Review

Aluth Avurudu in the tents?

By Jamila Najmuddin

Children play in the muddy sand, making kavun and kokis from the mud. Dressed in festival attire, the children seem lost in a world of their own,  with the boys pretending to chat with one another while the girls seem to be involved in a world of cooking...... 

More......

> Love in London

> Love infinite on the cross

> Sister Irene and the tsunami

> Ways to have fun while the heat is on! (....Balder dash)

> Memorable achievement in Parkinson's disease

> Masks, diseases and the art of healing

> Australian medical experts on third tsunami relief mission to SL

Aluth Avurudu in the tents?

It is three months since the tsunami and  these children continue to live in tents along with their families with no proper food, clothing or shelter, making it impossible for them to celebrate the New Year.

No New Year

"The government promised to provide us houses before the New Year. The sea took away everything we had, and now we are left with nothing,  we remain stuck in these tents. Every year, the New Year is celebrated with great festivity and is a season which the children look forward to, but this year our children are aware that there will be no New Year for them," K. Nishanthi says.

As these people now have shattered hopes about the upcoming festive season, their main concern is when their lives will return to normal. "We have been living in such unhygienic conditions for three months. We have no place to cook and our husbands have no jobs. There are many of us who have lost our loved ones. With such difficulties, how can we get into the festive mood to celebrate Aluth Avurudu,"  asks H. Dharmapala.

Dharmapala is among the many who have lost their families. They now live in a world of darkness and loneliness, unable to bear the loss of their loved ones. "Last year, my family celebrated the New Year with much happiness.  My wife was an expert cook, so she prepared the festive treats along with my mother and sister. My children look forward to the New Year. This is because I buy them new clothes and the table would be laid with treats such as kavun, kokis, bananas, kiribath - their favourite food. Today my wife, children, parents and sisters are all dead. I have no house and no money. I was a fisherman but now I am scared of the sea. Who am I going to celebrate the Aluth Avurudda  with? Who is going to prepare the festive treats? Where are my children who I bought clothes and toys for? Who ever imagined that life would turn out to be so miserable?" he says with tears in his eyes.

Today, instead of eating kiribath and kokis, these people will instead celebrate the season with bread and water. "That is what we eat everyday because we cannot afford to buy food. But we will not complain because we are thankful that we have something to fill our stomachs without dying in hunger," H. Somapala says.

Preparations

However, while thousands of people will spend the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year in tents without even the hope of a new piece of clothing, there are some who are already preparing for the festive season.

"We are aware that there are many people who continue to live in tents but there is a limit to what we can donate. These people live in unhygienic conditions and they have no money. The government has not offered them any relief. Although they were promised houses before the New Year, they still continue to live in this condition. The government has to help them, not us," a resident in Ahungalla said.

The government is yet undecided in allocating land, making it impossible for the tsunami victims to return to their normal livelihoods, but children in tents continue to hope - a secret wish - that this year too, their fathers will bring them gifts for the New Year.

Hope

"Every year my father buys toys for my brother and me during the New Year. Although my brother is dead, I am sure that my father will buy me new clothes this year as well. I know we have no house and money but my father loves me. Therefore, I know that he will buy me something," six-year-old K. Lahiru says.

Love in London

On his wedding day with his wife and sister (extreme left)

By Ranee Mohamed 

They say it is cold in London, so is the body of this young girl who has just returned from there. It is easy to say that she is the most beautiful girl in the world. And the fact that she has returned from London on March 6, adds more glamour to *Farana's image. But finding her and bringing her back to her middle class home in Keselwatte, Kadawatha is a heart-breaking task.

For young Farana sits crouched on her luggage crying her heart out. Her heart and mind are in London - amidst all the  heartbreak and humiliation that London gave her after being virtually imprisoned allegedly at  Eccelston Place, Wembley, United Kingdom.

"Our daughter Farana was given in marriage to a man whose family is from Gampola. Her husband was in London and we were told that she had to join him in London to lead a family life there. As my daughter is accomplished and beautiful we knew that she would be very happy in London," said Farana's mother in tears,

Farana had led a carefree and happy single life in Colombo. Having worked at a prestigious Sri Lanka tea outlet and also at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Farana truly yet had the beauty and the personality to represent her country anywhere in the world. But unfortunately not in London.

