Wednesday 6th December, 2006 7 Appreciation Doctorates a Dime a Dozen Professor Dr. Ariacutty Jayendran I must congratulate “Deep Throat” for themselves Doctor. Did Archimedes, his excellent piece entitled “ Doctorates a Galileo. Isaac Newton, Leonardo Da Vinci, Prof Dr. Ariyacutty Jayendran was tronics and communication engineer- Dime a Dozen- on page 9 of your esteemed Shakespeare., even dream of calling them- one of the prominent physicists pro- ing. In 1959 he obtained a position at newspaper dated 1st December. selves Doctor. Who am I to do so ? duced by Sri Lanka in the first decade Standard Telephone and Cables which It is time we in Sri Lanka took a rational He went on to tell me that when he got following independence. He was a con- had its headquarters in the US and was view regarding the numerous “Doctorates his first Doctorate many years ago and cer- temporary of Professor Charles probably the largest both genuine and fake, both granted by tain newspapers began to call him Doctor, Dahanayake of Kelaniya University Telecommunication Company in the recognised Universities empowered to do he had personally informed all the Editors fame, and the late Professor P. C. B. World to obtain the necessary experi- so and those showered by institutions of all of all newspapers in Sri Lanka to kindly Fernando of Sri Jayewardenapura ence in the industry. Then, in London types not authorised by any law or statute refrain from calling him Doctor, which University, both of whom were pioneers he followed evening classes for a to grant them. As your letter mentions request the newspapers had all followed. He in their respective roles. Sri Lankan Physics M Sc. He returned to Ceylon in Ronnie De Mel, I once asked Mr. Ronnie De also told me that in his opinion only Physicists of the era immediately pre- 1962 and worked at the former Cable Mel who has been granted Doctorates University Teachers should normally use many years ago by recognised Universities such appellations if they have got them, ceding them were such illustrious and Wireless for over five years. both in Sri Lanka and abroad, as to why he because it is closely connected with aca- names as Professors: M. L. T. Changing circumstances and the never uses them and prefers to be always demic work. Kannangara, George Dissanaike, demise of Cable and Wireless, forced called plain Ronnie De Mel or Ronnie. His And all this came naturally and easily Osmund Jayaratne, and before them S. him to take employment in the Physics reply was simple and typical of the man. from a man who had the distinction of Gnanalingam, Themi Mutticumarana, Department of the University of Sudan, “I will live and die as Ronnie De Mel or coming first in Sri Lanka in every Pubic and V Appapillai, to name a few. All of Khartoum. He soon joined London Ronnie or simply Ronnia as the people Examination he sat for, winning all the them-were the pupils of the celebrated University and obtained a PhD in always call me. Does Albert Einstein, Scholarships, Gold Medals and Prizes that Professor A. W. Mailvaganam, who was Physics and returned to the University Keynes, Milton Friedman, Hayek, G. M. went with them. a pupil of the great Lord Rutherford.. of Sudan, ending up as Professor of Trevelyan, T. S. Eliot or James Joyce called R . Rajaratnam Jayendran too was a member of that Physics, till he retired in 1992. He visit- illustrious line. ed his mother country reasonably often Before entering the University and met with scientific colleagues and Jayendran had a distinguished career was eager to know of progress in his at the Royal College. He was an out- interested fields. Advice to motorists A Tribute to standing scholar winning the Form He underwent a triple By-Pass opera- prize regularly. He won the Junior tion in 1983. In recent times his arteries I refer to an arti- Tamil Prize one year and the Senior had got blocked badly and he had to cle written by a a People’s Tamil Prize the next year. He sat for the undergo further surgery. This led to motorist in the Senior School Certificate one year complications. He died on 26.9.06. Island of 1st ahead of the rest of the Class and Colleagues will recall his pleasant December 06 and Minister passed in the first division with 4 friendly personality and loquacious wish to add the fol- Al Haj A. H. M. Fowzie started Distinctions and was awarded an manner, being well read and well lowing: political life as a member in the Exemption from the London informed on many matters. Royalists of Colombo Municipal Council and Matriculation. He won the Mohamed his time and University colleagues will 1) Motorist before long was elected, as Mayor. Ali Mathematics Prize, and, was a dis- also recall the courtesies extended to stopping on During his period there was proper tinguished member of the Upper Sixth them by his friendly parents Mr and “Pedestrian administration in the Municipal form of Mr. M. M. Kulasekeram.. That Mrs V.Ariacutty of Bagatelle Road. Crossings”, causing Office. There was no garbage prob- year (1945) Royal College won 7 out of Jayendran himself was an example of a inconvenience to lem in the city. He did many the 14 Scholarships and Exhibitions fine gentlemen and a concerned indi- Pedestrians cross- improvements in the city including awarded at the University Entrance vidual. Some of the happenings of our ing the road. construction of Kollupitiya super- Examination, and Jayendran won the time disturbed him deeply as he loved 2) Motorists Physics Exhibition. his country as much as anyone. market. Later he became member stopping on “No Following his honours degree in Our sympathies go out to his wife and Minister in the Parliament. He waiting zones” (i. e. Physics he was appointed lecturer in Christel, as well as to his two sons, held portfolios in several Ministries Kris Cross Areas) e.g. Union Place road worthy conditions. The back of the Physics at the University. After a peri- Amir and Rajah A and Daughter in law and tackled many problems in those Vauxhall Street Junction. vehicle should have the owners name & od, Jayendran, was selected by the Lin. ministries for the benefit of the peo- 3) Motorist not adhering to proper phone number in big bold letters if Government, following the take over of ple. He has the capacity to distin- “right of way” especially, during busy someone wishes to complain regarding Cable and Wireless, to specialise in elec- Robw guish right from wrong and all of us- traffic hours. This applies mainly to the driver to the owner. are aware of his many triumphs. He bus & trishaw drivers. 