Providing services to the general public

ACCESSING HOME…

Lake Hood Seaplane Base (pic below) is a government  seaplane base located 6 km southwest of the central business district of Anchorage in the US state of Alaska. It is the only link to most rural communities living in Alaska who doesn’t have road or rail access. Lake Hood is open to the public all year & is the world's busiest seaplane base. It handles an average of 190 flights per day. During the winter months the frozen lake surface is maintained for ski-equipped airplanes (source: www).

 Barra Airport (pic below) is a short-runway airport situated in the island of Barra in Scotland. This airport is unique since it is the only one in the world where flights use a beach as the runway.  Barra Airport was opened in 1936. On average the airport is open twice a day during low tide. This is a unique instance where Mother Nature creates the runway at the times it wishes (source: www).

Those who travel through the Bandaranaike International Air Port in Sri Lanka were updated about the renovations done to the runway through media. The public should be cautious about the new operating hours as it would help them to travel to without delays & avoid conflicts.

There can be instances where the access paths to our offices, schools or homes are blocked due to road construction or unexpected man made/ natural disasters. In such circumstances, many would find it difficult to move persons, baggage & vehicles to the destinations. Some might face security concerns leaving property at unattended places.

• How can we avoid such emergencies?
• Can we have arrangements with friends, neighboours or relations to face such?
• Do we have contact details of those who can clear road blocks & lock smiths etc. with us?
•  Should we keep spare keys of vehicles & homes etc. at another location to face an emergency?

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, January 2017

Sri Lankan Automobiles

Sri Lankans in Automobile Development & Production.

In the 1930s Engineer Deshamanya T.S. Jinasena developed a racing car (Magpie) with parts & technology from international producers. He set many records competing with foreign nationals driving his own creation. His engineering contributions such as the Jinasena Tractor still serve the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka. (source: Dr. Tissa Jinasena & Jinasena Archives).    

In 1969 visionary Sri Lankan entrepreneur Upali Wijewardena produced the ‘Upali Mazda’ in Sri Lanka with Japanese technology & released the car to the market in 1970. Few years later with technical support from Thailand & Italy he produced the ‘Upali Fiat’ in 1977 & released the cars in 1978. (source: Dr. Sudhammika Atygalle & www).

In mid 2000s Engineer Dr. Lawrence Perera developed the ‘Micro’ vehicles in Sri Lanka.   

Did we support our industrialists to strengthen our automobile engineering sector?

Did we discourage our own people who had the ability to develop our industries?

Will we make the same mistake with the Labuyaya, Volkswagen venture?

As individuals, do we think of our requirement before investing in a vehicle?

Are we concerned about national wealth flowing out of the country?

Electric & Hybrid vehicles are new in the market. Do we know what is being emitted from these vehicles?

How can we avoid engineering, health & financial conflicts when using vehicles?  

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, January 2017.

Protecting Jungles of Sri Lanka

Protecting any forest not only Wilpattu is easy when people are obedient.

The Presidential Media Unit states that President Sirisena has directed to issue a gazette notification extending the land area of the Wilpattu National Park & to enforce the law against persons who are responsible for the forest destruction irrespective of their social status (source: Sunday Times). There are those who point fingers at Minister Rishad Bathiutheen for this deforestation (source: asiantribune).

When the SL armed forces were fighting the LTTE in the Eastern province some referred to ‘Thoppigala’ in the East as a jungle. In the military map ‘Thoppigala’ is referred to as ‘Barron’s cap’ according to them.

After the war ended they went to the Eastern province & ordered Mahinda & Basil Rajapaksa & then minister Rishad Bathiutheen in a vernacular language to ‘go away’ (Poda Mahinda, Poda Basil & Poda Rishad…). It is not clear whether Rishad was asked to leave east because he was clearing the Barron’s cap or any jungle in the East.

Mahinda must have obeyed the order (poda). He called for an early Presidential Election & went home…

Basil must have obeyed order (poda) & advised to hold the Presidential election. He went to the USA…

Rishad obeyed & went away to his native Mannar district…but saved his Portfolio.

If someone can go to Mannar district now & give another ‘poda’ order…

Rishad may stop clearing Wilpattu jungle & go somewhere else. It may save public funds used to implement mechanisms to protect jungles. How Mahinda & Basil would react is not clear & irrelevant.

What matters for the average citizen is to grow plants which will provide them with food & Oxygen.

If not it will be a serious conflict in life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSncLaoZ5Co

 © Dr. Samitha Hettige, January 2017.