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•  The Sunday Leader story gives Kamalawathie her child back

By Ranee Mohamed It was Sunday, February 16 and Kamalawathie had already begged for some money for bus fare to go and see little Nipuni who was at Prajapathi Home in Panadura. It was on this same day that The Sunday Leader published her story. I telephoned Kamalawathie and told her not to leave the house in case a good samaritan comes in search of her. It was 1 p.m. and nobody had appeared. Kamalawathie was standing on the road with the bus fare clutched in her palm. Nobody came, only tears did. It was a sad and tearful day. She had received no help and she could not go and see her crying baby either. Nobody came. Nobody called the writer. But unknown to all, The Sunday Leader telephones were ringing that morning.

The first to go to Welisara was Stephanie Rambukwella. Driving to Welisara, she reached Kamalawathie's abode at about 3.30. Having given her Rs.3000 and a letter for a job, and words of comfort, she had left. 

Kamalawthie waited for Monday to dawn. With the Rs.3,000 in hand she had made her way to Pettah.

"I bought 10 kolikuttu bananas at Rs. 8 each, 10 apples and 200 gms grapes and a packet of Tipi Tip. Then I took a bus to Panadura," she said.

But when she reached the home happily, she was told that her little Nipuni was no longer there. That she had been transferred to another home in Bauddhaloka Mawatha, the Jayanthi Infants Home. Kamalawathie was desperate. Having come from Mahiyangana, she did not know the city of Colombo at all. But that did not stop her from finding the way to the Jayanthi Lama Niwasa.

"When I went there, the matron did not let me see the child. She wanted me to bring an order from court to even see the child. I was heartbroken. I started to plead with her and I have never cried so much in my life," she recalled . Despite all her crying Kamalawathie was not allowed to see her baby.

Meanwhile, inside, little Nipuni was sick with grief. She was crying, calling out "Amma Amma," the way she addressed Kamalawathie. But Kamalawathie was simply not allowed to go in. "So I gave the bananas and the apples and the grapes and the Tipi Tip to the home, consoling myself that some child might eat it, and then I made my way back to Welisara in tears," she recalled.

If Kamalawathie had known how many people, having been moved by the story responded, she would have stopped crying. In fact when she came home, she received the surprise of her life. The crumbling house received many visitors. Yolanthi Ramanayake having made her way there gave every possible assistance to Kamalawathie. Udeni Perera calling from Grants said that she would like to do whatever possible for Kamalawathie and her child, Yvonne Seneviratne was busy trying to find a

home for the duo. "What can I do?" asked Malini Dissanayake. Shanthi Samuel of Uthum Pathum and Mano Alles were so keen to help. Shanthi was contemplating keeping Kamalawathie at her Edmonton home. "Can I give her a job, can I give her money,?" queried Shanthi. Panita de Silva, moved by little Nipuni's tears wanted to give her every assistance, including milk food. Manouri Sosa and Shiranthi Jayasinghe wanted to know what they can do to help and Sepali de Silva telephoned us offering her help too. There were a countless other callers who were unable to get through.The Sunday Leader wishes to thank all these good people who make this world a better place. We also wish to specially thank that donor who wishes to remain anonymous but sent a cheque for Rs.25,000 for Kamalawathie to our offices.

When Maheswary Velautham from the Forum for Human Dignity called the offices of The Sunday Leader it was Tuesday. A human rights activist, Valatautham said that she hopes to start a home for abandoned children and mothers, orphaned children and girls. Mahewsary offered to keep Kamalawathie and Baby Nipuni A lawyer herself, Maheswary also sent a lawyer, M. Chandralal to appear at the Wattala Magistrate's court pleading Kamalawathie's case. "I love children and wanted to have as many children as possible. But now it seems like my prayers have been answered. This is just the beginning." she said excitedly. "When can I get them both," she kept on inquiring.

