The supernatural treatment that bowled over Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga and (Inset) Dr. White		More Review Articles...   Treating HIV using ayurveda   Seven years after 9/11   A little bit of Jaffna in Colombo   Discipline without brute force   Fashion HUMOUR

By Ranee Mohamed

He thought the matches were over. He was almost forced to get off the field.  But bowling sensation Lasith Malinga tried to live - to live on as the legend he was. But the injury on his leg took him off the cricketing field, shut off the laughter, cheer and applause.

And he suffered in silence. Meanwhile the Cricket Board was getting this cricketer with a fearsome reputation all the treatment necessary to get him off the chair at home and back to the cricket field

"I suffered from February 22. It happened in Australia. Back at home too the pain was unbearable. The joint in my knee seemed to be rubbing together radiating pain. I was unable to walk let alone run. I was unable to climb the stairs," said Lasith Malinga recalling a time that almost put an end to his legendary cricketing career.

"I tried every possible treatment. The Cricket Board too did their best for me. From ayurveda to allopathy, I passed through every system, but not the pain in my knee. It remained," said Malinga.

Twenty five years is not a time to retire. Not after being described as a 'distinctive and explosive' round arm fast bowler. Certainly not when one is rated as the fastest bowler in Sri Lanka. But his faltering leg was pushing him down to a premature retirement, not so much retirement but forcing him to  abandon a game in which he was undoubtedly in the forefront the world over.

I could not walk

"I was sent to Australia and underwent treatment over there. I was treated by Dr. David Young. Dr. Young gave me medication along with the saline drip. I found that the pain lessened. The pain was not as unbearable as it is used to be, but it certainly did not go away. I could not walk, or climb staircases and found it difficult to get up from a sitting position," remembered a bright-eyed Malinga, his memories about his dark times in life, equally clear in his mind.

"I was asked not to run. And I was not going to run anyway, because I could not run. I was given the assurance by several people that I will get better and that all I needed was some rest," recalled Lasith Malinga.

Lasith Malinga in keeping with the advise given to him had rested for three months. Three months is a long time to be away from the game he loved so much. But Malinga was forced to make this sacrifice. And despite the long rest, his leg was not any better. Lasith Malinga found that the pain had not gone away and that he was not half as fast as he was in terms of mobility.

After many victories, Lasith Malinga was not getting ready for defeat. "I was getting ready to bow out of the game, from the field and from the love of my life - cricket," he said. Malinga watched helplessly as his leg was crippling is lifelong career.

The telephone call

And it was just two weeks ago that he received the telephone call that changed his life. The telephone call was from none other than President Mahinda Rajapakse.

"Despite all the work and the numerous engagements and the commitments that President Mahinda Rajapakse had he took the time to give a telephone call and requested my captain and manager to convey to me that he - the President- needed to speak to me.

"I could not get over the shock and in amazement, I telephoned the President," remembers Lasith Malinga.

"Inquiring in a very concerned manner as to what was wrong with my leg, he requested that I be present at Temple Trees on a given date. I was surprised and did not know what awaited me," said Malinga.

When Lasith Malinga hobbled along to Temple Trees, he was greeted very warmly by the President.

"Together with the President was a fair, tall gentleman. He told me that his name was Dr. Eliyantha White and that he was the President's personal physician. Then I remembered the name. I had read several newspaper articles about him and his powers and about how he had cured several people.

Could not contact

"In fact when I read the articles, I did try to contact Dr. Eliyantha White but I could not. But here he was on this day standing next to the President," recalled Lasith Malinga.

Thereafter, Dr. Eliyantha White had commenced a five day course of treatment. "You will be better in five days," Dr. Eliyantha White had told star cricketer Lasith Malinga.

The treatment surely did take five days - simple herbal medication infused with the amazing powers of Dr. Eliyantha White.

You will get better, the doctor had told Lasith Malinga - and he did not just get better - he became better than ever. Today Lasith Malinga can run, bowl and ride a bicycle. And he is bowled over by this amazing treatment.

No more pain

"I am not a person to believe in this kind of thing. But honestly it is amazing. I just can't think what happened and how he did it. The pain has gone away," said Malinga.

"After six months of X-rays, MRIs and bone scans, if this one person whom the President arranged for me to get treatment from could make me better in four days - then I really don't know what it is. Truly it is a dream-treatment come true," said Lasith Malinga.

