Here lies an unknown ‘Letchumie’ Under the Tea Bushes, green and shady. From where she came and where she went None cares to know how her life was spent. Rises to the beat of Tom Toms in misty morns, Wrapped in the ‘Kambily’ to keep her warm. To the ‘Muster’ she walks to earn her daily wage Sun or rain to her is the same. Up the hills and down the dales. Every tea bush she reaches with an eager face. Her fingers go clip clap plucking the leaves, When the basket is filled with smiles she beams. The shouts of Periya Dorai, Kanakapulle and the Kangany, She is used to that endless daily symphony. She bears all that for the love of her brood, Her half naked children wait her return with eager looks. When work is done, she hastily walks, to her ‘Line Room’ for her household chores, Lovingly she pets her dog, the goat, the cat and the hens that lay The only leisure and pleasure she gets for the day. Far away from her homeland now she rests after her blood, tears and sweat she has shed, Offering her bones and flesh to nourish her alien soil, for prosperity and peace of this beautiful isle. Her blood runs in our country’s veins, Her toils are to our national gains, Future generations could live without any need, For she has left a fortune in the Tea Cup. Let not racists speak or look with scorn, as she was, to this world, lowly born, She has done her part well in her struggled life, Let us be grateful and not be unkind. When she is judged on the Judgement Day, She would head the list for sacrifices made, For her, merit is boundless and sins are less, Her place in Heaven is assured, with eternal bliss.
I walked into the Ceylon Tourist Board office, opposite the Lanka Oberoi, a few weeks ago and surprises and shocks were in store for me!
At the information centre a Tourist Board girl spoke to me in faulty English with her hands on her hips.
Stepping into the Marketing Division I enquired from the officer seated nearest the door, the whereabouts of the Film Library. Without even lifting his eyes from the paper he was reading, he stretched his hand in the direction of the Library. He reminded me of a traffic cop on the street - but more of him later on.
The air-conditioned Film Library was more a ‘’rest-room’’ where officers were whiling-away their time hidden from their bosses. My arrival dispersed them and someone went in search of the officer-in-charge of this Unit. I was compelled to keep the door ajar to get rid of the foul cigarette smell in the room.
Now, left to myself, I heard a commotion in the next room. Through the glass partition I observed a peon shouting at a Burgher lady-officer and using the word ‘umba’ several times. I couldn’t believe my ears. I was dumbfounded! Where was the boss of this Unit? If I could hear every word of this disgusting monologue why were the other officers turning a deaf ear to this verbal abuse? Their silence made me think that this rough language was their normal lingo- in their homes and now in their work place. But it was certainly not pleasant to my ears.
My attention was now drawn to the officer nearest the door. An elderly tourist walks in. This officer throws aside his paper and jumps from his seat oozing with charm. He talks non-stop, all smiles and is a fountain of information. Is a white/black skin a criteria for courtesy and politeness in the Tourist Board? Surely Mr.Chairman, Tourist Board what standards do you maintain?
The video I was shown was quite good but the narration by a local compere was only ‘’accent but no clarity’’. Maybe the Sinhala speaking members of the Board of Managment had been impressed by the accent, but it serves no purpose if the words cannot be understood. I had had enough of our Ceylon Tourist Board. I simply fled from its precincts prefering to speak to my travel agent.
Isn’t it time to privatize this institution? Tourism is a money spinner and we are wasting precious time. Sri Lanka cannot afford to lose this opportunity.
In order to obtain a telephone I paid a deposit of Rs.250 to the Engineer Telecom, Kalutara on 03.02.94 and my registration number is K/P/575/94. Though I have waited for over 3 1/2 years I have still not got a telephone. Due to my old age and poor health condition I appealed to the ministry on 08.01.97 enclosing a medical certificate from a consultant physician from whom I obtain medical treatment and requesting the ministry to consider my plight and allow me Ministry permission to obtain a telephone as early as possible. The Ministry was prompt to reply my letter and requested the Telecom Engineer, Kalutara to grant me my request early.
After a lapse of over five months I received a registered letter on 27.06.97 from Telecom Engineer, Kalutara informing me that my request cannot be granted as no loops were available. This is a very sad state of affairs. Telecom should realise that it is a business organisation and from the very day a telephone connection is given they earn money. This is not a favour we are asking from the Telecom. They may think it is a favour.
People like me living around Panadura now have been waiting for over three to four years to obtain telephones and always the excuse given by Telecom is non-availability of loops. In a matter of a few weeks the newly started private telephone companies may start operations in Panadura area and I am sure the thousands of people like myself who have been waiting for telephones will flock around them to obtain their needs as they will not be requested to pay deposits and be in waiting lists etc. It is only then that Telecom will feel that they have lost a gold mine at Panadura.
Now over to you Minister for your comments on the pathetic display by Telecom as a business organisation.
The residents of Auburnside and Aponso Avenue in Dehiwela are compelled to face a severe problem.
The pathway, about 20 feet in width, running from Auburnside towards Aponso Avenue, Dehiwela had been grabbed and annexed to their respective lands by residents living alongside.
This pathway is adjoining the Railway track. School children, senior citizens and others are thereby compelled to use the railway track exposing them to danger.
This land grabbing had taken place gradually and no one in the Municipality had taken any notice of it.
Will our Mayor, please look into this and get the pathway released for the use of the people
The colonial administration of our country for over one hundred and thirty years prior to Independence, has had a tremendous effect on our traditions, culture and all aspects of our life-style. The medium of administration then, being English, the trend towards studying this language increased since the criterion for seeking jobs in public service (mainly white collar) was a knowledge of English. With the passage of time the study of vernaculars in our country headed towards a decline and virtually became a secondary language in schools.
However, in the wake of Independence in 1948 the implementation of the ‘’Official Language Act’’ at a premature stage left a legacy of discontent, frustration and communal unrest among those non-proficient in Sinhala and others in the various ethnic groups as well. It was an era when most of the Public Servants of the day were scions from the old school who had received their education in the English medium. This sudden transition of the Language Policy had an arduous impact on those non-proficient in the Official language-Sinhala. The cream of the public service was heading towards a process of virtual extinction. Doctors, Engineers, Teachers etc. either retired, resigned or even vacated their posts or migrated in pursuit of greener pastures. The fraction left behind did not receive or give adequate co-operation in the implementation of the new language policy, being subject to ridicule and frustration. Hence the targeted objectives of the policy could not be achieved. With the evolution of time, the quality standard in the public service reached a degree far below expectation. Red tape, malpractice, corruption and chauvinism became the order of the day in public service.
In the above context, I am inclined to hold my view that English is the one language that could link all ethnic groups in our country and it is gratifying to note that the state has focused its attention with concern to make this global language compulsory in the school curriculum. At the same time we should uphold the belief that the study of English should only be for communicative purposes and not as a replacement of our mother tongue or to overlay or belittle our concepted cultural and traditional susceptibilities.
The communal riots in 1958 and the devastation and carnage since the Black July 83 violence could have been averted had those who claim themselves to be responsible for the country’s future, overcome their selfishness for power and narrow thinking during the past regimes and worked towards a better tomorrow with a sense of far-sighted thinking. Hence all those who held the reins of power since independence have to share their quota of responsibility, for this chaotic situation.
Since we are in an age of Technology, Computer, Scientific development and research, English being a Universal language could help us in these fields apart from serving as a link language to all communities for mutual understanding and respect for each other.
It is our ardent hope the far-sighted steersman of the educational machinery would give a new dimension to this concept of maintaining a high standard of English in our schools as a pre-requisite for National amity and peaceful co-existence.
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