Letters to the Editor

• They lost their mother
• No harm in cremating
• Pensioners of Lanka unite
• Good for Sampath Bank
• Paracetamol: take care
• Will it usher in peace?
• Not our decision
• They decide the winners

They lost their mother

This time it was a 'mother' nursing eight tiny puppies. The stalker had been commissioned by the Kotte Municipal Council. For the dog stalker it's another Rs. 50 earned.

The dog catchers haunt Kotte's slums. For the dogs of the affluent are brought up in confinement. But the poor cannot afford this luxury.

Just as dogs are man's best friends, some of them also carry fatal rabies. But this is among 'absolute strays' those unfortunate animals that have no home or master, but live on the streets. It is this category that needs to be eliminated in a programme, and not the 'stray' that wanders because of his/her master's inability to confine the creature.

Taking these facts into consideration legislators have written into the law certain provisions that strike an excellent balance between the poor man's need to have a dog and the necessity to keep rabies down.

The 'Rabies Ordinance' of January 2, 1894, subsequently amended to find enforceability in the current Rabies Act 23 of 1956, prohibits 'spot-killing' now practised by the Kotte Council.

According to the law, "Every local authority shall cause all stray dogs found within his jurisdiction to be seized, and such dogs shall be dealt with as follows:-

(a) If the dog is not diseased or suspected, it shall be DETAINED in some proper place and be kept for such period as the local authority may think expedient, provided that where the owner or other person who had charge of the dog is known, the local authority shall cause notice to be forthwith given to either of them of the seizure and detention of the dog, and upon receiving payment of the reasonable expenses incurred in respect of such seizure and detention shall deliver the dog to the person or his agent, without prejudice however to the recovery of and penalty for the infringement of any of the provisions of this Ordinance:

(b) If the dog so seized and detained be not claimed within two days after the notice aforesaid has been served, or, in case no owner or other person is known to be in charge of the dog, within three days of such seizure, or in case of non-payment of the reasonable expenses incurred in respect of such seizure and detention, it shall be competent to the local authority to cause the dog to be destroyed or otherwise disposed of in such manner as the local authority shall deem expedient"

This is what did not happen on June 25 at 349, Nanayakkara Mawatha, Obeyasekerapura. The owner of the bitch, removed her from her puppies to bathe her at the wayside tap opposite his tenement. 

After that she lay on the narrow stretch of land, between the road and his garden - only to be poisoned, after howling in pain and running back to the puppies. The dog - killer pursued her and was about to deal with the puppies when the infuriated owner, his family and neighbours rushed out and saved the young ones.

An altercation followed. The killer realising his weak position rushed to the Welikada Police to complain, giving a distorted version.

The police arrested the dog owner's son, until the father went to get him released. Both were released only after providing a written undertaking that the father (also the owner of the dog) would pay Rs. 1,000 to the killer 'for the damage'. 

Dog killing to combat rabies has become a thing of the past. It is now rated as barbaric and primitive. Sterilizing and vaccinating against rabies have replaced pounding and killing. The authorities in Lucknow, India recently instituted this non-lethal method of dealing with its stray dogs, last tallied at 30,000. 

They are hopeful of eliminating the stray dog problem in seven years. Locally, the Municipal Councils of Colombo, Kandy and Kurunegala have already instituted non-lethal methods of eliminating rabies.

Annually, anti-rabies injections are given to stray dogs throughout Sri Lanka by the central government. In addition, anti-rabies measures are carried out by Veterinarian Kala Santha in Kotte by injecting females with Depo-Provera. This injection renders animals sterile for six to eight months. The funds amounting to Rs.11,000 were raised by her through voluntary contributions, with the sanction of Dr. Panagoda, the Regional Director of Health.

But the Kotte Municipal Council in collaboration with the Public Health Veterinary Division, Narahenpita, started lethal killing of the very same dogs previously vaccinated at public expense. Now the owner of the motherless puppies is looking for good homes to give them away.

Shelton A. Wijesingha
Rajagiriya

No harm in cremating

Many Christians don't seem to know the stance of the Church with regard to cremation.

It is interesting for the die-hards to know that the Church, has now permitted the cremation of corpses, which was taboo earlier for Christians, particularly Catholics.

Cremation is a primitive way of disposing of the dead, followed in the east first and later in the west. Our ancients thought that since fire is a mode of purification, cremation of bodies was more significant. The Jewry of Jesus' day, buried their dead. Jesus too was buried in a tomb vide all four gospels. Even the Christians of the first centuries, buried the dead, though the Greek and Roman custom was cremation. 

The early Christians respected the dead, specially the martyrs, whose bodies they could not afford to burn, out of respect. Some bodies of martyrs were interred. 

As the teaching of the Church was that the bodies of God's people are His temples, none of the early adherents dared to burn corpses. The ground enclosing bodies of Christians is deemed holy. This is because the Bible teaches us that our bodies rise again at a future Resurrection. 

Trouble brewed around the 18th century, when the teaching of the Resurrection was challenged by skeptics. To denounce this belief, they cremated their dead. This was their way of denying the belief of rising again. 

Then the Church banned cremation. But today is a far cry from the past, and there is no hostility towards the teachings on the Resurrection. Sri Lanka is no exception. However the Church encourages burial. Even Canon 1176, lays down that cremation be treated as a last resort (Secn. 3). 

It is the Church's request that whenever cremation is opted for, the body should be blessed. Rites could even be held over the ashes after the cremation, if the diocese has obtained permission from Rome.

