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It is heartening to note the massive development strategy planned for
the coconut industry in Sri Lanka with an investment of some Rupees 48
billion! I really want to congratulate the Government for embarking on a
project of this nature. (Reference DN May 26) However, I have a few
suggestions to make having been a coconut planter, myself.
Two of the most effective means of increasing production,
particularly in the short term, are the application of fertilizer and
conservation of water. Unfortunately, both these cultural practices are
not happening at an optimum level. Fertilizer is expensive while its
application costs money in terms of labour and its management while the
construction of drains and bunds have also become very expensive.
As a consequence of this, production has been poor with poorer
profits for re-investments setting in vicious cycle of low productivity
lower profits - lower re-investments and resulting in even lower
productivity!
Therefore it is exceedingly important to address this vicious cycle
in any development strategy. The question then is how? There are a few
things that the planners may want to consider. One of them is to look at
the possibilities of mixed cropping under coconuts.
Of course this is happening in the Wet Zone with crops such as
pineapple, bananas, yams, coffee and in certain areas with tea! All
these crops bring in additional cash flows while the soil is also
enhanced with nutrients and together with soil and water conservation,
the productivity of the coconut crop is indirectly enhanced.
However, a larger extent of coconut is found in the dryer areas such
as parts of the North Western Province, Central Province, North Central
Province, North Eastern Province, Southern Province and in Uva Province.
Finding suitable crop mixes for these areas with coconut, as the major
crop, would be a challenge.
Therefore, a part of the planned investment should be directed for
research and field trials to identify such crops.
One other area of importance is to replace the old trees with better
hybrids. This requires the establishment of a series of highly
productive nurseries for seedlings production. Part of the investment
should also be used to help assist producers for construction of tube
wells through the provision of development subsidies through the
commercial banks for greater efficiency.
The value adding chain needed to be strengthened with the
implementation of quality management practices at various stages of
production, processing and marketing.
Question of increased usage of fertilizers may perhaps be addressed
through by having suitable livestock enterprises on coconut properties
where there are no social or religious barriers for such projects.
SIRI GAMLATH
I whole-heartedly rubber-stamp the views expressed by R.G. Perera on
the above subject (DN May 25).
The staggering 63.18 per cent failures in English at the last O/L
exam is blamed on the incompetence of most of the present day teachers.
While endorsing this view, I wish to state that this is doubtlessly due
to these teachers having had their education in the Swabhasha medium.
The bilingual method they adopt to teach the language is repugnant to
the direct method of teaching advocated in the lectures imparted at
training colleges. While on my rounds as an in service Advisor, I viewed
in absolute disgust and horror, how a particular lady teacher on the
verge of retirement was teaching the 'Present Perfect Tense' using past
tense pointers like 'yesterday', 'last evening' etc.
I was compelled to cry halt to the lesson and commence teaching
myself to clear up the mess. So you can imagine the kind of teaching
blunders the young teachers could be making!
To be fair by the panel setting the papers, today's O/L English paper
is not what it used to be when blind guesses or 'tik tuck took' method
helped the candidates.
I'm not surprised by the unpardonable spelling mistakes on the board
captured on camera by your writer because the words Tuition and Grammar
are spelt 'Teuton' and 'Grammer' by the very tuition shops supposed to
be teaching grammar.
BANDULA M. ABEYEWARDENE,
Battaramulla
The Minster's observation is very likely correct. (Reference DN May
23). No matter what type of leave is taken, this is a sad state of
affairs.
However, this is only a symptom and root causes are in teacher
recruitment, deployment and promotional system. The accountability of
teacher is weak. These were much discussed yet adequate steps are not
taken. There again the main reason for this, is that teachers are now
under the Provincial Administrations and one may be surprised to know
that most of the Provinces cannot even tell which teacher is serving
where. It's a mess.
Sri Lanka has a large excess of teachers and at the same time a
severe shortage of teachers for some subjects. Too many teachers of the
wrong kind have to be addressed. Teacher pupil ratio is 1:20. There are
1800 schools having less than 100 students and the teacher pupil ratio
is 1:10. There are 258 schools where the teacher pupil ratio is 1:4. So,
what could the teachers do even if they are present at school?
There are a few schools where you have more teachers than students.
Still the government appointed another 3,000 teachers, more graduates to
solve unemployment problem. Yet we take trainees to Teachers' colleges
of the same kind where there is excess.
The teachers' unions, some extremist political parties are not
allowing the Ministry to address these issues to bring our school system
to function effectively and efficiently.
The Ministry of Education has developed a new national policy
framework and we hope that it will be implemented soon and resolve these
issues. There is no point of showing the symptoms if corrective steps
addressing the root cause are not taken as a matter of urgency.
UPALI M. SEDERE,
via email
I refer to the letter of Premadasa Periyapperuma of the 22nd. I think
Bypass Coronary Surgery is no status symbol but it improves the quality
of life. My own experiences herewith.
I had my first heart attack at 58 years. This was followed by a
silent one after a hemithyroidectomy two years later. No pain since then
till ten years later when I developed severe pains coming on and off.
The diagnosis was unstable Angina made after about a week since onset.
The pain came several times a day and it was so severe that I had to
consent to a bypass. Earlier, I used to say that even if someone offered
me the money for a bypass I would have refused. Had I not done this, I
would have been dead at 70 years.
This completely improves the quality of life and I don't think anyone
should refuse it.I trust that Mr. Periyapperuma and others heed this. I
had my bypass in 1998.
C. C.,
via email
It was tried once and failed. Eight deaths were reported due to this.
Inconvenience and hassle was the order of the day.
Schoolchildren, the general public and all vehicles had to cross the
railway line in all three approach roads, namely Deiyannewala,
Suduhumpola and Heeressagala to either get to William Gopallawa Mawatha
or to Peradeniya Road. These by roads are not meant for a continuous
flow of heavy traffic. Every three hours the railway gates are closed
for the trains to pass.
Traffic builds up from both sides, and once the railway gates are
open, it's helter skelter. With the one way system in operation speeding
was the order of the day. Three abreast and sometimes four abreast. The
public are terrified to cross the road or even walk on the road as they
are minus the pavement.
If this system is re-implemented, the curse of the silently suffering
masses would be the order of the day. Whether the scheme functions from
one round or other, round traffic congestion is inevitable during school
hours.
Hope sanity would prevail and the good for nothing scheme abandoned.
Hope our rational minded President would intervene in this matter and
once and for all close the chapter.
S. Jayasinghe,
Kandy
Kandy is infested of brothels run under the guise of Guest Houses?
The open secret is that couples are given rooms for a short period and
they don't seem to have any problem as they run openly. This has become
an open secret to all residents in the Anniwatte area.
The three-wheeler drivers who are the middle men in this activity,
bring customers to these houses of ill fame.
The effects of this is that many unsolved robberies have taken place
at Anniwatte and no one seems to be bothered because robberies have
become an accepted affair? The law abiding citizens helplessly watch in
disgust and great frustration especially to see young girls in school
uniform patronizing these dens?
I appeal to the authorities concern to take stern action to curb this
menace, which has spread to other areas of the hill capital, which has
been declared as the sacred city of Sri Lanka.
LI KWANG SHU,
Kandy |
