This season has seen an increase in natural produce, such as paddy, corn, vegetables, fruit, eggs and milk. This is a sign of strong growth in the farming sector.
There are many contributing factors: favourable climate conditions, state support, promotional programmes and facilities, including subsidies, easy credit and the dissemination of technical know-how. Farmers have responded well to the positive conditions, and their hard work and the new technology have resulted in optimum production.
The government should show its appreciation of the farmers’ efforts. The poor farmers live an unpredictable life, and they are naturally discouraged when things do not go well for them. The next season may not be as productive. There could be a drop in production and an increase in prices.
World market conditions, taxes and a floating rupee have pushed up the price of powdered milk. On the other hand, local liquid milk production has increased.
Why, as a nation, do we prefer powdered milk to fresh milk, which is more nutritious and tasty?
This is an excellent opportunity to go back to drinking fresh milk and to phase out powdered milk. By doing so, we can save foreign exchange, reduce malnutrition, increase employment, and boost returns from the dairy sector.
To achieve this, we must take the following steps:
a). Increase the number of cows at the dairy farms; import and distribute high-yielding breeds of cattle.
b). Promote diversification – use under- productive rice fields to grow pasture grass to feed milk-producing cows.
c). Encourage good husbandry practices; set up an efficient purchasing and transport network to link producers and processors (factories).
d). Set up medium-size liquid milk processing units in milk-producing areas to bring down collection and distribution costs.
e). Promote through media and in schools the benefits of fresh milk consumption.
f). Strengthen the Provincial Animal Production and Health Departments for better services to farmers.
Chandrasiri Nanayakkara,
Kuliyapitiya
Yes, we can call ourselves Sri Lankans
Prof. J. Jinadasa in a letter to The Sunday Times (Can we call ourselves Sri Lankans? Plus section Page 2) spells out an opinion based on the false propaganda of the Tamil Diaspora, Channel 4 video and the infamous Darusman report. One generally expects a professor to study his facts when expressing an opinion.
To briefly set the record straight (I carry no brief for any government or political party or other organization), here are some basic facts:
South Indian estate labour, prior to independence (1948) were migratory labour and Indian citizens. After independence all Indians who had a continuous stay here of more than seven years were granted citizenship. Others naturally, had to fill in an application. Some preferred to get back and did so. Some were repatriated based on various Indo-Ceylon pacts. None were “disenfranchised”, this being a total canard. Prior to 1948, we all (Ceylonese and Indians) could vote at local elections as British citizens being citizens of the British Empire. The latter privilege ceased at independence, we becoming Ceylonese and Indians reverting to Indian citizenship. So, they had to first get their Ceylonese citizenship officially stamped prior to getting voting rights. It is not “disenfranchisement”.
In 1988 all remaining Indians were granted citizenship by affidavit which affidavit cannot be contested in a court of law. Nowhere in the world are citizenship laws so liberal. In the US, one has to wait ten years for a green card and undergo a process of naturalisation, and go through an English test and a US history/culture test. No such formalities here.
There are a few Tamils (and even Sinhalese and Muslims in far off villages) without birth certificates or IDs. This is not Sinhala racism or the fault of the administration. These people are simply too lazy to apply or register a birth or even a marriage or apply for the ID at 16 years of age.
Any Sri Lankan citizen can come forward to contest the presidency provided he/she has the qualifications. There is no apartheid law preventing Tamils or Muslims contesting. Of course you have to be popular enough to get the majority (not necessarily Sinhalese) vote to win. S. J. V. Chelvanayakam born in Malaya became an MP here in Ceylon. Lakshman Kadirgamar may have ended up as Prime Minister (or even President) had he lived. I cannot vouch for individuals like Rauff Hakim, Sampanthan or Thondaman becoming president. Not because they are non-Sinhalese, but because they have little following amongst their own people. Then again can a Sinhalese win in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Kalmunai or Akkaraipaththu? Unlikely. This is not Tamil/Muslim racism. It is simply that voters prefer their own kin. And there is nothing wrong with that.
Many Tamils (and Muslims) hold or have held top positions in the army, the police, and the judiciary and served as attorneys general, vice chancellors, professors and cabinet ministers.
Our ambassador at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva was Tamara Kunanayagam, a Tamil officer who did a fantastic job. Unfortunately she was asked to go to Cuba, not due to Sinhala chauvinism but “political chauvinism” of some politicians.
Can Prof JJ quote the law which he says is mandatory for the army to check on school plays, birthday parties and weddings in Jaffna? Come on Prof, your imagination should have some limits
We do have problems in Sri Lanka yet.
This is no five-star democracy. There are problems for Tamils. There are problems for the poor. There is poor governance. There is a law-and-order crisis. Corruption and nepotism are rampant. But please don’t blame the Sinhala Buddhists for all these lapses of politicians.
Cecil Dharmasena,
Kandy
Kotte residents plagued by
rotting uncleared garbage
Young or old, rich or poor, educated or not, urban or rural, powerful or powerless, royal or humble, we all know that health is wealth. We should also know that we all have a responsibility to keep our environment clean.
Unfortunately, residents of Kotte have a serious health and hygiene problem to contend with – garbage virtually dumped on their doorstep.
There is an apartment complex at Sapumal Pedesa, on Stanley Tillekeratne Mawatha, in Nugegoda, whose residents put out their garbage in an area shared by other houses in the neighbourhood. The neighbours can do little about the problem of accumulating garbage and the stink it raises because of certain connections with the Police and the Kotte Municipal Council.
This writer confirms that he has his garbage well under control. He uses the freezer at home to keep food, as well as leftovers and food waste, especially meat product refuse, which is put in a polythene bag and tied up. The resident puts his garbage out only on days the waste disposal truck is expected. On days it does not come, he lugs the garbage back into his house.
How are ratepayers to dispose of their garbage? In the old days, when most homes had large gardens, garbage pits were a common feature. But today most houses or residences have limited space, and householders are forced to put out their garbage on the road and wait for the garbage collector to take away the rubbish.
The Kotte Municipality has a responsibility to all Kotte residents. We have a right to live in a clean neighbourhood.
Will the Minister of Health please step in and take immediate action?
Disgusted Kotte Resident |
E-mail