9) All school vans should adhere never deviated from the path he had 4) Vehicles that do not have prop- to the maximum speed limits and chosen. In life he is strongly influ- er brake lights or stop lamps. should ply on the left side of the road. Animal Slaughter 5) Zig Zag driving by bus & 10) Increase motor patrol (e.g. 119) enced by the principles and precepts on busy roads ‘ especially during busy, of Islam and especially by the doc- trishaw drivers especially, not adhering By Gazette Notification before & after school hours or office trines of Holy Quran. It can be defi- to double line crossing or single line issued in 1988 Local hours, in order to track down traffic nitely stated that his successful polit- crossing. Government bodies were given offenders. ical career began when he won the 6) Fine, the driver & conductor of wide powers to stop animal seat in the Colombo Municipal the respective busses that carry school Mr. I. G. P. it is necessary, that we see slaughter within their areas of Council. Today he is one of the most children on the foot board of the bus. on our roads traffic policemen with jurisdiction. Who had that bril- formidable and respected politicians. 7) To check regularly if school proper knowledge of traffic signaling liant idea? It was an unpopular van drivers have a valid license and and that they always wear white gloves I do not think it is necessary for me idea for man the carnivore whether they are under the influence of for the visibility of the motorist. to list the portfolios he held as that is could hardly resist flesh having drugs or alcohol. Also, to maintain a Most importantly the traffic OIC’s of recent history. He is like Napolean in the dim distant past con- record at their respective area police the respective Police Stations should do “Impossible that word is not French sumed human flesh! It was stations, regarding their character in spot checks to ensure that his staff is I know no such word” He is intelli- utter hypocrisy. The Buddha, order to avoid child molesting. carrying out their duties efficiently. gent and an intellectual. He has defi- Jesus Christ both said do not 8) School vans to be in proper Motorist nite opinions but never overbearing. kill; but that referred to wan- He is courteous, courageous, far- ton, wasteful killing. Jesus sighted, reasonable and disciplined. enjoyed wine and flesh. The He is just and calm and collected and Buddha had no objection to eat- as in Rudyard Kipling's “IF” treats ing flesh, for he knew that from Return to... From page 6 both victory and defeat in the same days of the caveman, humans Relations with India: tiated the process of reorienting Sri manner. He is very much interested had ingested flesh and required Karu Jayasuriya is affiliated with the Lanka’s relations towards China. I say this in national unity and culture and both animal and vegetable pro- family of the late gamini dissanike which not only – or primarily- drawing from con- religion. He speaks to the people tein to grow to full stature. has a special relationship with the Gandhi versations I had with him, but because he even on telephone in a language They were sensible leaders of family.Dr Sarath Amunugama was engaged signalled it quite clearly, in the presence of understood by them. The people mankind. Now a new breed of together with Gamini Dissanaike in draft- Indian diplomats , when he spoke at the holymen have descended and trusted his sincerity as he gives no ing the Indo-lanka accord, and is also one of BMICH with China’s Prime Minister and they relish flesh at alms givings false promises. He speaks the truth. the country’s leading specialists on the eth- Foreign Minister and Sri Lankan PM and gourmandize on chicken, nic problem. Either karu or Amunugama, Mahinda Rajapakse on the podium. If I He believes in “Victory belongs to pork, mutton and Seer fish but or preferably a combination, could effec- remember rightly,Mr Kadirgamar contrast- the most persevering”. In his process reject beef. What is the farmer to do disapproval of killing is acceptable if tively enhance relations with India. ed China’s unconditional support and soli- of planning he is always prepared to with the spent old cow, bull and redun- they extend it to the fish hog, goat , rab- Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s CP, which has darity with Sri Lanka, especially on the accept the advice and constructive relations with the Indian Communist par- issue of separatism, with that of some of dant calves. If let loose in the name of bit, pigeon and -poultry . Otherwise it criticism of his officials. He is prac- ties, an important part of the governing our friends and neighbours. piety they will graze on road sides is plain hypocrisy! The Minister of coalition, could be deployed to that same Contrary however, to the simplistic tical, quick witted and warmhearted. causing vehicle and other accidents