They suffer agonising deaths with no one to help them. As they lay dying on the streets in many parts of the country one wonders what a predominantly Buddhist country is doing with regard to the way it treats its animals.

The famous Mahatma Gandhi once said "A country is judged by the way it treats its animals." But despite the existence of many animal rights organisations in the country — some even funded by foreign aid, the suffering that the Sri Lankan strays undergo just continues to get worse by the day.

However hope is not lost for the strays of Sri Lanka — thanks to a decision taken by President Mahinda Rajapakse to put a stop to the brutal killing of thousands of stray dogs by gassing and poisoning at dog pounds.

To mark the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi celebrations in May 2006, President Mahinda Rajapakse, an animal lover, gave this directive to stop killing strays. A decision that has been greatly appreciated by animal rights activists and foreigners.

But despite this Presidential order, poisoning of strays still goes on, especially in tourist and beach areas. Even after the no kill directive in 2006 hundreds of dogs were callously poisoned at the Sabaragamuwa University. The dogs howled in agony for hours as they lay dying.

The killing of strays has stopped but what happens to the strays that suffer from disease, starvation and the immense cruelty at the hands of humans? These strays have no place to go and in some cases die an agonising death after suffering for days or weeks. Even as this article is being written many strays lie on the streets around the country, some injured, some starving with no help at hand but just waiting to die.

The lack of a large animal shelter, especially one that can take care of the injured and seriously sick strays has resulted in this immense suffering. The attitude of a majority of locals who prefer to turn a blind eye to the suffering of an innocent stray and instead pay thousands on a purebred that they take care of like their own children has also contributed towards the suffering of these animals.

However there is still hope for the Sri Lankan strays who will soon have a shelter of their own thanks to the untiring efforts and commitment of Kim Cooling, a social worker from London, herself a long-term animal welfare worker in the UK and overseas.

Cooling formed Animal SOS Sri Lanka in 2006 with the aim of helping the destitute strays in the country. This small UK registered charity was formed after Cooling witnessed the appalling situation of the strays in Sri Lanka.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader Cooling said we have witnessed the cruelty imposed on strays whilst working individually as self-funded volunteers in different parts of the country. "We were overcome by the quiet despair, misery and silent suffering of thousands of strays, pets, wildlife and livestock alike. We hope to reduce animal suffering and drastically raise standards in animal welfare and veterinary care, and leave in place a legacy for their future," Cooling said.

She added that notice boards in many veterinary practices in Sri Lanka are covered with adverts selling pedigree puppies or requesting pedigree dogs for breeding purposes. "Dogs are bred whilst thousands of unwanted strays roam the streets looking for love and compassion from humans. Suffering of owned animals is often equal to the suffering of the strays," says Cooling.

She added that, sadly, animal cruelty is rife in Sri Lanka and strays are kicked, stoned, beaten, mutilated, doused with boiling water and fuel. "Male pups tend to be favoured by locals as ‘pets’ or guard dogs especially those that look aesthetically pleasing (like pedigrees). Many female pups are dumped on rubbish dumps where they are often attacked by crows who peck their eyes out. It is a common sight to see tiny puppies staggering along busy roads, whilst large trucks thunder by," Cooling explained.

She goes on to say that alone and frightened, many others lie helplessly by the roadside in an emaciated and dehydrated state, or dying of tick fever or another disease. "Stray cats produce many litters and have to compete for scraps on the rubbish heaps, along with the stray dogs. Everyday is a struggle for survival for these strays. It is a lonely life and a lonely death," says a deeply depressed Cooling.

She adds that they have found strays eating rotting food and pets being fed with left-over curry and raw chilli peppers. "Disabled strays and pups are particularly vulnerable to starvation and dehydration," Cooling explains.

Cooling, through her self funded projects has purchased 2.75 acres of land close to Ahangama for an animal shelter. The shelter will be a safe haven primarily for street dogs. The shelter will be a sanctuary for long-term disabled animals. The shelter will have a well equipped surgical facility to offer quality medical care and operations, proper treatment and nutrition and will introduce modern protocols and methods in veterinary care with volunteer foreign vets working alongside Sri Lankan vets to raise the standards in veterinary care.

The shelter will help to rescue pups and kittens from rubbish heaps and roadsides and once they are sterilised and vaccinated, will be re-homed with the aim to reduce the number of stray animals and the risk of rabies in animals and humans.

Routine blood testing and prompt treatment of tropical and common diseases, parasite eradication — especially tick vectors to provide suitable facilities and kennelling, maternity, recovery, isolation and intensive care will be provided by the shelter.

