Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Government is helping Eelam: JHU
By Damitha Hemachandra
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
The Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday protested the government’s attempts to dilute the Sri Lankan Army by transferring and reappointing Army and intelligence top brasses to service pool, administration levels and Foreign Service.
Reacting to the appointment of top notch Intelligence office Major General Kapila Hendawitharana as Sri Lankan ambassador to Thailand JHU pointed that the government is supplementing the 22 year old attempt by LTTE to destabilise the sovereignty of Sri Lanka and gaining an Eelam in North and East.
Highlighting previous cases where top brasses of Army had been transferred out of context giving into the pressure by LTTE and TNA, JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera urged the Military and public to rise against the sudden transfers of the top military brasses, which could weaken the country military line up.
“The LTTE continues to hunt down Military and Intelligence officers while hiding behind a one-sided Cease Fire Agreement (CFA),” he said adding that the government move is in assistance to the LTTE.
Ven. Thera also pointed out that the present inertness of the Sri Lankan government in defending the interest of Sri Lankan military insults the 18,000 military personals who died and 25,000 who were disabled while protecting the sovereignty of the country.
Meanwhile North and East Sinhala Organisation (NESO) writing to the President and Joint Military Operation Head, Daya Sandagiri also urged them to stop the lightening transfers of the top military and intelligence officials in the North and East, interrupting the present ground defence operation implemented by them.
They urged the President not to provide security to LTTE members while they are launching violent attacks against the Sri Lankan Army, Police and Sinhala, Muslim and Tamil civilians.
NESO also urged the President Kumaratunga and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Sandagiri to grant approval for the Military forces to fire back when confronted by LTTE as self defence and to provide weapons to unarmed intelligence members of the Sri Lankan Army.
While pointing out that the LTTE violence against innocent civilians in the North and East in increasing daily, NESO requested the government grant permission for the civilians to carry weapons for self defence.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
The Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday protested the government’s attempts to dilute the Sri Lankan Army by transferring and reappointing Army and intelligence top brasses to service pool, administration levels and Foreign Service.
Reacting to the appointment of top notch Intelligence office Major General Kapila Hendawitharana as Sri Lankan ambassador to Thailand JHU pointed that the government is supplementing the 22 year old attempt by LTTE to destabilise the sovereignty of Sri Lanka and gaining an Eelam in North and East.
Highlighting previous cases where top brasses of Army had been transferred out of context giving into the pressure by LTTE and TNA, JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera urged the Military and public to rise against the sudden transfers of the top military brasses, which could weaken the country military line up.
“The LTTE continues to hunt down Military and Intelligence officers while hiding behind a one-sided Cease Fire Agreement (CFA),” he said adding that the government move is in assistance to the LTTE.
Ven. Thera also pointed out that the present inertness of the Sri Lankan government in defending the interest of Sri Lankan military insults the 18,000 military personals who died and 25,000 who were disabled while protecting the sovereignty of the country.
Meanwhile North and East Sinhala Organisation (NESO) writing to the President and Joint Military Operation Head, Daya Sandagiri also urged them to stop the lightening transfers of the top military and intelligence officials in the North and East, interrupting the present ground defence operation implemented by them.
They urged the President not to provide security to LTTE members while they are launching violent attacks against the Sri Lankan Army, Police and Sinhala, Muslim and Tamil civilians.
NESO also urged the President Kumaratunga and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Sandagiri to grant approval for the Military forces to fire back when confronted by LTTE as self defence and to provide weapons to unarmed intelligence members of the Sri Lankan Army.
While pointing out that the LTTE violence against innocent civilians in the North and East in increasing daily, NESO requested the government grant permission for the civilians to carry weapons for self defence.
Fast unto death by Timber Corporation casual workers
Friday, July 22, 2005
The employees who are working at the Timber Corporation on a temporary and casual basis are on a fast unto death protest urging the Environment Minister to make their service permanent.
The workers, who had been employed from the year 2001, had been working for a monthly allowance of Rs. 2500 but had to perform duties similar to those of the permanent employees.
