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Apparently, for this perennial problem there’s no permanent solution
in sight. Presently, in some areas electrified fences are installed
which required constant maintenance at high cost.
The farmers used various other methods to scare away elephants, such
as lighting crackers or firing shotguns to the air, but sometimes
injuring them severely. Somewhat good news I came across recently.
A research has revealed that noise of the disturbed bees keep
elephants at bay. The researchers have found that a significant number
of elephants fled on hearing the sound of angry bees.
Also, they have responded to bee play back sound to some extent.
The researchers include Lucy E. King of the Department of Zoology,
University of Oxford in Oxford and Save the Elephants in Nairobi; Iain
Douglas-Hamilton of Save the Elephants in Nairobi; and Fritz Vollrath of
the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford in Oxford and Save the
Elephants in Nairobi.
As the studies are still in a research level, we can take a cue from
this news and make our own experiments by providing farmers with bee
keeping know how. The clearing of jungles in wildlife areas by farmers
is the main course of this conflict.
If farmers are encouraged for bee keeping and bee farming and place
beehives strategically around their farms, thus, keeping the elephants
away and at the same time increasing their income through the sale of
honey. The Ministry of Environmental Development and environmentalists,
please take note.
If African elephants have responded to this strategy, there is no
reason why their Asian cousins would not in a similar manner.
JAYASENA COORAY –
Nugegoda
Surprise is a critically important principle of all types of warfare,
both conventional and non-conventional, but experience has consistently
shown that this is one principle which is regularly and most often
neglected, leading, invariably to unexpected and, at times, disastrous
situations. This is obviously especially so, in non-conventional and
anti-terrorist operations.
That the principle of surprise is vitally important in anti-terrorist
operations was clearly established by two recent happenings.
When the LTTE attacked the isolated and small detachment at Yala, the
Armed Forces, the Police and the country at large were taken completely
by surprise.
This complacency was obviously so in Yala, far away from the areas of
action.
This is a clear indication of complacency and of forgetting the
principle of surprise. Not only must the principle of surprise be
exploited to one’s own advantage, against the enemy, but one must also
be alive to the fact that the enemy may use it to his advantage, at any
time, when least expected, if complacency is allowed to set in.
It is now abundantly clear, that the attack at Yala was not only
carried out by the LTTE taking advantage of the principle of surprise,
but also as a diversionary attack, as is now proved by their subsequent
attack on the SLAF base at Anuradhapura, to achieve greater surprise.
With the attack on the Yala detachment, nearly the total attention of
the Security Forces was diverted and concentrated to that area, and
whilst this was happening, the LTTE implemented their well planned and
coordinated attack on the Anuradhapura SLAF Airbase.
What are the lessons for the Security Forces from this episode? First
and foremost, a complete reappraisal of the security plans, arrangements
and resources of every single location, from the smallest to the largest
detachment and base, verifying the adequacies of all resources and
plans, modifying and updating these as appropriate.
Also, a continuous updating and review plan to be implemented
periodically, from time to time, without permitting complacency to set
in.
The need for these review plans to be implemented, at different
levels, by those in command at the different levels, has to be
emphasised, so that the process will be continuous and complacency and
situations being taken for granted will never arise in the future.
In a nutshell, expect the unexpected, and remember that you are
continuously under surveillance and observation, even though not
apparent.
If this fact is remembered and happens, the vital and critical
principle of surprise, will invariably, be observed.
MAJOR GENERAL GRATIAEN SILVA VSV (Retd)
Walking into the British School auditorium for the first time, to see
EQUUS, I found the building chosen for this drama was not at all ‘mature
audience’ friendly.
Firstly, parking was difficult and in the rain, not near the hall. In
a strange neighbourhood and an unlit lane with no security around.
The main doors were closed - why I could not fathom, and the approach
was from the side. We had to climb two flights of steep stairs, with
only one entrance to a large auditorium.
Still another climb to the seats. After charging quite an amount for
the tickets, the air-conditioning was knocked off or considerably
lessened, during the whole production. It was quite a warm audience
watching a hot production.
Before the play got off we were warned about mobiles, and a new
addition, not to munch food during the performance.
However, during the interval we were approached by an usher and
warned not to partake in the auditorium, but to get up and walk down the
steps, out of the only entrance and then have any food.
Then to get back again, within 15 minutes, the half of which had
already passed. This was a 3-hour play, with another hour minimum for
travelling to and from your home.
I could not see the relevance of not having any bites during the
interval, which did not disturb the play. As it is, there were no eats
on sale, so we had brought a sandwich from our homes.
To compensate, the production itself was of an extremely high
standard. Each person in the cast was superb.
We look forward to more, but a little understanding for us mature
people please.
AMITHA JAYEWARDENE –
Colombo
There are two sets of pensioners. One set, the privileged lot who
retired after 2006, are in receipt of their pensions calculated on the
current salary scales.
The second set, the unfortunate lot are receiving their pensions
calculated on the last salary scales i.e. on the salary scales just
prior to 2006. If the pension of a particular pre 2006 pensioner is Rs.
10,000. The pension of a post 2006 pensioner of the very same status as
that of the above pre 2006 pensioner is in the range of Rs. 17,000.
No one has done anything about this glaring disparity including the
Pensioners’ Association. If the Pensioners’ Association takes this up
with the Government and see that all pensioners are treated alike
irrespective of their date of retirement, then all the pre 2006
pensioners will join the Pensioners’ Association.
All major political parties during election time pledged to rid
themselves of this discrimination but up to now it has not been done.
I hope justice will be done to the pre 2006 pensioners at least in
this budget and save us from misery now that the prices of everything
around us are continually going up.
PRE 2006 PENSIONER -
Trincomalee
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