Wednesday, February 19 was a difficult day for everybody. Lawyer M. Chandralal and Kamalawathie in tears, spent the whole day at the Wattala Magistrate's court. Their aim was get back little Nipuni. That afternoon itself the determined Chandralal obtained a copy of the learned magistrate's order . It was a clear order that Kamalawathie be given her child back.

Clutching at this court order for dear life, Kamalawathie, Lawyer Chandralal and Asoka Fernando, and a driver were all in the small car which was on its way for a big task. Going down the gravel path that led to the Jayanthi Lama Niwasa with beating hearts was bad enough, but seeing Kamalawathie in a frenzy was making us nervous too. She was kissing my hand and feeling my head and crying tears of joy.

But happiness is not easy to achieve and this ecstasy was short-lived; for getting past the matron of Jayanthi Lama Niwasa was agony. With court order in hand she said "This child was given over to us by the children's home in Panadura and we will send her back to that home," she said. Unfriendly and uncooperative, she refused to let us even see little Nipuni. Talking vehemently on the phone, Matron Renuka Wijesundera insisted that she can not give Kamalawathie her child back.

But it was the kind president of the home, Prema Weerasinghe, who already knew of Kamalawathie's plight who insisted that the child be given back to Kamalawathie immediately.

Walking into a closed area, Kamalawathie almost flew to see the child. There she was clad in a little new yellow frock. She sat there on a baby chair with many little children of her age. But she appeared different. She appeared numb with grief and almost lifeless, her eyes were half closed. She reminded one of a little bird who had fallen off its nest and wounded itself. It was then that Kamalawathie hugged her and put back the wings of love and comfort around her. Having seen Kamalawathie, Nipuni started to cry. "Amma, amma," she cried wrapping her thin hands around the emaciated woman's neck.

We carried her out with the endlessly deafening unfriendly orders of the matron not to take any pictures inside the home, ringing in our ears.

When we brought her outside and to the car, she was still crying, as if to say, "why did you leave me in here in the first place?"

"I have never known so much sorrow and so much happiness all at once," said Kamalawathie, hugging Nipuni and refusing to let go.

As we drove to no. 44A 2/1 Dickman's road, near a clothes boutique, Maheswary stood at the steps. Giving us a warm welcome, she took both mother and child indoors.

It is Thursday morning and Kamalawthie and Nipuni are having a bath and simultaneously playing with water. This thin undernourished child is happy again, for her only happiness is Kamalawathie. But the scars remain, for time and again little Nipuni shows her thigh and says that 'Nenda hit me," that she said 'your amma will never come back again," reports this little child unable to hide the sorrow and the tears that this traumatic experience brings to her.

Meanwhile, Maheswary who plans to start a home is on the look out for a house. She has given Nipuni and Kamalawathie a home and an assurance that she will take care of them. Nipuni will not only know the shelter of her new Colombo 4, abode but will also attend a school in Bambalapitiya.

"She is so thin and so undernourished, she needs the care of a pediatrician," said Maheswary, taking Nipuni's thin hand into her arms of love.

Nipuni's case is not a solitary one. It is a symbolic one. It does not end here for there are hundreds of children like her, crying for the love and comfort of those who love them. For those who were unable to help Nipuni and give her a home, all they have got to do is to look around in the countless homes that are hidden away - for there they will find, hundreds of little Nipunis and thousands of little teardrops that fall to the earth, unseen.

Capital punishment to put the
noose around rising crime rate 

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Overwhelmed by the increasing crime rate in the country, law enforcement authorities are now looking at re-enforcing  the time tested remedy - capital punishment.

However the question being asked is, could capital punishment alone minimise the number of crimes in the country? And one would also wonder, with corruption rampant, whether the 'criminal' who receives the final verdict is indeed the true offender. In such a scenario, if in case an innocent falls victim to this harsh method of punishment, how reliable is capital punishment?

Welikada and Bogambara are the two prisons which carried out capital punishment-that was till 1976. Though not formally abolished, 1976 saw the last execution carried out in the country, that of a person called Dyonis alias Hondapapuwa. The capital punishment sentence since then has been commuted to life imprisonment.