Farana agreed to marry the man she saw as the bridegroom from London two days after seeing him. But this was because she wanted to stop being a burden to her family. In fact it was two days after she first saw him that her marriage took place on March 9, 2002. But sadly she could not go to London immediately because she was told that there was a problem with her visa.

"Our daughter was asked to come and stay with her husband's family in Gampola. We were told that she was leading a very happy life there. But unfortunately we discovered that she was made to do all the household chores in that house in Gampola. "I am married and I have to stay here," she had told her mother.

First call

For almost two years she lived there with her in-laws, without her husband. "Just nine months ago, in June, 2004 before she was scheduled to leave for London, her in-laws came in a lorry and took all the furniture belonging to our daughter to that house in Gampola. We never saw her leave for London, because we live closer to the airport, she was brought to the airport from Gampola and she had boarded a flight to London," said Farana's mother in tears.

It was when the first call came about one month after her visit to London that the family of Farana began to feel the teardrops of their daughter. "She was wailing uncontrollably over the telephone. She told us that she is being kept a prisoner in the house, that she had to make breakfast, lunch and dinner for her husband and his older sister who lived with them," explained Farana's sister.

"Please help me, she is hitting me. Last night too she hit me with the fork. She asks me to go inside the room when she comes after work because she does not like to see my face and does not let me go into the bedroom when my husband is asleep," Farana had cried over the telephone. "She says that I am so ugly, that my face is ugly, that my hair is ugly. She asks me to sit properly and each time I make her a cup of tea she threatens to throw it on my face because she says the tea does not taste good," Farana had told her family.

"Nobody can come and see you, nobody can call you...she used to snigger at me." Farana had told her family. 

On her return Farana had told her family that the brother and sister had locked her inside the house before they left for work and gave her potatoes and rice to eat everyday. "They counted the eggs in the morning before they left, and when they returned, they counted the eggs again," she had cried. "It is not that I want to eat the eggs, I do not want them to count the eggs," she had cried.

Alone in cold London, Farana had not been able to get out of the house and reach out for help.

She did not know whom to call and where to reach out to for help. Farana says that she had suffered at the hands of an older woman who tried very hard to 'look young.'

Family helpless

"She used to tell me that I am ugly. She drank only non-fat milk and was very conscious about her looks, but did not give me anything to drink. She used to pick on me every day, every hour. As she yelled at me, my husband used to sit and watch. I had to stand and wait while they sat together and finished their meals," she had confided to her family. But there was nothing that her family could do.

At home in Kadawatha the family of Farana could not bear the pain at the thought of her suffering. They did everything they could. Contacting a maternal aunt, the sister of Farana had told her the story. The aunt who had traced the brother and sister had warned them not to harass Farana. But this did not stop them. Day after day, Farana continued a life of drudgery and slavery. Like Cinderella, she was confined to the kitchen.

"I used to beg my husband to take me out. But the sister kept telling me that it is 'expensive' to go out. I wanted to see a film, and one day they did take me but brought me back telling me that the tickets were expensive.

As things are expensive they made me make sandwiches everyday for them to take away with them. They have taken me out of the house just once and on that day too they made me make sandwiches because things were expensive," cries this new bride from London.

This way she had lived, pleading with her husband to help her. But all he did was watch young Farana suffer.  It was at this time that Farana's aunt insisted that she be sent home to Sri Lanka or that she will take immediate action with the authorities. On hearing these threats, a brother of Farana's husband had contacted the family and told them that if she leaves London, she will not be taken back to that family again. But all they wanted was for their girl to be happy.

It was at this time that Farana's  husband and his sister  made Farana write a letter that she was going to Sri Lanka on her own free will. Farana's aunt had been insistent that Farana is set free from the alleged life of slavery. It was as a result of this action by their maternal aunt that the family found Farana hugging on to a bag and crying on the evening of Sunday, March 6.

Inside the bag were two old clothes - all that she had brought from London.

Farana today is suffering from depression. Perhaps it is her traumatic experience in the United Kingdom that has caused her to shut herself out from the world outside.  She is in need of counselling and help but her family remains helpless. A complaint has been lodged with the Kadawatha police.

*Names changed to protect
identity of individuals

Love infinite on the cross

By Lakshman de Silva

The feast is over the final hymn is sung

Unto the Mount of Olives now they go

Beneath the stars in dark Gethsemane

The Saviour kneels and prays in deepest woe.

