10th  August,  2003  Volume 10, Issue 4

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Leopards as elusive as the Scarlet Pimpernel

Seeing an article titled "Jetwing directors and leopards," I have thought it proper to write my impressions regarding its contents. The present buzz word amongst tourist circles is eco-tourism. This, according to my view, is not a new concept in this part of the world, as since February 1938, with the creation of the Yala National Park, visitors to it were conducted around accompanied by a guide to view and learn about the natural resources, history and culture that the park offers.

Jetwing Eco-Holidays has thought of working with other tour operators on "special leopard safaris," at a high individual cost and also mentions Sri Lanka is a "big game destination" as stated in The Sunday Leader of June 29.

Here I am of the view that they have got things mixed up, as 'game' in wildlife terms denotes animals and birds that could be shot and killed for 'sport.' This was in vogue when the island was occupied by the British but in today's context it has lost its significance, once the intermediate zones (shooting blocks) were elevated to national parks around 1965, with such sport being banned.

The Director, Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC), should take note of the intended 'special leopard safaris,' which I believe will be conducted within the wildlife national parks. This trend no doubt would cause several more problems to the DWLC. Firstly, where a private organisation will capatalise and make maximum use in exploiting the facilities provided by the DWLC (roads and infrastructure) and their natural resource (leopards), for the benefit of the tour operators.

Besides, at present the tour operators to Yala hand over their foreign clients to private jeep owners at Tissamaharama for a two to three hour viewing tour of what Yala has to offer and it has added to the tremendous congestion and chaos in vehicular traffic and the lack of trackers to accompany them.

The article reveals this type of 'special leopard safari' is to generate funds for leopard research, which is good for those who wish to study its distribution, populations, territorial habits, predator-prey relationship etc. which is mainly of academic interest.

This animal is shot, snared by poachers for its pelt and poisoned by livestock herdsman, just outside the national parks. What the DWLC and all those interested in this beautiful animal should do is assist in its protection and conservation so as to ensure its survival in the jungles of Sri Lanka.

I had the opportunity of visiting Yala National Park in early June and to my dismay saw a group of foreigners visiting Yala for two days on just such a 'special leopard safari,' travelling around and round the particular jeep trail from Gonagala to Kotabandiweva via Andunoruwa junction and their inquiries and faces showed their disappointment, as those leopards were as elusive as the Scarlet Pimpernel.

C.V. Jayawardhana
Gampaha

Digging the past

When the present government is bending backwards to accommodate the LTTE with a view to achieving lasting peace, The Sunday Leader of July 20 carried five full pages describing what happened in July, '83, which are irrelevant and untimely especially in the context of what Anton Balasingham said at the press conference held in the north in April, 2002. On being questioned by a journalist about the murder of Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE, he said "Don't dig the past" and digging the past is exactly what you have done in your newspaper.

Events of July '83 fade into total insignificance when compared with what happened thereafter, up to date, an account of which would require not just five pages of your newspaper, but about 100 pages. Your newspaper appears to have developed amnesia as far as these incidents are concerned.

Moreover, in your editorial of the same issue, you have suggested to formally apologise for the events of July '83. These incidents were only a reaction to an action that took in place in Jaffna where 13 innocent soldiers not engaged in any combat duty were killed. Suffice it to say that if this action did not take place, July '83 incidents would never have occurred. Any person analysing July'83 should take this factor too to account.

Your journalists who carried various macabre photographs didn't care to mention about the sufferings of the families of these soldiers. In any event, please let the readers know as to who should apologise for the victims of bomb blasts at Pettah, Maradana, Dehiwala, Central Bank, etc., etc., gruesome killings at border villages, incidents at Sri Maha Bodhi, Dalada Maligawa, killing of a busload of Buddhist monks, ethnic cleansing of over 20,000 Sinhala families in Jaffna, point blank killing of 700 constables who surrendered, continued kidnapping, torture, demanding ransom, etc.

After 1984, there had been 100 instances of group killings six and over in the Eastern Province, while there had been 4000 instances of group killings of less than six persons in the same province, and the violations of the MOU over 2000 times. The list is endless. Space does not permit me to elaborate further. Neither you nor your journalists have a single tear to shed over the lakhs of victims of these incidents. None of these victims were paid a cent, whereas the government moved almost instantly to pay compensation to the Muttur victims. This is a glaring anomaly which should have been highlighted in your newspapers.

You have also very conveniently forgotten to mention a single word in appreciation of the great restraint and compassion shown by the majority community in the midst of grave and sudden provocation on account of the gruesome happenings enumerated above, a situation unprecedented in the history of the entire world.

I trust that in the name of justice, fairplay,  the necessity to let all parties to be heard on any issue, which are the hallmarks of good journalism, you will publish this letter in full, giving the readers the opportunity to contradict me, if I am wrong. If I am proved wrong by any reader, I shall certainly change my views and apologise for any lapse on my part.

D.M. Wijewardena
Matara

Protest at reopening of private zoo

It is shocking news that the forcibly closed Ahungalla private mini-zoo is to be reopened. It was closed in 1998 because of the wave of protests islandwide as well as by foreign visitors against the pathetic condition of the animals incarcerated in it.

There were accusations of semi-starvation, drug abuse and permanent doping of the unfortunate creatures imprisoned inside. It was pointed out that the lion mauled and killed a boy because the doped condition of the lion was wearing out.

We vehemently protest against the re-opening of this zoo.

M. De Silva
Gal Gawa Mithuro

Violation of code of ethics

I have an invitation which shows that the Director General of Health Services is the chief guest for the launching of a private drug company.

Is this ethical? This is a violation of the Public Services Code No. 202A1!