While capital punishment became life imprisonment, most of these prisoners were freed during amnesties granted by respective governments to mark special events.

The idea of re-enforcing capital punishment again has received mixed reactions from the general public. While some feel that re-enforcing capital punishment once again could not happen at a better time, some feel that capital punishment should not be re-enforced, as there are chances that an innocent person could be executioned with the real criminal walking scot-free.

According to housewife Kamini, capital punishment should be re-enforced and now is the best time to do it. She went on to explain that the ever-increasing crime rate has to be stopped before the country turns out to be a land of criminals. Kamini observed that today people show no remorse when it comes to killing another human. "Its as if its something natural to do," she said. She pointed out that even the number of rape cases reported and the drug peddling in the country clearly show that people have no regard for the law. "They feel that they can do anything and get away," she said. She explained that the knowledge that they would only be given a jail term, even for life, does not make them think  twice before engaging themselves in some illegal activity. According to Kamini, these criminals who are given a jail term, invariably end up having a good time behind bars. "These criminals are most often backed by influential people and they help these criminals have a rather comfortable life, even behind bars," she observed.

Shimali, an undergraduate too agreed with Kamini by stating that capital punishment should be re-enforced. According to Shimali, re-enforcing capital punishment would make people think twice before doing something bad. She went on to say that it was capital punishment that helped maintain a low level of crime before 1976.

However, according to Menik, a graduate, capital punishment should not be re-enforced again. No human can play the role of God and decide on another human's fate, especially where death is concerned. As a Buddhist, Menik feels that karma would take its toll and whether executioned or not, a wrongdoer will be punished for his/her deeds. She went on to explain that while execution puts an end to a person's life and the suffering ends there, with life imprisonment, depending on whether he/she has a conscience the person suffers everyday of his/her life. Menik also pointed out that in a country like Sri Lanka, where the whole system is generally corrupt, people with influence will always get away with whatever crime they commit, while it is the innocent and helpless who will have to take the fall.

The rich get away

Shehara (name changed), a student, feels that capital punishment is not the answer to minimise the crime rate in the country. She said that the main offenders of any crime is invariably an influential person, as it is they who give the orders to carry out crime, and they never are punished for their offences. According to Shehara, since everything is so corrupt in the country, there is a chance that an innocent person would receive capital punishment. "That is not fair. What if an innocent person is put to death while the real criminal walks out free?" she questioned,adding that the powerful ones will get the best lawyers to appear for them while the poor ones who carried out their orders would have to make do with a lawyer they can afford.

Commissioner of Prisons, Upali Dharmabandu told The Sunday Leader that the prisons authorities are still awaiting the green light from the President to begin executions. He went on to say that they have called for quotations to import new ropes for the gallows. Surprisingly, only one company has sent in a quotation and that is a Korean company. Authorities are now waiting to see whether there will be any others who would come forward.

Speaking of this special rope, Dharmabandu explained that it is 30 feet in length and is specially made for the gallows. This rope, he said has to be imported. Three such ropes have to be imported, each at a cost of Rs. 98,658.

As for the gallows, Dharmabandu stated that the structures built in 1844 in Welikada and 1845 in Bogamabara, are yet in working order. When asked whether authorities will now have to employ an executioner, Dharmabandu said that they already have an executioner attached to the headquarters. Interestingly, he is now working as a peon since he has no executions to carry out.

Dharmabandu stated that the capital punishment verdict is given to those proven guilty of murder or narcotic offences. At present, there are 27 prisoners sentenced with capital punishment in Welikada while Bogambara has six. Dharmabandu explained that the prison authorities need the approval of the President to carry out the verdict on these prisoners.