A Timber Corporation Trade Union official pointed out that the Minister had not taken any interest to provide a permanent solution to their problems and now the situation had worsened. He urged the minister to provide an immediate solution to the problem.
However Environment Minister A.H.M.Fowzie said that it was not possible to make this group of workers permanent since there was a shortage of workmen at the Timber Corporation.
The Minister pointed out that most of these workers did not fall under the purview of the recent decision by the Ministry of Public Administration to make the services of the temporary employees permanent. If they had met the required service period and if their service was in demand these workers would have been made permanent.
The employees who are working at the Timber Corporation on a temporary and casual basis are on a fast unto death protest urging the Environment Minister to make their service permanent.
The workers, who had been employed from the year 2001, had been working for a monthly allowance of Rs. 2500 but had to perform duties similar to those of the permanent employees.
A Timber Corporation Trade Union official pointed out that the Minister had not taken any interest to provide a permanent solution to their problems and now the situation had worsened. He urged the minister to provide an immediate solution to the problem.
However Environment Minister A.H.M.Fowzie said that it was not possible to make this group of workers permanent since there was a shortage of workmen at the Timber Corporation.
The Minister pointed out that most of these workers did not fall under the purview of the recent decision by the Ministry of Public Administration to make the services of the temporary employees permanent. If they had met the required service period and if their service was in demand these workers would have been made permanent.
The Fabulous Underwater World………
W@W talks to diver and award winning photographer Nishamini Jinadasa about why it is important to conserve Sri Lanka’s coral reefs
By Damitha Hemachandra
She was inspired to take up diving after watching the movie ‘Great Barrier Reef’ at the age of seven and today after almost two decades she had crossed the seven seas in search of wonderful marine life.
“That film settled an interest in diving and inspired me to take it up. While I was visiting Australia I got my diving license in 1995,” she says.
Today holding a ten year old license to dive Nishamani Jinadasa is a prominent female diver and an amateur under water photographer who has dived at almost all the hot spots in the world including Papua New Guinea, Maldives, California and Sri Lanka.
Her collection of photographs capturing unique behaviour patterns of fish and other sea creatures found around the coasts of Sri Lanka and abroad goes to show what a fine scuba diver and photographer she really is.
Despite Nishamani’s daily job in the finance stream, she has an impressive diving record. Her flair for photography had earned her international recognition at two international competitions she participated in.
Nishamani won her first laurel at Sipadan Islands in Malaysia in 2000.
She had participated at an under water photography and videography competition which was held in Sipadan to boost the diving tourism that was threatened by the kidnapping of 21 American divers holidaying in the area some time ago.
“I participated in the competition since I was longing to dive at Sipadan and I was one of the few amateurs,” she recalled.
Her under water video won the second prize and she was the only amateur, Asian female to win the award.
Later while she was attending the wedding of two Canadian diving buddies,
two of her under water pictures were selected to be exhibited among 200 others at “29th Festival of Underwater Pictures” held annually in Antibes, south of France.
“It was a double festival since I was on the way to Canada to celebrate the wedding of my diving buddies,” she said.
Diverting to the exciting underwater world Nishamani revealed as to how she was diving in North Indonesia while the tsunami struck.
“I was returning to land after an evening dive and the boat was constantly stopped by heavy traffic disturbing my nap. We were unaware of the disaster then and I got to know only after I returned to my hotel,” she said.
Talking of her future plans Nishamani talks of taking up caged diving with Great White Sharks and Ice diving in Antarctica with enthusiasm.
“I’m waiting for some free time ,” she says.
Nishamani held her third photographic exhibition in Sri Lanka recently with a view to enhancing public interest and awareness in protecting corals and marine life around the island. Her exhibition also involved an art exhibition for children; where the children were invited to draw what they saw at the exhibition with a view to inspire interest in conservation at a tender age.