Gethsemane, Gethsemane,

O sad and dark Gethsemane

Where Jesus prayed

The night he was betrayed,

O Father take this bitter up from me.

The shadows fall 'mid silence so profound

And naught is shared except a breaking heart,

It breaks for us and He who loves us so

Must die upon the cross in grief and woe. 

After the institution of the adorable Sacrament of the  Altar, Jesus with his apostles wended their way onto the Garden of Gethsemane.

On the way Jesus told them that he would one day return to judge the world not in a state of poverty and humiliation as he then was.

It was dark when they reached Gethsamane. At this time the moon was risen. Halfway Jesus left eight of his disciples in the garden and went further up with Peter, James and John and they entered the Garden of Olives. Here having asked these three apostles to watch and pray, Jesus went further and concealed himself beneath a rock.

Here a number of frightful figures, the devils began to surround him. As Jesus began to pray he saw the awful pictures of all the sins of humanity from the fall of Adam to the end of the world, and of the punishment they deserved.

It was here on Mount Olive that Adam and Eve took refuge when driven out of Paradise and they had wept and bewailed here.

Sins upon himself

Here Jesus took all sins upon himself to make payment to his father for so awful a debt, where divinity had been offended. Here Satan let loose his fury against Jesus, and addressing Jesus asked, "Takest thou even this sin upon thyself? Art thou prepared to bear its penalty."

At this time a legion of angels descended from heaven to console Jesus.

With the devils thus assailing him, Jesus began to writhe like a worm beneath the weight of his anguish and suffering, and he claimed "Father if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me! Nevertheless not my will but thine be done."

Then Jesus rose and came up to the three apostles who were asleep. Having woken them he asked "What? Could you not watch one hour with me?"

Then Jesus returned back to pray. A bloody sweat issued forth from his sacred body.

Jesus also saw the Church which he was founding with the Holy Mass, which is the continuation of his sacrifice on the cross and to be in an unbloody manner till the end of the world. And also the Sacraments to heal the faithful. Jesus was to be the head of the Mystical Body - the Church with its members forming the body.

He also saw before him the scandals, all the apostates, heresiarchs, and pretended reformers. They vied with each other to tear the seamless robe, the Church. He also saw the lukewarm, whom according to scriptures, 'God vomits out of his mouth.'

Betrayal

Jesus came to where his three apostles were, and it was then that Judas and his band made their appearance. Here Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.

The chief priests and scribes and the mob brought Jesus to the palace of the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. And they made false accusations against Jesus saying that he was the leader of a conspiracy against the nation. They said that he forbade the people to pay tribute to the emperor and that he says he is king.

Even though a pagan Pontius Pilate tried his best to save Jesus and even more so as Pilate's wife, Claudia Procla sent a message asking not to have anything to do with the man, Jesus, as she had some vision regarding this man and not to condemn him to death. But the mob shouted "crucify him, crucify him."

Then Pilate thought that severe scourging might placate the fury of these Jews and ordered Jesus to be scourged. Six torturers, bound Jesus to one of the columns, two at a time scourged him cruelly. At the end of the whips were rusty nails and barbed wires. They scourged his body until his body was one continued wound. Blessed Catherine Emmerich says, the exact number of blows dealt out to Jesus from head to foot was 5115.

Incidentally Catherine Emm- erich was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 3 last year.

After the severe and the brutal scourging Jesus was crowned with a crown of thorns, which penetrated to the skull, to the ears and to the eyes.

Even after Pilate presented Jesus to the mob after this severe scourging they instead of being placated began shouting at Pilate "Crucify him or you will not be a friend of Caesar." And so Pilate yielded to their plea. "You take him and crucify, I am innocent of his blood" and calling for a bowl of water washed his hands.

Cruelty

The executioners with inhumane cruelty and insults dragged Jesus along the way to Calvary. He fell a number of times and the great wounds were opened. On the way in meeting his mother Jesus told her "See mother, I make all things new."

When Jesus and the mob reached Calvary, the executioners nailed him to the cross. When they had nailed the right hand of Jesus they found the left hand did not reach the hole they had bored. Therefore they tied ropes to his left arm, pulled the left hand violently, until it reached the place and drove the second nail. His feeble groans were heard with the blows.

They then fastened his left foot onto his right foot, took a very long nail and drove it completely through both feet to the cross. During the whole time of the crucifixion Jesus never ceased praying. Then the Roman soldiers ordered Pilate's inscription to be nailed on top of the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." The cross with Jesus was then raised and flung to the prepared hole in the rock. Here, according to Blessed Catherine Emmerich, Adam's skull was buried.

