Letters to the Editor

• Role of left parties in defeating chauvinism
• Docs eating forbidden fruit
• Big stink behind city bus stand
• Promote tea and kurumba to counter fizzy drinks
• Common pill could be harmful
• CEB's meterless charges unfair
• Telecom forgetting its service side?
• Raw deal for pensioners
• Bank pensioners not happy
• Why Buddhists need protection

Role of left parties in defeating chauvinism

A great tragedy is in the making if the attempt at constitutional reforms which go some way towards conceding a part of the national rights of the Tamil people is defeated by an alliance of chauvinist forces. If the recent gains of these extremists are not checked and thrown back, racial and religious intolerance will be on the rise and there will be a threat to whatever still remains of the country's democratic social and political ethos. 

A defeat of the effort at redressing some of the grievances of Tamils will only drive them into deeper despondency regarding the possibility of a just settlement short of the separatist option. On all sides, therefore, the situation is a very dangerous one. 

It is imperative to achieve unity in action of all who agree that the principal task at this moment is to defeat the gathering chauvinist armada. When Minister Mahinda Rajapakse threw in his lot with these forces it was a sign that preparations were being made to build personal careers in this storm — no matter the person, it signalled an ominous political trend. 

The natural bulwark against all this is the left, democratic organisations, a progressive citizenry and trade unions. Unfortunately, the speed of events seems to have caught many off-guard. It is time to mobilise quickly and unite on a minimum programme. 

It is farcical that the NSSP and the Left and Democratic Front, whose leaders have for decades maintained a splendid and principled position on the national question, should have made a bad error of judgment at this moment. It is quite understandable that they disagree with the government's economic programme and privatisation measures and are disillusioned by its poor record in combating corruption and securing democracy. But Leninist political acumen, it is said, is found in identifying the principal aspect of a given political conjuncture and acting resolutely on this basis. Unless these left parties correct their position quickly, what hope is there from organisations such as the JVP? 

The argument that since the Tamil parties, meaning the TULF and the LTTE, have not accepted the amendments, it is not meaningful for the left to indicate support, is just getting things back to front. The Tamil organisations cannot forget the long and bitter struggles they have waged over many years until the government of the day convincingly proves that it is prepared to stand and fight chauvinism. Therefore, it is correct for the Tamil organisations to move slowly and watchfully. The left and democratic movement, on the other hand, has to commit itself to defeating Sinhala chauvinism in its own backyard as its principal task at the present time. 

Professor Kumar David,
Hong Kong

Docs eating forbidden fruit

Of late, the oath has gathered dust and the words are illegible. Maybe it is better this way, as the oath has lost its relevance. 

Allegations abound that doctors are being manipulated by drug companies through such inducements as trips abroad, fancy vehicles and holidays in exotic locations. 

The other day, I saw a strange sight, while waiting for my turn to meet a consultant at a private nursing home. Two medical representatives walked in with a huge basket of imported fruits, with a tag for a certain product. The costly basket of fruit has a 'price' on it, which shameless doctors know. This particular doctor would be expected to pay back by prescribing a specific brand, irrespective of its cost and efficacy. 

Poor patients who flock to these consultants will pay for those fruits and similar gratification. Where have your ethics gone, disciple of Hippocrates? As for the drug companies indulging in such unethical practices, it is business for them. Hippocrates is groaning in his grave.

Saman de Silva,
Maharagama

Big stink behind city bus stand

The scavenging carts and lorries dump garbage behind the bus stand, making the place an ideal breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes. Cannot the authorities burn the refuse or dump it away from the city? 

This is a health hazard and could even cause an epidemic. 

Hope the UC chairman and the Divisional Medical Officer will take speedy action to clean this mess.

J. Wickremasuriya, 
Gampola

Promote tea and kurumba to counter fizzy drinks

The researchers say phosphoric acid found in some fizzy drinks may have a damaging effect on bone mass. 

One of the researchers, Dr. Grace Wyshak, says there is great concern about the effects of carbonated beverages consumption on obesity, tooth decay and osteoporosis. "Young people may be missing out on calcium by not drinking enough milk," he says.

Our youth are misled by advertisements and promotional campaigns carried out over TV, radio and billboards. 

I also find fault with the Sri Lankan tea authorities for not effectively promoting tea drinking. Their lack of concern and the vacuum created is filled by these soft drink companies. This was their market of old that has been meekly surrendered. Latest research conclusively establish the enormous health benefits of tea. 