“I realised that despite many campaigns and awareness programmes, adults are finding it hard to grasp the concepts of conservation while children -if moved by the beauty and sensitiveness of nature – would continue to protect it,”
She is saddened that coral reefs of Sri Lanka had not retained their beauty like the ones around Papua New Guinea and Australia.
“Sri Lanka could have a better collection of corals and a wider reef than Australia or Maldives if not for the heavy pollution,” she said.
Despite the fact that she obtained a license in 1995 Nishamani had started diving around Sri Lanka only around 1998/9
“I was saddened by seeing Great Plains of dead coral under water around Sri Lanka,” she said adding that it was this experience which triggered her to initiate conservation attempts. While trying to increase awareness by holding photographic exhibitions, she also has plans to establish an organisation called CORAL or Conservation of Reefs Around Lanka with a view to increase awareness.
“During my trips to diving spots in Sri Lanka I try to educate the public of evils of bad practices like dynamite fishing, over fishing and coral mining,” she said.
CORAL seeks to increase awareness among the coastal population through exhibitions and education programmes and thus lead to sustainable environment management among fisherman and people living around the coasts.
“Since the country does not have a strict monitoring system and law enforcement personnel protecting marine reserves the best we could do is to educate the public and let them take care of the resources,” she said.
Distributing packets of crayons to children who took part in her art competition Nishamani hopes that they would always remember the beauty found in the corals and marine life around it.
By Damitha Hemachandra
She was inspired to take up diving after watching the movie ‘Great Barrier Reef’ at the age of seven and today after almost two decades she had crossed the seven seas in search of wonderful marine life.
“That film settled an interest in diving and inspired me to take it up. While I was visiting Australia I got my diving license in 1995,” she says.
Today holding a ten year old license to dive Nishamani Jinadasa is a prominent female diver and an amateur under water photographer who has dived at almost all the hot spots in the world including Papua New Guinea, Maldives, California and Sri Lanka.
Her collection of photographs capturing unique behaviour patterns of fish and other sea creatures found around the coasts of Sri Lanka and abroad goes to show what a fine scuba diver and photographer she really is.
Despite Nishamani’s daily job in the finance stream, she has an impressive diving record. Her flair for photography had earned her international recognition at two international competitions she participated in.
Nishamani won her first laurel at Sipadan Islands in Malaysia in 2000.
She had participated at an under water photography and videography competition which was held in Sipadan to boost the diving tourism that was threatened by the kidnapping of 21 American divers holidaying in the area some time ago.
“I participated in the competition since I was longing to dive at Sipadan and I was one of the few amateurs,” she recalled.
Her under water video won the second prize and she was the only amateur, Asian female to win the award.
Later while she was attending the wedding of two Canadian diving buddies,
two of her under water pictures were selected to be exhibited among 200 others at “29th Festival of Underwater Pictures” held annually in Antibes, south of France.
“It was a double festival since I was on the way to Canada to celebrate the wedding of my diving buddies,” she said.
Diverting to the exciting underwater world Nishamani revealed as to how she was diving in North Indonesia while the tsunami struck.
“I was returning to land after an evening dive and the boat was constantly stopped by heavy traffic disturbing my nap. We were unaware of the disaster then and I got to know only after I returned to my hotel,” she said.
Talking of her future plans Nishamani talks of taking up caged diving with Great White Sharks and Ice diving in Antarctica with enthusiasm.
“I’m waiting for some free time ,” she says.
Nishamani held her third photographic exhibition in Sri Lanka recently with a view to enhancing public interest and awareness in protecting corals and marine life around the island. Her exhibition also involved an art exhibition for children; where the children were invited to draw what they saw at the exhibition with a view to inspire interest in conservation at a tender age.
“I realised that despite many campaigns and awareness programmes, adults are finding it hard to grasp the concepts of conservation while children -if moved by the beauty and sensitiveness of nature – would continue to protect it,”
She is saddened that coral reefs of Sri Lanka had not retained their beauty like the ones around Papua New Guinea and Australia.
“Sri Lanka could have a better collection of corals and a wider reef than Australia or Maldives if not for the heavy pollution,” she said.
