Review

Sale of ornamental fish a roaring business

By Risidra Mendis

They come in a variety of colours and sizes and have in recent times become one of the most popular pets in the country. They have also proven to be a good remedy for heart and pressure patients and a stress reliever. 

Ornamental fish have enjoyed a growing popularity among adults and teens in recent times — for some as a hobby and for others as a stress reliever.

But while many aquariums exist in the country, some have proved to be only money making ventures. Selling animals as pets has become a lucrative business to some people whose only intention is to earn money at the expense of the animals.

Due to a lack of strict laws and regulations in animal welfare and cruelty, ornamental fish are packed like sardines in tanks at some aquariums and are subjected to immense cruelty. Some aquarium owners in the country also have a habit of limiting the fish food to keep the fish tanks clean. These aquarium owners are more concerned about reducing their work and keeping the fish tanks clean rather than feeding the fish.

Safety and care

However in most cases even a customer who visits an aquarium turns a blind eye to such cruelty. According to eyewitnesses two aquariums in Moratuwa and Mount Lavinia do not follow the required procedures to ensure the safety and care of their fish.

A common sight at an aquarium situated on the seaside on Galle Road in Mount Lavinia is dead carps and gold fish floating in tanks.

On inquiry the explanation given by the aquarium owner was that due to a power cut and the lack of oxygen the fish had died. The same aquarium had dead guppies floating in a tank on another day, the explanation given at that time was “we forgot to put salt.”

On the third visit to the aquarium dead carps were again seen floating in tanks. The explanation given by two workers was that a chlorine problem in the water had resulted in the deaths of the fish.

No precautionary measures

While customers watched in horror the workers took no precautionary measures to save the remaining carps from the tank who were gasping for air. This aquarium has no supply of oxygen and convinces customers to transport the fish without oxygen on the assurance that the fish won’t die.  

“When I bought some fish from this aquarium on Galle Road, Mount Lavinia the workers blew into the bag with the fish instead of pumping oxygen. By the time I went home the fish were dead,” a customer said.    

The aquarium in Moratuwa in close proximity to the Moratuwa Police Station also convinces their customers to transport fish without oxygen. “When I bought some tiger barbs from this aquarium they asked me where I stayed and convinced me to take the fish without oxygen. By the time I got home some of the fish were dead,” another customer said.

Dead fish

This aquarium also sells low quality fish food to their customers. According to this customer she was given fish food for a pair of carps from the Moratuwa aquarium. “When I went back to the aquarium and told them the carps were not eating this fish food they told me the carps will eventually eat the fish food when they are hungry and not to worry. The intention of some aquarium owners is to sell more ornamental fish to their customers when their fish die due to starvation,” this customer said.   

Lots of ornamental fish are also kept in small polythene bags and sold on the pavements in Moratuwa, Mount Lavinia, Nugegoda and on Parliament Road.

On Parliament Road large gouramis are put in polythene bags with hardly any room to move and hung on trees to attract the attention of a passing customer. Smaller varieties of fish are packed into small polythene bags and kept on the roadside in the hot sun while the stress the fish are subjected to, is conveniently ignored by the seller.  At regular intervals the polythene bags are pushed around to show an interested customer the number of fish in a bag.

Safeguards

Speaking to The Sunday Leader Kuruwitage Sunil Silva, owner of the Rainbow Aquarium at 13, Wijesiriwardene Mawatha, Mount Lavinia said he follows all precautionary measures to safeguard the fish in his aquarium. “Fish like other animals get sick. In such cases you have to treat them with the required medication.

“Whenever I notice that a fish is not active or is sick I immediately treat it with the required medication. In times of power cuts an AC/DC battery pump should be used to provide oxygen for the fish. Some varieties of fish cannot be put with others as they attack and kill each other. Your fish tank should have sufficient space to accommodate your fish as they should have enough space to move around and grow,” Silva explained.    

Silva further said that he advises his customers to add some salt into the water when they have guppies in tanks and recommend the correct type of fish food depending on the variety.

“At my aquarium I never ask a customer if he stays close by. I always pump oxygen into the bag of fish. If I don’t cheat my customers they will come back to me again,” Silva explained.

 Cruelty to animals

Attorney-at-Law Senaka Weeraratna noted, in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (PCAO) No. 13 of 1907 the term ‘animal’ has been defined as any domestic or captured animal and includes any bird, fish, or reptile in captivity.