However Cooling is in urgent need of funds to complete the shelter and requests kind donors to get in touch with her on her website www.animalsos-sl.com or her Project Manager Ewan Taylor in Sri Lanka.

At the mere mention of Sir Cyril, Sri Lankan people of all races and religions would remember with respect and devotion, a great philanthropist and visionary by the name of Sir Cyril de Zoysa. He was well respected and was a leading attorney at law who was best known for his benevolence and selfless acts of charity which contributed immensely towards propagating Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Even to date, I remember his words when he said quite boldly "had I remained a practicing lawyer I would not have had the opportunity or the good fortune to be of service to humanity and be involved in meritorious acts."

In addition to a successful legal practice his entrepreneurial instincts prompted him to embark on a journey which saw the founding of a bus company called South Western. Through sheer hard work and commitment he began to build his business, gaining confidence and acumen while developing himself and his organisation in the process.

Powered by this success, he began to expand the business into related fields, especially into the manufacture of rubber based and other ancillary products for motor vehicles. This undoubtedly marked a new milestone in his life and heralded a vibrant industrial growth for the nation.

Had his vision and aspirations been fulfilled, today, the local motor manufacturing industry would be at a different level and probably on par with the boom that India is presently experiencing. It is important to mention that decades ago Sir Cyril tried his level best to make Sri Lanka a motor manufacturing power house but unfortunately his efforts to aid and support local manufacturers were often thwarted by certain forces with vested interests.

As a leading businessman and as the head of one of the most successful Sri Lankan companies he was determined to offer as many employment opportunities as possible to the people of Sri Lanka. Associated Motorways Ltd., and its many subsidiary companies provided thousands of people with a livelihood and their families a chance to build a better life.

He was the first private sector entrepreneur who introduced the concept of community housing complexes as a solution to the looming housing problem plaguing the capital, Colombo. The construction of private apartment complexes in the city of Colombo was the brainchild of Sir Cyril de Zoysa, an innovation for which he should be thanked by not only the people of Sri Lanka but successive governments as well.

Although a successful businessman, Sir Cyril de Zoysa did not forget his religious upbringing and religion took pride of place in his life. It was customary that he performed all religious rights and received the blessings of the clergy before embarking on any new venture.

He identified the sacred Kalutara bodiya as worthy of his donations in order to maintain and upkeep the same for the benefit of the many people who pay homage to this sacred venue enroute on the southern roadway. What began as a mere gesture of goodwill and charity during the operation of the South Western Bus Company has grown into a sizeable contribution, making the Kalutara bodiya a landmark religious site, visited by all who pass by and revered for its distinction.

The Sir Cyril de Zoysa Trust was created with the vision of protecting and developing the Kalutara bodiya. The trustees of this Trust include Shelly Wickramasinghe, the late Kingsley Wickramasinghe, his daughter — Rashantha de Alwis Seneviratne and son-in-law Dr. Sarathchandra de Alwis Seneviratne who have ensured that funds available to the Trust are utilised for the sole purpose it was intended.

Today, on Sir Cyril De Zoysa’s 112th birth anniversary a sum of Rs.100 million and land worth Rs.75 million is available in the Trust — testimony to the vision of a great leader. It is praiseworthy that the funds collected will benefit not only the development of the bodhiya and the shrine but also the residents of the Kalutara District.

At different points in time, the Kalutara Bodhi Trust has been headed by different people. It is a great honour that the present Chairman, Ajita de Zoysa is none other than the second son of V.T. de Zoysa, the brother of Sir Cyril. V. T. de Zoysa was also a leading attorney-at-law. There is no doubt that the vision of Sir Cyril will be kept alive by the current chairman for the benefit of people of Sri Lanka.

Chairman, Kalutara Bodhi Trust, Ajita de Zoysa, with the assistance of his relatives has continuously made private donations to the development of the Kalutara bodhiya. In addition to these contributions they have also taken measures to develop temples, build schools, construct halls for Sunday schools and build elders’ homes in different parts of the country, to name just a few of the noteworthy and praiseworthy facts that have not been publicised but carried out in keeping with family values and the vision of their great forefather.

The Kalutara bodhiya is a well recognised landmark on the southern coastal route and is visited daily by devotees. The upkeep of the premises is a huge task, which requires a large amount of funds, necessary to pay the salaries, utility bills, and other expenses. The smaller contributions made at present are insufficient for the regular maintenance and the upkeep of the bodhiya and the surrounding premises as envisaged by the great benefactor, Sir Cyril.

