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Sri Lanka is indeed fortunate to get an Executive President of your
calibre at this juncture. It is true that evil forces are trying their
level best to prevent your doing the best to the Motherland. But as a
true son of the South, you are keeping your head up and following in the
footsteps of King Dutugemunu to unify Sri Lanka in the midst of all
obstacles.
All right-thinking peace-loving people of Sri Lanka are solidly
behind you in this honourable endeavour. Terrorism in the
North,South,East or West should be eradicated. The Army, Navy, Air Force
and the Police are doing their best to achieve this end.
The country is ever grateful to all those valiant sons of Sri Lanka,
who spare no pains to make this blessed island once again free from all
evil spirits under your able guidance and leadership.
It is quite clear for any rational citizen of Sri Lanka that whilst
expected developments are in the progress throughout the country, the
welfare of the public are looked after well, and peace on earth is
receiving your utmost attention.
Disgruntled elements are trying their utmost to achieve their
ulterior motives by trying to divert your attention from your noble path
to get you involved into their wild accusations, merely to sabotage the
planned progress.
It is therefore best to ignore all such destructive criticisms and
avoid wasting time in responding to every Tom, Dick, and Harry, and to
carry on with your planned good work for the progress of Sri Lanka. All
patriotic peace-loving people are solidly behind you.
May the triple gem and all the devas bless you and protect you to
achieve your noble objectives for our common good.
D. W. Nandisena
Colombo 3
The Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has rightly questioned as
to why these vile gangs cannot name at least one person who had been
abducted or murdered for the very reason of opposing the Government?
It is hillarious to find the Junk-UNP and its treacherous leader
speaking of a beeshana yugaya, under the present Government. Do they,
find now any State sponsored killing agents similar to the ‘Black Cats’,
‘Ukussas’ etc. and killing chambers such as ‘Batalanda’ as existed in
those dark era days of Sri Lanka?
During the Junk-UNP leaders beeshana yugaya, while travelling from
Matara to Colombo, I have seen on many occasions half-burnt bodies of
youth at Dadalla (Galle), Boossa, Kosgoda and several other places on
the side of the Galle-Colombo road.
It was a common sight to see bodies floating in the Nilwala Ganga,
and find bodies at the main Matara Bus Stand roundabout and on top of
the Bandattara anicut in Matara.
We lost the son of a cousin of mine just becasuse his father was a
staunch SLFPer in New Street, Weligama. Also two youth from the backyard
of our house went missing forever because their father was a strong
SLFPer. Many of the rural youth in the age group of 16 - 30 lost their
lives during those dreadful days just because their fathers happened to
be SLFPers.
I have a Sinhala friend from Matale who lost five members of his
family. Who are they trying to fool? Or are they in the process of
re-enacting this dreadful era which is loved and cherished by the Junk-UNP
leader, with the help of the underworld elements being financed by the
drug-barons who are part of the Deshadrohee Dushitayange Kalliya (DDK
gang)?
People should be thankful to the venerable Buddhist monks from many
parts of the country for initiating an agitation against the ongoing
anti-government anti-national pro-terrorist propaganda onslaught of the
DDKs. It is appreciable that the major trade unions and several other
orgasnisations too have joined in this task.
Without leaving this agitation only on the shoulders of Buddhist
monks and a few other organisations, all Sri Lankans should make use of
every means available to defeat the filthy conspiracy of this Deshadrohi
Dushita Kalliya.
A. A. M. NIZAM
Matara
via email
I would like to bring to the notice of the authorities of the present
appalling state of the road surfaces in Colombo and its suburbs where it
is easy to count on one’s fingers, the number of good roads that provide
a smooth ride for vehicles and their occupants.
Furthermore, the situation has gone from bad to worse due to an
increase in heavy vehicular traffic which cause the roads to sink,
dislodge man-hole covers, sink storm water drain crossings thus making
it a misery for vehicle users.
At present there are so many authorities such as the CMC, RDA and
Provincial RDA heavily loaded with engineers who are supposed to
maintain the road surfaces in order to provide a smooth ride for vehicle
users.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka is trying to attract foreign investments in an
expeditious manner. however, the present state of our city and suburban
roads will be a deterrent to such efforts.
THEMIYA LOKUBANDARA HURULLE
Colombo 7
I read with great interest the article on driving in Sri Lanka, by
Anarkalie (Reference DN March 22).
I am sure that most of the tourists who visit Sri Lanka must be
terrified with the manner that the Sri Lankans drive motor vehicles.
I wonder whether media could play a major role in educating our
drivers on the correct manner of driving. Can an organisation like
Rupavahini obtain video cassettes from motor vehicle departments in
counties like the UK and telecast them at regular intervals to show the
orderely manner in which people in other countries drive their vehicles.
GUNALAL
via email
It is very heart warming to note that the Tamil people have not been
convinced by Prabhakaran’s efforts to put the blame on the Sinhala
people generally.
Karuna is one person who can call a spade a spade. It is actually an
indication that bullying is over. All the Tamil youth who got involved
could have done so for their own reasons but the fact that the
conscription is proof enough that the innocent Tamil people had been
helpless. For their survival, they had no choice but remain as loyals to
the chief.
Karuna is actually a turning point and it is a beacon of light for
the Tamil people and even veteran politicians like Anandasangaree have
taken it up seriously and in a brave maner. It may be the first time the
Tamil people living in Europe heard open criticism about the LTTE.
What is important is not the need to prove what is right and who is
right. We all know what has been wrong by now.
This land is more than enough for all the people if normalcy returns.
It depends only on one thing and it is nothing but the improved security
situation. If there are no Tamil people involved in administration or
government, call for self determination can be justified.
ANANDA ARIYARATNE
via email
Sri Lanka is reported to be home to several dozen mosquito species. A
few dozen among them are a nuisance and a smaller number transmit
diseases (malaria, filaria, dengue and chikungunya among them). We also
have the species that spreads yellow fever - but mercifully no infected
person has so far reached to spark off an epidemic.
Insects are known to be prone to diseases. An important one
effectively used against caterpillar pests of crops is a bacterium
called Bacillus thuringiensis. A particular strain B. thuringiensis
israelensis has been found to be very effective against some aquatic
mosquito larvae.
Practical use has been made of this organism in South America - most
notably in Peru. The methodology is widely published, including on the
internet.
As a technology which is effective, simple, inexpensive and
eco-friendly, it is highly attractive to us. Importantly, is also
amenable to wide public participation. Trained microbiologists and
entomologists can readily assess the effectiveness and evolve a
procedure best suited to our conditions. In outline, the method consists
of dropping a pellet (to be supplied) of the organism into a coconut
through an opening that is then sealed. Coconut water is known to be a
highly favourable mechanism for growth of micro-organisms. (Kurumba may
prove even better than a mature nut).
After an appropriate period of storage a rich culture of the
bacterium results. The contents are simply emptied into the stagnant
water that is the breeding site. A single release is said to offer good
control for a few weeks.
I am sure that starter samples of the relevant organism could be
procured through the good offices of WHO, FAO, University Departments
etc. The most appropriate procedural details can be easily worked out.
DR. U. PETHIYAGODA |
