Letters to the Editor
View(s):The forgotten pensioners who suffer in silence
We have no other income. We have about half an acre of land on which we grew vegetables and other yams for our use. Most of the year we depended on our jak tree.
Now looking after the jak tree and three coconut trees is extremely difficult because of invading Toque monkeys. They destroy everything. Chasing them away is dangerous as they become aggressive at the sight of people. They know crackers do not harm them. They have learned all the tricks of people. They are very shrewd and know how duck the catapult shots.
So we get zero income from the plot of land we have. Having a square meal is a nightmare. We have grown accustomed to surviving on two scanty meals a day. Can we afford to buy vegetables and other provisions even for a week out of our income? To hire a labourer we have to pay minimum Rs 2500 per day. Can a pensioner employ a person to work in his land? These officers who come to assess the income people get should go to check on retired Government servants too.
We cannot claim any Government financial aid as we are labelled pensioners. The people who get Samurdhi lead a better life than pensioners. These people who devoted their whole lives for government service lead a pathetic way of life. They have no trade unions to air their views. They have become silent sufferers. For nearly four years we did not get any extra allowance for our pay. Why can’t the Government send some officials to evaluate the pensioners’ lifestyles? Then they would understand how pathetic their way of living is.
We elders have a very close attachment to the younger members of our family. We have inherited Buddhist values and always respect our elders. The elders lament in their hearts about being unable to feed their children well.
Home has no peace as parents always grumble about the prices of commodities in the market. Day by day the prices of things soar like rockets. Going to a market to buy things feels like going to hell. Even the prices of fish have gone up tremendously.
How fortunate if we can live up to 2048 to lead a stress-free life. Our young ones would be fortunate if they can survive with the nourishment they get from their parents. Even most of the leaders may not survive to see that distant day.
We have suffered enough and hope our future generation would not suffer like us. Garment factories were the places where our girls could find jobs to survive. But they are not holding interviews for recruitments as they are running at a loss or their exports orders have reduced due to certain factors.
There are many issues with regard to the shortages of drugs. Moreover, people are afraid to go to the doctor as if they prescribe medicines to be bought from pharmacies they would see stars. Past Governments up to now never tried to manufacture most of the drugs that can be produced here. Selling drugs is a thriving business. Everyone has to spend money to buy medicines.
I hope this letter would catch the eye of someone from the government and there would be some aid granted for innocent pensioners.
Podinilame Via email
When Britain returned the throne and crown of Kandyan Kings
The Dutch are not the first colonial power to return Sri Lankan treasures. The British authorities returned the throne and crown of the Kandyan Kings in 1934.
In February 1934, the State Council passed a motion that these symbols of sovereignty should be restored to Ceylon and in June, King George V announced that the historic monuments which had been in Windsor Castle for 119 years, would be returned by his son, the Duke of Gloucester, during his visit to the island in September that year.
The event was keenly awaited by the population. The streets of Kandy were adorned with gay arches and glittering lights at night. On the day (Sept. 23) there was a four-mile State drive and the Kandyan Chiefs were presented to the Duke in the King’s Pavilion. The handover was witnessed by 1,500 spectators and there was a mile-long perahera that night.
The original intention was to keep the throne and crown in Kandy but later it was decided to transfer them to the Colombo Museum.
The Dutch King should be invited to visit Sri Lanka and return the Dutch artefacts with similar ceremony.
Dr R.P. Fernando Epsom, UK
The healing force of cosmic power and meditation
We are living in a world which is full of complexities and disasters most of which are man-made. We do not know what will happen next. We are being drawn into conflicts and disputes that we are not a part of.
Whenever you tune into a news bulletin you get bombarded with adverse news which in turn makes you unhappy and disheartened. All these negative feelings affect your peace of mind thus impacting the nervous system leading to many diseases, some of which were unheard of five or six decades ago.
Many people are prone to headaches, sleep disorders, stress and depression and illnesses that do not respond to treatment, etc. All these conditions can be controlled using cosmic power coupled with meditation. This is a marvellous invincible force.
As for me, I did my mindful meditation practice nearly 18 years ago at the Dhammakuta Vipassana Meditation Centre in Kandy. Thereafter I practised cosmic meditation as well.
We have to keep in mind that all our actions are being felt by the universe and it will react at its will.
T.P. Peiris Moratuwa
Bamboo industry: Outdated legislations and wrong decisions
Bamboo is now considered ‘green gold’. It has many benefits to the environment and with its high biomass has applications in the energy sector, construction and architectural sector etc.
Small and medium scale bamboo related industries are picking up with a better availability of bamboo. Incentives to improve these industries are a must as the global bamboo market is very high (US $ 70 billion in 2022) and Sri Lanka has much to gain by entering it. This will create job opportunities and be an avenue of foreign exchange much needed now.
