16th August 1998

• Another visa aspirant bites the dust
• Broken promises......
• It should not happen again
• Heartburn for cricket fans
• A tribute for Lylie Godridge
• That 'Christian' statement
• Stop this sports-child abuse

Another visa aspirant bites the dust

I read the letter written in the press recently by a gentleman who explained how he had gathered evidence of poor service, rude behavior and even questionable financial practices prevalent at a certain embassy here when one tries to obtain visitor and immigration visas. His documented evidence was presented to the relevant authorities and he says, it caused a great deal of consternation in the higher echelons. I did not realize that I would have an experience at their hands so soon.

Recently my mother who is eighty years old had a very traumatic experience after she applied for a visit visa at this particular embassy.. I have visited this country myself and have seen how caringly they treat their senior citizens. It is sad that this embassy does not consider it necessary to treat our senior citizens in the same manner in which their parents are treated back home.

My mother had visited this country before to visit my brother who works there so she did not think she would have a problem with her visa. My brother wanted her over there for a couple of months and had made her travel arrangements well in advance. After handing over her visa fee of Rs.3160/- etc. she was called up after an hour and a half and very brusquely given back her passport together with a sealed letter addressed to a doctor. She was quite rudely informed that since she was over 80 years old she had to undergo a complete medical examination. She was also told that the doctor would directly send all reports to Singapore and that the results would take 2-6months to reach the embassy here for evaluation.

She was heartbroken - because she had already said most of her good-byes and never actually expected this. Anyway she was disillusioned and told us that she just cannot go through such a wait. She decided to cancel her trip. After a week or so we somehow convinced her to go for the medical examination which we thought would not be traumatic in any way.

I accompanied her that morning to the residence of the Doctor to whom the embassy had addressed a letter. When our turn came we walked towards the doctor's room. I stopped at the door to inquire if I could also come in. Before I could utter a word the doctor said, "don't stand there, go outside!" in a very rude manner. My mother nervously went in alone and sat down. She brought her chair a bit forward and was told " Don't move that chair..!". By now my mother was completely shattered and shivering. Is this how this Doctor wants patients to feel? She was then given a letter to a lab at Galle Face and was asked to come back after the tests. Anyway a chest x-ray and urine sample was taken and we were asked to report back to this doctor. We went back and waited our turn. When we thought it was our turn I approached the door and asked whether I could bring my mother in. The doctor virtually exploded. "You, you get out - get out from here!" I was horrified.I looked around me and noticed for the first time all the poor visa aspirants cowering white knuckled and wondering what they would experience.

My mother left, feeling terrible at the manner in which she was treated. Her ordeal was not over. A week later she received a letter asking her to report to a certain Doctor at a private hospital who performed a lung function test on her - which was a ride on an exercise bicycle!! Once more, my mother is 80 years old. I am proud to say that she passed this test too. She had to call over once again and see this "doctor" to hand over this report. After handing it over when she was about to leave she asked the doctor whether her reports were being sent to Singapore or to the embassy here. The doctor replied with a contorted face: " ..don't bother me with such questions!

"My mother says that she just cannot survive another visit to this "doctor". Is it not possible to obtain all these tests in one lab? There are so many sophisticated labs in Colombo. Could not this Doctor have examined my mother on her first visit and then directed for the tests?

Is this particular embassy aware of the conduct and manners of this particular doctor? Does not the embassy expect all visa applicants to be treated with kindness and civility by the doctors to whom they refer them?

I am writing this in the hope that future visa aspirants will be spared such ignominy and sincerely hope the embassy will look into the behaviour of the particular doctor.

Ms. Abeygoonesekera,

Etul-Kotte

Broken promises......

About two years ago the owners of properties that were to be acquired for the construction of the "Marine Drive", were given a solemn undertaking that compensation, at the then current market value, would be paid immediately, in cash, to enable the owners to re-construct the buildings and parapet walls damaged in carrying out the road building project. The owners readily agreed, in the public interest, and none resorted to court action to delay the project, and most of the owners obtained Bank loans; to renovate the damaged buildings and parapet walls, in the hope of repaying the loans with the compensations received in cash.

But, alas, all their hopes have been dashed as the compensation is to be paid in bonds non-encashable for a period of 10 years.

In consequence most of the owners are in dire financial straits due to their inability to repay the loans.