Thus Jesus hung on the cross for three hours and then died. At the foot of the cross stood his mother Mary, motionless with her plaintive moans. She appeared as if almost fainting from grief.

Is this his body my dear son's

Body he took from me,

Body of the sweet babe I nursed

Ever so tenderly.

God and a Saviour

The famous film of Mel Gibson, The Passion Of The Christ reminded us that there is a God and consequently a Saviour. That there was a passion by which the Saviour paid the price of our salvation, and that this price had to be paid because of sin and sinners. The necessity of sacrifice to pay for sins is there especially the link between the sacrifice and the Holy Mass. This film is very theological.

In this world while we go through with our daily life like a rose tree with flowers and thorns, a sweet prayer song to the Lord would be

One day at a time sweet Jesus,

That's all I'm asking from you,

Just give me the strength

To do every day what I have to do.

Yesterdays's gone sweet Jesus,

Tomorrow may never be mine,

Lord help me today, show me the way

One day at a time

Sister Irene and the tsunami

By Ranee Mohamed 

Sister Irene Barthelot has travelled in many parts of the world, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, India are but a few countries. Sister Irene has also seen many heart-rending situations. Sister Irene like all other mortals has experienced fear - but nothing half as fearful as the tsunami, she says.

Safe in Colombo, away from the devastation for a few days, this Sister of St. Theresa's Convent in Sinnapodai, Batticaloa says it is time for us to stop and think about God and his creation.

Recollections

On December 26, Sister Irene, who is also a nurse trained in Australia, was walking to meet with two sick women of the district. "They were very poor ladies. After mass I had my breakfast and hurried out. I did not notice the time, it must have been 9 a.m. I left the convent to distribute communion to them. As I walked to the junction in Sinna Uppodai, Batticaloa I decided not to take the usual route but turned from the seaside and walked up towards the home of an elderly lady living in Keerioddai. After receiving the body of the Christ the lady wished me and thanked me. I had one more visit to make, so I walked back towards the seaside to visit the other sick lady. As I turned from the lane to the main road I saw a huge column of water advancing towards me. It was as high as a coconut tree. I turned around and started to run," said Sister Irene.

On the way the sister shouted out to all the other people in their little homes, who unaware of what was happening were happily going about with their day to day activities. "I shouted out to them that the sea was 'boiling' for if I said that the water was coming no one would have taken any notice," she said. On hearing the warnings of this holy Sister the people had begun to run. "Some clamoured on to their bicycles, the women carrying little ones began to run. We all ran up to the station as the tidal wave chased us," she recalled.

Cries and heartache

And when Sister Irene and the people reached the top of the station they saw the water receding. "And with it the sea took hundreds of loved ones and the possessions of these poor people. There were cries and heartache," she said.

The second lady that the Sister could not visit was an ailing old patient who had tremendous faith in God. She had lived in a Cadjan hut. "She could not walk and had to clamour on to things close to her to drag herself to the places she wanted to visit," explained Sister Irene.

A miracle

But is it not a miracle that the Sister found this ailing partly paralysed patient safe on the top floor of a neighbour's house?

"After the tsunami I went in search of her and found her on the top floor of a neighbour's house. The tsunami instead of taking her away had lifted her up and kept her safe on the neighbour's top floor. When I asked her how she got there she told me that a little child lifted her and kept her up there," said Sister Irene.

Sister Irene has experienced immense hardship all her life. Working with marginalised women in Batticaloa this sister and all other sisters of the convent had experienced power failures, water cuts, strike action and various other hindrances whenever they tried to embark on a project. But that has not stopped them or discouraged them - life has gone on and they have continued to battle it out with the poor of the area.

Bodies floating

After the tsunami the Sisters found that the convent was filled with black mud, that there were dead bodies floating in the compound. "We have experienced floods very often, but nothing like this.

"I know that this is a message - that we must all be God centred. Not a single temple, mosque, kovil or church was devastated during the tsunami . This is definitely a message," said Sister Irene.

"God said that there must be love," explained Sister Irene. "We are worried about possessions. But what happened with the tsunami? Nobody saved anything, even the roads were washed out. So possessions are not worth worrying about, it is what we do that is important and how we live. We live temporarily till we die and we do not know when we will meet with our death," explained Sister Irene.