“Protection from acts of cruelty is limited to ‘captive’ and ‘domestic animals’ in the PCAO but lacks broad coverage of animal welfare issues and adoption of modern day standards to ensure humane treatment of animals,” Weeraratna explained.

The Law Commission of Sri Lanka has however prepared a comprehensive document known as the Animal Welfare Bill (AWB). “The objectives of the AWB is to treat animals humanely, prevent cruelty to animals and to secure the protection and welfare of animals and to establish a National Animal Welfare Authority to provide for Regulations and Codes of Practice to raise community awareness on animal welfare and foster kindness, compassion, and responsible behaviour towards animals. The proposed legislation seeks to replace the PCAO,” Weeraratna said.

Key features of the AWB include the person who is in charge of an animal should take steps to ensure the well being of the animal, to prevent infliction of unnecessary fear or pain and to provide the animal with basic needs such as food, water, hygienic living conditions, adequate living space and shelter.

• Statement by UNP Deputy Leader, Karu Jayasuriya on completion of the war

War has been won, now we must win the peace

On this historic occasion, when terrorism has been completely defeated, I would like to take this opportunity to thank, first and foremost, all our brave soldiers, whose steadfast commitment freed the Sri Lankan nation from the scourge of terrorism.  

I would especially like to remember the soldiers who are no longer with us, those who made the supreme sacrifice for our country. There is no bigger sacrifice than that of laying down your life for your country and the soldiers who laid down their lives in order to ensure peace and unity in Sri Lanka will live forever in our memory. The nation will be eternally grateful to them.  

I would like to congratulate the Secretary, Defence, the Service Commanders and the IGP for providing the forces with the required military leadership and the President, for the political leadership, which made this victory possible.  

It goes without saying that the ruthless LTTE Leader Velupillai Pirapaharan, who could best be described as a killing machine, had no respect whatsoever for human life. This man, who tried to run a totalitarian and fascist state, has today suffered a fate he richly deserved.   

I would also like to point out that there are many political and military leaders who played important roles, which enabled our heroic soldiers to achieve this unprecedented military victory  

President Premadasa held talks with the LTTE; so did President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Both leaders clearly demonstrated that war could be an option under certain circumstances but that it should never be the first option.  

Ranil Wickremesinghe also showed to the world that Sri Lankan governments were not racist – which was what the LTTE was trying to portray – and proved the bona fides of the Sri Lankan Government’s intentions to address the just claims of the Tamil people.   

Lakshman Kadirgamar played a significant role in convincing the world that the LTTE was not interested in the wellbeing of the Tamil people and ensured that almost all the countries that mattered isolated the LTTE and banned the organisation. His efforts prevented the LTTE from obtaining financial assistance from foreign countries and from the Tamil diaspora to a significant extent.

Won hearts and minds

Generals like Kobbekaduwa and Janaka Perera, who fought the LTTE fearlessly, also won the hearts and minds of the Tamil people and cleared doubts among the Tamil population that the Sri Lankan Army was racist – an allegation which the LTTE made quite often.  

It is these Generals who won the confidence of the Tamil people and convinced them that our military was only trying to liberate them from the megalomaniac Pirapaharan. It is the actions of these Generals and soldiers that made the world realise that the LTTE was only interested in itself and not the Tamil people.  

The actions of these political and military leaders proved to the world that the LTTE was not serious about peace. This is why the whole world was eagerly awaiting the defeat of the LTTE. This is how a group of people who were initially perceived as freedom fighters by the rest of the world came to be viewed as terrorists. Therefore, the defeat of terrorism and LTTE was an united effort that made it possible.  

The defeat of terrorism and the LTTE can be compared to a relay race – such a challenge cannot be won unless all those who participated contributed their might. All of the parties involved played an integral and critical role in the process to ensure the final defeat of terrorism and the LTTE.  

Today, as we celebrate the final defeat, we must recognise the integral and critical role played by all past political and military leaders. If we forget them, then we are certainly not worthy of their sacrifices and efforts on behalf of the nation. All those who fought over the years against terrorism are heroes and should be remembered today.  

A few try to accuse the opposition of not supporting the fight against the LTTE. In fact, speculation is rife that the UNP is resentful of this heroic victory. Rest assured that the UNP is also celebrating this great achievement and is extremely proud of our armed forces for achieving what was once considered the impossible.

They have freed this nation, to which we all belong. It is imperative that this victory be recognised for what it is – a victory for all the people of Sri Lanka, no matter their race, religion or political leaning.