Provincial Councils & Local end. view of the JVP and other ultranational- Daily he gets up early in the morn- with harm and even death to people. Go Government speaking in Parliament on The economy: ists, China cannot be our sole friend and ing and meets his people at his resi- into neighboring lands and destroy veg- 24 Nov. 2006 spoke inanities about ani- President Premadasa was able to main- ally,or even pick up the slack left by all oth- dence. The people know that he has etation. If the holy men permit the mal slaughter specially cattle slaughter tain the country’s sovereignty jealously in a ers if they pull back. But relations with their interests and welfare at heart flesh of the bull how will one distin- and that it should be frowned on. It is time of war because the economy was run- China - and most emphatically Russia- must and that he is really working for guish between the flesh of the bull and interesting to know whether anyone in ning efficiently and well, attracting foreign be qualitively enhanced. We must strive for their progress. It could be said that the cow in the meat market or the the House corrected him and pointed investors. Productivity was high and full strategic pacts with both, because these sovereignty was, in short, affordable. The countries have no pro-Tiger Tamil lobbies he keeps the common touch. He is an table.? Is it because the indigenous pop- out that cattle rearing will slowly cease UNP was always better at running the econ- and are: active popular politician. He believes ulation labels the cow as “Kiri if the farmer was unable to sell his cat- omy- and karu jayasuriya was a successful 1. Unambiguous about separatism and in “Let us live together, learn togeth- Amma?”. Current medical science has tle for flesh. Thereafter may be the businessman, handpicked by Premadasa to terrorism and the way to combat them. er and work together always confi- stumbled on the finding that most dis- beginning of the end of all livestock promote foreign economic relations as 2. Strong and successful economically dent that in the end we will all tri- comforting allergies affecting man are farming and the necessity to import ambassador to Germany. If the UNP dissi- (Russia has oil). umph together”. He is a Samaritan. caused by Cow’s milk, its byproducts, organic manure for agriculture. All dents (the respectable ones, not the ruffi- 3. Producers of excellent military eggs and certain seafish. Only Goat’s this in the interests of Buddhist piety. ans) were incorporated in government and equipment which they will sell without the milk will counteract allergies. Then handed economic portfolios, things will run reluctance and refusals of the West. S. A. Masilamany why not label the Goat “Kiri Amma” Douglas Weerakoon more efficiently,the country can be promot- 4. Asian and Eurasian powers, on the Colombo 10 Avoiding beef as a token of their Dehiwela. ed overseas and foreign and local investors ascendency rather than decline and over- will be more forthcoming. stretch. Diversifying our support sources: 5. Will support us against calls for sanc- Contrary to uninformed opinion- and so tions. similar to accusations against President One hopes that Prime Minister Premadasa- President Rajapakse did not Ratnasiri Wickramanayake negotiated Woes of the pensioners erode our relations with India. Those rela- some military assistance (training, advi- tions were deteriorating during the last sors) from the Vietnamese and The decision of the government to payment is because, the pensions above information can be posted to the stage of the Chandrika administration and Cambodians, who are maestros in guerrilla pay the pensions through Banks instead voucher indicates the monthly pension, pensioner and the cost of the stamp not due to her fault either. The fault was and counter-guerrilla warfare - but I see no of the issue of the usual pension vouch- CLA, monthly deductions and above all deducted from him. India’s. Indeed President Kumaratunga reason for such an optimistic conclusion. er has aroused the indignation of the date of payment. Unlike in govern- What is agonizing to note is that the vented some of her disappointment with It is a pity, and an unaffordable error, almost all pensioners. Knowing the ment departments and other private Minister of Public Administrate, once a India in an interview given to The Hindu. that Lakshman Kadirgamar’s final direc- plight of the forlorn pensioner, the sectors, the dates of payment of pen- Civil Servant, now a pensioner and Her main charge was India’s behaviour dur- tions and initiatives in the domain of Sri Island has been regularly publishing sions vary from month to month. Thus hailing from a village in the Kandyan ing the critical period in 2000 when the Lanka’s external relations, have not been their protests in the opinion page. For the pensioner will have to visit the hills does not seem to understand the LTTE attempted to retake Jaffna. followed and built upon, as he surely would this gracious act we, the pensioners bank several times. Even the banks will plight of the poor pensioner. Sri Lanka’s finest – indeed iconic- for- have done. With Prabhakaran striving for a embrace you, dear editor, from afar and not know the date of payment until the Why is the government so heartless? eign minister, Hon Lakshman Kadirgamar decisive military victory next year, this thank you from the very depths of our summary is received from the govern- had begun to be disillusioned with India in grave error could amount to criminal negli- hearts. ment. It the government is adamant, a Daya Mullegama, the last stage of his life, and had already ini- gence. The agitation for the earlier mode of letter or a post card containing the