It is glaringly evident that the existing legislation in the Forest Ordinance dating as far back as the British period that was imposed to protect the relatively scarcely available bamboo in the past is now obsolete and the authorities should take immediate steps to amend it.
Bamboo is a grass. The more it is harvested the more it grows. Why are authorities then still hesitant in its harvesting and transportation?
Representatives of the Lanka Network of Bamboo and Rattan (SRINBAR), recently had a meeting with the Prime Minister and relevant Government authorities to bring these matters to focus and recommended that bamboo be recognized as an industrial crop and permit requirements for harvest and transport of bamboo be done away with as an incentive for the expansion of the bamboo industry in the country.
Subsequently, MP Yadamini Gunawardene brought this up in Parliament, proposing that laws made as far back as 1907 during the colonial period which hinder the development of the bamboo industry should be amended and bamboo be recognized as an industrial crop so that Sri Lanka could enter the rapidly expanding global bamboo market projected at US $ 100 billion by year 2024. All other Commonwealth countries that were affected by the same legislations have come out of this system while we are still in it.
He referred to bamboo cultivated in private and state lands only and not those in sensitive or protected areas. He also proposed to the Government to release land not used in agriculture or any other purpose for bamboo cultivation. This would help in expanding the bamboo industry.
His second proposal was to set up a Board for Bamboo under the Ministry of Industries to coordinate the different bamboo sectors and develop the industry for earning foreign exchange.
MP Gunawardene’s proposals were seconded by MP Sudharshan Denipitiya. The matters were discussed by State Minister of Primary Industries Chamara Dasanayake and Minister of Wild Life and Forest Resources Conservation, Pavitra Wanniarachchi who were both supportive of promoting bamboo for economic and industrial development. However, there are some matters of dispute that need attention.
The Ministers mentioned that very soon clearance will be given to transport a species called “gal bamboo” without a permit. What is this species referred to as “gal Bamboo” and why only this species? How can this be identified? It is difficult to identify and many bamboo species look similar to a layman. Identification is even more difficult when poles are harvested and prepared for transport! Can the Grama Niladhari who has to recommend the permit identify “gal bamboo”?
It is surprising that the scientists in Forest Department who should have used the scientific name when referring to a particular species, used this term. What are the reasons for clearance to be given only for “gal bamboo”? Species such as D. hookerii, D. giganteus, D. asper, B. vulgaris, B. bambos etc. are abundant and equally in demand. The practical solution would have been to cover all large bamboos together or specify a pole diameter in wavering permits for transport.
Another matter that needs clarification is that, as mentioned by both Ministers, permits for 250 poles of bamboo harvested from private lands will soon be issued with approval of the Divisional Secretary only, to minimize the time taken in obtaining permits. It is not clear if this applies to so called “gal bamboo” or does it cover all bamboos? Why not do away with transport permits and the limitation in the number of poles? A lorry that can be loaded with bamboo poles depends on the vehicle capacity and the diameter of poles. A vehicle that can be loaded with 100 poles of giant bamboo will be able to carry about than 400 poles of D. hookerii.
The State Minister also mentioned that the Industrial Development Board (IDB) has recommended the use of local bamboo for making incense sticks but feels that there is a high sugar content in these and thus it is not suitable for this purpose! They recommended introducing Moso bamboo as this species is used in making incense sticks in China and Viet Nam and the Mahaweli Authority is conducting research on the possibility of growing Moso bamboo locally. Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) is a monopodial temperate species prevalent in bamboo forests in China, Taiwan and surroundings. It is a giant bamboo widely utilized in China. It is wiser to grow tropical bamboo species locally which are also in demand rather than introduce new temperate species which can even be invasive because of the monopodial character. India uses many species of bamboo in the incense stick industry and it is wiser to study the criteria used in determining species suitable for the industry before making hasty decisions.
It is very evident that there is no coordination among the different sectors of the bamboo industry and authorities are making decisions independently which are not at all helpful. It appears that there is also a lack of understanding and scientific knowledge and those responsible have misguided the policy makers. The setting up of a Board to coordinate the different sectors is timely and would be a step forward in making the bamboo industry viable.
The relevant Government authorities must now take steps to implement these decisions immediately. It had taken three years to get the ban lifted to transport 250 bamboo poles but it still has not become effective with a gazette notification!
Many Asian countries like China, India, Viet Nam and also African and Latin American countries are rapidly enhancing production and value addition of bamboo with China in the forefront. They have all recognized bamboo as an industrial crop and we must follow suit.
Shantha Ramanayake Via email
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