On behalf of the nation

The armed forces won the war on behalf of the entire nation, for all the people of this land. The war was not fought on behalf of a single political party alone. The war was fought for all the people of this nation.  

It must be said that we never tried to play politics with the war. Nor did we have long marches while the forces were fighting terrorism in the north and east.   

It must be categorically stated that the only thing the opposition repeatedly said was that there was a distinction between the LTTE and the just claims of the Tamil people, who are part of a united and sovereign Sri Lanka. This is why we continue to be concerned about the civilians.  

The thousands of internally displaced persons are undergoing severe hardship and need to be resettled as soon as possible. The state has a responsibility by these people and should make every effort to bring an end to their suffering. They have already suffered enough over the course of the decades-long war and should be free to reap the benefits of peace now.    

The army consists of people of this country from all walks of life, ethnicities and different political backgrounds but we, as a responsible opposition, have a right to know the truth and it is our duty to keep the public informed.  

In our haste to celebrate, let us not forget those who made the celebrations possible – the members of the armed forces who lost life and limb in this war against terror. Let us ensure that the families of those who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield are cared for; that those who sustained injuries and are disabled today are provided for; that those who died so that we could live are never forgotten.  

Let me repeat that the UNP takes great pride in this victory. After all, there isn’t a single other political party that has suffered more than the UNP at the hands of the LTTE. A UNP President, Ranasinghe Premadasa, was killed by the LTTE. A UNP presidential candidate, Gamini Dissanayake, was killed by the LTTE.  Several of our members too became victims. A potential president from the UNP, Lalith Athulathmudali, was killed by the LTTE. A Defense Minister of a UNP government, Ranjan Wijeratne, was killed by the LTTE. A General Secretary of the UNP was killed by the LTTE.

UNP suffered most

The list is endless, which goes to prove that there is no credibility in the allegation that the UNP has not supported the fight against the LTTE or that the UNP is sympathising and aligning with the terrorist group.  

Pirapaharan, like all dictators, feared the truth. He believed in false propaganda to remain in power. All dictators eliminate people with dissenting views but eventually they dig their own graves. And that is the fate that has befallen Pirapaharan today.  

Now that the war has come to an end, I would like to urge the President and his government to take immediate measures to restore democracy and press freedom, as well as the safety of journalists.   

The media is the watchdog of the people and opposition members in parliament are representatives of people. The government must let both these organs live and work without fear of retribution. It should pave the way for all of us to march forward as one nation and one people.  

We like to emphasize that there are still people in this country who have decided to fight for true democracy by taking tough decisions, even though easier paths beckon. They are not willing to sacrifice the basic liberties and values of the people or lose faith in fighting for the same – their intention is to create a nation which respects equality, freedom and justice. This is the crying need of the hour, so that each and every Sri Lankan can live a life of dignity in this land.  

The country is also facing a major economic crisis. Now that one battle was won the war on the economic front too must be won. There must be a concerted effort and a professional, committed and transparent approach.

Economic war    

The country’s foreign reserves have plunged to their lowest; inflation and interest rates are high; and bad loans have risen whilst banks are finding it hard to manage, against the backdrop of inadequate returns, which has resulted in a financial crisis which we can ill afford at this juncture. And we are ill-equipped to cope, given the government’s approach in dealing with economic and financial matters.

Many manufacturing industries have either closed down or scaled down operations owing to rising costs and declining income levels. Above is the current state of the Sri Lankan economy that needs to be addressed seriously.  

Under the previous UNP regime, the people experienced low inflation and higher income levels, which alleviated many out of poverty, and flourishing tourism, manufacturing, exports and services sector businesses. The country also enjoyed an inflow of much-needed foreign investment. Let us not forget that this was achieved whilst fighting terrorism on the one hand and facing global shocks on the other.   

Now that the war has been won, it is equally important to win the peace and usher in prosperity for all our people. While the biggest challenge has been won on the warfront, against the backdrop of the global economic crisis, the challenges ahead are many. But together, with a well-defined and committed approach, there is no challenge we cannot overcome.  

So today, as peace dawns upon us after decades of terror, if prosperity is to follow so that all Sri Lankans can live with honour and dignity, it is time for all communities to unite and march forward together as Sri Lankans – not as Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers, but as one people, as one nation, as the sons and daughters of a united motherland.  