"The tsunami is an act of God because man did not know how to use creation. After this experience I look at everything in a different way. It makes me very sad that so many women and children had to die. There must be a message in all this. What people say is that it may be the secret of Fatima," said Sister Irene.

Ways to have fun while the heat is on!

It's been really, really hot. These days the opening line of any conversation is the terrible heat. I know, we have a tendency to grumble, no matter what! The positive side is that at least we are warm, (do we want to be slowly broiled?) unlike people in the Western hemisphere who are frozen and try to avoid the outdoors because of the weather.

Also, impurities in our bodies are passed out with sweat. Simply fantastic for your skin! Gives you that lovely outer glow!

The skimpiest outfit

If only we could lose weight as well, it would be superb! Sadly, this is not the case. Those of us who do have hour-glass shaped bodies like Beyonce Knowles or slim ones like Naomi Campbell have the opportunity of showing them off. After all, what better excuse to wear the skimpiest clothes than the unbearable heat! Although there are some of us who simply do not care whether we look good or not, but still dress with maximum exposure! Simply craving for attention!

Understandably, people are a bit wary nowadays of going for a dip in the sea which we always did when it was too hot, but we always have our swimming pools, with nice sun warmed water to frolic in! For young mothers, if you can get hold of an inflatable pool, fill it up and dump the kids in whilst watering your garden early evening. Saves having to give them their night time bath if you add a bit of bubble bath to the water. They could also then blow bubbles whilst in the pool! What fun, don't you wish you could jump in as well?

Fun in the pool

Bigger kids could don their swimsuits and have water fights using water filled balloons, water guns or even just a hose-pipe. And those of you who are lucky enough to have a swimming pool in your garden, now is the time to have a pool party, with a light picnic lunch and lots of ice cold drinks, or if it is in the evening, a barbecue dinner. (Of course, one has to pity the poor cooks!)

Whilst at work, give them lots of iced drinks and afterwards gallons of beer (or else they will get tipsy and undercook the food). I once attended a party where one of the hired help kept running into the sitting room and bursting into song accompanied by strange contortions which I think he thought was dancing, even though there was totally different music being played at the time. Even though he was chased off and generally told off by his master and mistress, he kept returning through another entrance, until his exasperated employer finally grabbed hold of his collar and threw him into the street! It was a great pity because it enlivened an otherwise extremely boring evening.

Ice-creams

Hot weather also gives us a very good excuse to eat lots of ice-cream! Loads of yummy new flavours to try out. You need to cool your poor, over-heated system, don't you?

Also, milk, fruit and nuts are good for you! Slurp! Hardly anybody refuses an ice cream in this kind of weather, so if you are entertaining, here is a relatively cheap and easy dessert at hand! A scoop of ice cream can top an iced coffee or milk shake for an afternoon treat.

One negative aspect of the heat is that all plants and grass get droopy and browny. There is nothing like gazing at the  fresh, green garden. One feels guilty to waste water on the plants when we're being warned about shortage of water. A tube well or an ordinary well could be connected to a small water pump for this purpose. So the garden stays evergreen whatever the weather. At least some flowers bloom to attract birds, bees and butterflies. A bird's bath is also well patronised during this time, one can spot various creatures at it.

So in other words what I am trying to say is, however unpleasant the situation is, try to make the best of things, and grin and bear it. After all we long-suffering Lankans are experts at this, aren't we? Our tolerance level is extremely high. We grumble a bit, but forget quite soon and get on with our lives. And this is why it is difficult to make things change over here, we generally accept what is doled out. Leaving you with this depressing thought...

- Honky Tonk Woman

Memorable achievement in Parkinson's disease

Consultant Neurosurgeon, Dr. Sunil Peera and 
consultant Neurologist, Dr. Ranjini Gamage

By Shezna Shums  

For the first time in Sri Lanka surgery that surpassed international standards resulted in success as a patient with Parkinson's disease was operated on.

The National Hospital was able to carry out this surgery early March with advanced medical equipment.

This surgery which is classed as being 'complicated and difficult' as it involves destroying six millimeters of the affected brain of the patient, where either the hyperactive area of the brain is burned or the under active area of the brain is stimulated, was however a success here in Colombo.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, the doctors who were behind this fruitful exercise explained the intricate task they performed and how they are planning to carry out many more such operations.

