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Towering triumph

By Esther Williams
The twin towers of the World Trade Centre that are a distinguishing feature of the Colombo skyline have done Sri Lanka proud. To be awarded the "International Award Actualidad 21st Century - Leader in Prestige and Quality Europe 2003," is a recognition of success and a symbol of triumph for the country.

The annual award that is given by Actualidad, a Magazine of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Publishing House (1962) was presented at the award ceremony in Madrid (Spain) on February 1, to coincide with the International Fair of Tourism.

Representatives from different industrial sectors, business associations, embassies and the media, who attended the ceremony were told that Sri Lanka has a prestigious building, with an infrastructure of international standards.

"With the country coming out of the doldrums, it is the best time to cash in on that," says Hussein Cassim, Deputy Chairman of Overseas Realty that owns the World Trade Centre. "It is categorised as an intelligent building with the latest in telecommunication facilities and security measures," Mr. Cassim adds. "None of the other countries in the SAARC region have such an infrastructure."

There are currently 315 World Trade Centres in the World. The WTC Association headquartered in New York gives franchise to those fulfilling certain criteria and only then are they entitled to use the WTC name. World Trade Centres, the world over are always buzzing with activity as they are provide information, trade services and networking to the business sector.

"We need the government's support to activate this facility," Mr. Cassim says. "Investors are coming and making enquiries - but they want to make sure there is going to be lasting peace."

The 39 storey Centre, located in Colombo's prime area is up against a wait and see attitude.

After having survived two terrorist attacks that caused setbacks the Centre today shows promise.

Though it is still in the high security zone, there is free access to it and the shopping area has full occupancy. The festival season saw around 5000 visitors each day.

Many events are apparently in the pipeline at Colombo's WTC that is comparable with the world's best buildings.

Among them are the upmarket International Trade Fairs and a gem centre. "Windows on the World," the state of Art Business services Club, available at other World Trade Centres is also being planned.

Sarcasm doesn't tickle children's funny bone
When parents use sarcasm to playfully tease their young children, do the kids see the humour?

Not likely, according to a Canadian researcher who has completed a study showing that children need to be 10 or older before grasping the idea that sarcasm can be funny or even insulting.

The results have implications for everything from the content of children's television programmes to the interpretation of abusive behaviour, Penny Pexman, a psychologist from the University of Calgary, said on Thursday.

"Our study suggests that the five-year-olds are beginning to understand the simplest form of sarcasm and are getting better at it, but by the age of eight they really don't find it funny, so there's still a dissociation there," said Pexman, who has been studying sarcasm for the past six years.

"They can appreciate that the person means the opposite of what they're saying, but they don't find it funny." She and a colleague tested 64 children, presenting them with various scenarios played out with puppets using "counter-factual communication".

One featured a bumbling gardener who pulls all the flowers out of a garden and leaves only the "yucky" weeds, prompting an angry homeowner to remark: "You're a great gardener."

Half the younger children didn't take it literally.

"Even though the intonation is there and the gardener totally messed up, they really do think it's a positive remark," Pexman said.In addition, children under the age of 10 almost always interpreted a sarcastic remark as serious, even when it was intended to be funny, she said. The findings should help researchers understand reactions to teasing and bullying, especially since the young subjects often identified with the character who was the target of the sarcastic jibe, Pexman explained.

It is still not completely clear what determines how children comprehend sarcasm, but Pexman said factors could include the language used at home, their social milieu and the types of television shows they watch.
- Independent

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