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We are a group of patriotic senior citizens - all retired
professionals. We are highly perturbed with the irresponsible statement
made by the Ambassador for Germany. This statement is that the policy of
the Sri Lankan Government should be to give priority to the development
of important national issues such as education, hospital etc., and not
spend money on the war against terrorism as this expenditure will slow
down development of national assets.
In other words eradicating terrorism should be given less priority.
Acts of terrorism in Sri Lanka, bus loads of men, women and children
blown up, Buddhist priests murdered in their temples, pilgrims murdered
in sacred shrines. These acts of terrorism and similar acts of terrorism
in other countries as well have been internationally condemned
officially. Terrorism is a virulent decease.
The International Community openly condemns acts of terrorism and
encourages the effort of the Sri Lankan Government to eradicate
terrorism. The Ambassador apparently thinks differently. The Ambassador
cannot be blamed as such. His attitude may have developed by his growing
up in Germany in an environment of Deuschtlandt Uber Alles Germany above
all.
The principle was highest priority to develop the German nation as a
super nation above all other nations. Systematically this principle was
implemented before and during World War II. That is systematically all
adverse factors were removed without an iota of human sympathy.
Thousands of Jews including German Jews - Gypsies were gassed very
systematically.
We are also very surprised that in Sri Lanka also there are leading
Sri Lankans giving priority to their political and other interests and
criticising the President for efficiently and with determination
pursuing the Military effort to give Sri Lankans safety from terrorism.
However we are glad that many associations and many Government
Parliamentarians have also taken up this issue of eradicating terrorism.
I.e. we are all objecting to well planned subversive activities against
the President. Well planned because this is not the first time such
attempts have been made.
We proudly note the President’s and Prime Minister’s absolute
confidence in our Armed Services and the confidence in the public of Sri
Lanka recognising the effort to ensure us safety from terrorism.
Yes, we all agree, that we do not need international assistance in
any form though we thank them for any offer.
V.R.K. DE SILVA
Hokandara South
There has recently been some concern over the possibility that broken
CFLs can be an important source of exposures to mercury, a toxic metal
and a key component of Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs). Although
mercury is a toxic pollutant, mercury exposures from broken CFLs are not
likely to harm you and your family.
This is due to several factors, including the amount and duration of
your exposures and the specific type of mercury that you are exposed to.
CFLs contain relatively small amounts of mercury - EU estimates this
amount to be 4-5 milligrams (mg) in a typical CFL. A spill of this
amount of mercury is not likely to present any excess risk to you or
your family. A quick back-of-the-envelope calculation shows why. (Note:
This example is meant only as a quick and dirty example. It is not
intended to represent every case nor every situation.) For example, we
could imagine the following scenario:
A CFL containing 5 mg of mercury breaks in your child’s bedroom that
has a volume of about 25 m3 (which corresponds to a medium sized
bedroom). The entire 5 mg of mercury vaporizes immediately (an unlikely
occurrence), resulting in an airborne mercury concentration in this room
of 0.2 mg/m3.
This concentration will decrease with time, as air in the room leaves
and is replaced by air from outside or from a different room. As a
result, concentrations of mercury in the room will likely approach zero
after about an hour or so. Under these relatively conservative
assumptions, this level and duration of mercury exposure is not likely
to be dangerous, as it is lower than the EU Safety and Health standard
of 0.05 mg/m3 of metallic mercury vapor averaged over eight hours.
To equate these values, we could estimate the average indoor airborne
mercury concentration for 8 hours, beginning post-spill at an estimated
starting value of 0.2 mg/m3 and decreasing from there. If one assumes
the air exchanges completely in one hour (a fairly standard assumption),
then the 8-hour average concentration would be 0.025 mg/m3.
Even though mercury from the broken CFL is not likely to be
dangerous, it would be wise to take extra precautions to minimise
mercury exposures.
Giving correct guidelines about the specific steps that people should
take to clean up mercury in the event that a CFL breaks in is an
important issue.
Simply follow below steps to avoid risk.
(1) Immediately open windows to reduce mercury concentrations inside
your home.
(2) Do not touch the spilled mercury.
(3) Clean up the broken CFL glass carefully and immediately (but not
with your hands or a vacuum cleaner).
(4) Wipe the affected area with a paper towel to remove all glass
fragments and mercury and further recommends that you place the paper
towel and glass fragments in a sealed plastic bag and bring the sealed
bag to your local household hazardous waste.
UPALI SIRIMALWATTA
Vienna
Sachitra Mahendra and Ruwini Jayawardana
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Apart from hosting the Sir Arthur C. Clarke Challenge Trophy for
seven consecutive years, Ananda College’s Astronomical Association, had
teamed up with the Astronomy Society of Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy,
to create more awareness towards the subject.
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The night sky had always had a fascinating and luring effect for man
so much so that throughout the ages star gazing had become an
interesting, fun-filled activity.
However fun and games were not the sole purpose behind the project
launched by two of Sri Lanka’s leading schools.
Apart from hosting the Sir Arthur C. Clarke Challenge Trophy for
seven consecutive years, Ananda College’s Astronomical Association, had
teamed up with the Astronomy Society of Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy,
to create more awareness towards the subject.
Together the schools have launched ‘Star Party’, the first and only
astronomy observation competition in South Asia.
“Around 40 school astronomical societies will take part in this
event. Sri Lanka Astronomical Society funds us. Knowledge will be
distributed and many will get the opportunity to take part in the camp,”
said President of the Anandian Astronomical Association Kshithijaya
Nanayakkara.
“Participants can look forward to a host of activities. We will also
engage in moon mapping which means mapping of the moon and the planets
Saturn and Jupiter.
“We are also interested in deep sky observation but unfortunately we
lack the necessary equipment for the deed,” he explained.
The Education Ministry had donated a telescope for the event but each
of the other schools are requested to bring their own telescope.
“Astronomy had taken a huge leap today. More and more people have
shown interest towards the subject. We are taught the subject in theory
at school but we have not been given the opportunity to actually engage
in observation astronomy. We are quite enthusiastic to take part in the
camp,” said Thelum ..., President of the Astronomy Society of Mahamaya
Girls’ College, Kandy. She also added that the society is planning a
host of activities for the upcoming Astronomy Day next year and are
looking forward to taking part in many observation camps in the future.
‘Star Party’ unfolds at the Peradeniya University grounds on
September 19 (today) from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The organisers wished to
thank the principals and teachers of Ananda College, Colombo, and
Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy, for the help they extended in making
‘Star Party’ a reality.
The writers are past pupils of Ananda College,
Colombo, and Mahamaya College, Kandy
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