Disease of old age

According to Consultant Neurologist, National Hospital, Dr. Ranjini Gamage, Parkinson's disease is a disease of old age.

The main symptoms of this disease are shaking of the body or tremors, rigidity and a slowing down of activities.

According to the doctor, this disease is a result of hyperactivity in some parts of the brain or under-activity in certain parts of the brain, which is a result of neurotransmitter imbalances.

Dr. Gamage pointed out that in the medical world there are no drugs for this illness. There are no ways to retard its progression either. However, Dr. Gamage noted there are drug therapies directed towards relieving such tension.

"Unfortunately, after continuous treatment, the patient starts developing side effects or the response to the medication reduces," Dr. Gamage said.

Speaking about the preliminary work Dr. Gamage said, "We worked towards this target for the last two years. First we established a movement disorder clinic at the National Hospital and selected the Parkinson's patients who were suitable for surgery," Dr. Gamage said.

Also speaking to The Sunday Leader, Consultant Neurosurgeon, NHSL, Dr. Sunil Perera said that the surgical treatment for this disease is directed at the destruction of the hyperactivity part of the affected brain or to stimulate the areas that are under-active.

Team effort

"Establishing such a precise surgical programme is a huge task, because this type of surgery requires team effort, commitment and dedication while this task is also technically demanding. Because of this, the commencement of this form of surgery was delayed," explained the doctors.

The surgery was carried out by an expert team of doctors, headed by Consultant Neurosurgeon, Dr. Sunil Perera. The team also consisted of Consultant Neurologist, Dr. Ranjini Gamage, Dr. A. T. Alibhoy and the rest of Neurological Unit I.

Physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists were also involved.

Once the selection of the patient is complete, the procedure involved in surgery is to accurately find the hyperactive part of the brain that is to be destroyed.

"In this procedure, once we localise the target position or find the exact place in the brain, a small hole is made where the electrons will be transmitted to the exact place," explained Dr. Perera.

No error permitted

"Then the target area of the brain has to be correct to the millimeter - not even a millimeter of error is permitted during this surgery," pointed out Dr. Gamage.

Then the patient will have a special frame fixed onto his head and a scan will be done with this framework, to calculate the measurements, in order to localise the area of the brain. When this is done, the information is fed from the scan to the frame, and this medical equipment directs the electrons to the exact spot in the brain.

During this brain surgery the patient is anesthetised but remains fully awake. A small hole is then made in the skull and the electrons are placed in the site.

"It is important to note that no brain is the same and the scan alone is not accurate, so during surgery we use other methods to see if the electrons are in the right position," said Dr. Perera.

The doctors send stimulants or currents to the brain, and then look for the effects that this current has on the patient.

"With this we can see two things, one is where symptoms impute to the currents and secondly we can see the side effects to the currents in case there may be any unwanted side effects," noted Dr. Gamage.

"At the end of the day we are burning a calculated path of the brain, so we have to ensure that we are only destroying the hyperactive pathway, because we cannot afford to destroy good parts of the brain. This is why every millimeter has to be accurate and there should be constant assessment and monitoring of the effects," stressed Dr. Gamage.

Careful observation

Dr. Sunil Perera remains in the process of surgery while Dr. Ranjini Gamage continuously talks with the patient to see if the surgery is in the right path, and if they find out that the area of the brain is not right they make various adjustments by moving these electron positions.

Having been satisfied that the position is accurate to the millimeter they finally send the strong currents. Initially only a stimulating current is used.

This is definitely a technically difficult task, and involves much cooperation and committed teamwork, in order to get a detailed assessment of the patient so that the end result will be desirable.

Major achievement

"This type of surgery is done only in a few centres around the world. So doing it in Sri Lanka is a major achievement," said Dr. Perera.

"It is important to ensure that the surgery is done properly. This is the first time this surgery was done in this country, properly and according to world standards," doctors said.

"Anybody can look at a scan and burn that point in the brain, or even find the location. The difficult task is finding the point, going there and then making the necessary changes to get the right position and then burning the point. Accurately localising and burning the areas is certainly not an easy task," said this group of doctors.

This is the only time that a proper procedure, localising of the area was adapted and successfully carried out according to world standards. The NHSL has the necessary equipment and will provide these services to the needy patients in the future.

About 'first time surgeries

This surgery took place on March 11 - it commenced at 8 a.m. and continued till about 5:30 in the evening, where a burn of six millimeters was done to the brain in order to destroy the affected area.