Lenard. R. Mahaarachchi
Moratuwa

Pensioners of Lanka unite

Recently the government announced an increase in salaries. There too the increase is half of what is granted to public servants. 

Public Servants drawing a salary of Rs. 12,000 and less are entitled to Rs. 600. In the case of pensioners an allowance of Rs. 300 has been given to those drawing Rs. 6000 or less. Why this discrimination just to draw Rs. 300? Most pensioners have worked for the government on Poya days and Saturdays which are public holidays now. Their salary scale was less than half of what today's public servants are earning. 

Pensioners who retired before 1988 are the worst affected as their salaries were very low and their pensions were calculated on a lesser percentage. 

Pensioners have failed miserably in their attempts to obtain any redress from any government. After all the pensioners are public servants of yesterday and they should be entitled to all facilities granted to those in service now. 

Pensioners should register their union as a trade union (if not already done) and join the Public Service Trade Union Federation and fight for their rights. Pensioners, along with their dependents, relatives and friends numbering over one million should also think twice before they cast their votes in the coming election. 

T.S. Rajah 
Dehiwela

Good for Sampath Bank

Harry Jayawardena I believe is a brilliant businessman. The combination will do Sampath Bank a world of good!

Roshan Gunawardena
Andiambalama

Paracetamol: take care

Paracetamol is freely advertised on television - some advertisements even featuring small children. These Paracetamol brands are also available over the counter at pharmacies. 

The authorities should introduce certain regulations with regard to the advertising not only of Paracetamol brands, but also of other medicines.

R. Perera
Kohuwela

Will it usher in peace?

Mr. Gunasekera has given very cogent reasons for the stand taken by his organization. What strikes one most is the reason given by him for the lack of sufficient motivation to volunteer for service in the armed forces. The comparison he made with the wartime position in Britain during World War II, being most apt.

His views on the multiplication in the numbers of politicians and bureaucrats in the form of the 'white elephant' Provincial Councils with their concomitant financial drain, is one which is widely held by a considerable number of 'thinking' people.

Devolution of powers as presently proposed, is not the long-term answer. In it lie the seeds of further problems and strife. What is sought to be done is a building upon that which has been imposed on us by outside forces. It is not an indigenous one. It is a rational one in the case of a vast country like India, not a small one which is a small fraction of her land mass. Neither is Switzerland a valid example.

What is needed here and now is innovative and fresh thinking in creating, a constitution that, while preserving the integrity of the country, will guarantee absolute justice and equal opportunity in every field to all communities regardless of ethnicity, class or creed. Only then will it find wide acceptance and usher in permanent peace.

We fool ourselves if we think that peace will be ushered in with the implementation of the package. 

Neither that nor a constitution, as envisaged above, will do, as long as the terrorism perpetrated on all communities by the LTTE and its implacable supremo is not wiped out. We also deceive ourselves if we imagine that they will participate in the proposed arrangement unless they regard it as only an advantageous temporising and a strengthening of their hand in the pursuit of their ultimate goal.

Concerned Sri Lankan
Rajagiriya

Not our decision

I propose to take this matter up with the bank and other authorities. It is my hope that this letter, will encourage other shareholders, who have suffered the same injustice as myself, to take suitable action. 

The truth is that whatever issues that came up at the AGM were not decided upon by us as shareholders. The relevant authorities should take suitable action to ensure that we are given an opportunity to express our views, without undue delay.

Daminda Fonseka Moratuwa

They decide the winners

'.............. I think in countries where you cannot be quite so certain of having a two - party system where there are many parties divided on ideological grounds, political, economic, racial, religious, linguistic and so on we cannot really hope at an early date to divide on purely political issues..........'

Considering what is going on today, 43 years later, crossovers, conscience vote, political somersaults etc. the statement of the late leader requires to be revised and the last sentence re-written as, 'We can never hope to divide on purely political issues'.

The political culture is so corruption - ridden and the party system of politics a big joke. The joker, like in the pack of cards, when played at the right time decides the winner. 

While the party stalwarts are relegated to the back benches in parliament, the 'joker' ends up as a politician. 

What a shame that the august body in Sri Lanka should be tarnished by such honourable members, drawn in with incentives or should we say bribed with portfolios and perks which go with it, solely for the purpose of getting a party majority. 

For the benefit of readers, I wish to quote the expression, 'Doing a Grero'. 

Way back, may be about four decades ago, in the mayoral stakes of the Colombo Municipal Council, the candidate of the UNP was to be proposed by Thimbirigasyaya MMC C.T. Grero. 

The opposition in the council sprung a surprise, which was a closely guarded secret, until the election actually took place. C.T. Grero's name was proposed for the office of Mayor by the opposition and he was elected by a majority vote.

Even earlier than this, there was a masterpiece in the mayoral election in the Kandy Municipal Council. The mayoral stakes were going tie-tie and the tip-over was to be determined by one member, whose name I withhold and shall refer to him as Mr.W. There were two candidates seeking office as Mayor and Mr.W. was well looked after by both. 

On the day before the election, he was virtually kidnapped by the supporters of one of the candidates. We learnt later that he had been under house arrest in the Kurunegala Rest House and made very happy, with plenty of liquor to boot. 

On the day of the mayoral election, he was brought by closed vehicle in the nick of time and ushered into the Town Hall.

Amidst high drama the vote was taken by secret ballot and there was one double-cross vote for both the candidates. That was poetic justice.

As a result the voting was a tie, with one spoilt vote and the mayor was chosen, on a toss of the coin, that is my recollection.

S.Thambyrajah
Colombo

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