Despite the fact that she obtained a license in 1995 Nishamani had started diving around Sri Lanka only around 1998/9
“I was saddened by seeing Great Plains of dead coral under water around Sri Lanka,” she said adding that it was this experience which triggered her to initiate conservation attempts. While trying to increase awareness by holding photographic exhibitions, she also has plans to establish an organisation called CORAL or Conservation of Reefs Around Lanka with a view to increase awareness.
“During my trips to diving spots in Sri Lanka I try to educate the public of evils of bad practices like dynamite fishing, over fishing and coral mining,” she said.
CORAL seeks to increase awareness among the coastal population through exhibitions and education programmes and thus lead to sustainable environment management among fisherman and people living around the coasts.
“Since the country does not have a strict monitoring system and law enforcement personnel protecting marine reserves the best we could do is to educate the public and let them take care of the resources,” she said.
Distributing packets of crayons to children who took part in her art competition Nishamani hopes that they would always remember the beauty found in the corals and marine life around it.
Legendary high priest of dancing steps into eternity
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Chitrasena, a legendary dancer who won the hearts of not only Sri Lankans but millions of dance lovers the world over died yesterday at the age of 84.
In line with his wishes Chitrasena was cremated last evening at the Borella cemetery and he stepped into immortality in the simple and humble way he lived.
His dance performances during an unparalleled career spanning more than half a century have placed Sri Lanka on the world map. He did for Sri Lankan dance what Uday Shankar had done for Indian dance.
Son of Seerbert Dias, an actor and director of Shakespeare plays who is remembered for the role of Shylock, Chitrasena was encouraged by his father to learn dancing and acting from a young age. He was sent to Santiniketan where his talent flowered. And the handsome, young and gifted Chitrasena later on studied Kathakali from Guru Gopinath and introduced the element of rasa, and the flavour of story-telling into Sinhala dances, transforming the traditional ritual dances into stage presentations of great beauty.
"I intended to make them contemporary. The vitality, the strength and the beauty of the native dance-forms presented in nightlong perfor-mances had to be made stage worthy for people to relish them", Chitrasena said at the age of 82 last year still with fire in his belly. At the National Gallery when an exhibition was held last year Chitrasena got up and joined his dancer-wife Vajira, daughters Anjelika and Upeka and grand-daughters Heshma and Thajing and his students of Chitrasena Kalayathanaya, and executed some movements with indefinable grace. It was sheer magic.
The dancers' leaps, whirls and perfect landing on the beat of a time cycle, to the brilliant drumming by six drummers and the energetic execution of movements kept the vast gathering at the edge of their seats. The Kohomba Kankaria, the Perahera, the processional dances with dancers in silver hats and ornaments, their shining black bodies and fantastic energy, all imbued with contemporary elements, transformed by the genius of Chitrasena, are now famous worldwide.
Chitrasena, along with wife Vajira and their daughters, had dedicated his life to the cause of dance. He has travelled and performed all over the world. His famous ballets Karadiya, Nala Damayanti and Kinkini Kolama are remembered in several countries. Travelling down memory lane, one recalled the truth in the words of Nirupam Sen, the Indian High Commissioner: "Countries like the GDR, the U.S.S.R. and others are no more, nor are their ideologies. But artists like Chitrasena transcend time and space and geographical boundaries, performing and giving delight to thousands of people the world over." It was no exaggeration.
Chitrasena rightly belongs to the select class of pioneers in Sri Lanka, as Prof. Bandula Jayawardhana perceptively put it: "What Wickramasinghe was to literature, Ediriweera Sarathchandra to drama, George Keyt to painting, Lester James Peiris to films, Amardeva to music, Chitrasena is to dance." For Chitrasena dance and life are not separate. And he has passed on this message to one and all. His love for India and his respect for Indian classical dance traditions and its exponents is also transparent. He drew inspiration from Uday Shankar and his own performances of Arjuna are a tribute to Uday Shankar. Looking at the photos of Chitrasena and his wife Vajira leaping in the air one feels it is suggestive of a symbolic leap-- the leap to liberate Sinhala dance from its shackles and to extend the scope of the tradition with contemporary life.