"I am truly grateful to President Mahinda Rajapakse for being so considerate as to arrange this treatment for me through his personal physician. I owe a debt to President Mahinda Rajapakse, amidst all the things that are happening in this country, the President had time for me - he took time to arrange this treatment for me.

"I am truly grateful to the President and Dr. Eliyantha White for it is they who have sent me back to the cricket field. I take this opportunity to thank President Mahinda Rajapakse and Dr. Eliyantha White for giving me back my career,  for without cricket  I would have been lost in life," said Malinga.

Treating HIV using ayurveda

By Risidra Mendis

A cure for HIV AIDS patients! Is it possible or is it only a dream? While Western countries are yet to find a cure for this deadly disease that gradually destroys one's entire body, ending in death, a Sri Lankan ayurvedic doctor claims to have found a cure.

Impossible as it may seem this doctor who has for many years put his faith in the wonders of ancient Sri Lankan medicine claims that he can cure a HIV AIDS patient if the patient is not in the last stages of the disease.

Using three main ingredients -animal, plant and mineral products Dr. D.D. A. Hettiarachchi claims to have successfully cured a HIV positive patient.

Patients marginalised

Speaking to The Sunday Leader Dr. Hettiarachchi said the cures of ayurvedic medicine is respected the world over. "It was our ancestors who discovered these wonderful remedies that have cured many people for various ailments. But nobody has found a cure for HIV positive patients until now," he said.

He added that in Sri Lanka HIV positive patients are treated badly because the disease is spread through sexual intercourse. HIV positive patients are considered to be 'bad' and are marginalised by society. Due to this HIV positive patients keep their condition a secret and are not wiling to talk about it, Dr. Hettiarachchi said.

Explaining the stages of HIV Dr. Hettiarachchi said the first stage of HIV is when the virus first enters the body. During the second stage there are no symptoms to be seen. In the third stage the patient's glands get swollen and in the fourth stage the AIDS related symptoms can be seen. In the fifth or last stage the patient is known to have full blown AIDS.

According to him in cases where meningitis has spread to the head of a HIV positive patient, or if HIV positive patients have tuberculosis, infected kidneys, pneumonia or a combination of pneumonia and tuberculosis, they cannot be cured with his medicine. "If another doctor can treat the HIV positive patient for tuberculosis or pneumonia then I can treat the patient for HIV," Dr. Hettiarachchi explained.

His medication is composed of animal products that include powder from elephant tusks, deer horn powder and kasthuri (taken from the deer), different types of oil, plant products that include the bark, trunk and leaves, and minerals such as mercury, gold, silver, metal and copper, among others.

Dr. Hettiarachchi treats his patients from his home - Suwa Asapuwa, at Sisira Mawatha, Kanda Liyaddapaluwa, Ganemulla. The doctor administers a two year course that includes kasayas, gulis and karka in addition to other medication. A project was conducted in 2006 by him where he treated six HIV positive patients at the Nawinna Ayurvedic Hospital where one patient was completely cured.

Dr. Hettiarachchi has a file of confidential documents of all his patients which he showed to The Sunday Leader where HIV positive patients whose blood count was positive after his treatment showed a 'negative' report. "Some of my patients don't have the virus in their bodies anymore. The patients say they feel much better after my treatment."

Cured

"One of my HIV positive patients who comes to me for treatment doesn't use protection when having sex with his wife. However his wife has not contracted the virus. I therefore feel that this patient doesn't have the virus in his body anymore," the doctor explained.ÿÿ

A HIV positive patient from Botswana had read an article of Dr. Hettiarachchi and contacted him. "I treated this patient through the post because he was seriously ill and couldn't travel to Sri Lanka for medical treatment. This patient lived for a long period of time but eventually died," the doctor said.

Dr. Hettiarachchi's sons, Pradeep Abeywardene Hettiarachchi and Prageeth Abeywardene Hettiarachchi help him to treat his patients. Pradeep is now learning  the ancient, popular, ayurvedic treatment for snake bites from his father.

Country first

Due to his feat Dr. Hettiarachchi has been offered the opportunity of practising ayurveda in Western countries. "I have turned down these requests because I feel that I have to first cure my people before I cure others," he said.

