The ‘uncle’ syndrome: Can someone enlighten me?

I refer to the ‘Thoughts from London’ - column in the Sunday Times of January 1, regarding the educational qualifications for parliamentarians and other public officials.

I made a suggestion many years ago that any person contesting any type of elec-

What is this predilection among the SINHALESE (the emphasis is mine, as I have noticed that this practice is not very prevalent among the Tamils, Muslims, Burghers here), which includes the cultured Sinhalese, as well as the school drop-out bus conductor and three-wheel driver, to address all strangers, be it the beggar, the itinerant odd job man, the road sweeper or Municipal labourer, or other older person as “Uncle”. That older person could be a retired Doctor, Professor, Lecturer or other academically highly acclaimed person, and he feels highly insulted and mortified (and rightly so) to be equated with a beggar or road sweeper.

Someone, somewhere, has instilled the idea in the Sinhala mind-set, that it is being respectful to address an (or should I say “any”) elder person, as uncle.

This writer was witness to an incident where a retired Doctor, in his twilight years, walked into a shop (the local “sillara kade”) late one evening, attired in a sarong and tailed out shirt, (he was probably living a few doors away) and the shop salesman addressed him as “Mokakda Uncle one?” The Doctor promptly told him, in good, decent Sinhala, “I am not your tion should pass an IQ test and score a minimum of 70 out of 100.

Education is important but cannot be enforced as anyone can contest but if an IQ test is conducted it will be fair by all. A. Ahmed Colombo 5. Uncle, because I am not your Mother’s brother, and if I had a choice, I’d rather NOT be your Uncle. I am a retired Doctor, living a few doors away and I want a loaf of bread.”

The writer is of the view (I am willing to stand corrected) that this predilection has more to do with a severe “Inferiority complex” (or should it be “superiority complex”. I would welcome a clarification from a psychologist), where the ‘addresser’ feels it is below his dignity to call the ‘addressee’ as Sir or Mahaththaya, than with a desire to be ‘respectful’. Surely the dumbest salesman can differentiate between an itinerant/beggar and a more educated citizen, notwithstanding his attire at that moment.

I recall my father telling me “Son, if you address someone as “SIR” does NOT mean that that person is someone of eminence, but it reflects the culture of respect, good manners and mores, in which you have been nurtured and brought up.”

I wish this letter would get published, not for the edification of the general public, but more to get a feedback from academics and psychologically astute persons, about my above take on this rather odious habit. J. Appaswamy

Via email

There is probably no other product or service that is subject to such extreme price variations as Internet data. The cost of data, even from the same Internet Service Provider (ISP) can vary over an excessively wide range. Currently, the price of one GB of data falls somewhere between Rs. 50- and Rs.250 without taxes, levies and cess. When these are added, the cost to the customer would range from about Rs.75 to Rs.375 per GB, which indicates a whopping fivefold differential between prices for the same commodity!

(All references here are to ‘Peak Hours’ data as the majority of people find it impractical to sit before a computer between midnight and 6 a.m.)

There is another odd feature noticeable about Internet data packages. Usually, when things are purchased in larger quantities the unit price tends to decrease a little, but that is not the case here. Often,

It has been observed that many medical doctors in Sri Lanka are engaged in non-medical work. In order to obtain the first degree in Medicine, which is MBBS, a student has to spend not less than six years in the Medical College in addition to burning the midnight oil. In the first place to gain admission to a Medical College, one has to face stiff competition in the academic world.

Medical doctors are in scarcity not only in Sri Lanka but in most parts of the world and once a student passes out of the Medical College, the general public treat them with high respect and adulation due to the nature of their work. In the circumstances they have an enormous responsibility and they owe a debt of gratitude to the government as well as to the general public. The doctors must remember that the taxpayer has to spend not less than Rs. 10 million to train one doctor. Having considered the large the price of data per GB is slightly higher for the bigger packages!

This state of affairs does not make any sense at all. What is happening is that the service providers are simply ripping off the Internet users and there is apparently no one to look after the latter’s interests. Both the TRCSL and the Consumer Affairs Authority turn a blind eye to this. Therefore, to protect the interests of the public it is imperative that a responsible authority step in and bring some order and control to the ISPs’ logic defying pricing practices.

