial infraction (heart attacks) was quite common during the festive season (late December and early January).

This high incidence of myocardial infracts during the festive season has also been documented in Western countries such as UK and USA.

When I was doing my C-plan Fellowship in Cardiology in the University Department of Cardiology, Infirmary, Manchester (1971-1973) the Royal Infirmary Coronary Care Unit (CCU) could not cope up with the increased number of myocardial infract patients referred to infirmary CCU for admission, during the festive season.

I was told by my cardiology colleagues at the Royal Infirmary, that, this high incidence of infracts had been quite common in UK according to their experience as consultant cardiologists.

When I was undergoing training in Advanced Cardiology at the National Heart Hospital, London, my cardiology teachers at the Heart Hospital too informed us that myocardial infracts are common in London during late December and early January.

As far as I am aware, the high incidence of heart attacks during the festive season is due to following reasons:

a. People (Catholics, Christians and some Buddhists and others) especially those living in the urban areas, eat too much of rich high fat food during the festive season.

b. Certain people especially those who have been consuming alcohol in moderation, drink too much of alcohol during the festive season.

c. Some people smoke too much during the festive season. Thanks to the present Government, this unhealthy habit is now limited.

d. Some people 'strain' too much after consuming heavy meals preceded by taking strong drinks such as whisky, brandy and arrack.

It is noteworthy that strenuous exercise after meals especially after 'heavy' dinner can precipitate angina and heart attacks in those with coronary risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, obesity and strong family history of heart attacks.

There is a misconception among some Sri Lankans that alcohol dilates the coronary arteries and prevents heart attacks even in those who take heavy meals and smoke and take strenuous exercise.

As mentioned earlier, strenuous an unaccustomed exercise such as dancing after a heavy dinner preceded by boozing can precipitate a major heart attack.

It is common knowledge among doctors that only about 30 per cent of those who get major heart attacks reach hospital alive.

e. The chilly temperature during December and early January may contribute to high incidence of heart attacks during the festive season.

f. Lack of sufficient rest, lack of proper sleep and stress during the festive season may be another contributory factors for the high incidence of infracts. If you are a middle aged or elderly person you should have about six hours of good sleep at night.

Majority of patients who get admitted to our hospitals with chest pain have never gone to a doctor for a check-up prior admission to an Intensive Care Unit.

A regular check-up (at least once a year) by your GP or by your physician is a must if you are a male over 40 years of age especially if you have a strong family history of heart attacks.

Your GP will arrange for an ECG, blood sugar and blood cholesterol test after checking your weight, blood pressure and will give you the correct advice.

In conclusion, my advice to all Sri Lankans (Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists etc.) is;

(a) don't eat too much of rich food especially at night, if you are a middle aged or elderly person,

(b) don't booze too much

(c) take enough rest

(d) don't strain after heavy meals

(e) don't smoke and

(f) don't stop the medication prescribed by your physician if you have already been taking medication for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) hypertension or diabetes.

Always carry a few glycerol trinitrate (GNT) tablets with you if you attend late night parties during the festive season if you are a heart patient.

D. P. Atukorale - Colombo 7