"I have treated HIV positive patients with my own money. Some patients can afford to pay me for their treatment. I use these patients' money to treat those who can't afford to pay. When I requested financial assistance from the government President Mahinda Rajapakse instructed Minister Tissa Karaliyadde to look into the matter. The Ayurveda Commissioner and the Minister's Secretary have been supportive and instructed the relevant authorities to release the money. However apart from some financial assistance given a few years ago we have not received any funds to continue with our practise. The Ayurveda Research Centre in Nawinna has agreed to release money if we are willing to give them information on how the solution is made. How can we reveal this kind of information to them?" he asked.

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended the work done by Dr. Hettiarachchi it is left to be seen if this doctor will get the required financial assistance from the government to treat the rest of the HIV positive patients in the country.

Seven years after 9/11

As we approach the seven-year anniversary of the 9/11 World Trade Centre attacks, follow-up studies by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the USA and other organisations are showing that for many of those who aided in rescue and recovery efforts, physical and psychological ailments continue.

A May 2008 NIEHS study notes, for example, that of the thousands of workers exposed to hazardous environmental conditions and psychological trauma during the tragedy, 11.1 percent have reported suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. And according to last week's Health Commentary an additional 9 percent are clinically depressed, 5 percent suffer panic disorders, and 62 percent have substantial stress reactions.

"None of this is news to the police or firefighters in New York City," writes Mike Magee, M.D. "They've been fighting an uphill battle for years, watching responders decline."

Physically disabled

Two years ago I attended the wake of a police responder who had committed suicide. His partners told me he was not the first, and that there were several others, physically disabled by the events, and increasingly depressed by prospects for their futures, who they knew would likely end up the same way.

"The challenge that lies ahead is not a small one. It's likely we'll see problems for years to come." Dr. Robin Herbert, co-director of the hospital's programme monitoring afflicted workers, told lawmakers in 2006 that new patients are still arriving at Mount Sinai to be treated for 9/11-related illnesses and thousands probably will need lifelong care. And it's not just New Yorkers. Volunteer responders from outside New York will need to be monitored as well.

Dust-laden air

Magee notes that one of the biggest question marks surrounding the lingering ailments is the effect of the dust-laden air surrounding the collapse of the WTC towers. "What was in the air that day? Pretty much everything that had been in two 100-story buildings - but in vaporised form," says Magee.

"Years later, it has become clear that warnings by Christie Todd Whitman, then head of the EPA, fell short in protecting workers sent to the scene. The problem is that it is possible we were not measuring the right things at the time. For example, we are now learning the dangers of nanotubes, micro-miniaturised rolled up sheets of carbon that may be of future use in electronics.

A study revealed that mice exposed to the substance responded with cancer development in the same way as when exposed to asbestos. There were no nanotubes in the Twin Towers, and asbestos measures at the time were supposed to be OK. But what about all the other vaporised computers, electronics and building materials we'd never expect to be in our air under normal circumstances?"

The NIEHS report says that workers' service in 9/11 recovery operations is associated with chronic impairment of mental health and social functioning. The report concludes: "Psychological distress and psychopathology in WTC workers greatly exceed population norms. Surveillance and treatment programmes continue to be needed."

- Courtesy OHS

A little bit of Jaffna in Colombo

The chefs responsible for Yal Virundu with Food and Beverage Manager Lasantha de Silva and Assistant Restaurant Manager M.Z. Shamsoodeen

Holiday Inn which has been dishing out Moghul Cuisine for as long as one can remember has decided to go up north, just for the weekends.

The brainchild of Operations Director  M. Shanthikumar, Yaal Virindu presented every Saturday at the hotel, begins with the traditional greeting from Jaffna and thereafter begins an evening of food which can come from nowhere, but from Jaffna.

 Chef Ranjith Dharmapriya and his team said that with hard work, dedication and a passion they are able to lay out foods that have  been associated with Jaffna from time immemorial.

"Yaal Virindu was held every year by the Holiday Inn and this festival of Jaffna food began soon after the ceasefire," said the dynamic Operations Director of the Hotel, M. Shanthikumar. "We receive many inquiries from overseas and the calls come from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France and Germany asking us when Yaal Virindu is due," said Shathikumar.

Hot and tasty Jaffna cuisine

Yaal Virindu's hot and tasty Jaffna cuisine consists of plantain flower curry, ash plantain fried, odiyal kool, brinjal white curry, brinjal kulambu,  bitter gourd salad, sweet pumpkin curry, tapicoa curry, and crab varai.

The sambaru, the crispy paper thosai and the hoppers add an exceptional excitement. The meen cutlets complete the party spirit and the pittu, fried liver and crab gravy adds the richness that seems to be oozing both out of the food and of the presentation of the food.

