Letters
View(s):Catch the howlers
In our day-to-day life, we come across bloomers which are being accepted without a murmur, in view of the low standard of education, particularly English. I quote here below some of the errors which caught my eye in the recent past.
Firstly, I came across the sign board which read ‘Be caution’ erected by a reputed construction firm in their worksite by the side of the main road to warn the general public of the danger that could be caused by the site.
Having read the sign board I heard students talking among themselves and using the words “Be caution” which may be to ridicule the sign board or in fact, to warn themselves, to be careful.
The second one is a letter from a well known private Bank and in the said letter ‘Which’ had been printed as ‘WITCH’!
The third one is the print of the word SINGE RULE instead of SINGLE RULE on the cover of a C R Book produced by a well known stationery firm.
The fourth is the word ACHIEVEMENT printed as ACHIVEMENT in a Certificate of Excellence issued for top performance by a world renowned firm.
Mistakes do occur which is not new to us but what I cannot understand is how such errors get through the hawk-eyed personnel who are employed in most of the commercial establishments, banks etc. to check on such errors before they are released.
Especially when the standard of education and English in particular, is so low, such errors only add to the misery of the poor schoolchildren.
David Williams
Kotagala
Theories for ageing
I am only an ordinary newspaper reader in my mid-eighties. Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala’s feature article on old age in the S/T of 14.06.15 was very interesting reading. Lack of time the Doctor says prevents her from discussing many other theories for ageing. What a pity!
It is useless my extracting bits and pieces from that learned discourse for emphasis. Let those interested get hold of the paper and read it themselves.
Just to arouse reader interest let me quote how she ended. “I am always reminded of my aunt who went on Safari in Kenya last year at the age of 84 and spent days in a Jeep travelling hundreds of kilometres on bad roads.
I am also reminded of a new octogenarian friend who returned from a trip to Sikkim to see the Himalayas.”
V.K. Wijeratna
Makola
The European Union and the juicy prawn
“Last year the EU urged Sri Lanka to take measures to refrain from illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing, but local authorities failed to enforce this before the deadline and it led to the EU ban from January 2015. The Minister stated that due to the ban Sri Lanka has lost a market of around US$ 100 Million” (DW.ST.14.06.2015).
Interestingly, Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been involved in illegal, unregulated fishing and poaching in Sri Lankan waters using the banned bottom trawling nets that destroy everything to get to the luscious prawn in the Sri Lankan exclusive fishing zones. Most of these prawns are exported to Europe and the US, in what is a multi-million dollar industry. There have been discussions prompted by India on the need to facilitate entry into Sri Lankan waters from Indian Tamil Nadu fishermen. There’s hardly a point in legalising the poaching that is taking place, as this route has been extensively used for smuggling in the past and will continue in the future as well. Today, it is an area that comes under the screening of the Coast Guard and the Sri Lankan Navy and their preventive methods whatever they are, should be supported by the government.
This raises the question as to why the EU and the USA have not banned the Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu and their prawn and fish products from entering their markets. A process that is depriving the poor Sri Lankan Tamil speaking fishermen who were starved for thirty years from going to sea, and participating in the multi-million dollar industry. This aspect of the Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu poaching, robbing, using illegal methods, depriving the Sri Lankan Tamil speaking fishermen of their fair share, by the blatant use of illegal means should be taken up and highlighted by the Minister in his numerous meetings with the EU.
This method of stamping on, is typical of all post-colonial countries who pressurise the minor countries with a lesser voice into subjugation. These bullies from the ‘so called’ first world will step down only if we step up.
We need to breed a new generation of leaders with a love for this country with strong backbones, not those lashed to ‘Polpithas’, who like Mahathir Mohamed and Lee Kuan Yew, stood up for their countries and said enough is enough and right or wrong, did their thing with a long term vision, rather than join the greed driven herd in the short term.
Unless we develop the courage to stand tall, we will be stood on and exploited. The super powers, including India and the G7 countries are not friends- they are only interested in the maximum they can get out of the deal for themselves.
Ashley de Vos
Colombo 2
Monks in active politics
Stringent legislation should be introduced in Parliment to ban the Buddhist clergy from getting involved in active politics.
Sri Lanka, the blessed island, where Buddhism was introduced from India on a Poson Poya Day, is the only country in the world where Buddhist priests freely engage in political demonstrations, protests and union strikes. Even members of the Bhikshu Bala Mandalaya (Students Union) were involved in a protest with the Education Commission recently. Yellow robed monks were seen, with clubs in their hands scaling walls, roofs and trying to bring down the gates at the entrance to the Commission. These are all acts contrary to the teachings of Lord Buddha’s Ahimsa and non-violence. These ugly incidents were telecast over our national TV channels. In a Buddhist society, this type of thuggery and rowdyism should be downright frowned upon and condemned by the decent civil society.
Lavish birthday bashes by Buddhist priesField Marshal Sarath Fonseka addressing a meeting said that the Buddhist clergy should be confined to the temples preaching the precepts and Dhamma of Lord Buddha and not get involved in the dirty game of politics. This statement should certainly give much food for thought to all those Buddhist monks involved in worldly affairs.
Citizen Perera
Colombo 9
Turning point for Sri Lanka on January 8
January 8, 2015 was the turning point in the history of Sri Lanka: the people had spoken.
The misdeeds during the previous government’s time were taken meekly by the masses due to various reasons.
But even though the masses were helpless, the elections which was practically thrown onto them was truly a blessing in disguise. They had to chose between wrong and right and the moment of truth was at hand.
The steadfast way in which the elections were handled by the Election Commissioner wastruly commendable. He had a backbone which unfortunately most people involved in politics do not have in the present era.
Therefore, the laments of the masses were heard by the Gods up above that protect us and a new mixed government was born.
It is now up to the new government to deliver the goods as promised to the masses or else face elections where the masses will once again show their might.
Pearly Dunuwila
Kandy
Jellyfish poison
Jellyfish are in the news these days making sea-bathing in the southern coasts rather painful
Having suffered the effects of various brands of poisons from various brands of jellyfish during my skin diving days around the coasts of Sri Lanka, I would like to add to what has been written in the Sunday Times of June 21st by Kumudini Hettiarachchi.
The poisons of some varieties of jellyfish only cause scratching while some cause burning of the skin leaving temporary scars but the worst I have suffered is from the Portuguese Man-o-war. This is a blue jellyfish that is blown to the western shores during the monsoon season. It has no means of propulsion, but is able to submerge and float by inflating and deflating a bubble with gas. Its tentacles are loaded with tiny stings which can inject poisons on contact and some of these tentacles are extremely long.
Dr. De Bruin of the Research Unit of the Fisheries Department who had done extensive studies of crayfish and Medusa had mentioned in one of his bulletins that the best antidote for jellyfish poison was ipomea biloba which is called ‘goat’s foot’ or “binthamburu” in Sinhala. This is a creeper growing in abundance on the beaches with thick ‘meaty’ leaves which can be crushed or ground on a rock and applied to the affected area. The pain and burning sensation will subside within about half hour but the welts and redness will take a day or two to disappear.
Rufus Norton
Nugegoda