In the circumstances the Government should in order to honour the undertaking given by notices published in the press, make provisions to enable the owners to encash their bonds, at a reasonable discount, with the banks or in the alternative, pay a higher percentage of cash in settlement of the compensation, so as to relieve the owners from financial embarassment.

Pro-Bono-Publico

Wellawatte.

It should not happen again

Ajith Perera's letter which appeared recently in the press - on falling trees and handicapped people-needs immediate and express attention from the relevant authorities. I have myself experienced much fear and vulnerability whilst driving along those roads on wind swept rainy days. The trees no doubt are beautiful but some are very very old.

Has anybody cared to inspect them for decay? Is the CMC responsible for their maintanence? Will not lives and limbs be saved if regular inspection and maintanence are carried out? The way it is, it seems as if these trees are being left to fall when they should and the destruction they cause must be accepted as just "bad luck" to be around at that time. No more time and lives must be lost.

Ajith's point that handicapped people do not have access anywhere in public is both true and sad. Most countries have wheel chair access to public toilets, waiting rooms, shopping malls, sports and whatever. Sri Lanka sadly lacks this facility. The disabled must be respected, and their dignity and freedom of restricted movement must be facilitated. I really hope that the "wheels" start turning in this direction. I really hope the Government and all service oriented organizations will immediately give falling trees and handicapped people the necessary attention.

Jomo Uduman,

Etul kotte,

Heartburn for cricket fans

The much dreaded news that Rupavahini has got live coverage rights of the Sri Lanka One Day Matches in the UK, has caused much heartburn to most of our cricket fans.

As usual, Rupavahini will break for the 'News' three times at the most crucial and most interesting stages of the game, thus nullifying the purpose of telecasting these matches live.

If Rupavahini is unable to make other arrangements they should not bid for these rights.

The viewers' rights should be placed first.

Will either the Sports Minister or the President ( since most cricket matters are now referred to the President for solving) please prevail over the National TV Station and save us cricket lovers from losing our tempers and increasing our blood pressures.

F. Gunasekera

Dehiwala.

A tribute for Lylie Godridge

We were devastated by the news of Lylie's critical illness and some of us were reduced to tears by the eloquent testimony and tributes paid to Lylie. With his incomparable singing voice Lylie has indeed been a tremendous force on the musical horizon of Sri Lanka. As the Singing Crusader for Peace he has on his world tour sung in almost all the capitals in the world, enthralled even Royalty, and thereby brought honour and fame to the land of his birth.

Lylie has endeared himself to the people because, in spite of the fame and publicity that has come his way, and blessed with such prodigious talent, both, as a singer and music teacher, Lylie has always remained a most unassuming and self-effacing character, ever ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. His prodigious voice and the glory he has brought his country has indeed made him our national treasure. This then, is the man now in need of urgent financial assistance to meet the cost of medicine and dialysis for the rest of his life.

We feel that the most constructive step would be to organise a couple of musical extravaganzas with our best known singers and artistes participating. We have no doubt they will all contribute a 5 or 10 minute item each towards this show which could be called "In aid of Lylie Godridge Fund".

As writer Richard Dwight told me personally over the telephone, it would be a magnificent tribute and a gesture of love to actively and meaningfully express our appreciation of a man during his lifetime, rather than shed copious tears when he is gone and mouth eloquent words of praise over his grave!

Brixious Samarasinghe

Kandy

That 'Christian' statement

Reference the statement in The Sunday Times of August 2, by a Christian evangelical movement in Sri Lanka appealing for the release of prisoners of conscience in the Maldive Islands, I wish to state a few facts which have been cleverly hidden by missionaries not only in the Maldives but also in Sri Lanka.

One strategy that is adopted is based on total deception. Books with Islamic calligraphy and terminology have been printed to fool the uninitiated Muslims into believing that the material is of Islamic teachings. One particular book was titled 'Eesa Ve Injeel' which means the Gospel of Jesus. This was in Tamil. The same book was published in Dhivehi, the Maldivian language. Now every Christian missionary knows that there is no such Gospel. The Gospels that are available in the Bible are that of Mark, Matthew, Luke and John.

Also a special radio broadcast to the Maldives under the guise of pop music is aired every week. Actually this is yet another missionary tactic. In this programme questions are raised about the authenticity of the Islamic teachings, which are 'attacked' in a subtle way, while Christianity is portrayed in bright colours.