There was an unfortunate incident in Chitrasena's life when, on account of political shenanigans, his house where hundreds of his students studied dance, was pulled down. He was heartbroken! However the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was at one time his disciple, gave him a lovely plot of land to build his Chitrasena Kalayathanaya. He is a never-say-die artist and to quote a well-known critic: "Like a high priest whose temple lies desecrated, he waits in quiet dignity. He awaits the fruition of his dreams, the rebuilding of his temple of the dance. Beneath the calm exterior lies a restless spirit, a dynamo that waits to be unleashed. A creative artist of his stature is bound to realise his dream".
Chitrasena, a legendary dancer who won the hearts of not only Sri Lankans but millions of dance lovers the world over died yesterday at the age of 84.
In line with his wishes Chitrasena was cremated last evening at the Borella cemetery and he stepped into immortality in the simple and humble way he lived.
His dance performances during an unparalleled career spanning more than half a century have placed Sri Lanka on the world map. He did for Sri Lankan dance what Uday Shankar had done for Indian dance.
Son of Seerbert Dias, an actor and director of Shakespeare plays who is remembered for the role of Shylock, Chitrasena was encouraged by his father to learn dancing and acting from a young age. He was sent to Santiniketan where his talent flowered. And the handsome, young and gifted Chitrasena later on studied Kathakali from Guru Gopinath and introduced the element of rasa, and the flavour of story-telling into Sinhala dances, transforming the traditional ritual dances into stage presentations of great beauty.
"I intended to make them contemporary. The vitality, the strength and the beauty of the native dance-forms presented in nightlong perfor-mances had to be made stage worthy for people to relish them", Chitrasena said at the age of 82 last year still with fire in his belly. At the National Gallery when an exhibition was held last year Chitrasena got up and joined his dancer-wife Vajira, daughters Anjelika and Upeka and grand-daughters Heshma and Thajing and his students of Chitrasena Kalayathanaya, and executed some movements with indefinable grace. It was sheer magic.
The dancers' leaps, whirls and perfect landing on the beat of a time cycle, to the brilliant drumming by six drummers and the energetic execution of movements kept the vast gathering at the edge of their seats. The Kohomba Kankaria, the Perahera, the processional dances with dancers in silver hats and ornaments, their shining black bodies and fantastic energy, all imbued with contemporary elements, transformed by the genius of Chitrasena, are now famous worldwide.
Chitrasena, along with wife Vajira and their daughters, had dedicated his life to the cause of dance. He has travelled and performed all over the world. His famous ballets Karadiya, Nala Damayanti and Kinkini Kolama are remembered in several countries. Travelling down memory lane, one recalled the truth in the words of Nirupam Sen, the Indian High Commissioner: "Countries like the GDR, the U.S.S.R. and others are no more, nor are their ideologies. But artists like Chitrasena transcend time and space and geographical boundaries, performing and giving delight to thousands of people the world over." It was no exaggeration.
Chitrasena rightly belongs to the select class of pioneers in Sri Lanka, as Prof. Bandula Jayawardhana perceptively put it: "What Wickramasinghe was to literature, Ediriweera Sarathchandra to drama, George Keyt to painting, Lester James Peiris to films, Amardeva to music, Chitrasena is to dance." For Chitrasena dance and life are not separate. And he has passed on this message to one and all. His love for India and his respect for Indian classical dance traditions and its exponents is also transparent. He drew inspiration from Uday Shankar and his own performances of Arjuna are a tribute to Uday Shankar. Looking at the photos of Chitrasena and his wife Vajira leaping in the air one feels it is suggestive of a symbolic leap-- the leap to liberate Sinhala dance from its shackles and to extend the scope of the tradition with contemporary life.
