Letters to the Editor

Why reject offer to relieve their suffering?
I visited the Ampara District recently to check on some friends of mine who were affected by the tsunami. This was my second visit.
During my previous visit, about two weeks after the tragedy, I saw foreign personnel together with local professionals tending kindly to the sick and the injured. They worked for long hours from tents and makeshift dispensaries, sometimes neglecting their personal comforts, just to bring relief to these unfortunate people. Some patients were of the opinion that the state should give priority to improving health facilities in all tsunami-stricken areas so that disease would not follow.

During my second and more recent visit I expected to see improved health conditions, hospitals and government dispensaries. It was more appalling however, as most of the foreign medical personnel had left the island after performing their duty.

Local professionals were making great efforts to provide a better service under conditions very much the same or that had deteriorated further since my last visit. I heard that a multinational company had offered to rebuild hospitals, and also to construct new units, dispensaries and maternity homes wherever necessary in all the districts ravaged by the tsunami. Some damaged hospitals were inspected and the cost of repairs assessed, and land identified for the purpose of construction of new units. This is a multi-million dollar project and their contribution with the blessings of the foreign principals, towards the "rebuilding of the nation" after the tragedy.

However, the Government and the Ministry of Health for some reason best known to them, appear to be disinterested in grabbing this opportunity to improve health facilities in the tsunami affected areas. The "Memorandum of Understanding" is yet to be signed between the state, the company and the contractors, and has been delayed indefinitely. The foreign consultant who offered his services to oversee the project in an honorary capacity (which was his small contribution towards rebuilding the stricken nation) returned to his country a disappointed man.

The President should intervene and persuade the Ministry of Health to accept this offer in the best interests of the country before the donor changes his mind.

Let the Buddhists speak with one voice
The latest move against the majority population here, is trying to stop the Poya holidays! In this island the funny thing is that almost every threat against the majority race comes from the decadent, westernized, boozing members of its own kind, especially those perched precariously on the dizzy ladder of corruption.

Let the Buddhists speak with one voice that instead of removing the Poya holiday, the Sunday holiday of that week be cancelled instead. And let them not listen to stories of the international market deterring such a move, as the Middle East is trading nicely with its Friday holiday, demanded by its majority population.

We tuned into the radio the other day only to hear a pompous speaker declare that, in case the Poya day was declared a working day, the early part of that day would be set aside for lectures on all religions!

The speaker was unaware of the fact that all religions may be one and equal, but Buddhism is definitely unlike any other religion. So to subject a Buddhist employee to lessons of a creator god, soul theory, forgiveness of sins, everlasting hell/heaven, blind belief to be accepted unquestioningly, etc., would be just cause for immediate strike action!

It is surely time for all Buddhists to rally round and demand their rights, most of all the inalienable rights of their now besieged and betrayed nation. If this means the removal of the traitors at the helm, on both sides of the parliamentary divide, so be it!

Colombo 7Let us not forget this medical luminary
Recently I attended the funeral of a former neighbour of mine living at Dr. E.M. Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. During a conversation with some residents of the road who attended the funeral I heard that there is confusion with regard to the name of the road. There had been instances where people, mostly from the outstations, had searched for Wijerama, Gangodawila residences and addresses down this road and vice versa.

This confusion has arisen due to the road name boards sponsored by a well-known bank displaying only "Wijera-ma Mawatha" and NOT in full as "Dr. E.M. Wijerama Mawatha" as it should. Also, the name boards are not located at vantage points. Subsequently, I contacted the bank authorities and they said that they outsourced the design of name boards and supplied them as per the information provided by the Colombo Municipal Council.

"Dr. E.M. Wijerama Mawatha" was formerly known as MacCarthy Road and extends from Ward Place at one end to Bauddhaloka Mawatha at the other. It is a straight road, and bisects Rosmead Place, Barnes Place, Horton Place and Gregory's Road, all named after some of our colonial governors.

Dr. Wijerama was an experienced and effective medical practitioner, who during his time brought relief to thousands of those suffering from various illnesses and diseases with his remarkable diagnostic powers. He also was a great philanthropist who in his quiet unassuming manner contributed much of his wealth and assets to develop Buddhism, education in schools and medical science. During the peak of his career in the 1950s Dr. Wijerama observed that associations and governing bodies of medical science in Ceylon did not have a base to operate from. It included the lack of a proper medical library to house all valuable books and periodicals which are essential for men of that profession, to constantly upgrade themselves to modern methods of treatment of patients.

The medical profession of Ceylon was overwhelmed by Dr. Wijerama's magnanimous gesture in 1964 when he donated his residence and 40 perches of land at No 6, MacCarthy Road, Colombo 7, for the above purpose. In recognition of this gesture the Colombo Municipal Council named the road "Dr. E. M. Wijerama Mawatha". Thus Dr. Wijerama was honoured as the first distinguished figure in this country to have a road named after him while he was still alive.

I would wish to make the following recommendation so that respect and regard for this medical luminary is maintained, and his silent contribution to his profession is not forgotten with the passing of time. It will also educate the present generation that "Wijera-ma Mawatha" is not an extension of Wijerama, Gangodawila, Nugedoga, but "Dr. E.M. Wijerama Mawatha".

1) The requirement is for 10 name boards. The size of a board should not be a problem as some streets are named after persons with longer names and the full name is displayed very accurately.

2) Each board to carry the name in full as "Dr. E.M. Wijerama Mawatha" in all three languages. The term "Dr." should be appropriately translated to Sinhala and Tamil as to identify a Doctor of Medicine and not Philosophy.

3) Locate a name board at each end, i.e. Ward Place and Bauddhaloka ends, and two name boards at each road it bisects, namely, Rosmead Place, Barnes Place, Horton Place and Gregory's Road making a total of eight and the grand total of ten boards.

4) I also wish to bring to the notice of the Colombo Municipal Council and the members of the family of Dr. G.P. Malalasekera that his statue is very inappropriately located at the Bauddhaloka end of Dr. E.M. Wijerama Mawatha. I take this opportunity to suggest that this statue be correctly relocated at the head of Dr. G.P. Malalasekera Mawatha (formerly Longdon Place) so that it will not be mistaken for a statue of Dr. Wijerama, Dr. Malalasekera was a scholar of a different sphere and should be identified by his own entity.

I hope this letter catches the attention of the Mayor of Colombo. The Municipal Council, the bank sponsoring name boards of the above roads and all others concerned. Oh Gee

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