With the nightmare of terrorism now behind us, let us live the Sri Lankan dream – ensuring peace and prosperity for one and all. 

“Leave the girls alone” say Girl Guides to the Boy Scouts

By Ranee Mohamed

When the Boy Scouts of Sri Lanka began a programme recently to take in girls to their ranks, it was applauded by a section of their own scouts. But the Girl Guides of Sri Lanka frowning upon this exercise points out that this decision to take in girls clashes with the very culture of our society.

“How can two officers look after 50 children of mixed gender when they go out camping?  This is not a safe exercise and we shudder to think of the consequences,” say the authorities at the Girl Guides’ Association who expressed disappointment and revulsion at this newest development at the Sri Lanka Scout Association. “We are a movement of the girls and young women and we feel that there is a great need for an association of our calibre,” said the veteran guiding authorities.

Director for the Differently Abled of the Girl Guides’ Association, Marlyn Dissanayaka; President and Former Chief Commissioner - Girl Guides, Venetia Gamage, and Director, Camp and Immediate Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides’ Association, Thilini Atukorale,  speaking to The Sunday Leader said that they are disheartened and disturbed by the fact that the Boy Scouts have decided to take in girls.

Great dedication

Founded by Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the Girl Guides’ Association of  Sri Lanka has been pursuing their mission and vision with great dedication. “Girls need the space for themselves for development of character and be useful to society. We give ample opportunity for them to develop and be educated through our camps and programmes,” said Venetia Gamage who said that girls should not have a place among the boy scouts.

“We are hearing more and more appalling stories of what’s happening within the confines of homes. Child abuse and abuse of women are rampant and this is not the time for girls to be joining the scouts. Such an exercise has no place in our culture,” said the veteran trio of the Girl Guides.

“Although it is recognised that society is changing, it does not yet treat males and females equally, thus girls of Sri Lanka are best served by a programme designed specifically for girls and led by women, where they have the opportunity of developing freely within a female tradition and identity,” they said.

Girl Guiding

“Girl Guiding is uniquely suited to the singular needs and aspiration of girls and young women today. We have programmes for girl adolescents, health programmes, teenage programmes and girl child programmes, issues such as HIV AIDS and nutrition come under these programmes. We strongly feel that such an environment cannot be a safe and free one for girls,” said Thilini Atukorale.

“The World Association of Scouting has permitted them to take in girls and this has been going on for sometime. But that is in Europe where a different culture exists,” said Atukorale.

“This is the first time we have to deal with such a happening. We have never heard of such a thing since the establishment of our association on March 21, 1917,” said the live-wire of the Girl Guides, Marlyn Dissanayaka who has been associated with the organisation for decades. “We have never had any boys around. Of course there were a few men in our sub committee, but our girls have never had to move around with boys. We have found that girls work better when they are among girls,” said Dissanayake.

Solely for girls

The vision of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association is to be the lead organisation for girls and young women in Sri Lanka and its mission is to enable girls and young women to realise their fullest potential and become responsible citizens of the country as well as the world. All educational programmes for girls and young women in the ages ranging from seven to 23 years are based on the particular needs and aspiration of girls and young women.

“Ours is a movement for girls and we need a movement solely for girls. We instill in them leadership qualities, organising and planning skills. We are not losing numbers. This is certainly not about losing numbers. We are worried and concerned about the girl child in general and it is our firm belief that we ought to uphold the culture of our country,” said Dissanayake.

Girl Guide authorities say that the boy scouts taking in girls aged between seven and a half to eight years of age adds insult to injury given the fact that it is an ‘inquisitive age.’

And to think of them together with the boy scouts — going camping together with a couple of officers to look into their overall welfare is an exercise that will never cease to cause a shudder among the ‘all girl’ association. For boy scouts will be boy scouts and girls certainly do not seem to quite fit in with the scouts.

Remembering Peter Prins

Peter was a loyal, true Old Ben and worked hard behind the scenes for the development of our old school. He was a legend not only in the music industry but also as a devoted Ben who only had the interest of his school at heart.

Always giving prominence to others and not taking any credit for himself, I reminisce the good old days I spent with him in various committees, and like to place on record the good deeds he has done and achieved with very positive results.

I will never ever forget the support he gave me when I was the social secretary for a few years and the hard work he did put in as chairman of the Entertainment Committee for that very famous and successful project titled “July Breeze.”

He was one of the best pianists I have ever seen. He rocked a little one foot keyboard

in my home in Melbourne on his first visit and those listening were thoroughly astonished at this performance.

