Many nations have national anthems enriched by multiple languages Going by some comments by the general public, it appears that many are unaware that the National Anthem is only of symbolic value and is sung in different languages in many countries. The words or ideas never materialise into anything though it gives hope. Switzerland’s anthem [...]

The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

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Many nations have national anthems enriched by multiple languages

Going by some comments by the general public, it appears that many are unaware that the National Anthem is only of symbolic value and is sung in different languages in many countries.

The words or ideas never materialise into anything though it gives hope.

Switzerland’s anthem has different lyrics for each of the country’s four official languages (French, German, English, and Romansh). Canada’s national anthem has different lyrics in each of the country’s official languages (English and French).

The Irish national anthem was written in English; an Irish translation although never formally adopted, is now almost always sung.

South Africa’s national anthem is unique in that five of the country’s 11 official languages are used in the same anthem (the first stanza is divided between two languages, with each of the remaining three stanzas in a different language.

Apart from ‘God Save the Queen’, the New Zealand national anthem is now traditionally sung with the first verse in Maori (Aotearoa) and the second in English (God Defend New Zealand).

The tune is the same but the words are not a direct translation of each other. ‘God Bless Fiji’ has lyrics in English and Fijian which are not translations of each other.

Another multi-lingual country, Spain, has no words in its national anthem. And the anthem of San Marino has no official lyrics. The anthem of the Republic of Kosovo has no lyrics.

And we are arguing without facts in hand.

Bandu W.
Colombo 7


Coordinated foreign policy need of the hour

I refer to the news, “New body under PM to oversee Foreign Ministry” which appeared in the Sunday Times of January 31.

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article in this paper entitled “Rethinking the Role of Sri Lankan Missions Abroad” (December 12, 2015), suggesting that these missions should focus on their consular functions, broadly defined. This is where these missions can make an important contribution to the nation’s welfare.

Sri Lankan missions abroad and the foreign service have been incapacitated in recent years, largely due to these bodies being corrupted and neglected by the powers that were in authority during the last few years.

Even with much effort in improving recruitment and placements, it would be a difficult task to turn round the Foreign Office to what it was in the 1970s.

This might take five to ten years. The world too has changed especially in the conduct of international economic and trade relations.

One approach that should be considered is to conduct Sri Lanka’s international economic relations without any significant involvement of the foreign ministry and foreign missions.

This is what is already happening. Corporate and private business and commerce are handling Sri Lanka’s international trading arrangements.

Whether it be tea exports, textiles, or placement of Sri Lankan workers abroad (these are our main lines of export earnings) are handled by private business channels.

The Foreign Ministry is only concerned with the facilitation of consular matters in regard to these trading arrangements.

In relation to international economic relations, matters relating to the World Bank, IMF and the Asian Development Bank are handled by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank.

Matters related to the World Trade Organisation are being handled by the Ministry of Trade. The world is a more complex and diverse place than it ever was, and there is no necessity to coordinate all these matters through the Foreign Office.

Most ministries including health or tourism, have their international dimensions and relations and they should be allowed to conduct them.

What is absolutely required is a coordinated foreign policy which is best done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reporting to the Cabinet, Prime Minister, the President, and Parliament.

If the current proposal for an overseeing committee goes through, one would like to know, what the role of the President and the Cabinet is in making foreign policy. Foreign policy is a critical part of national policy making and cannot be detached from it.

Leelananda De Silva
Via email


No one with an aesthetic or historic mind-set would want a bridge across Kandy Lake

The proposal to build a bridge over Kandy Lake seems ill-conceived. The Lake is already being raped by the traffic around it and sewage diverted into it at some points.

It is hilarious to all but some who think that opening the Dalada Veediya to traffic bordering Dalada Maligawa depreciates the sacredness of the Temple of the Tooth. The Maligawa, ensconcing the Sacred Tooth Relic should be preserved by all means.

In case traffic should not ply alongside the eastern wall of the Temple, it would do no harm to divert traffic to the mouth of the lake-round opposite the Temple and construct a shorter approach to Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, rather than sending the traffic the full length of the lake-round.

That should cost drastically less than building unaesthetic bridges.

It’s not constructions that are needed but to preserve the Kandy Lake in its pristine glory. No man/woman of an aesthetic and or historic mind-set would ever want to unnecessarily meddle with this cynosure of the City of Kandy.

The noble Malwatte Chapter Viharaya sits picturesquely around the Kandy Lake. The Ven. Mahanayake Thera himself must be breathing in obnoxious carbon monoxide round the clock. A formidable appeal by the Ven. Mahanayake to ease the traffic flow around the lake is yet to be known.

It’s indeed a pity if he too has teamed up with the Maligawa authorities to keep Dalada Veediya closed from the Queen’s Hotel to The Temple of the Tooth.

