• Benefits of recycling waste

• Super marketers or racketeers

• Crisis in the UNP

• 'Arthritis' after Chikungunya

• Teaching of Sri Lankan history

Benefits of recycling waste

MANY types of recyclable waste like glass, plastic bags, cardboard, paper, tin cans, plastic bottles and containers that we use are simply thrown away with ordinary garbage due to the non-availability of an effective waste recycling programme.

In many developed countries a separate bin is provided for gathering waste which can be recycled and are collected weekly or every fortnight. Such collected waste is sorted and recycled minimizing damage to the environment.

It is time that in our country also authorities take some steps to implement a waste recycling programme. This will certainly reduce the damage caused to the environment by throwing away these types of waste most of which are not bio-degradable.

The economic benefit to the country will also be more as it saves energy, money and create jobs.

We quite often see a lot of protests by environmentalists spearheaded by NGOs campaigning against environmental pollution.

Perhaps some of the resources used for such protests would be much more productive if public awareness campaigns are carried out on the benefits of recycling and if such schemes are initiated.

K. G. E. Nugegoda - via email

Super marketers or racketeers

Well I respect Mr. Rajakarunanayake's view as a customer and looking from one side of the coin. (Reference DN Jan. 20) I am an hotelier but I had the privilege of working for the largest Super Market chain in Sri Lanka for five years.

It is sad to see that the authorities or the public does not recognize the great service the Super Markets are doing. Before the Super Markets came to Sri Lanka, the Kalu Kada Mudalalis were charging whatever prices they wanted.

It is still happening in rural places in Sri Lanka. Poor customer even can't return a product nor go to the authorities, as they don't give a bill.

I know times are changing. The thugs in outstation towns threaten even the Management and staff who work for these Super Markets, when they open a Super Market in the area.

Few years ago when an outlet was opened in Aluthgama, it was attacked with petrol bombs on the first night. That is the risk these Super Marketers (whom you call racketeers) take to serve the public. Well they are not doing it free. they get paid for it by the customer.

Super Markets in Sri Lanka are caught between technology advancements and the old consumer laws in the country. They have to compete with the local wet market and groceries and still provide the comfort and convenience to the customer.

They can't charge that cost to the customer and be compete with the wet market or groceries.

However that is what they are striving to do. So they need laws that would help the Super Market trade to blossom so more and more customers will benefit and not only those in Colombo.

All their suppliers are not fully updated with barcodes or proper pricing policies. Even the local distilleries or the leading breweries change the prices.

You will notice the price on the label will remain for at least another three months until the supplier finishes the old labels. The consumer authority ignores that. I guess you know why?

It is the poor Super Market cashiers and the Store Manager who has to face the abuse and criticism. Even the Top Management can't do much to change the situation. The relevant authorities should change their old retailing laws of the country to suit this new industry.

I know the people living abroad will quote about top super market chains in foreign countries do not have these issues. Yes they don't because their laws are suitable to the modern retail trade. I would like them to look at the labels of those products. The price is not marked on the product but on the shelves.

They will have a barcode for every product. (where most consumers will not be able to read). They will only have product details and expiry for one to read. So the moment a price increase takes place on the computer system it will be changed only on the shelf.

As all products are barcoded they could have two different prices to the same product. Still all old or new product will go at the new price.

Customer will never know this. But in Sri Lanka, the product price is marked on the product. So the Super Markets have no option, as they could not afford to run two different prices due to various reasons, which is impossible to explain in a few lines.

So I would like to appeal to the general public of Sri Lanka to demand for your rights.

If you are being overcharged or not happy with any product you buy from a Super Market. But please understand that they are not trying to cheat you. They will refund your money or product at any time.

Which most corner shops will not do except a few good ones. I would like to see the Consumer Authority meeting up with the Leading Super Markets and recognizing that they have to change the laws to protect the consumer as well as the Super Market industry, which is the way to go.

But I recollect having some meetings with the Consumer Authority officials regarding these issues a couple of years back. But none of it was helpful as it was one sided. This is the law you have to obey. When was it written, who wrote it?