He was instrumental in playing for the Colombo Sports Club dinner dance in Melbourne when I was president and he volunteered to do so for free.

It was like one of the world’s top bands playing for a little cricket club in Melbourne. What a night it turned out to be. That was Peter. No frills no fuss!

I am sure those present will treasure the opportunity they had to see this fantastic musician in action.

Tickets were sold in just 10 days and what a great time everyone had.

Dear Peter, we will always remember you for the gentleman and role model you have been to all of us.

It was a great honour to know you and your late wonderful wife Blossom.

Our deepest sympathies to his sons Michael and Chris and the rest of their families.

May your soul rest in peace.

— Franklyn and June

A tribute to a cartoonist of a bygone era

The family of the late cartoonist Mark Gerreyn remembered with sadness the birthday of this great man who was an essential component of the editorial department of the Sun and Weekend newspapers, and a newspaper celebrity of that era.

Clad in impeccable white shirt, black trouser and a tie, Gerreyn was always the best dressed person even when he arrived in office at 7 a.m — two or three  freshly sketched cartoons in hand on a lucky day.

 Gerreyn was a legend in the ’70s and ’80s. He made the whole country laugh with his cartoons which found their way into the 23rd International Salon of Cartoons in 1986. The contest had drawn more than 1,000 cartoons from over 60 countries.

In 1982 and 1984 too the International Salon of Cartoons circulated worldwide Gerreyn’s cartoon ‘I Got The World On A String’ on Brezhnev and ‘Bangs And Pangs’ about the horror of famine and nuclear war.

Mark Gerreyn died on November 16, 1989. “It is but a quirk of fate that on the day he died, the cartoon that he had drawn spoke of death itself,” said his wife Leonie Gerreyn who went on to say that the life of a journalist/cartoonist is not an easy one.

“But Mark Gerreyn was always happy. He would jump out of bed at midnight or 1 a.m and exclaim ‘I have got an idea! I have got an idea!’ and out would flow a great cartoon which would be published and relished,” said Leonie recalling the life of this homourist.   “The life of a journalist is a hard one and life has not been easy for me and our three children. But we never gave up and strode on to success,” said Leonie Gerreyn.

Unprepared for the death of Mark Gerreyn who died so suddenly, his family and loved ones  are battling with this gruesome reality of having a wonderful husband and father snatched away at the peak of life.

“It also perplexes me as to how he dated  his autobiography as November 16 — and then died on that same day years later,” she said.

Leonie Gerreyn hopes to publish two books of her husband’s political cartoons. His famous strip cartoons are also being compiled into a separate book.

Those who laughed at Mark Gerreyn’s literary creations, now remember him with tears in their eyes. Such is the change that time brings — tears where there was laughter and a void where a loving  human being once reigned.

— R.M

Turmeric – the anti ageing spice?

Turmeric also called Indian saffron is a ginger-like plant, and like ginger the roots are dried, powdered and made into a spice for its flavour, and has many health benefits. Some call it a super food and has been extensively studied and researched, and has been used as a flavour in many Indian and Asian dishes, and also used for decorating the skin in religious functions according to the Hindu customs. It is also mixed with curry powder, mustards and cheese; you buy from the spice shop.

The scientific name of turmeric is Curcuma longa. The turmeric spice available in the spice shops is the boiled, dried and powdered root of the turmeric plant. The picture shows turmeric bulbs. The powder has a distinct yellow colour, and it is used to dye Buddhist priests robes, and ladies garments.

Nutritional properties

The interesting nutrient in turmeric is curcumin. Much research is being done for its health benefits especially fighting cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusive research on curcumin hasn’t happened yet, but there is a lot of potential. Curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Turmeric in addition to its chemical curcumin contains high levels of iron and manganese and moderate levels of vitamin B6 and potassium — all vitamins and minerals that are part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Try turmeric tea for longevity. In Okinawa, where people live longer than anywhere else in the world, seem to be drinking lot of this tea, and of course eating plenty of fish.

There is a long list of health benefits of turmeric, currently under research and conclusions have not been drawn yet, though very promising.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This is a condition that keeps bowels uncomfortable and life becomes miserable due to  tummy distension, loose motions with constipation, rumblings, heart burn and so many others.

Turmeric in curries has helped many of these victims. This condition is rare among Indians, may be due to the spicy food.