How about the doctors and other professionals living around the Kandy Lake? Why have not they formed a forum or protesting vigilant body against this traffic menace?

Besides being an eye-sore, a bridge of the proposed kind will definitely aggravate the vehicle emitting pollution rather than decreasing it.

The Lake Round was the best and healthiest walking and jogging area in the city of Kandy. That was some time ago. Now it has become the most hazardous strip for such exercises.

Bandula Jayaratne
Nugegoda


Avoid or define vague concepts when making constitution

I refer to the purported All-Party Representative Committee (APRC) final report, a copy of which I have been sent by a well-wisher.

Most constitutions do not refer to the State as unitary although it is usual to say if the State is federal. If the State is not federal, there is no reference to the State as “unitary”.

The concept of unitary state is not a clear-cut concept in political science and it has not been defined legally in other democratic countries. So it is better to leave out the word “unitary” and proceed to describe the features of the constitution.

I think Sri Lanka should have a secular constitution. But most Buddhists seem to want Buddhism to have the foremost place, whatever it may mean.

But such words sooner or later need to be legally interpreted and it is then that problems will arise. So wise constitution-makers in other countries have not used undefined political concepts but proceeded to describe the features they wanted included in the constitution.

Wouldn’t this be a wiser course of action? This applies also to the word “secular” which in political science is not a clear-cut concept. I don’t think it has been defined legally either. So it is better to leave out the word “secular” too.

The state does not need a religion which is an individual’s choice in modern society. Of course, there are religious organisations or bodies which require legal personality.

If the majority of people want a state religion, then these religious bodies may have to be financially supported by the state and this involves an accountability process.

But I find that even the Buddhist clergy like the Catholic clergy in European history do not want State control over their organisations and activity.

So there is little surprise that the Bill to be introduced by Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe is drawing flak from sections of the Buddhist clergy.

I notice that it is stated in the APRC report that we are a state comprising various communities such as the Sinhalese, the Tamils, the Muslims and others.

This is followed by the clause giving the right of every constituent people to develop its own language, develop and promote its culture and preserve its history.

It also recognises the right to its due share of state power including the right to due representation in institutions of government while strengthening the common Sri Lankan identity.

State power is based on individual representation and under a democracy there will be the opposition which will be out of power.

Why this reference to due share of state power? State power is executive power and such a clause is likely to lead to controversy and even agitation.

R.M.B Senanayake
Via email


Colombo city’s traffic congestion – Take a lesson from Delhi

The daily snafu of motor vehicles on our roads, with the ever-increasing registrations at the Commissioner of Motor Traffic ( CMT) -averaging over 50,000-vehicles a month forebodes a nightmare to motorists in the months ahead.

Productive proposals of constructing additional highways, overhead and otherwise, additional roads, extension of Marine Drive and Duplication Road, installing toll gates at entrances to Colombo City are all very good long-term measures to ease the present traffic congestion.

The Delhi government’s announcement in end-Dec-2015 states: “…a private car and two-wheeler will be allowed on the city’s roads only every other day from next year in a bid to even the odds stacked against authorities in their efforts to clean up the capital’s toxic air…” and “even-numbered cars will be allowed to run on even days and odd-numbered ones on odd days, and will not apply to CNG-driven buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws and emergency vehicles…”

As a temporary quick fix measure, it’s high time our transport authorities implement a similar scheme until such time as the long term proposals are implemented.

Firoze Sameer
Via email


Directors have been appointed but no relief to the suffering depositors

Almost one year has passed since four directors were appointed by the Supreme Court to expedite the repayment process of the Finance and Guarantee Trust Fund, approved by the Monitoring Unit of the Central Bank and the Supreme Court.

These four gentlemen were selected and appointed after a lengthy legal battle between three different depositors’ associations. All these groups were purported to have one aim.That is to bring relief to the depositors.

Apparently the legal battles are still on.Why are they fighting to gain control of the assets of F and G? Is it for personal gain and glory? The present set of directors have not shown any sign of concern towards the depositors.

They talk and behave as if they are doling out money from their pockets.They do not bother to answer calls,even though they themselves gave the telephone numbers.

They have not convened a single meeting to inform the depositors of the mode and frequency of payments. I think we should know the status of our deposits.

Every day, every month our monies are being depleted due to the expenses incurred to maintain the staff.This has been going on for the past five years,since the collapse in 2008 December and the formation of a permanent staff in 2011 and a highly paid Advisory Board thereafter.

If you put a conservative figure of Rs. One million a month as expenses, already Rs. 60 million have been erased from the depositors’ funds.

I strongly recommend and suggest that the Monitoring Unit of the Central Bank take an active role to ensure that justice is done to the poor, suffering and dying senior citizens who have invested with this Group.

The President, PM and Finance Minister should also decide to intervene by paying the depositors, take over all the assets and fold up this unproductive organisation without wasting any more monies.

