Letters to the Editor

Wednesday, 4 September 2013 11:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pillay’s questionable agenda I am deeply shocked and disgusted that, in Nandikadal, Mrs. Navi Pillai wanted to pay floral tributes to Prabhakaran and his band of terrorists, the perpetrators of the most ruthless brand of human rights violations. The majority of the people of Sri Lanka have now been able to confirm Mrs. Pillay’s inner motives, and they realise that she is only a willing pawn of the US. Even so, she could have been more circumspect in her action, without making it obvious as to what her actual agenda is. I think Mrs. Navi Pillay will now need to travel to Abbottabad, Pakistan and place floral tributes for Osama Bin Laden at his house, and thereafter travel to Central Virginia and lay a wreath for Tamelan Tsarnaev, the Boston Bomber. Perhaps, while she is in this frame of mind, she may also travel to Berlin and place a bouquet of roses for Adolf Hitler! Mrs. Pillay, if you really want to show that you are concerned about human rights, please express your deep sorrow for the one million people who were killed by the US in Iraq, and thousands who are continuing to die in Afghanistan and Pakistan, due to US drone strikes. The right thinking people will have some respect for the UN only after it starts to question the US, George Bush, Barack Obama, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld about their crimes in Iraq and Afganistan. P. Somasunderam,Jaffna

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Solar bottle light At present the main problem faced by the country is the increased electricity charges. Several suggestions have been made to save electricity consumption. I understand that the solar bottle light system is popular in Brazil, Kenya, Bangladesh, Tanzania, India, etc. This has reduced the problem of people of low income group. Plastic bottles (say two litre bottles) with black stoppers are filled with water. Chlorine is added to preserve the water as otherwise it may get discoloured soon. Now it is inserted on the roof with one quarter above the roof and three quarters below the roof. Now the room is lit without using electricity during day time (excluding rainy days). The theory is that, when sunlight passes through clear water it gets refracted and the light rays get magnified. It is true that this method cannot be used in large houses, flats and offices. It could be used in slum areas and places where the house or cottage is single-storeyed. High technology is not required but it could be done commercially. The bottle could be inserted and fixed properly in a square shaped tin. Rain water leaking into room could be avoided by applying proper paste around the tin. From time to time the water could be replaced if necessary. By this method even plastic drinking empty bottles could be used economically. We are aware that plastic bottles cannot be destroyed and the use of plastic is discouraged. Further using them to keep water and acidic drinks for drinking purposes is also not advisable (cancer effect is the health hazard). Some fix glass titles in small quantities on the roof. This method is also advisable, but room may become unbearably hot. The plastic bottle system does not have this disadvantage. It will benefit the estate sector which uses bottle lamps which are dangerous. This method has been invented by a person called Alfred Mozer from Brazil. Millions of Brazil people of low income group are benefited and they gratefully call this ‘Mozer light’. I suggest that the energy experts of the Government consider this proposal seriously and adopt same with modification if it is feasible. It is always better to light a candle (including solar bottle light) than blame the darkness forever. S.R. Balachandran, BSc. FCA, FCMA

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Garbage collection centre obstructions One of the commendable actions taken in recent times by the Colombo Municipality is the setting up of collection centres for ‘dry’ household garbage such as paper, plastics, bottles, etc. We understand that these items are either recycled or disposed of in an environmental friendly way. One of the centres is located down Torrington Place, in front of the Jawatte cemetery. Those who are conscious of this huge issue (disposing of garbage) collect their dry garbage in bags, and then transport them to the centre (all this at their cost). But to our bitter disappointment the front of the centre has now become a three-wheel taxi stand and there is no room for other vehicles. In addition the area immediately in front is filthy with half-eaten lunch packets, dog droppings, etc. all over. I wish the municipal authorities set an example at their own garbage collection centres and make it more hospitable for the few who take the trouble to cooperate with them in this otherwise commendable venture. Ravi Perera

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“Polypharmacytis” The other day when I walked into a pharmacy closed to my residence to buy a skin ointment. I saw a customer had given an exercise book and more than one half of the page had been filled with names of medicines; mind you, there are about 20 odd lines per page, and the pharmacist had to dispense quite a number of small boxes/bottles of medicines. The exercise book was a well-maintained book of prescriptions of this particular patient. It would have definitely cost the customer a thumping sum of money. Curious to know why the doctor has prescribed such a large amount of drugs, I asked the pharmacist why it was so and the response I received was that the patient was suffering from too many complications. On my way home I thought to myself that the patient may get worse after consuming all these drugs, that also after spending such a large sum of money, and prayed for his quick recovery as I felt extremely sorry for him. For me it looks like the doctors nowadays are afflicted with not botulism but ‘Polypharmacytis’ and the antidote is for Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to implement the NMDP (National Medicinal Drug Policy) stat.* I am confident that the Honourable Minister is all out to implement same if not for the draft proposals going mysteriously missing from time to time from the relevant government department. Mohamed Zahran Colombo 3 *Latin (abbreviation of) statim means immediately (used by the doctors to advise patient regarding medicine to be taken immediately)