Christian missionaries have for centuries now portrayed that Jesus Christ (may peace be on him) is a white man. But in actual fact he was anything but white. Even the Bible confirms this in the first chapter of Revelations, the last book of the Bible. Therein lies the first deception.

The target group of these missionaries are young people (most of them in their teens). A pamphlet distributed by this organisation confirms this. These young people have still to learn about Islam. But as we all know young people are eager to be fashionable and want to catch up with the latest fashions. They are easy prey for westernisation. It doesn't seem decent to hoodwink young children when they are in this frame of mind. I am sure no Christian will tolerate missionaries of another religion tapping their children when they go through this phase of life. Christian missionaries will do better if they talk to Muslims who know their religion and a little bit of comparative religion. Muslims have quite a few things to say to the Christians on this subject.

There is an interesting verse in the Qur'an that warns the Muslims of the hostility of the Jews and Christians towards Islam. This is what it says:

Never will the Jews or the Christains be satisfied with you (the Muslims) unless you follow their form of religion. Say (to them) "The guidance of God - that is the (only) Guidance........ Qur'an Chapter 2:120. How true is this verse, standing the test of centuries!

Perhaps the Christian organisation that is so concerned about prisoners of conscience in the Maldive Islands should issue a statement on the wanton slaughter of Muslims in Kosovo by Christians of the West.

Already massacres of Muslims have taken place in Palestine and Bosnia. No Christian state that usually champions the cause of human dignity, came to the assistance of the Muslims. But all Christian states rushed to destroy Iraq, where over 1.5 million children have died because of the embargo. Suppose the Muslims of Iraq were to become Christians wouldn't the embargo be lifted? You can be sure there will be dozens of Missionary organisations supporting Iraq then. In kindness I will not mention the atrocities committed by the Christians during the crusades, which were executed on the orders of Pope Urban the 2nd.

Hameed Abdul Karim.

Wellawatte.

Stop this sports-child abuse

Not too long ago, we read, with distaste, Susanthika Jayasingha's allegations of sexual harrasment by sports administrators, and inevitable counter allegations by the administrators and politicians. This episode was followed by the officials of the Cricket Board questioning the modalities of the WorldTel contract and the Board elections. Then came the controversy over the questionable random urine sampling of selected athletes (including Susanthika). Now we have the oft-repeated controversy regarding Roshan Mahanama's "form" and "technique". Somwhere in between all this, I happened to be in England and France, at a time the First World Cup matches were being played, and realized what a big issue hooliganism in Sport was: particularly in Football in Europe and England. These have moved me to write about something I came across in England, relating to Sports and the Law.

My "base" there was the home of Alexandra Felix and her husband Stephen: both lawyers. It came as a surprise for me to know that Alexandra is deeply involved with the subject of"Sports Law" which is a recently emerged area of study.

Alexandra lectures at the first University designated research centre on this subject in Britain - the Anglia Sports Law Research Centre (ASLRC) of the Anglia Law School of the Anglia Polytechnic University at Chelmsford. She teaches Sports Law and is currently researching issues of effective mechanisms to compensate loss due to injuries in Sport and the role of risk management programmes.

It is not my intention to write about Alexandra, but about the need to have an understanding and expertise on the subject of Sports Law, in this country, before a controversy blows up. Our medical men took up cudgels on behalf of our athletes only after one of them was unfairly treated. All honour to them for proving their point: it is now time that the lawyers should also start preparing for what will, surely, come.

The ASLRC is now offering a LLM/MA course in International Sports Law. Among the subjects dealt with are: Intellectual Property; Liability for Sporting Injuries; Regulation of Sports Facilities; Employment Issues; Drug abuse in Sport; Taxation; Sports Business organizations; Sports Governing bodies; Sports Marketing and Sponsorship; Impact of Sport on society; National and European policy; Broadcasting rights; Sport and medicine; and Competition issues.

All these seem so relevant to Sri Lankan sport and it is my hope, in writing this, to awake the interest (and conscience) of lawyers, sportsmen and women, the Faculty of Law, the Law College and the Ministry of Sport in this new field. They can then serve the interests of all those who participate in sport at national and international levels, as a start. In the long run, we should think of the duty that Clubs, Schools, Parents and others have towards their members and children. Children, particularly should be safeguarded. After years of being educated about sexual harassment, we are now being made aware of child abuse: should we not also be thinking of sports-child abuse?

Lt.Cdr.S.Devendra (Rtd)

Dehiwela

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