The possibility of cutting the risk of heart attacks, hypertension and certain types of cancer as well as improving dental health due to its light fluoride content has been established. 

Researchers advise people to drink at least six cups of tea a day. It has also been established that king coconut (kurumba) water is the best drink in the world. So why go for soft drinks that are injurious to the health when in Sri Lanka we have the two best drinks in the world? 

Parents and school principals should warn young ones of the dangers of carbonated beverages and the benefits of tea and king coconuts. 

V. K. B. Ramanayake 
Maharagama

Common pill could be harmful

In Britain, paracetamol was the leading choice of those wanting to commit suicide. The situation there was so bad that the larger packs of paracetamol were banned in the market. 

Therefore I was dismayed to note that in Sri Lanka branded paracetamol is sold in 100 tablet packets.

The government should step in and bring some controls with regard to the availability of branded paracetamol so freely. People here seem to pop branded paracetamol into their mouths, as if it were a sweet, not to mention the very colourful TV advertising that supports it. 

People have a right to know what they are taking. Until this debate came about, no one here thought this simple drug could have any side effects. The authorities should ensure that paracetamol is only sold on prescription - if the pack is large. 

Ranil Abeysuriya,
Mount Lavinia

CEB's meterless charges unfair

These bills are sent without a basis for calculation. These rates are called meterless charges and calculated on the basis of the number of bulbs and socket outlets in a house. 

It is irrelevant whether they are used or not. 

Although numerous complaints have been made to the CEB, these consumers have not been given meters.

The CEB should look into this matter urgently. 

Susantha Atukorala,
Bulathsinhala

Telecom forgetting its service side?

I returned to Sri Lanka after two months and requested a re-connection. I was told that the RTE Colombo Central has to approve such re-connection and that I must pay Rs. 600 for the re-connection, though I had requested the disconnection. I ultimately paid Rs. 723. Is this fair, when Sri Lanka Telecom is supposed to be a public utility service?

S. Balasingham,
Crow Island

Raw deal for pensioners

Pensioners, especially those who retired before salary revisions, are the worst hit and face difficulties on account of rising cost of living. Calls for redress have been made to the government which rode to office on pensioners' vote in 1994. But promises made to them still remain unfulfilled.

Pensioners have failed in their attempts to obtain any redress from governments past and present. Pensioners were public servants who even worked on Poya and Saturdays which are public holidays now. 

The announcement that government servants earning less than Rs. 12,000 a month would get a monthly allowance of Rs. 600, indicates that to lead a decent life you require at least Rs. 12,600 or thereabouts. But pensioners only deserve Rs. 300 and that too only if the pension was less than Rs. 6,000. Why this discrimination? 

Cecil B. H. Dunuwille,
Kandy

Bank pensioners not happy

This promise was fulfilled after three years with a miserable rise of 3%. Pensioners feel this increase is not sufficient to meet even the gas expenses. They appeal for a reasonable increase in the event of a future salary-hike to bank employees. 

M. Mohamed Furkhan, 
Kalutara

Why Buddhists need protection

On the surface, this appears to be an ideal provision acceptable to all. But there are some misgivings and dissatisfaction among knowledgeable Buddhists and Buddhist organisations. Although the Constitution pledges to foster and protect Buddhism, closer examination finds that it is silent about the protection of Buddhists. Now from whom, what, or why do Buddhists need Constitutional guarantees of protection?

In recent times, there has been an influx of various religious groups from the west and even from Asian countries like South Korea with evangelists in the garb of laymen and non-governmental social workers offering strong financial support for the poor and the rural peasantry to overcome poverty and providing them with training in various fields. 

Money and goodies change hands and the poor Buddhists are weaned from the local temple to other places of religious worship. These modern evangelists are not contravening any laws, but enjoy constitutional protection as the Constitution provides for the adoption of a religion of "one's choice". 

Since the advent of the Portuguese in 1505, proselytization has been going on in different forms and the overall percentage of Buddhists has been coming down. Fifty years after independence and self-government, a strong educated Buddhist middle class has emerged and they do not wish to see their poor, rural brethren lured by these evangelists. 

That is why Buddhists and Buddhism in the home of Theravada need constitutional guarantees of protection. Hence the Sangha and the Buddhist would like to see some guarantees enshrined in the constitution to protect poor Buddhists from being exploited and converted unethically. 

Ananda Pilimatalawuwe,
Pilimatalawa

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