Lalith Kotalawala and his band of managers were released on bail to help in the repayment process.Unfortunately this is not happening.Should they not be punished for committing this monumental fraud on innocent citizens of this country.

It is impossible to connect 1919 to complain to the |President as publicised. I sincerely hope and pray that some sincere govt. official who reads this will bring it to the notice of the decision makers of the Yahapalanaya government.

This article has been penned with the hope of quick relief.

Sad depositor
Via email


Memories of a fast-changing Mahara

Prominent public servant Tissa Devendra’s article to the Sunday Times last week ( Come with me to 1930s’ Colombo) encouraged me to write this since he mentioned in his article that regrettably he had no experience of the contemptibly dismissed “Vernacular school” ruled by redda -coat” Headmasters.

I was born just after Independence in1949 and obtained my primary education in my village school during the early 50s.

The famous tele-drama “Dadubasmanamaya” which was telecast by a certain TV channel many years ago recalled to my memory my schooldays at the school which was situated at Mahara junction ( now under a new name) .

The famous Mara tree which was nearly 200 years old was uprooted to widen the Kandy road during the previous regime.

Mahara Rest House, Gansaba Usaviya, Pinthaliya and Ambalama cannot be seen today due to rapid road development activities in the country.

In Colombo many old buildings belonging to colonial rule seem to have been neglected without being repaired. I feel that authorities should take necessary action to preserve these old buildings for the benefit of the next generation without letting them be destroyed.

W.G.Chandrapala
Via email


Everyone must do their bit towards proper waste management

We see heaps of garbage lying on the streets and street corners. With rapid urbanisation and high industrialisation taking place, more waste will be generated and it will become a crisis as time goes by. It is time to act early. Without public support waste management will not be successful.

Waste segregation can make the environment cleaner, it can help us recycle things, reduce the use of certain raw materials and make our country a better place to live in.

The Railway Department has initiated a waste segregation programme in the last few months, by placing colour-coded garbage bins at all railway stations . Are the railway commuters, general public and all the staff of railway, aware of this ‘good move’?

There are few common issues we encounter when implementing programmes of this nature.

  • The general public is not well informed about the activity by the authorities concerned. (In this instance, requests can be made for commuters to use the facility, when train arrivals and departures are being announced on the loudspeaker in stations.)
  • Inadequate participation and action by the community
  • Regular monitoring mechanisms not in place
  • Value additions and modifications for the work not done accordingly

Some municipalities and other local authorities also have implemented this kind of projects, from time to time in an ‘ad hoc’ manner within their respective areas.

Most of them were unsuccessful due to the lack of proper prior planning, inadequate allocation of funds, inadequate training for the staff, low awareness imparted to the community, etc.

Plastic bins are being made in various models, colours, and sizes islandwide. But manufacturers should follow the guidelines on ‘international colour coding’ in their products.

If the authorities take steps to formulate National Guidelines for garbage segregation and disposal emphasizing on the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, it will help.

All govt. departments, private sector establishments should take the same steps, to place coloured bins in their offices and institutional premises in a symmetrical manner, to make people familiar with the concept and discard waste accordingly.(Eg: Place red bins for polythene and plastics everywhere in the island)

Gaining community participation is very important for any programme to be successful. To give an example; in traffic light systems in road crossings only three colours are used – Red, Green, and Yellow. These are very familiar and known to the public well. )

Separating waste is important because:

If the waste is not separated properly, it all gets mixed up in landfills. The danger then is that they all leak after a certain period of time, making a soup like mixture at the bottom, which contaminates ground water. The ultimate result will be the release of toxic methane gas.

Methane is a greenhouse gas, which ultimately leads to climate change. We experience the impact already, having extreme climates and droughts in the world.

When the waste is not separated properly, it leads to less recycling, because it is not easy to remove materials for recycling. This means many resources are wasted.

It will be more practical, if it is started in each household, especially in the kitchen in a simple way. Waste can be categorised as ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ in two separate bins.

Degradable wastes (organic) such as vegetables, fruits, (kitchen wastes) flowers, leaves from the garden, wood shavings etc are collected in one bin.

Non bio-degradable wastes such as plastics, paper, glass, metal, aluminum foil are collected in another bin. Local authorities should employ staff adequately with trained supervisors.

Vehicles also should be provided with ‘colour markers’ for degradable and non degradable items, to collect them separately.

Local governments can establish collecting centres to collect non degradable items. People will start bringing them to such centres, because it is a kind of income generation for them.

Mass media campaigns should also take place continuously to educate the community about the importance of segregation.

Health Authorities and the Central Environment Authority should take the responsibility for such a campaign. Strong commitment from the Government is essential for success.

Public Health staff and police recruited for environment protection should strictly implement laws and by laws on waste management.

Dr.J.Ranathunga
Rideegama – Kurunegala

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