• Happy New Year!
• Kala Korner - By Dee Cee 
• Forget the past, start again
• Long time no see?
• The 'myth' of ethnic suppression
• The development dilmma exposed
• Never neglect chest pain
• A Bangkok experience
• A century of wisdom

Happy New Year!

By Ruhanie Perera and Laila Nasry

While one part of the country celebrates, another part sleeps and another part possibly suffers - yet there is another part - one that will be working through one of the most special nights ever. 

"A man has got to do what a man has got to do" says Ramesh Shanmuganathan one of the technical consultants of Keells Business Systems Ltd, who is part of the "Keells Y2K team" working on the night before of the dawn of the new millennium. His colleague Janaka Rodrigo nods in agreement. 

For these two men working on the night of nights is not a chore, instead they see it as a duty they owe to their company, their profession and their industry. 

This "Y2K team" idea, was a collective decision on the part of the management and the two of them had volunteered. 

"We have to lead from the front says Ramesh, and Janaka feels it would be unfair for the engineers to be working and not them, for part of the responsibility lies on their shoulders as well. Well what do their families think of their "goody two shoes" act? 

"My wife doesn't like it at all", Janaka flatly admitted, "and she feels this time being the new millennium makes it more important that I be there with them. I know it's not an excuse but going out on 31st night can be quite expensive", he says trying to justify his cause and redeem himself, but quickly added "all I can do is call her at twelve sharp, and take her out on the 1st". 

Every year the Rodrigos have a little home party and this year it will go on as usual, but without Janaka. Ramesh on the other hand is a tad bit luckier for his girlfriend is used to him not being around as he was in the US for sometime. 

"I feel sad, I can't spend time with her. But that's life". He all the same encourages her to go out and celebrate without him though he doubts she will do so. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy has been well heeded by the Keells management for come 31st night and along with work they've managed to squeeze in some fun. 

Their lunch-room will be cleared to make room for a dance floor; a DJ has been hired to play music to the in house crowd. Food will be catered from Mt. Lavinia Hotel.

For the weary souls the Nippon hotel opposite the office has been booked and the guys can eat, drink, sleep or dance (of course on a shift basis) their cares away. It's a different kind of fun with a different kind of family and both Ramesh and Janaka are glad that they will be there to see the computer make the Y2K change. "It will be an all time experience".

Some people have all the luck in the world...or do they, one wonders when talking to Indika Fernando, a waiter at the coffee shop of Hotel Galadari. For one conjures up this image of work at a hotel on 31st night to be hectic and without a break while all around people are merry making and having a ball. It's not quite so. 

"We got to celebrate with the management. We open two or three bottles and have a good time". By twelve midnight most of Indika's work is complete. "Everything is served by that time. All the people are on the dance floor and all that remains to be served is the champagne".

Last year Indika worked the morning shift but this year he has to work the night, "must also give the others a chance", he says. Being unmarried Indika feels it's only fair to give those who are married the morning shift so that they can spend the night of the millennium with their wife and kids. 

Indika too believes his services are needed and sees working on a peak night as this, as his inherent duty towards the management. "I have explained the whole situation to my parents and have promised to call them at midnight to wish them." However when he goes home at the end of his shift he hopes to celebrate the New Year with his family with lunch or dinner. 

If he wasn't working it would have been being at home and lighting crackers with family members and friends, but though it involves work Indika feels "working on millennium night is better for a change". For a change!!?

There are some for whom leave alone millennium night, even previous 31st night celebrations were an unrealistic dream. Dr. Anuruddha Padage, of the Orthopaedic Unit of the accident service of the National Hospital, has been working on the last night of every year for as long as he has been a doctor. 

He acknowledges the fact that this year is special but he is quick to point out that "when one is committed to this sort of job there are limitations. This is part of being a doctor." 

What if you took an oath that you would work no matter what, whenever you were called. When Chief Inspector Bandula Wijewardena, the Officer-In-Charge of Kotahena said the words "we will serve" that's exactly what he did. And on 31st night, out on the streets - serve he will. 

"I need to be around," says Bandula Wijewardena who believes in standing with his men and setting a good example for them. "It's a two way thing, because I need them as well. I suppose you could say it's all about giving each other moral support. It wouldn't really be fair if I left them to do all the work and went off to celebrate with my family."

"Turn left", "now turn right". Anyone would think that giving directions was one of the easiest jobs on earth. 

Yet, it could also be one of the most important and most stressful - that is if you are giving directions to...aeroplanes. In fact this is yet another job which requires the staff to be on their toes, round the clock. Ranjith Silva the Chief Air Traffic Controller of the Air Traffic Services of Sri Lanka is one of 'those' people who will be spending what is expected to be one of the most festive nights of the year (or should I say century) working. "Actually it's nothing very much," says Mr. Silva who says that "the turn of the century doesn't make much of a difference" to him. "In fact I've been out working many times on a '31st night' so I'm used to not being at home and so is my family. You could say they are used to me not being there for many things owing to the fact that I was working. I've missed weddings and some times not been around even when the children were sick."

On the 31st of December 1999, Ranjith Silva will be on the night shift at the Main Area Control Centre in Sri Lanka. Not only will he be involved with flight information but it is also his job to be in touch with Bangkok in case problems crop up because of the Y2K bug - "That's because I was directly involved with formulating the contingency plan."

"Even on the 1st there will be work, since there will be reports to write and sum up work to be taken care of. That will leave me only with the evening free. Luckily, I'm not the 'celebration' kind of person; I don't go for dances and that sort of thing so the '31st night' syndrome means very little to me. If I wasn't working I would probably watch TV or chit chat with the neighbours." 

Lots of people are going to be having fun, while Ranjith Silva is going to be working. Is he bitter? "Not in the least." "It's something that comes with the job. I've accepted that it's one of 'those' things."

Controlling traffic on our busy roads is hard enough, but controlling traffic in the air seems to be a lot more complicated. Although a reduction in air traffic is expected on the 31st, there still is a lot of work to be done. Ensuring that every single aircraft that enters a region of 970,000 square kilometres is safe can be pressurising - so much so that "we may not even have time to wish each other at midnight." "Oh well, maybe we'll be able to do that the year after." It sure seems like a tough job...but somebody's got to do it. 

If you do get into a taxi on the 31st night to get to your destination, remember that all those in the transport service will be working, that means even pilots, stewardesses and the ground staff. All those in emergency services will certainly not be at any of the dances in town and journalists will be in their seats waiting for the 'story of the century' to break.

Some will report to work with gallant spirit and the intention of rendering a service, others will come with a sense of duty. Then there are those eager ones who've planned a party at work and then some others who'll act like it's just another day and the "just remember to change the calendar when I get home" attitude. Yet whatever their attitude, intentions or feelings may be they will report to work. 

So as you slip into your finery, bend forward to light a cracker, sip your champagne or doze off to slumberland - spare a thought and a silent word of thanks for those who serve.

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