We have seen many cases of the common people taking the law into their hands. This is a dangerous trend and could lead to anarchy and pandemonium.
When there is a road accident, people gather and either assault the driver or set the vehicle on fire. And the vehicle often does not even belong to the driver! SLTB buses are often set on fire. These buses are public property, and belong to the people themselves. Who covers the damages? The very people who destroyed the bus, although they do not realise it.
Recently, a murder was committed and the residents torched the home of the alleged killer. Burning houses does not bring about justice. Justice is done when the guilty parties are punished after being proved to be the perpetrators of the crime.
Recent attacks on a mosque and a temple in Dambulla are further examples of citizens taking the law into their hands. If the buildings are illegal structures, the proper action is to let the authorities rectify matters. Organising a mob protest is high-handed. Monks are expected to be peaceful and peace-loving. They, of all people, should be the ones to advise people to be patient, respect the law, and ensure that justice prevails through the proper channels.
It is time the government took stock of these happenings before things go out of control. Law and order is the backbone of a country.
Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha
Reffai,
Dehiwela
Fake beggars bug motorists
Professional beggars are on the increase, and they operate mostly at junctions and traffic lights. They demand money, nothing less than Rs. 20. They tap on the cars and the windows, and even damage vehicles if the passengers refuse to give them money.
Some carry placards claiming that they are dumb or suffering from some ailment or other, such as kidney failure or cancer or heart disease. Some expose their wounds and some beggar women come up to the cars carrying infants.
What are the Police doing about this? Several years ago the Police would round up these dubious beggars and produce them in courts. Some were found to be wanted criminals, others were moved to rehabilitation centres. It is time the Government took some positive steps to stop this public nuisance.
F. N. de Alwis,
Nugegoda
Free clinic and lots of love for Kandy’s street dogs
Free clinics for Kandy’s street dogs were held on April 12. The Kandy Association for Community Protection through Animal Welfare, also known as KACPAW, vaccinated about 130 animals and treated another 30 for mange.
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| The Governor takes time to give some TLC to the dogs |
It was very touching to see the care and affection shown by the Kandy Governor to all the dogs. It was also very heartening to see the Kandy people’s concern and love for the Kandy community dogs. The vaccinated and treated animals were adorned with a red collar. Most of the dogs treated had already been spayed.
During his visit, the Governor took time to pet each and every dog that was brought to the clinic for treatment. The dogs were in high spirits, all wagging their tails vigorously (those doggy tails never tell a false tale). When I asked the Governor how come all the community dogs seemed to know him, he said he meets them during his morning walk and pets them. He has names for each dog. Need we say more?
The clinics were conducted at the request of the Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa. The clinics had the support of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka’s one and only Vet Faculty. These clinics were possible thanks to the leadership and patronage of our Governor.
We wish to thank the Governor and his office and the Mayor of Kandy and the Kandy Municipal Council, the Provincial Health Director and her office, the Kandy Police, and our fellow animal organisations SOFA (Save Our Friends Association) and the Pooch Foundation for their generous support.
The Veterinary Teaching Hospital was there in full force with their senior staff, clinicians, final-year students, and assistants.
The academic staff and clinicians, assisted by the students, conducted the treatment and vaccinations. KACPAW provided the drugs, syringes, banners, 30 vials of rabies vaccines and red collars. The Provincial Health Ministry provided 100 vials of rabies vaccine, along with a three-wheeler and a vaccinator.
The new Veterinary Teaching Hospital needs support, lots of it, to make it a state-of-the-art hospital for domesticated and wild animals.
Animal lovers who wish to support a programme to serve sick animals are invited to contact the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The hospital can be contacted at the following: telephone +9471-8047700; +9481-2395866-69, e-mail: indirads@pdn.ac.lk; vthmanagement@gmail.com
Champa Fernando,
Secretary, KACPAW (Kandy Association for Community Protection through Animal Welfare)
Coconut makes you feel like a lion
Who says coconut oil and coconut products used in the preparation of vegetables, curries, “pol sambol”, and so on, are bad for health?
Those who brand the coconut and coconut by-products as a health hazard have missed out on the song “Coconut Woman” by Harry Belafonte. “Coconut got iron, makes you feel like a lion” is a line from the lyrics.
Sri Lankans have used the coconut for generations. It is the same in India and many other tropical countries, and the people of these countries have had no health issues stemming from the consumption of the coconut in its various forms. Shame on those who have maligned a nut that is in fact good for health.
The “Coconut Woman” song should put an end to all the nonsense dished out by the West in an attempt to boost vegetable oils and condemn a lifesaver used for centuries.
Noel Brian Ranasinghe,
Pagoda, Nugegoda
Swat that flyover!
The Dehiwala flyover has taken up valuable space, so much so that the crowding of pavements on either side is “bursting at the seams”. There is the ever-prevalent danger of tangling with the vehicles whizzing past alongside.
W. Meadows,
Mount Lavinia
TV ads can be a pain
Most TV channels allocate 30 minutes for news bulletins during the day and in the evening. But repetitive advertisements and time checks reduce the actual news broadcast time to about 15 minutes. The time checks can be irritating. Who wants the time when something important is being discussed or when there is something interesting on TV?
The Broadcasting Authority should establish guidelines to protect the viewer from being exploited by the media. TV viewing should be a pleasant experience.
J. W. Devasiri,
Kandy |
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