The charitable activities of Sir Cyril de Zoysa were not relegated to one area of the country. He contributed immensely to the rebuilding of the Young Men’s Buddhist Association throughout the island as well as rebuilding the Pilgrims’ Rest in Kataragama and Anuradhapura. In addition to these efforts he was the chairman of the Kiri Vehera restoration project.

Sir Cyril de Zoysa played a prominent role in the development of the Gangarama Viharaya, founding the Shri Jinarathana Industrial College, constructing the border walls of the Beira Lake as well as playing a key part at the Navam Perahera. Today the relatives of Sir Cyril de Zoysa generously and tirelessly continue to carry out these tasks.

Sir Cyril de Zoysa was appointed as chairman of the senate and during his tenure a motion was brought forward to turn both Vidyodaya and Vidyalanka Maha Pirivena into universities. Having had the foresight that this move would be damaging to the Buddhist clergy, Sir Cyril de Zoysa vehemently opposed this decision. However through a majority vote the motion was passed and approved by parliament. Today what is the fate that has befallen the Vidyodaya and Vidyalanka universities? These universities do not even bear the same names anymore. The vice chancellorship was removed from the Buddhist clergy. What was the logic behind this?

These factors illustrate how men with vision and foresight for the greater good of our people and our land have been born to this blessed nation and have made a lasting contribution to the land of their birth. Sir Cyril de Zoysa has and will remain with us as a visionary for all time and a giant amongst men, who had the passion and compassion to give unto others what he has earned, so that it would benefit not just him but future generations of an entire nation.

In honour of his magnanimous contribution to Sri Lankan society and Buddhism, Ajita de Zoysa with the advice of the Most. Rev. Aluthwewa Soratha Thero, chief incumbent of the Rajamaha Viharaya Kiri Vehera, Most Ven. Kapugama Saranatissa Thero, chief incumbent of the Kataragama Sri Abhinawaramaya and Rev. Hille Gnananda Thero, chief incumbent of Dhamanikethana Pirivena, Sellakataragama, have initiated a project to erect a statue of Sir Cyril de Zoysa in the city of Kataragama.

Like a seedling which grows into a fledgling plant and then to a giant tree, Sir Cyril de Zoysa has passed through life, touching thousands of people, blessing them with love, life and opportunity. We are deeply grateful that he left behind a rich legacy which lives on in the hearts of his family, who as we have seen time and time again are deeply committed to keeping his noble vision alive.

May he be born amongst us again!

Every week, somehow or other we tend to focus on misbehaviour and misconduct. But this is a different story — it is about

162 students from S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia who walked into our newspaper offices on Thursday, October 23 and were at their best behaviour. The nine-year-olds from five divisions of Year 4 were accompanied by their teachers and school prefects.

"We want to know how the newspaper is made," they told us while some said that they could not sleep for days, thinking about this visit.

As they surrounded our Managing Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and listened open-mouthed at the way he put down his decades of experience as a journalist to a few sentences, summing up both the work of a journalist and the functioning of a newspaper, the questions flowed.

The Morning Leader Editor and eleven-time award winner Sonali Samarasinghe gave clear-cut answers to the simply worded questions, which however simple they may have sounded were the most difficult to answer.

"The editor is the head of a newspaper," said Editor Sonali Samarasinghe as she explained in detail to the nine-year-olds about the different sections in the newspaper — the main section, the business section, review, sports and the magazine section.

Chief Editor of our sister paper — the Irudina, Mohanlal Piyadasa too welcomed the little ones and explained the workings of the Irudina.

Factory Manager, Leader Publications, Leelananda Dias went to great lengths to explain how the newspaper is made after it leaves the editorial section, while the Head, Computer Department, Nandasiri Fernando managed to accommodate the students in his computer room and give them an on-the-job experience of how The Sunday Leader, The Morning Leader and the Irudina are made.

The questions were too many and too frequent to capture.

"How do they get the pictures?" asked a curious Nikhil Gunewardene. "Is there an order in which news is printed?" asked Varun Gajushan. "How do you get international news?" asked S. Subiyan." "How do you get LTTE news?" asked Randev Jayasinghe and Dilan Kaluarachchi followed up with another question, "What happens if the journalists get shot?"

Shannon Ebenezer (9) wanted to know "What happens if while you are making the newspaper there is something wrong in the news?" "How do you get sports news?" asked P.D.R. Marso. "How do you make a newspaper on a different day and send it to us on Sunday?" was Uneshka Chandrasekera’s question.

