As an ex-planter, I wish to share my views on the above subject with
those in the trade. It is customary to blame the poor condition of the
plantations for the failure to give the desired results.
It is also common to attribute same to bad soil, weather, pests and
diseases etc. which no doubt has a bearing on the plantations.
However, while considering the above, it is also necessary to check
on the administration of such plantations, which due to glaring lapses
and shortcomings prevalent, may not reflect the true potential of such
plantations, which should be correctly identified.
Thereafter, immediate permanent remedial solutions should be taken
for the correction of such areas, paving the way for sudden unforeseen
improvements, which otherwise would continue to remain smothered by
reasons not applicable for same at all, thereby suppressing the actual
potential of the plantations being reflected.
Once the above is achieved, it is necessary to have a constant
personal check, to ensure that the above shortcomings detected do not
reoccur once again, thereby convincing oneself of the true facts which
has led these plantations to the above unsatisfactory positions, thereby
preventing focusing one's attention elsewhere on areas beyond one's
control.
Finally, it is essential to mention, that unless plantations are
properly managed and cared for, one cannot expect satisfactory results,
which depends mainly on the cultivation practices adopted, apart from
favourable weather conditions on which depends the above.
The above is necessary to maintain the plantations' healthy and in
prime condition to deliver the maximum produce of good quality in
abundance, to maintain the owners happy and content, thereby increasing
their bank balances.
In addition to the above, if intercropping and animal husbandry could
also be introduced, one could enhance the above position further, making
maximum use of the land, thereby killing two birds with one stone, all
of which if correctly undertaken would enable a few extra mouths to be
fed, thereby converting ailing plantations to healthy and profitable
ones, making the administration of same a pleasant one as well.
Maintaining a reasonable stand of the main crop is also recommended
if the above position is to be maintained accordingly. Expenditure
should not be a problem with the prevalent high prices available for
same.
TOMMY WANIGASINGHE,
Kurunegala
Medical doctors have been in the news recently more for the wrong
reasons with one being accused of murdering a young woman within a
hospital and another of forcible injecting a drug to a student nurse.
Then there was the row between doctors and nurses at the Peradeniya
Teaching Hospital. This begs the question - can such bad eggs be weeded
out before they are put into the incubator?
Many studies both local and in other countries have shown that
cognitive ability as assessed by A/L Grades, Grade point average or
equivalents while predicting ability to perform well in the basic
science components of the medical curriculum neither predict how well a
student will perform in clinical examinations nor how they will perform
as doctors.
Moreover those entering on the basis of marks gained at the third
attempt are at much greater risk of failing the examinations with some
having to leave without a degree. Sri Lanka is probably only one of a
few countries where students are admitted to the medical faculties based
solely on a cognitive assessment.
That too after an examination which still lays great emphasis on
learning as is evidenced by flourishing tutories.
Can we not use measures of extremely important non-cognitive
attributes in the selection process? Such measures take many forms such
as structured interviews, principal's reports, evidence of an interest
in health care such as membership of the Red Cross/Crescent, St John's
Ambulance Brigade, voluntary service in hospitals etc.
Student admission to many degree programmes in Sri Lankan
universities do require the applicant to pass an aptitude test. In this
regard the new Uva Wellassa University seems to be ahead of others.
Yet these are not used when selecting medical students. Is this
because it is a political hot potato?
Empathy is frequently cited as an important attribute in physicians
and some groups have expressed a desire to measure empathy either at
selection for medical school or during medical (or postgraduate)
training.
Tests of Emotional Intelligence (EI) testing dimensions of maturity,
compassion, morality, sociability and calm disposition demonstrate the
ability to measure attributes that indicate desirable personal and
interpersonal skills in medical school applicants.
It is up to the experts to come up with the test/s which are likely
to help produce a more caring, compassionate doctor capable of working
smoothly in a team comprised of not only doctors but allied health
professionals.
Such tests could possibly reduce the number of bad eggs.
A.S. DISSANAYAKE,
Maningamuwa
I would like to draw the attention of the Director of Army Welfare
with regard to providing holiday quarters for retired commissioned
officers and their families. I request the Director Welfare to explore
the possibility in doing this from a welfare angle.
In support of my request, I wish to point out that the retired
gazetted officers of the Police Department already enjoy this privilege,
having holiday bungalows in Kandy, Anuradhapura and Nuwara Eliya.
If this privilege already exists in the army, I kindly request the
Director of Army Welfare to publish in the newspapers the rules and
conditions with regard to allocation, for the information of all retired
officers.
A RETIRED COMMISSIONED OFFICER
Last week there were several news items in online Sri Lankan news
papers that some scientists attached to the IFS, Kandy and their Sri
Lankan collaborators in the USA are allegedly involved in a million
dollar 'gene smuggling' racket. The news also reported that one
scientist was caught at the airport.
These are genes from indigenous plants of Sri Lanka and they are to
be made use to bring millions of dollars to foreign companies. These
belong to the people in every corner of Sri Lanka.
This is sheer greed for money, the greed that has taken away any
sense of moral values in these people. These are people who have been
educated free in Sri Lanka and given the first stepping stone to come up
in life through free education.
No matter where they live now, they owe a big gratitude to their
motherland for that free education that brought them to where they are
today.
This is a very sad situation and we should not overlook this
incident. We need to make people see that this has happened and how it
affects this country. Let the younger generation see this as an
extremely unethical act.
Greed for dollars and loss of any sense of ethics is fast becoming
the norm in some, today.
C. GUNATILAKA,
USA
Regarding this problem my humble suggestions are:
1. Let us infuse into our mothers, sisters, wives, sisters-in-laws,
nieces, etc. to be decently dressed without exposing attractive parts of
our body, to avoid temptation, in going out of our homes for jobs,
business, travel, etc.
2. Let us allocate separate seats for women in public transport and
'women only' buses at a slightly higher charge.
3. To make sexual harassment a severely punishable offence as in
India.
4. To facilitate action to report any event of sexual harassment to
the authorities through the mail and the police or an empowered officer
to follow the culprits in plain clothes and take necessary action
according to the law.
5. Hold drivers and conductors responsible for the indecent conduct
of commuters inside the bus. Ladies and couples are to be allocated
seats in the front and not in rear of the buses to prevent sex perverts
making the rear seats reserved as 'Vanacharayanta Pamanaye' as seen in
most buses.
RILA
Most of the people try to live beyond their means and forget the
practicality of life. While other countries focus for sustainability,
resource pooling etc. to economise the Cost of Living, we struggle just
to keep our heads above the water.
Our healthy lifestyle is ruined. We don't admire anything of our own,
but if it is foreign it is welcomed with open arms.
If you see the crowds in any of the private hospitals, you may note
how sick our people are.
This is because they haven't practiced the simple healthy way of
life.
SUNETHRA
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