Interior Minister John Amaratunga explained that from the Ministry's point of view, they have decided to re-enforce capital punishment as a solution to curtail the growing crime rate in the country, but he agreed that there are other elements that need to be looked in to as well. According to Amaratunga, once capital punishment is re-enforced, people will think twice before committing a crime. Amaratunga went on to say that he inspected the gallows to see whether they were in working order and it was then that the need for new ropes was observed. He stated that the Ministry has called for quotations and only one company has so far come forward. "If no one else comes forward, we will purchase the ropes from this company," he said. Amaratunga is confident, the President will definitely comply with the decision to implement the death penalty.

When asked whether there could be a chance of executioning the wrong person through capital punishment, Amaratunga stated that it would not be so as every piece of evidence is looked in to before  the final verdict is given.

The final verdict- to hang or not to hang -we will have to wait and see.

* * * *

Fatima Peace Plan

By Lakshman de Silva

The world situation in May 1917 was crucial. The most deadly and destructive war the world had ever known was raging. Europe was one gigantic battlefield. The sinking of the Lusitania on May 7, 1915 with the loss of more than twelve hundred lives, was one of the terrible incidents that took place. This situation weighed heavily on the heart of Pope Benedict XV.

On May 5, 1917 in a stirring pastoral letter he directed the faithful throughout the world to join him in a fervent appeal to the Mother of God that peace be restored in the world.

In answer to this appeal through prayer, the Virgin Mary appeared to the three children, Lucy aged 10, Jacintha aged seven and Fransisco aged nine and she unfolded the peace plan. She appeared to these children for six months in 1917, from May to October on the 13th of each month.

The Virgin Mary's message in brief during these months was a call to prayer especially the Rosary, and Penance, as God is offended too much with sin. She said many sinners go to hell as there is no one to pray for them. She showed hell to the children. Plunged in the sea of fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers all blackened, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified the children and made them to tremble with fear. The children would have died of fright if not for the presence of the Holy Virgin. She said to them "You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners  go. To save them God wishes to establish the devotion to my immaculate heart."

In her messages she said that the war then raging would end. If people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI. This Second World War is also now history.

The Virgin further warned that if people still continued with their sins a chastisement would take place, with millions of people dying from one moment to another and some countries disappearing from the face of the earth. She also predicted that a great peace shall follow. Some saints and also pious people have said that this great peace shall remain until the arrival of anti-Christ, when this peace shall once again be shattered.

The Virgin Mary also told that Jacintha and Fransisco will die early. They died, and they have now been beatified by Pope John Paul II. The Virgin Mary said that Lucy will live for many more years, in order to spread devotion to her immaculate heart. Lucy who is now 96 years is an enclosed Carmelite nun. When Popes Paul VI and John Paul II visited Fatima Lucy was given special permission to be present at the open-air Holy Masses of these two popes. The predicted chastisement could still be averted by good living and prayer and penance asked by the Virgin Mary to appease God.

On July 13 she promised a miracle to take place on October 13. On this day an estimated 10, 000 people gathered at the site of the apparitions. In the presence of the children the miracle occurred.

Gradually the sun grew pole, and appeared as a silver disk at which all could gaze directly. Then rays of multicoloured lights shot out in every direction. The sun now began to spin on its axis painting the rocks, trees and people with sunshine. Suddenly the sun seemed to be torn loose and began hurtling close to  earth.

At this those gathered  were terrified and began their repentance for sin and asking mercy from God. Then once again the sun resumed its normallcy, and a cry of astonishment was heard at everyside.

It was a gracious maternal gesture on the part of the Virgin Mary in the wake of the greatest miracle our generation has known.

Cracking down on child labour 

By Hemamala Wickramage

Could you imagine your school-age son or daughter being asked to wash a mountain of dirty plates and dishes, then without a break sent to sweep an entire house consisting of three storeys ? Could you imagine them being asked to baby-sit all day long when they themselves are children who need being looked after?

Could you imagine your young son or daughter being deprived of their education and childhood all for just a few rupees a day? Without a doubt the answers to the above would be in the negative.

But do you know that in Sri Lanka there are nearly 25,000 young children who's plight involves going through a tough, rough, manual work routine, every single day of their young lives?

