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to the Editor |
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Tiger radio
better than Tiger guns Which is better?
To import radio equipment and use verbal warfare or smuggle artillery
and kill people? Every Sri Lankan
should be thankful to Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe for stopping
the war which was destroying the country and the people. After twenty
years there is nothing constructive to show except the killing of
youth and innocent civilians. During the one year of ceasefire there
have been only two deaths. In this year
alone, more than 20,000 lives have been spared and billions of rupees
saved. I view with
horror the horrendous killings in the Middle East, Pakistan, Bali,
Spain and other countries and feel relieved that Sri Lanka has been
spared such traumatic scenes, thanks to Ranil. Of course,
all the problems will not be solved in one or two years. It will
take time. It is like pushing an old car on gears. There will be
the inevitable jerks. But the main relief is that there is no war,
no killings and no check points. Resurrect the
tombstones Although tombstones
of these kings are not known, probably Mahawansa, Chulawansa or
other contemporary literature may have reference to sites of their
cremation. Were the ashes of these kings thrown into a river as
in India, or placed in a casket at memorable sites? Why didn't their
successors build monuments? The Egyptians built pyramids to house
the dead Pharos. So did Persians and Indians. Did the belief on
the rebirth of the dead discourage the Sinhalese kings from erecting
tombstones? Were they destroyed in internal conflicts or battles?
When tombstones of the Dutch are found in Kalpitiya, Pettah and
elsewhere, where are the tombstones of kings Vimaladharmasuriya,
Senarat, Rajasinghes, and others who lived during this period? Someone may
undertake a dissertation on this topic, if information is cryptic
and requires in-depth research. It would be beneficial as an educational
and tourist drive to erect descriptive monuments, preferably at
the sites of their cremation indicating their life and contribution
to the history of the country. In the context
of current peace moves, it may be useful to consider the interaction
of Sinhala kings with South India (Pandyas, Pallavas, Cholas, Kalingas
and Nayakkars) for queens and military assistance. The Department
of Archaeology and universities could undertake this kind of work
in collaboration with the Tourist Board and perhaps the UNESCO. Besides tombstones,
there are other valuable areas from our history that need research
and documentation. The ancient construction technology and hydraulic
designs, probably had a theoretical basis and calculation procedures
which need to be studied and documented. All historic
sites of Colombo, Kotte and Sitawake (e.g., Fort Santa Barbara,
the Malwane Portuguese administrative centre, the Mulleriyawe battle
field etc.) could be identified with signage, and leaflets prepared
as tourist guides as they are close to Colombo. They would be of
interest to transit passengers who will enjoy a one-day guided or
non-guided tour. I also feel
that the National Museum has the potential for improvement in the
area of history. For instance, it could indicate the unique features
of culture and art in the Anuradhapura (3rd-10th century), Pollonnaruwa
(11-12 century), Dambadeniya and Yapahuwa (13th century), Kurunegala
and Gampola (14th century), Kotte (15-16th century) and Kandy (16-18th
century) periods. Replica dresses of kings and officers in the Sinhala,
South Indian, Portuguese, Dutch and English armies as well as battle
models could be exhibited as shown in museums in Singapore and Canberra. Externally
the Colombo museum looks grand (i.e., it was filmed as the Palace
of Marcos of Philippines in a movie), but internal decoration and
presentation are not impressive. Old man and
the Govt. The strategy
is simple. Make them starve, destitute, immobilized and make medication
exorbitant and services impossible. Welfare to elders is absent
in the Constitution, past, present, or possibly the next. Though
they make up 10% of the vote base, they are regarded as better eliminated
than sustained. For them: * No increase
in pension however high the living costs skyrocket. * No dole or
other concessions. * Not even
a special interest scheme for their deposits in banks. * Medication,
the need for which increases with age, is simply prohibitive. * Public transport
to elders is treacherous - no ergonomic considerations whatsoever
to them. Steps to board a bus are fewer and steeper. * Public service
is non-existent to elders. The mind-set of many a present day bureaucrat
borders on sadism. More helpless an elder is, more the pleasure
derived. An elder's grievance, however wrongful, administratively
or otherwise, is regarded a transient problem, presumed to end with
imminent demise and needing no relief - a fact I speak of, with
disgusting experience. Words, Boyle
and his toil However as
Mr. Boyle aptly points out this word had been used by Sri Lankan
and expatriate writers from the 1980s. Here are some other references
not quoted by Mr. Boyle. · Ceylon
an Account of the Island - by Sir Emerson Tennent, Page 367 - spelling
"Assoedamise" · A
Review of the Evidence of Land Surveys as Practised in Ceylon (1950)-
R.L. Brohier, Page 06 - spelling "Asvadumize" · Dr.