• Cancer Prevention

This does not mean that turmeric is given to cancer suffering people, but the anti-inflammatory functions seem to prevent the incidence of cancer (not yet proven).

• Alzheimer’s Disease

It is a known fact that Alzheimer’s disease is rare among the Indian people who eat a lot of turmeric in the curries on a daily basis. It is recorded that India has the lowest rate of Alzheimer’s disease in the world, only affecting around one percent of people over the age of 65 living in some Indian villages. They attribute this blessing to the magical spice freely available in the supermarkets.

• Cystic fibrosis

People with cystic fibrosis have been given high doses of curcumin and have been closely monitored by researchers. For example, in a study on cystic fibrosis, each patient received almost 500mg of curcumin. This research basically is for pharmaceutical research seeking to produce new drugs based on curcumin.

• Prevents heart disease – studies not conclusive

• Lowers cholesterol

It appears that turmeric mainly affects LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. One study on rabbits fed a high fat diet showed that turmeric appeared to lower LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides, as well as preventing LDL from being oxidised. It is known that un-oxidised LDL is harmless, and oxidised form greatly accelerates the formation of atherosclerosis.

There are no studies that have looked at the ability of turmeric to lower cholesterol levels in humans. As it does work on animals, it may work on humans.

Chinese have used turmeric to treat inflammation, infections, and various gastrointestinal ailments, liver functions, relieving arthritis pain, and regulate menstruation. Today turmeric is recognised as a notable antioxidant with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and there has been recent talk about its ability to lower cholesterol. It is used for conditions such as heartburn, stomach ulcers, and gallstones. This is based on the concept that disease results from disruption in the flow of qi and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang.

• Side effects and precautions

Turmeric is considered safe for most adults. High doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause indigestion.

People with gallbladder disease should avoid using turmeric, as a dietary supplement, as it may worsen the condition – not conclusive

Discuss with your health care provider before you venture on any diet supplement. The small amount of turmeric being used in Asian curries does not cause any problems. Go for it.

Turmeric and Saffron

The flavour of turmeric is described as buttery and slightly bitter. Fresh turmeric is more like ginger, but sweeter and more aromatic.

Turmeric is a substitute for the much more expensive saffron, because it produces a golden yellow colour. Saffron is very expensive and used sparingly.

Turmeric gets extremely pungent and actually gets stronger when cooked. Hence use sparingly.

Avoid touching your clothing when working with turmeric. It is a powerful yellow dye, used to get the saffron colour in Buddhist priests’ robes.

Some of the anti-aging foods are: beans — one of the best, Goji berries, noni juice, avocados, water melons, turmeric, soy protein and red wine

Make it a habit to use turmeric in all your curries.

— Dr. Harold Gunatillake

 Toastmasters to expand in Sri Lanka

Toastmasters International is planning to tap the high potential found in pastoral Sri Lanka with the proposed membership drive, discussed during the Ovation 2009 which concludes today.

With nine districts being already identified for this expansion programme; Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, and Matale. Toastmasters International anticipates a considerable growth starting this June which will increase the existing membership to new heights from the base point of 1,200.

The third Governor of District 82 - Toastmasters International, Arunasalam Balraj told The Sunday Leader that Ovation 2009 will bring down 165 Indian participants to Sri Lanka where the three day summit which started on May 22 at Mount Lavinia Hotel discussed development plans and conduct training sessions for Sri Lankan Toastmasters in general.

"India and Sri Lanka are categorised as District 82 and represented as interconnected in Toastmasters International. Ovation 2009 is held mainly to discuss our business plans concerning the two countries. We are conducting 10 workshops with the participation of globally reputed trainers in improving the skill levels of our members. On the last day of Ovation 2009, India and Sri Lanka will select a common candidate to challenge at the World Speakers Contest. In selecting this candidate both countries have forwarded their best contestants," Balraj said.

Toastmasters International is a voluntary organisation which started in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California. During the last eight decades Toastmasters International has grown to become a world leader in helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience. The non-profit organisation now has nearly 250,000 members in 12,036 clubs in 106 countries, offering a proven and enjoyable way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills necessary for the day-to-day life as well as the respective livelihoods. Toastmasters International has 32 clubs operating in Sri Lanka located within Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, Kalutara, and Jaffna Districts.

Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or two. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian. There is no instructor; instead, each speech and meeting is critiqued by a member in a positive manner, focusing on what was done right and what could be improved.

- Ashwin Hemmathagama