Labour Department statistics reveal that there are children between the ages of 10 and 14 years - both male and female - who are employed as "child labourers."

Child labour is the employment of children as wage earners. In Sri Lanka the existing law prohibits the employment of children below 14 years. Act No.47 of 1956 on the Employement of Women, Young Persons and Children (amended) states the employement of children under the age of 14 years  is  illegal.

Mostly young girls

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Deputy Director, Police Children and Women's Bureau, ASP Cecil de Silva said they have come across children as young as eight years being,  employed as  domestic workers in well-to-do homes within Colombo. "A child of any age could be a victim of child labour. Once we came across a father who used his seven and 10 year old daughters as performers in a street circus. We arrested the man and sent the children to a Salvation Army shelter," said de Silva. The police in their raids to bring employers of child labour to book, mostly come across female children being employed as domestic aides in rich homes. "Boys are either employed as gardeners or forced to work in sweat shops for a very low pay," added de Silva.

A female police officer at the bureau recollected some of her experiences when involved in raids. "Once we were given the details of a 12 year old boy who had been brought to Battaramulla to work as a domestic aide. He has had only one year of schooling. After he dropped out of school, he had been helping his parents  in plantation work. Then a neighbour who used to work in a city hotel had offered his mother money for the child to be brought to Colombo," said the lady police officer.

His Colombo "job" involved getting up at 6 a.m., sweeping the house, tending to the garden and "playing" with the employer's children whenever they required. When the police moved in to take him he had denied any kind of harassment by the employer. This, says the lady police officer,  "most of the time is  due to fear. These children we take in to our care - till the court procedures are over -  always  deny any wrongdoing on their bosses' or madams' part, at first. Due to fear they say they were treated good. This child even said that he didn't mind continuing to stay there but wanted to go home for the new year.

Crucial issue

Poverty - one of the most crucial factors which decides the living conditions of these children, makes them lose their childhood and are compelled to labour for a living early in their lives. "But the desires and dreams of any normal child is the same. Except that for these children their  dreams and desires have to be kept hidden because of the lack of money. Though when in Colombo he had the chance of living in a mansion instead of a  shanty house, this child wanted to go home and be with his family for the new year," said the female police officer.

On another occasion a police team had found two children - a girl (8) and a boy (7) kept in a house in Pamankada. The children had been "hired" to work in the kitchen and garden of the house. "We sent them to the Ranmuthugala shelter for children and the employer was released after  a severe warning. He was also asked to open bank accounts and told  that  money be deposited in the children's names," added the police officer.

National Programme Manager, International Labour Organisation  (ILO)- Child Labour Unit, Shayama Salgado while confirming the Labour  Department figures of the number of child labourers in the country, said that apart from domestic aides, the number of children selling small items in the cities is rising. "It's a common sight to see children engaged in manual labour which involve selling of peanuts, toffees and lottery tickets in public buses, and also there are a high number of beggar children  on most of the city streets." According to Salgado children are also made to work in fireworks factories and even prostitution and sex tourism are some other areas where children are made to work under appalling conditions. "The working conditions of these child workers  can be unhygienic or hazardous. Street children are the most vulnerable group exposed to this kind of harassment," said Salgado.

When it comes to children kept as servents,  Salgado said that underaged domestic workers feel deprived and helpless when they compare themselves  with the children of their employers.

"There are unconfirmed reports of children being made to work in goldsmiths' workshops in Hettiweediya and other places where jewellery making is big business. ILO is still to look in to this matter. But what should be stressed is that whatever the form  of work, it is illegal to employee children as labourers,  which prevents them from having access to fulltime education. As we know education is a basic right of all children," said Salgado.

The next time you are out on the street, when you see a young child selling lottery tickets at a bus  stand or tugging at your dress sleeve begging you to buy a peanut packet or when you see a beggar child with an extended hand and a plea for money - spare a thought -- for they are children driven to misery not by choice but by circumstances.