Director, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Dr. Hector Weerasinghe told The Sunday Leader that he is very pleased about this surgery and promises that the hospital will continue to achieve more 'first time' surgeries, where patients will benefit from the vast capabilities of the hospital.

"More than a year ago the hospital carried out its first operation on an epilepsy patient, and to date we continue to receive thank you letters from our patients," said the Director.

Masks, diseases and the art of healing

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema 

Craft forms associated with performing arts and rituals have brought much colour to traditional festivities as well as folk religious rituals.

Masks and puppetry have dominated in this regard.

According to Consultant, Small and Rural Industries Ministry, Sarath Soorasena, the tradition of masks in the country is not connected to mainstream religions - Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.

Soorasena explained that masks are closely related to folk religions. However, certain characters have been given a Buddhist mantle and Hindu gods have also been assimilated to it.

"It is a pre-Buddhist cult closely interwoven with veddhas," he said.

Buddhist practices however, never had a conflict with folk religions.

Soorasena observed that according to folk religions, ritual mask dances are conducted to cure sicknesses and famines, believed to be caused by supernatural beings.

"Masks are used to heal the ill effects of these supernatural beings," he said.

Devil dances

Devil dances or masked dance ceremonies are conducted to cure diseases, help failing crops, prevent drought, and provide protection for troubled pregnancies. A cast of specific characters and dramas has developed over the centuries to counteract almost every affliction and ailment. The yakun natuma and the kolam natuma (masquerade dance) represent two of the historically prominent forms these dance rituals have taken. Masks used in these rituals provide wonderful insight into the belief systems and practices, which form the core of traditional Sinhalese beliefs regarding health.

Masks in Sri Lanka are categorised in to two varieties - sanni and kolam.

Sanni masks are used purely for healing purposes while kolam masks are used mostly for theatrical purposes.

According to Soorasena, kolam dance forms have been very popular in the low country region.

The medical system of ancient Sri Lanka has been renowned since the first century B.C. where the northern capital in Anuradhapura had some 18 hospitals. Traditional ayurvedic principles were practiced for centuries from then on. But predating these systems, and stretching far back into antiquity, there has been an alternative system of healing based on early Vedic concepts where diseases and ills were believed to be caused by demons.

Identified predominantly by the symptoms manifested by the patient, these demons could be summoned and exorcised in ritual mask dances.

A sanni mask is then worn which includes grotesque representations of 18 different devils associated with afflictions for the dance ritual. The ritual is expected to drive them out. Eighteen separate masks can be used in these ceremonies.

Seek blessings

The devil dance is performed to exorcise evil spirits and diseases as well as for seeking blessing from good spirits. Today the tradition of hanging a masked dummy up on new houses and huts is seen everywhere to prevent evil spirits entering while under construction.

According to Paul Wirz, his seminal work Exorcism And The Art Of Healing In Ceylon (1954), has stated the following demons and their effects:

Kana-sanniya (blindness), Kora-sanniya (lameness/paralysis), Gini-jala-sanniya (malaria), Vedda-sanniya (bubonic plague), Demala-sanniya (bad dreams), Kapala-sanniya (insanity), Golu-sanniya (dumbness/muteness), Biri-sanniya (deafness), Maru-sanniya (delirium), Amuku sanniya (vomiting), Gulma-sanniya (parasitic worms), Deva-sanniya (epidemic disease, i.e. typhoid, cholera), Naga-sanniya (evil dreams particularly with snakes) (7), Murta-sanniya (swooning, loss of consciousness), Kala-sanniya (black death), Pita-sanniya (disease related to bile) (8), Vata-sanniya (shaking and burning of limbs) and Slesma-sanniya (secretions, epilepsy).

However, surveys done by individuals have demonstrated significant differences between various areas and the impossibility of creating a universally recognised list. One area might include 0lmada-sanniya (babbling) and another area Avulun-sanniya (breathing difficulties, chest pains). Contemporary ethnographers such as Obeyesekere have also noted the addition of certain more contemporary maladies to the list. For example Vedi-sanniya as relating to gunshot wounds, dramatically reflecting the change in times and the adaptability of this indigenous system.

Consistent and universal

Although there is no single, uniform list of all 18 demons, certain demons do seem consistent and universal, such as Biri for deafness, Kana for blindness and Golu for dumbness.