Incidentally, in respect of postpaid packages, consumers should be aware that not utilizing the entirety of the allotted GB is less wasteful than having to pay high prices for additional data they may be compelled to purchase later. What is meant by this is that if someone has signed up for a 30GB per month package and utilizes just 25GB he is wasting only sum of money spent on training and the tough competition they have to face, it is nothing but fair that they do the job that they were trained to do. Every doctor must remember that he has deprived another student who may be willing to engage in the medical field.

One can find a number of medical doctors engaged in politics in the present Parliament. It is common knowledge that no academic qualifications are required to be a member of Parliament, and in such a situation for doctors to engage in non-medical duties cannot be condoned. A student who is unwilling to look after the patients should not enter the Medical College by depriving another who is going to practise medicine and not do any other type of work. I recall when my son wanted to do medicine, I asked him whether he is willing to get up at midnight and rush to examine a patient seriously ill. I also advised him to be fully a little money. On the other hand, if that person has signed up for a 20 GB package, but later purchases an extra 5GB then he is wasting a lot of money. That is because the ‘Extra GB’ is prohibitively priced.

All too often it happens that you exhaust your package long before the month comes to an end and then you find yourself in a pretty awkward situation. Therefore, it is better to go in for a larger package than you think you will need and let a few GB go unutilized than run out of your monthly quota midway and be forced to buy ‘Extra GB’ at absurd prices.

Anyway, the best solution would be strict regulation and price control of Internet data as presently the ISPs are enjoying unfettered freedom to set the cost of service as they wish at the expense of the poor public who are at their mercy. C. Sugumar Kandy committed to a patient’s welfare forsaking his own comforts. To my great satisfaction he is now a doctor actively practising medicine.

If you look at the Ministry of Health and its provincial offices you will notice a large number of Medical Doctors engaged in ‘pen pushing’ - dealing in signing papers and similar mundane jobs which can be handled by administrative officers or management officers.

We in Sri Lanka need a large number of doctors to fill in the vacancies in our hospitals, particularly in rural districts. When doctors take up non-medical duties naturally the vacancies remain unfilled. In order to avoid this situation, I would suggest that all doctors passing out of Medical Colleges sign a bond to practise medicine for a minimum period of five years. Prem Goonawardena Piliyandala

The Fort Police Station in the years gone by occupied a most prestigious building which had its branches like the Crime, Traffic and administration given priority and with the signalmen’s barracks. Development commenced and now the Police Station has no permanent building and adequate space for offices, parking and even for the public to meet police officers to air their grievances.

All governments appear to have given the Police Department step- motherly treatment while the armed forces occupy well equipped buildings. A department like the Police which is called upon to work round the clock with the minimum facilities is treated with scant respect. It is time that the Minister of Public Order looked at these facilities before talking of ‘mega developments’. Has the government lost its priorities? While Police personnel are disappointed as disciplined officers they cannot go on ‘demonstrations’. They are completely ignored. Why? Via email

Kandy has been adjudged the best Municipality 2016 according to banners seen in the city.

This award has been earned sans City fathers – the Mayor and others members who had to vacate office on the dissolution of the council. It is requested that the following questions be answered by the Commissioner and others in the know. * If the Kandy Municipality is the best, what

is the worst local body? * What is the criteria and guidelines for the

selection of local bodies? * The award has been won during the time when there was no Mayor or councillors so what is the purpose of electing a Mayor and council members who are paid with the ratepayers’ money? * The selection as ‘best’ is questionable. – Take the example of the Kandy Public Library with a historical record and a collection of books worth millions of rupees that was subject to fire a decade ago and is still not repaired. Furthermore it has been partially functioning with a temporary librarian for the last 12 years. * Isn’t it time that serious thought was given to the multiplication of members of local bodies – viz- Delimitation Commission and its long overdue report? * Is it necessary to have some 5,000 local representatives of local bodies for an area of 25,000 sq. metres-that is Sri Lanka.

Lastly congratulations to the current commissioner for having increased the annual rates without an improvement of the facilities – for example land was provided by late President William Gopallawa for construction of a public toilet and this was done; but since 2016 it is being utilised for other purposes. S.G. Mapalagama

Kandy