Foods as prawn with drumstick, shark curry and prawn fried are the exclusives  on the menu with tamarind rice, chicken kulambu and three kinds of mutton preparations giving one more than one's money's worth.

Unmatched taste

"Our chefs have worked very hard to lay out all these dishes. Not only do they look good but is unmatched when it comes to taste," said Food and Beverage Manager Lasantha de Silva.

"There is a great turnout at Yaal Virindu," said the Assistant Restaurant Manager M.Z. Shamsoodeen and went on to say that during his decades at the hotel, he has observed that the food festivals and presentations organised by the Holiday Inn have a steamy turnout.

Yaal Virindu, presented by the Holiday Inn Hotel on Saturdays and Sundays is a party for all, be they from Jaffna or away from Jaffna.

Yaal Virindu is hard to forget and seems to fan the memories of the palm trees and the blue waters that surround the beautiful Jaffna Peninsula giving a  walk down memory lane through the stomach to the heart.

Discipline without brute force

An academic, Dr. Sarath Wijesuriya of the Colombo University wrote a book in Sinhala, about punishment in schools, titled  Do Not Beat Children. As  an addendum to the already explicit title he pleads:

'Teachers,  please love thy wards.'

In the not so distant past the country witnessed a most unfortunate trend where students of schools, prestigious schools at that, gang up to  attack students of other schools for flimsy, childish reasons.

How is it possible that otherwise intelligent and responsible children act like mad men when they are incited by pseudo-loyal emotions?

Is it the love for their alma mater, friendship for their equally foolish peers or pure and simple naivet‚ that drives them to behave in this manner?

It is easy for people who know nothing about school management to run down the entirety of the school system using stray examples and claim that 'there is no discipline in the schools today.' Before going on to discuss more important issues, may I pose a simple question:

 'Where else do you see discipline in this country if not in the schools?'

Condemning schools, the teachers and students in general, would not lead us anywhere.

Student violence is obviously the symptom of a deeper malady. What erupts as senseless hatred towards fellow schoolboys is a misdirected hatred. Is it a rejection of the social order in its entirety or is it just a reaction against the oppression that they are subjected to?

Parental pressure

Do parents play their expected role of providers of warmth, friendship, love and acceptance? It is no secret that parents push the children to unnatural lengths to pass their examinations from very tender ages. The fierce competition that almost all school children undergo at the age of 10 years may be a contributory factor.

The objective of parents is genuine and valid. They would go to any length to get a 'good' school for their child.  But 'good' is an abstract concept. What is good for the parent may not seem good for the child.

It should not be forgotten that abstract conceptualisation begins around the age of 12 years and the Year 5 scholarship examination takes place long before that.

Teachers as role models

It comes to light every now and then that teachers, especially in boys schools, use brute force against student indiscipline. There are many well-known and lesser known cases where male teachers have beaten young boys mercilessly, slapping and even kicking them. There are also instances that prefects of prestigious schools have followed suit, punishing the younger students for various offences in like manner.

Whenever somebody points out the inappropriateness of such action, these teachers and principals hide behind very sentimental statements like 'It is not possible to correct a child anymore.'

Such sentiments do not hide the sadistic nature of the offence. Why is it that teachers have to resort to brute force to discipline children?

The sage and sugar candy

I am reminded of a little story where a mother takes her little son to the Mahatma and requests him to advise the son not to eat too much  sugar candy. The mother had been unsuccessful in her own effort to convince the child. She knows for certain that one word from the holy person would do the needful as the child reveres him.

The sage however tells her to come back with the child after one week. Though not very happy about another long journey, she obliges .

This time too, the sage does not volunteer to give advice, but asks the mother to bring the child after one more week. The mother does it as she has no other option.

This time the sage simply tells the boy that eating too much sugar candy is not good for him and says that he should reduce it.

The  mother who thought that the sage would give the child a long, elaborate lecture is unconvinced. She takes the child home unfulfilled but to her surprise, realises after a few days that in fact the boy had overcome the bad habit.

She is now bewildered. 'The sage did not perform any magic or did not make a lengthy discourse on it. If it was so simple, why didn't he do it at the first instance?'

She confronts the sage for the fourth time with the query and is answered thus. 'When you first saw me I myself had the bad habit of being fond of sweet things. I struggled against my desire and when you came after one week I still had a trace of it left.'