The final count of masks in the country conducted several years ago saw a total of 42 masks with different names.

Presiding over these 18 yakku is the demon known as the Kola-sanni yakka, a composite demon containing and regulating the other 18. In the yakun natima it is appeasing the Kola and gaining his benediction that is most important. The story, as recorded by Wirz, is as follows:

A certain king left for a great war, leaving behind his queen. He was unaware that she was pregnant. Upon his return he found his wife to be in an advanced state and ready to give birth. A handmaid to the queen, through lies and deception convinced the king that it was not his child but that of the war minister, who had remained behind. In a fury he ordered the queen tied to a tree and cut in two. The child managed to survive, living off the remains of his mother. As he grew, the child vowed revenge on the father.

He gathered poisons from the different parts of the forest and formed them into 18 separate lumps, which transformed into demons. Kola sent these demons into the city and charged them to 'capture humans and cause illness through wind, phlegm and bile.'

The havoc wreaked on the city was awesome. Buddha, sensing this, came to the city and, appearing overhead, ordered Kola and his demons to stop. Angered, Kola attempted to refute the Buddha, vehemently justifying his actions based on the grievous wrongs done to him. But with a 'single glittering ray' Buddha subdued Kola and ordered his chiefs to use water to cleanse the city and wash away the demons.

Kola persisted in trying to justify his actions and the Buddha ultimately relented, granting Kola and his demons the power to afflict, but charging that they must also heal these afflictions when tribute is paid.

Masks in Sri Lanka are produced mainly in the southern coastal belt with Ambalangoda being the capital city in the industry.

Masks are carved out of the wood of the Kaduru tree, a tree believed to have mystical powers as it is considered the abode of devils.

Australian medical experts on third tsunami relief mission to SL

The Australia-Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation's contribution tothe tsunami tragedy brought another distinguished medical team for a third visit to the island, since the waves struck.

On March 19 a team of doctors from the Victoria organisation headed by expatriate Sri Lankan Cardiologist, Dr. Quintus De Zylva visited Galle and Hambantota. This time the eminent Cardiologist Dr. Jennifer Johns was also among the party.

Dr. Jennifer Johns was making her first trip to Sri Lanka and hopes to become a regular member of the team. She is director, Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Clinical Service Unit at Melbourne's Austin Health, where she has worked since 1987. She also has rooms in the Victorian Heart Centre at Epworth Hospital.

Dr. Johns will give two lectures to the Galle Medical Society: Monday, March 21 on Myocardial Infarction and Thursday, March 24 on Management of Cardiac Arrhythmias.

On the team's second visit, in February, they installed a state of the art six bed monitoring system in the new Coronary Care Unit (CCU) at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital donated by Philips Australia. Philips sent their Engineer, Daniel Jakimov with the team and he personally supervised the installation of the master monitor and bedside monitors. Their Clinical System's Tutor, Diane James spent a week at the hospital teaching the staff how to use the equipment. The professorial medical unit at Karapitiya was the team's base. Clinics were also conducted at Hambantota, where 200 patients were seen on the first day and 250 patients on the second day. Orthopaedic surgeons, David Young and Greg Hoy operated on patients in theatres that were set up side by side. The team have just received a donation of a computer for installation in the new CCU on this visit.

Dr. Young with Dr. Greg Hoy are surgeons who have operated on every Sri Lankan test cricketer with a significant orthopaedic problem that has gone to Australia for consultation. They include Arjuna Ranatunga and Muttiah Muralitharan.

The Victorian medical team has been working with our own distinguished Professor Ariyananda and Cardiologist, Dr. Madurawe, in Galle through the auspices of the island's Director, Community Medicine, Prof. Kumudu Wijeyawardene and Dr. Ranjan Dias.

The Health Minister, Nimal Siripala De Silva visited the Karapitiya Hospital on February 14 and thanked the team from Victoria for their generosity.

The full team this time will consist of Dr. Quintus De Zylva, Dr. David Young, Dr. Jennifer Johns, Dr. Skantha Vallipuram, Dr. Priya Mendis, Dr. Audrey de Jong, Dr. Nihal Heenetigala. David Cruse the owner of the famous Knox Tavern in Wantirna South, Victoria and Bertram Ekenaike, both leading expatriate representatives of the Australian Sri Lankan community in Victoria, have volunteered their services free as support staff. They will work at Karapitiya Hospital and also in Hambantota.

- Nigel Kerner