Moreover, the Director General of Health Services is the authority for granting registration of pharmaceuticals in Sri Lanka. How unbecoming of the Director General to have accepted an invitation to be the chief guest for the launching of a pharmaceutical company. Furthermore, he has consented to give a speech about this drug company.

This is totally irregular and unbecoming. How has the Ministry of Health allowed this? Never in history has any Director General graced the launch of a pharmaceutical company.

Where are the codes of ethics? Why are public service people being continuously bought over by drug companies?

Why did the learned Director General choose to grace one pharma company? If this is the situation every drug company will think of getting their launches done through authorities in the Ministry of Health.

As a policy no officer attached to the Ministry should patronise any pharmaceutical company or their promotional functions. After all, the poor patients have to pay for all these things.

The entire drug field is laughing about this matter. Some remedial action needs to be taken immediately.

Secretary
Organisation of Professional Associations

My beloved, sincere and gem of a friend, Justice of the Peace, ex member of the Colombo Municipal Council, trade unionist and a very successful businessman passed away on June 30 after a brief illness which he faced with great courage. On my last visit to Sri Lanka in January, I heard that Anton was ill and warded in a nursing home. Having inquired from his dear wife, I visited him at the nursing home several times and prayed for his speedy recovery. After a couple of weeks he was sent home but continued to obtain treatment. He was looked after by his wife and daughters with great love and affection throughout his illness. The day previous to my

leaving Sri Lanka to Canada, I visited him and had a brief chat when he told me that he was feeling much better and should be back on his feet soon and wished me a safe journey.

After my return to Canada I continued to be in contact with his family inquiring after his progress. On June 25 I had a telephone call from his beloved daughter Ramanie who informed me that Anton was steadily improving and that he sits up and speaks which actions he had lost for some time. This news gave me great happiness which was only to be shortlived.

Five days later, on June 30 I had another telephone call from Ramanie and even before I could inquire from her as to how my dear friend was progressing, she broke the devastating news to me that Anton had passed away that very morning quite suddenly. This news broke my heart and I nearly had a blackout. Anton was a true and sincere friend. One may pass through life and not be lucky to find a true, sincere and honest friend of Anton's calibre.

Anton had his education at St. Benedict's College, Kotahena and after completing his secondary education, he joined the Ceylon Law College for the explicit purpose of qualifying as a lawyer but within six months he left Law College and threw himself into politics. Colombo Municipal Council elections were round the corner.

The Ceylon Communist Party approached Anton and requested him to stand for election to the Kotahena East ward as a candidate of the Communist Party. Kotahena East ward which was known as little Rome, was throughout represented by a stalwart of the United National Party. When the results were coming in, lo and behold, Kotahena East ward had been captured by Anton which shook the entire city.

Anton was a very gifted orator who was able to speak in all three languages. After two years in the council, Anton realised that as a member of the Communist Party, he could not be of useful service to his voters and improve the pathetic conditions within the ward. V.A. Sugathadasa who was the Mayor of Colombo having noticed the great potential of Anton, spoke to him and persuaded him to join the United National Party as he would have a better political future. Anton having given thought to this offer, later joined the U.N.P.

President, J.R. Jayewardene always sent his car to pick Anton whenever he travelled to address political meetings in any part of the country as Anton was such a forceful and gifted speaker. As a member of the U.N.P. Anton was able to improve many shortcomings in his ward and help his voters by providing employment, obtaining poor relief and many such amenities. He represented this ward for almost 16 years during which time he was able to provide a swimming pool and community centre at Mayfield Lane which is today a standing monument to his credit and which is the only one of its kind in the entire city. It is a sad feature that this swimming pool and community centre has not been named as 'Anton Marcellus Swimming Pool And Community Centre' with he richly deserves but today it is rumoured that new members who have entered the C.M.C. in the recent past are attempting to have their names on plaques planted in the premises.

Having retired from politics, Anton realised the enormous problems that the harbour workers were facing. He thereupon formed a trade union for the workers which was named 'The Independent Harbour Workers Union' of which he was the president. Within a short space of one year this union became one of the most powerful unions in the port with a membership of over 2000 and was one of the most respected unions that won many rights for the workers. Having run this union for almost 10 years he passed over the reins of office to workers.

In 1973 he opened his own private transport business named Transworld Movers (Private) Ltd., which is now having its office at Col.T.G. Jayewardena Mawatha, Colombo 3. He was the founder chairman of this company which is a closely integrated family business of which the senior management consists of the following:

Anthony Marcellus, J.P., Chairman
Tamaris Gomez, Vice Chairperson

Ramanie Marcellus De Silva, Managing Director supported by a board of directors and experienced staff.

In all his activities, Barbara his precious wife had always been a tower of strength to him. He married Barbara on June 29, 1957 and was blessed with four daughters and one son. All his daughters, Sandra, Tamaris, Sharmila and Ramanie together with their husbands Daniel David, Marius Gomez, Ajit Allirajah and Clement De Silva are happily involved with the company while his son Suresh with his wife Emashi are settled down in Australia.

Anton during his illness had always mentioned to me that he had no fears about the success of the company even after his demise since his youngest daughter Ramanie was a very talented and clever girl who would be able to steer the company and guide it along to great heights, being a very good administrator.

Anton's untimely demise is an irreparable loss not only to his family but to all who were associated with him. He was a very generous and talented human being who at all times had the interest of the poor. May his widow and family have the courage to march forward. As a close and sincere friend I will miss his company always.

May the turf lie gently over my dear friend and brother Anton.

Harris Wickremetunge, J.P.
Ex Deputy Mayor of Colombo