Public cooperation needed

The police and the NGOs working on abolishing child labour believe that public cooperation is a must to win this battle.

There are around 34 police divisions islandwide where Women and Children's Bureau offices have been established. Insisting on public assistance ASP Cecil de Silva said, "Public can help us by reporting incidences of illegal use of child labour by either calling up or writing the details to these police stations. Especially if you're aware of any homes where children are kept as domestic workers in your neighbourhood, make sure you inform us. We can take action and help bring an end to a child's suffering. The 24 hour police hot-line to report these cases is 662 662," said de Silva.

"No matter what a child should be recognised for what he or she is - innocent and worthy of love," added de Silva.

Chicken out!

By Shezna Shums 

Chickenitis - you may think this       is a medical term that refers to a disease or infection resulting from eating or handling chickens.

However this is not a medical term but is something that Dr. Anton Jayasuriya has come up with. "This is a bad word invented by me towards the end of the century, it means the toxic and poisonous effects of eating modern, modified chicken or poultry.

"There are now too much genetic enzymes and toxic pollutants in the form of farming cereals that go into food,"said Dr. Jayasuriya.

According to Dr. Jayasuriya most people are not aware of the amount of hormones that are injected into chickens. After the injections within 45 days chicks become broilers.

The number of hours they sleep are shortened and they are not allowed to move a lot in case they lose weight. Apart from this they are injected with hormones to make them fatter.Farmers get paid according to the weight of the chicken, so high amounts of hormones are injected to make the chickens fatter.The effects from eating these chickens that are injected with hormones are such that young boys develop breasts.

Girls who eat this type of chicken get their menstruation cycle at a very young age.

Among other dangerous effects says Dr. Jayasuriya are various types of cancers which develop  owing to eating chicken that has high levels of hormones.

This leads to prostate cancers in men and uterus cancers in women.

Chicken is one of the best foods to eat but because of the high content of hormones it can be very dangerous."It would be better to eat chicken from the rural areas were they are grown by natural and healthy feed," said Dr. Jayasuriya.

 Jayasuriya has been a doctor for 49 years. During the last 40 years however he has changed to practising alternative medicine.

'A heart of gold'

At the Kalubowila hospital The Sunday Leader visited Dr. Jayasuriya where we saw the large number of people queuing to meet him.

There were old people as well as small children who came for treatment.

Speaking to some of the  patients there they said Dr. Jayasuriya " has a heart of gold and is one of the few doctors who has the time to speak to the patients and listen to them."

Dr. Jayasuriya says taking a deep breath; keeping a healthy mind and eating proper food will keep you healthy.

"You are as healthy as the number of times you don't go to the hospital," says Dr. Jayasuriya

"The body of the man is about his physical body, his spirit, his emotions and his soul.

"The whole person should be treated and not just the physical body" says Dr. Jayasuriya.

"There is alotherapy, homeotherapy, osteopathy but there is nothing like sympathy."

 Even his patients who spoke to The Sunday Leader say that they are very happy with this type of treatment and appreciate the time and effort the doctors take.

Dr. Jayasuriya has a team of foreign as well as local doctors working with him.

The patients also say that the doctor even gives free medicine to patients who can't afford to pay.

At the clinic in Kalubowila more than 140 doctors from around the world have been trained and more than three and a half million patients have been already treated.

Dr. Jayasuriya has written 64 books about medicine and one of his books weighs a hefty three and a half kilos.

Halakande Pannsara Thero was at the hospital to be treated for his leg condition.

"I found it very difficult to walk earlier. But after coming here my leg is much better." he has been coming here since April 2002.

Another patient said she has been coming here since 1994 and will continue coming here because the doctors have time and make an extra effort with everybody.

The doctor further states that almost any disease can be cured.

"All medicines are made by humans and humans themselves are imperfect, so in this context the best of all medicines should be combined to make a better integrated medical product," says Dr. Jayasuriya.