Letters to the Editor

• Use the right word
• Teachers failed
• No parties, only personalities
• Captain Calcium strikes back
• Ban him!!
• Lest our children curse us

Use the right word

Buddhists do not worship Buddha, or at Buddhist temples, but they pay homage to Buddha. Buddha should not be referred as Lord Buddha, but should be mentioned as Buddha, as Buddha is the Enlightened One and is Supreme. 

Buddhists also do not worship their parents, elders, or teachers etc. but pay obeisance to them. 

S.D.Weeratunge 
Kandy

Teachers failed

The grades were categorized as grade 3, Grade 2-2, Grade 2-1 and as grade 1 respectively. According to the circulars sent by the Ministry of Education the most senior teachers who were placed in grade 2-1 were asked to sit for an examination to enter the so-called highest grade 1. The teachers who were in "sreniye" 2-1 did their utmost to do the exam and get through to enter grade 1. 

There was a big ha-ho too as most of the teachers who were to do the examination were over 50 years of age. After postponing the exam several times, it was finally held in 1997. 

But only a handful of teachers were promoted and placed in grade 1. 

Most of the teachers who had invaluable teaching experience and lengthy years of service were disappointed.

Making things more complicated according to the documents, the teachers who belong to the same category are placed on different salaries. Everything seems to be confused. 

Some teachers who are in "sreni" 2-2 have been placed in grade 1 but those who are in the senior grade 2-1 have not been placed in grade 1.

After enquiring from the Zonal Education offices, some were told that the teachers who are graduates but have not done a diploma are not going to be promoted. This is unfair because the qualified, experienced teachers with years of service have done a great service in the field of education. 

Just like the other teachers who have been placed in grade 1, the graduate teachers without diplomas have worked hard to develop student education. 

So why discard their services? Why is the Ministry of Education acting in such a manner? 

Most of these teachers are about to retire and they have been in the service with the hope of getting promoted to grade 1. 

The irony is that the promotion is only limited to the documents. They have not been given any assurance of, when they will get their new salaries or about getting arrears. 

When the whole world celebrated a special day for teachers (October 6) Lankan teachers are getting a raw deal. 

S.R. Habarakada
Habarakada

No parties, only personalities

Many of us realised years ago that the party system was a failure and advocated a Constitution free of the political party system, where dedicated, upright, worthy and disciplined persons, could emerge as the rulers of the country, solely on their own merits.

The basic objectives were the welfare and unity of the people. This was the new vision envisaged by us who formed the Sudassanaya (Sudarsanam) Movement two years ago, where Members of Parliament could assemble in harmony, conduct affairs in harmony and thereafter disperse in harmony, because there would be no room for confrontation but for the politics of consensus. 

In fact it is our view that the ethnic conflict is the outcome of bad governance and the loss of confidence. First the confidence has to be restored, thereafter the solution could be achieved by consensus.

The idea of a National Government in the present impasse will be a blessing in disguise to those who followed the developments immediately after the election results. It is clear that the demands made by certain minority parties are preposterous. 

I am reminded of the character, Shylock in the Merchant of Venice. 

The reasons adduced by one who came on TV demanding portfolios, while giving 100 days notice, reminded me of the legal luminary, who rushed to court and started arguing his case, when the junior counsel nudged him and whispered that he was appearing for the other side. 

Whereupon the senior continued, quite composed, merely added the words, 'that will be the argument of my learned friend on the other side' and thereafter switched on to counter his own earlier arguments. 

'The heads I win, tails you lose' mentality of some party politicians, whose selfish aim is power at any cost, will only perpetuate violence, bribery and corruption and heap more and more burdens on the common people. 

The need of the hour is statesmanship to save the country and it behoves the President to take the initiative to form a National Government. The common people are sure to rally round in support.

S. Thambyrajah
Colombo 3

Captain Calcium strikes back

We accept that if someone is in calcium deficiency, that person should take calcium rich food. It's a straight-forward issue. But calcium in a toothpaste, helps to prevent formation of dental caries (tooth decay), by a more sophisticated mechanism. 

The outer layer of the tooth is termed as the enamel and 98% of it is composed of a chemical structure called Hydroxy Appetite (consisting calcium & phosphorus). This layer is susceptible to bacterial attack. 

By using a Fluoride toothpaste the Hydroxyl ions of Hydroxy Appetite is replaced by Fluoride ions and the resultant substance is called Fluoro Appetite. This is stronger than the Hydroxy Appetite and could resist bacterial attack. 

The elements that constitute the enamel are in an equilibrium with the layer of saliva which covers the tooth surface (pellicle). Bacteria in the mouth metabolizes sugars (food debris) and converts them to acids. These acids (lower the pH) dissolve the minerals in the enamel (calcium & phosphorus). This process is known as demineralization and it leads to dental caries. 

The acids produced by bacteria in the mouth are gradually neutralized by saliva. This causes the pH of the tooth surface to rise and a return of the dissolved calcium and phosphate back to the enamel. This is called remineralisation. This pH of a toothpaste is generally basic (high pH) and helps in the remineralisation process. 

The free calcium ions in toothpaste further helps to drive the equilibrium towards remineralisation, and help prevent the formation of dental caries. 

Also some foods help to protect against caries. Milk and especially cheese appear to be able to raise pH value in the mouth, and so reduce tooth exposure to acid. Milk and cheese are both rich in calcium and phosphate and soon may encourage remineralisation, through the calcium and phosphate in the mouth when these foods are eaten. They may also increase saliva production, which increases the pH level in the mouth. 

Therefore, foods like milk and cheese help to protect your teeth through remine-ralisation, in addition to their value as high nutritional calcium supplement. 

Finally with due respect to Dr. Fernando, we wish to know whether he was aware that there are international brands (present in the local market) which make similar claims.

Amber Withanagai, 
Marketing Manager, 
Hemas Marketing (Pvt) Ltd

Ban him!!

I think the most effective measure to deter such criminal action, is to cancel the candidature of the individual forthwith and impose on him a lifetime ban, so that he may not try his dirty tricks any more.

Any citizen should be empowered to haul such a miscreant before a court of law and prove his guilt and thus qualify him for punishment.

May this humble suggestion catch the eyes of the powers that be.

The Hawk

Lest our children curse us

Down south as far as Matara and Hambantota, there were Tamils as government servants, teachers, students and traders living in peace as members of one family. 

Then S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike to win the election said he would make Sinhala the official language in 24 hours if he were elected Prime Minister. This alienated the Tamils. 

Today thousands of Sinhala and Tamil youths are sacrificing their lives for a cause with no end in sight. Our politicians predict dates for ending the war. 

But they never materialize. 

Our only salvation is to find a settlement even with some foreign help or else our children and grandchildren would curse us for the misery they may have to suffer. 

P.M.Gunasekara 
Boralasgamuwa

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