There was an unfortunate incident in Chitrasena's life when, on account of political shenanigans, his house where hundreds of his students studied dance, was pulled down. He was heartbroken! However the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was at one time his disciple, gave him a lovely plot of land to build his Chitrasena Kalayathanaya. He is a never-say-die artist and to quote a well-known critic: "Like a high priest whose temple lies desecrated, he waits in quiet dignity. He awaits the fruition of his dreams, the rebuilding of his temple of the dance. Beneath the calm exterior lies a restless spirit, a dynamo that waits to be unleashed. A creative artist of his stature is bound to realise his dream".
Health Ministry warns dengue on the rise again
Monday, July 18, 2005
The Health Ministry on Friday put the public on alert again against dengue with 405 dengue cases being reported in June with 99 cases being reported from Colombo.
The high numbers compared with the low numbers in past months is blamed on the present rain pattern of long periods of rain interspersed with dry days accelerating the spread of mosquitoes.
Meanwhile the Health Ministry also reported 14 deaths from dengue during the last six months with 10 deaths being reported from Colombo.
The government allocated Rs. Three million for each district for dengue control programmes and Health Ministry officials pledged to continue the mosquito control work in each district to bring down the numbers.
According to Health Ministry officials year 2005 had seen a 73% deduction of dengue cases and deaths compared to last year.
Since last year the Health Ministry had handed over the dengue control and prevention programmes to a group headed by an epidemiologist based in each district to bring about the claimed results.
The Health Ministry on Friday put the public on alert again against dengue with 405 dengue cases being reported in June with 99 cases being reported from Colombo.
The high numbers compared with the low numbers in past months is blamed on the present rain pattern of long periods of rain interspersed with dry days accelerating the spread of mosquitoes.
Meanwhile the Health Ministry also reported 14 deaths from dengue during the last six months with 10 deaths being reported from Colombo.
The government allocated Rs. Three million for each district for dengue control programmes and Health Ministry officials pledged to continue the mosquito control work in each district to bring down the numbers.
According to Health Ministry officials year 2005 had seen a 73% deduction of dengue cases and deaths compared to last year.
Since last year the Health Ministry had handed over the dengue control and prevention programmes to a group headed by an epidemiologist based in each district to bring about the claimed results.
Is CFA only for the Army, asks JHU
By Damitha Hemachandra
Saturday, July 16, 2005
The Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on Thursday questioned the validly of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE, which was being abided only by the Sri Lankan military.
While urging the government to allow the military to retaliate against any LTTE attacks without restricting them to the camps, JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said the Army was no longer responsible to the CFA, which the LTTE had already violated nearly 3,000 times.
“The LTTE continues to kill innocent civilians, Army intelligence and political opponents despite the CFA,” he said adding that the LTTE had continued this violent behavior despite being admitted to the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS). He further reminded that the SLMM failed to respond when the LTTE was assassinating pro-Karuna members and that it overlooked the incidents as being internal disputes of the LTTE.
The Ven. Thera said the Army had no need to provide protection to LTTE cadres from the Karuna faction and questioned the present stance of the SLMM and the Norwegian peace facilitators. The JHU questioned whether the government was to continue with the CFA at the expense of soldiers’ lives as nearly 50 of them were injured by LTTE attacks.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
The Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on Thursday questioned the validly of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE, which was being abided only by the Sri Lankan military.
While urging the government to allow the military to retaliate against any LTTE attacks without restricting them to the camps, JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said the Army was no longer responsible to the CFA, which the LTTE had already violated nearly 3,000 times.
“The LTTE continues to kill innocent civilians, Army intelligence and political opponents despite the CFA,” he said adding that the LTTE had continued this violent behavior despite being admitted to the Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS). He further reminded that the SLMM failed to respond when the LTTE was assassinating pro-Karuna members and that it overlooked the incidents as being internal disputes of the LTTE.
The Ven. Thera said the Army had no need to provide protection to LTTE cadres from the Karuna faction and questioned the present stance of the SLMM and the Norwegian peace facilitators. The JHU questioned whether the government was to continue with the CFA at the expense of soldiers’ lives as nearly 50 of them were injured by LTTE attacks.
