Letters to the Editor
View(s):Wishing Sak Surin a speedy recovery and happy life in Thailand
It was indeed a sad day for Sri Lanka when the Government of Thailand, after having received a report on the condition of the health of the elephant named “Sak Surin”– which was gifted to Sri Lanka and later re-named as Muthu Raja – “Pearly King”, decided that it was no longer safe for the elephant to remain in Sri Lanka. They felt its deteriorating health and the Sri Lankan authorities’ inability to provide proper veterinary care called for its repatriation.
This situation was reported to have been consequent to the fact that the elephant was abused and over-worked at the hands of the mahouts who even though entrusted with the responsibilityof taking care of it, had in fact neglected and even vented their anger on the animal. The mistreatment left serious wounds on this magnificent tusker even disabling one of its hind legs.
Muthu Raja is known to be the elephant with the longest pair of tusks in the world, and was a gift from the Thai Royal family to the people of Sri Lanka in 2001.
Moreover Sri Lanka cannot protect its own elephant population which is decreasing at an alarming rate due to the human- elephant conflict, loss of habitat and decrease in forest cover and water resources. The country’s population too is currently facing many socio-economic and political issues due to which the people are unbearably burdened; perhaps consequently wont to vent their anger on an innocent beast.
No doubt the decision of the Thai Government is a blot on the reputation of Sri Lanka, a nation that is governed by Buddhist principles of loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. Unfortunately the Sri Lankan people themselves are treated no better by the powers that be.
Sak Surin, Muthu Raja, we wish you a comfortable convalescence after your terrible ordeal in Sri Lanka, which does not deserve to have such a noble elephant as you. May your life be among kind-hearted and compassionate people. We wish you a healthy and happy life in Thailand, the country of your birth.
Ridley Casie Chitty Via email
Deplorable state of essential bus service
Today, the services rendered by the bus operators, SLCTB and the private operators are deplorable. They are a well organised mafia.
1. Most buses are dirty, tyres are threadbare.
2. The buses are noisy – the exhaust is modified, the engines are not muffled and the air-horns are ear-splitting. The worst noise is within the bus – speakers blaring out some music that’s the choice of the bus crew. The passengers have no option but to endure the harassment.
3. Change money is never given – the fare is rounded up.
4. Even before the bus has stopped, the conductor keeps shouting to passengers to get out soon. But the crew keeps stopping at certain bus stops for extended periods of time to load an already loaded bus. (If any passenger speaks up, he/she is given a loud, rude reply – the rule is to tolerate everything the crew dishes out)
5. Careless, reckless driving is rampant, but there’s never a policeman who observes this.
6. Bus drivers are always on the phone, coordinating with other drivers about their whereabouts.
Is there ANY authority that oversees this essential service – if yes, where are they? Are they in tow with the bus operators?
For the attention of anyone responsible for the bus services in Sri Lanka.
Ravindra Perera Via email
Better water supply and renal health of NCP youth
In the early 90’s when I was working in the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, we had this phenomenon of relatively young farmers presenting with acute pulmonary failure (lung congestion), and there were changes in the kidney indicative of chronic renal disease, that is, this condition had not occurred overnight. Alas my intention of keeping a record of these cases fell by the wayside. It was easy to attribute this ‘new disease’ to the heavy metals present in the pesticides that were currently in use.
Around a decade later when I was doing a brief stint in the renal unit of the Kandy Hospital, I learnt that some of the children from the NCP presented with micro-protienuria (a very early stage of renal involvement),
In a recent newspaper article I note that Chinese scientists after many years of research attribute it to increased fluoride and calcium levels in the water. For over 50 years we have been aware of increased fluoride in the water content in the Kurunegala district leading to dental and skeletal changes, during my professional life which ended over 20 years ago! There was no increase in renal disease in this region.
With the concept of reverse osmosis, I am aware that there has been an improvement in the water supply in the last decade. It will be interesting to see if this is reflected in the “renal health” of the youth of the NCP.
Dr. Premini Amerasinghe (retd. Radiologist) Via email
Thank you for highlighting dementia care
Thank you very much for highlighting the need for dementia care in the Sunday Times of June 25. The burden falls primarily on families and loved ones.
The accompanying pictures especially the older man with the beard, looking lost, speak so eloquently. Also the story of the granddaughter who located her grandmother at the Ragama rail station is touching.
I hope the public can help trace the Facebook requests for help. Anxious loved ones are waiting! Your journal is doing a great service to all of us who have older loved ones.
A grateful reader,
Dr. Ranjit de Silva Via email
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