Colvin R. de Silva - Ceylon Under British Occupation, Page 396 -
spelling Asvadduma · Many
maps printed by the Survey Department of Sri Lanka - spelling "Asveddumize" · Ancient
Irrigation Works of Ceylon - R. L. Brohier As Mr. Boyle
has said, I made representation to OED in 1997 in my own humble
way. All information available with me about this word Asweddumise
was placed in the hands of the editors of OED but the then response
was not very encouraging. This is what Dr. Phillip Durkin, the Senior
Assistant Editor of OED wrote to me in September 1997. " The
procedure for admitting a new word to the dictionary is quite a
long one, involving a comparison of a large number of proposed additions
one with another in order to assess which require to be added most
urgently. The documentation you have submitted to me is very interesting,
but I would not like to second-guess what the ultimate decision
of the new words editor might be concerning the relative drafting
priority of this and a very large number of the other items." According to
Mr. Boyle, we can further pin our hopes on the OED lexicologists
if they would include this word in the fullness of time to OED fulfilling
our much-treasured hope. I am sure Mr. Boyle will be a leading light
in this exercise. Since Mr. Boyle
has also given an account of the word chena I would like to point
out that two English synonyms exist for this word as far as I know.
These two words are swidden and milpa. Swidden appears in the famous
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary. The definition is "an area
of land made cultivable by cutting or burning off the vegetative
cover". There is a fallacy that chena cultivation was only
in Sri Lanka but the words mentioned above points to the contrary.
I leave the analysis of the etymology and lexicology of these words
to Mr. Boyle. A few more
of the loanwords are given in The Little Oxford Dictionary of Current
English (Seventh Edition) - Delhi Oxford University Press, as a
supplement. Here appears 'Vedarala' as village doctor in Sri Lanka. I would like
to thank Mr. Boyle for his toil. I am sure he would take this exercise
to its logical end. After completing this series a fine book could
be published about this little researched subject, which will be
of value. Fish: Halal
or not? How is the
halal rule applied when Muslims consume fish? I shall be grateful
for an answer. CMC's sound
pollution A 31st night
musical show was held in the Town Hall grounds till 4 a.m. to bring
in 'peace'. A few days later, a Pirith ceremony was held at the
Viharamahadevi Park, also to herald 'peace'. Four loudspeakers at
the Park and two outside were blaring Sinhala songs from four in
the morning. It was only after I complained to the Municipal Commissioner
after obtaining his personal phone number with the greatest difficulty
that the volume was reduced for that night only. His first response
to me was "it is only for a day"! It appears
there is total disregard to the peace of mind of residents in this
area. May be residents around the Parliament grounds also feel the
same. At least some
kind of soul-searching would deter the Colombo Municipal Council
from repeating this sort of noise pollution. The municipal authorities
should refere the Municipal Ordinance 1947 Act. 29.What is the role
of the Police in this regard? Is there any co-ordination between
the Police and the CMC when holding such events regarding the rights
of the residents? Will there
be respect for us in the future? ICC hits racism
for six Garage runs
over pedestrians Vehicles which
have come for repairs are parked on the pavement, forcing pedestrians
to walk on the road. Residents feel the municipality should take
the blame for this haphazard state of affairs.
'Letters
to the Editor' should be brief and to the point.
Address them to: 'Letters to the Editor, The Sunday Times, P.O.Box 1136, Colombo. Or e-mail to steditor@wijeya.lk or stfeat@wijeya.lk Please note that letters cannot be acknowledged or returned. |
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