"That’s a cool question," remarked a group of his friends.

And thereafter the hands kept going up as each child had a question to understand how we get the newspaper to our doorstep.

There was a bit of pushing as the quest to gather more information and see what was going on took over the inquisitive young minds. "We have been told to behave?" confided a group of young ones and today we have to be "full good," they said.

It was a long stay and the explanations were involving as they were interesting. They wanted to scream, but they did not. They wanted to shout, but they did not. They remained, standing next to each other, restless as they seemed to be.

"The standard of discipline in our school is very high and we have a strong prefect system in our school," explained prefect Yasas Subasinghe.

At the end of their stay at the editorial and computer department, it was time to go to the factory, the publishing house of the newspaper. As they huddled around the press of Leader Publications, they looked in awe at the huge machine in which the newspapers are printed. There was silence all round as one imaginative little mind compared it to a ‘transformer’ of the film transformers, and another to a dinosaur.

"The dinosaurs are outside and so are the transformers," we wanted to tell them. But it will take years before these innocent young minds grasp the full impact of their innocent questions. With our machines, our factory and journalists — all having an inside story to reveal.

"They were elated from the day we told them that they were granted permission to visit this newspaper. There is 100% attendance today and only one boy has missed out of 162 children," said teacher Rukshana Cassim.

Teachers of S. Thomas’ College who accompanied the children were Rukshana Cassim, Nelum Samarawickrema, Swairee Fernando, Dilanjali Kumarasekera, Evelyn Jeevakumaran, Kumari Yoha Sharma, Kumudika Pieris, M.R.M. Hamza, Irosh Jayasekera and M.C. Fonseka.

The prefects who came along were Y.L. Subasinghe, M.A. Abeysekera, S.L.J. Mendis, M.R. Rizvi, D.A. Sangakkara, R.P. Gunasekera, P.R. Saldin and M.F. Saleem.

"Please have a drink before you leave," said Managing Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge who have always had a specical love for children. As their eyes widened with happiness, an intelligent question followed: "Will we get to eat also?"

While it was time to enjoy a soft drink in the premises of Leader Publications, there were white shirts and blue shorts as far as the eye could see. And it was while sipping off their straws that they pondered on the life of a journalist. "Must be tough, no?" they sympathised. "Your spelling will have to be good to be a journalist, I think," were some of the remarks that were made.

Who wants to be a reporter? Who wants to be a journalist? And there were only a few hands that went up. "It looks like a tough job!" assessed the nine-year-olds. "You have to work hard to be an editor," observed another group.

"I think I will be a journalist because I like responsibilities," offered Shanith Kiridena (9). "I’d rather be a doctor," said Dillon Dissanayake. "I want to be a pilot," said Yasanjith Jayasinghe.

The assessment in their little minds was that journalists lead tough lives.

"I want to be a scientist," said Aravindran Rajendran.

While the little ones were driven by thoughts about their future careers in our car park, young Kavindra Senaratne who had assessed the pros and cons of it all had decided..."I think I will be a publisher…" he said with determination.

"So what did you enjoy most about the visit and what you learnt today?" I asked them.

And the answer came first — "The soft drink," said an honest nine-year-old.

The visit of these young ones was like a breath of fresh air to all of us weighed down by work and hardship.

These little ones are our future and in their eyes were many dreams. Thursday’s visit to Leader Publications will be etched in their minds.

And it is a visit that they will surely talk about when they are doctors, scientists and pilots in this long roadway that is life.

Strange & bizarre

- Honky Tonk Woman

HUMOUR 

A doctor vacationing on the riviera met an old lawyer friend and asked him what he was doing there. The lawyer replied, "Remember that lousy real estate I bought? Well, it caught fire, so here I am with the fire insurance proceeds. What are you doing here?" The doctor replied, "Remember that lousy real estate I had in Mississippi? Well, the river overflowed, and here I am with the flood insurance proceeds." The lawyer looked puzzled. "Gee," he asked, "how did you start the flood?"

A lawyer trying to get tickets to a Broadway show, finally settled for a couple of seats a year in advance. When the exciting night arrived and he sat down in his seat, a woman in front of the lawyer noticed the empty seat next to him and asked why such a valuable commodity was unused. The lawyer replied that his wife couldn’t make it. The woman asked him if he didn’t have relatives or friends who could have used the seat. He replied, "Oh, they’re all at the funeral."

Two kids are arguing over whose father is the biggest scared-cat.

The first kid says, "My dad is so scared that when lightning strikes, he hides underneath the bed."