Does it suit the computerized changing world or modern trade? So if we are not willing to change keeping in mind the consumer and the industry, this will go on for donkey's years.

The Super Marketers who are serving the Nation will be label Super Racketeers. Still I know the Super Marketers will put their head down and focus on the challenges they have to overcome to serve the Nation, their families and reach their dreams.

To all Super Market Managements, Store Managers, Staff and Supply Chain staff you are doing a fantastic job to feed Sri Lanka. Especially at crisis situations (Tsunami/Curfews) and Holiday seasons where all others go to sleep.

You stayed up to serve Sri Lanka. We remember that! So keep up the good work! I am very proud to have worked in the Super Market industry. Long Live Super Markets in Sri Lanka.

BRIAN GOONESEKERA - New Zealand - via email

Crisis in the UNP

Actually there is no use of having any talks with a Captain of the UNP ship who is unable to sail smoothly and take the ship forward during rough seas.

So if the inmates in the ship feel that they are going to get sunk, due to the fault of the Captain of the UNP ship and if he is not allowing the co-captain to take on sailing the ship, naturally all the people in that ship will throughout life saving belts out into the sea in order to save their lives.

So now President Rajapaksa has come to the rescue to give life and strength to these people who are jumping out of that ship.

ANTHONY M. E. FERNANDO Canada - via email

'Arthritis' after Chikungunya

The Chikungunya fever affected many people in the recent past. Fortunately, the disease seems to be on the wane now. However, people are still suffering from the dreaded aftermath of this illness which is pain and swelling of the joints.

This condition is called 'arthritis' (swelling of the joints) and is a common sequel after Chikungunya fever. This arthritis has incapacitated many people and affected their lifestyles.

It is interesting to note that in Sri Lanka, an epidemic of Chikungunya fever has been reported in the Ceylon Medical Journal in 1967 by Y.E. Hemon.

Chikungunya (CHIK) virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.

The native name for the disease means 'doubled up' because of the excruciating joint pains. The joint symptoms may involve both small and large joints.

Another interesting observation made by us is that the 'Post Chikungunya arthritis' causes a recrudescence of a 'dormant arthritis' in a joint that has been previously affected by some other disease or traumatic process.

A research done by S.W. Brighton which was published in the South African Medical Journal in 1983, claims that most cases recover from the severe joint pains within several weeks but up to 12% retain some residual joint symptoms for years.

E.D. Fourie, another researcher, reported that adults suffered more severely from the chronic arthritic form of the disease than the children.

Medical evidence support the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment for this condition.

These drugs appear largely effective, with no evidence of long-term sequelae or relapse. As in any acute exacerbation of an arthritic process, a short course of steroids may well be warranted.

An open pilot study done by S.W. Brighton on 10 cases of 'Post Chikungunya Arthritis' found 50 per cent improvement with Chloroquin, a drug used for the treatment of Malaria and rheumatoid arthritis.

There are some preliminary precautions which should be exercised before treatment with Chloroquin is stared.

Unlike in Dengue fever, serious complications of Chikungunya fever are rare and fatal cases have not been documented conclusively.

However, transpalcental transmission of the Chikungunya virus has been reported and severe congenital Chikungunya disease has been described, Chikungunya infection is believed to confer life-long immunity which means that once a person gets an attack of Chikungunya, that a person would not get another attack in his or her lifetime.

If you suffer from arthritis as a result of Chikungunya fever, consult your family physician who will decide on treatment that is best for you.

DR. SARATH PARANAVITHANE, DR. SHANKARI BALABASKARA - Nugegoda

Teaching of Sri Lankan history

I was shocked to read that our history is not being taught to the children in Sri Lanka. (Reference DN Jan. 24). I learnt History from Grade 1. And later on we even learnt European History. But the Government must insist that all school chidlren are taught Sri Lanka's great history. Otherwise when will they learn it?

OLGA MENDIS - via email