The sage had the moral strength to advise the boy because he lived by it and his word was law to the child. There was no need for a lengthy discourse or any reprimand.

Any teacher who thinks that discipline cannot be brought about without using brute force on the child should stop to think whether there is something lacking in himself. Is he worthy of respect from the child? Obviously any teacher who is seen under the influence of liquor,  by the children, especially at school functions, worse still at religious functions organised by school children, is not worthy of their respect.

This applies even more to school principals. He cannot afford to behave in one way when he is wearing the white coat and in another way, when he is not. Whether they like it or not, teachers and principals are role models for young children under their care.

A new look at discipline

Discipline has never been a serious problem in our part of the world where children are naturally docile to a fault and respectful to teachers and adults. However one cannot go behind the fact that an emergence of disruptive and violent behaviour is seen among school children. Ragging, which was once a harmless preoccupation of university seniors has now spread in an alarming way to schools where students of the same school passing from Year 11 to Year 12 are being ragged.

Use of drugs, bringing pornographic material to school and little misunderstandings developing into major warfare between factions, are becoming common place.

Solutions are sought for this calamity at various fora. Some of the solutions offered are absurd: 'close the offending schools,' 'stop operating the school bus system,' 'close down such and such tutories.'

Looking for the key

Nasruddin dropped his key in his store room in the night. Since there was no light he could not find it in the dark.  Instead he went outside and started looking for it under the street light.

A friend  passing by asked him what he was doing and being told that he was looking for the key, joined him in the search. A little while later the friend asked where exactly he dropped the key and was told that he dropped it inside the house.

The friend said: 'You fool! You dropped it there and you look for it here?'

Nasruddin said 'Yes. There is no light there and I can't see anything. So I am looking for it where there is  light.'

Aren't we doing the same thing? Shouldn't we seek a solution where the problem is?

Closing down schools and cancelling the school bus system will only penalise the innocent.

Assertive discipline

In the 1970's Lee Canter introduced a new approach to establishing classroom discipline which is now practised  across the Western world. His approach in a nutshell is 'To catch students being good.'

In this method the students are made to choose responsible behaviour which raises their self esteem and which in turn leads to better academic success.

Assertive discipline is based on the belief that:

 Teachers have a right to teach

 Students have a right to learn

Canter's definition of an assertive teacher is: 'One who clearly and firmly communicates her expectations to her students and is prepared to reinforce her words in appropriate actions. She responds to students in a manner that maximises her potential to get her own needs to teach, met, but in no way violates the best interest of the students.'

The salient features in assertive discipline are consistency, follow through and relationship building.

Rules

 Rules should be 'chosen' together by the class teacher and her students and displayed in the class.

 Rules chosen should let pupils know what behaviour is expected of them. It is important that this should be in the positive. It should not be 'What the students should not do.'

 The number of rules should be limited. Maximum of five is recommended.

 Rules should be observable at all times

 Rules should apply to behaviour only. (Should not address home work, etc.)

Positive recognition

 The teacher should use positive recognition to encourage appropriate behaviour.

 Use positive recognition to increase self esteem.

 Create a positive classroom environment.

 Praise pupils often - This is the most powerful and effective tool the teacher has.

 Recognise responsible behaviour by rewards (Positive notes and phone calls to parents, special privileges like being class monitor on rotation, extra computer time, etc.

Consequences

 When disruptive behaviour occurs, the teacher should act quickly and calmly.

 The teacher should implement the consequences agreed upon. e.g. detention, notes to parents, etc.

 Students should be made to realise that consequences are a choice.

 Consequences do not have to be severe to be effective.

 Should be appropriate for the pupil and the offence, and the teacher should be comfortable using it.

 Consequences must never be physically or psychologically harmful.

 Consequences do not work in isolation. They must be balanced with positive support.

Criticism

One critique of assertive discipline is John Covalescie whose main argument is that the very simplicity of assertive discipline is its biggest problem.

Assertive discipline is a very simple process. It is about choice.

It is a choice offered to the students to decide on their behaviour, knowing the consequences. It is not just about consequences but also about rewards and positive recognition. Most importantly students themselves are in the process of laying out the rules.

At an earlier era, the philosophy of Ying and Yang and the accompanying technique of acupuncture were discarded on the basis of simplicity until it was demonstrated that even open heart surgery could be performed using it.

Assertive discipline too, is very simple but it works.

Somabandhu Kodikara

Headmaster,

Gateway College

Calmly, the girl replied, "That's me before the surgery."