Let them be more careful

By Kumudini Hettiarachchi

What's new about a symposium? A large number are held in Colombo, with distinguished persons making presentations, reams of paper being produced, with much sound and fury, coming to nothing. This is different — it's being organized by youth for youth, with a number of adults thrown in. And the symposium is "on a pressing issue, an issue about people dying and an issue that people choose to ignore," according to a spokesman for the 11-member Youth for AIDS Awareness. The issue, of course, is AIDS awareness and the group, drawn from prestigious schools is organizing the symposium in association with the AIDS Coalition for Care, Education and Support Services.

The objective of the "Youth Symposium on AIDS Awareness" is to make schoolchildren aware of this disease, which we in Sri Lanka still do not take seriously. Why? "Because there is only one case of AIDS in the 15-24 age-group reported officially," says Programme Co-ordinator and Facilitator Ann Moller.

The statistics set off a lively debate whether sexual activity among the youth has increased in recent times. 

"There is more sexual activity now due to enhanced western influence through the media. We are more open and not closed to our environment. Those days we had only government-controlled TV but now everything is available including cable TV," Dimitri Silva says.

Himali De Silva disagrees. "It was there those days but people did not talk about it. Parents are open-minded now," she says.

But, according to Dhananjayan Kaneshayogan, that is only true for those in a certain social circle.

Therefore, the need to prevent and inform youth on HIV/AIDS. The symposium will start off with a presentation on "General knowledge on HIV/AIDS" by the Youth Group followed by eminent speakers Dr. (Mrs.) Kamalika Abeyaratne, Dr. M. Weerasekera, Ms. Sunila Abeyasekera, Dr. B.A. Lamabadasuriya and Dr. (Mrs.) Hiranthi Wijemanne.

The highlight will be the presentation of the findings and analysis of the KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice) survey suggested by the Youth Group and conducted among students, both boys and girls, in the 15 to 19 age-group in schools in Colombo and Negombo. The schools are a mix of private, semi-government and government.

Ten students and a teacher from each school which has been surveyed and a few more from Kandy, where the group has initiated preliminary work have been invited to the symposium with the hope that these core groups will "take the message back to their schools and from there to the community. They can do some work with the right knowledge".

UNICEF has provided Rs. 500,000 for the project including the symposium. 

"There are a lot of grey areas with regard to this issue. Our group is attempting to make youth aware so that it is in black and white," Shanendra Perera said. "We are not encouraging people to have sex, only saying that if they do, do it with the right info." 

Ms. Moller adds that it is a small project, but a big step, taking into consideration the spread of AIDS projected worldwide.

"We feel it is not a big problem, but it is becoming one. So it is only right to let them know before it strikes," stresses Dimitri, while Dhananjayan adds, "Sexual awareness is a must. Then youth will take more responsibility for their action. We are attempting to empower the youth so that they will be careful."

A glimpse of Iranian culture

By Roshan Peiris

Deputy Minister of Media M.L.A.M. Hisbullah declared the exhibition open.

Also displayed were books which gave an insight into the rich culture of Iran in its immeasurable variety. 

S.M. Ziad, Publicity Secretary of the Embassy of Iran in Colombo said that Iran was tolerant of religions. He showed us books depicting many of Iran's beautiful mosques. 

Equally elaborate were the books, one on Christian Churches with masterful paintings on the ceilings. There was also a book showing the Zorastrian temples in Iran. Lord Zoraster now worshipped by the Parsees preached from Iran. 

There were copper engravings of jars and vases with Persian lettering in gold, brass ornaments engraved with animals and birds, daintily carved silver trays and cups, and stylised wall plaques. 

There were also very many photographs and paintings of children, men and women in Western Iran and other parts wearing linen clothes. Women wore the "monto" a French word, said Mr. Ziad, for the garment somewhat long and loose like the kurta and baggy trouser and half coats. 

Particulary arresting was a Dervish dressed in a long white traditional coat of cotton with a broad sash in red and baggy trousers. 

There is no doubt that Iran has preserved its precious past as depicted in the paintings, photographs and engravings. Foodwise there was a white Persian sweet, like an innocently soft marshmallow but made of milk and flour with a rock hard centre of pistachio. There were also partially shelled pistachios together with local food for the guests. 

It was an elegantly planned exhibition, giving one a delightful glimpse into Iran's culture.

Sepala Rathnayake Memorial Trust Fund 

(Former) Wing Commander Ananda Perera delivered the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the members of Sarath Rathnayake's family. The trustees of the Fund are Messrs. E.W. Epa, (President of the Mahinda College Club), Punya Arambewela (Senior Joint Secretary of the Club), N.I. Wijeratne (Treasurer of the Club), Dr (Mrs.) Nelum Rathnayake and Mr Lankanath Rathnayake.

Assassinated on January 22 in the run-up to the 1989 Parliamentary Elections, by an "unidentified gunman", Sarath was the son of Sepala Rathnayake, a former Member of Parliament and 'Junior Minister' in the S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike Government of 1956. Prior to his decision to enter politics, Sarath had amply proved his prowess in the legal profession by obtaining both the Bachelor of Laws (1975) and Master of Laws degree (1984) from the University of Colombo. 

He was admitted to the Bar in 1978. After initial employment in the Commercial Bank, he joined the unofficial bar and subsequent to working for a period in the chambers of Mr Nehru Goonetilleke, P.C. and Eric Amerasinghe, P.C., set up his own in or around the year, 1985. 

He was also the Secretary and Treasurer of the Colombo Law Library of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and translated several books including "Constituent Elements in the Criminal Law" by Professor G.L. Peiris into Sinhala, a publication that is widely used today by law students.

It was coming from this background that, with a vision peculiar to those of his generation, he vowed to enter the political sphere, arguing that this is where persons of commitment ought to serve in order to better the society and the country. 

It was most brutal irony therefore that Sarath had to be gunned down before he could fulfil that dream. Joining politics to do service for the people of his country, a calling which he had nurtured from his young days, compelled him to seek nomination at the 1989 Parliamentary General Elections. His death is "a tragedy of our times" wrote the late Gamini Dissanayake, P.C. (Minister of Mahaveli Development and Mahaveli Authority), in a moving tribute to Sarath, whom he described as a very special person who had "beauty of person, winning ways, the ability to master whatever he cared to master, the capacity to draw people to him and compassion written all over his smiling face." 

The Trust will therefore stand as a fitting tribute to the memory of a man, who though as many as eleven years have passed since he was cruelly gunned down, will always live in the minds and hearts of all who were close to him and respected him.

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