Here is what was mentioned on the Net which is worth reading:
The reason the set of vitamins seem to skip directly from E to K is that the vitamins corresponding to “letters” F-J were either reclassified over time, discarded as false leads, or renamed because of their relationship to “vitamin B”, which became a “complex” of vitamins. The German-speaking scientists who isolated and described vitamin K (in addition to naming it as such) did so because the vitamin is intimately involved in the coagulation of blood following wounding. At the time, most (but not all) of the letters from F through to J were already designated, so the use of the letter K was considered quite reasonable.

Mohamed Zahran
Colombo 3

What right has the Bhikkhus to dabble in politics thereby breaking the Vinaya Rules expected to be followed by the Sangha? How can the Sangha Nayakes who cannot stop Bhikkhus from engaging in active politics issue orders to laymen calling upon them not to come forward at the hustings? Would the same Bhikkhus have threatened General Fonseka if he was a non-Buddhist?

The best thing that the political Bhikkhus could do to Buddhism and the Buddhists is not to participate in political activities. They should behave in a manner that will bring respect to the Cheevaraya they wear and if they cannot do so, stop wearing it. That is my view as a Buddhist.

Upali S. Jayasekera
Colombo 4.

The incapacitated and crippled armed forces personnel are now being faithfully and charitably looked after not only by the Government but also by societies, institutions and even by good-natured individuals. Most of the personnel incapacitated are young and perhaps in early twenties and as they advance in age their conditions may get worsened and they may need much more medical and psychotherapy treatment and devoted and close attention and in forty or fifty years those who are now committed to look after them may not be there or may not be in a position to offer the same commitment. Those with amputated legs and hands and subject to other illnesses in old age will need devoted personnel attention.

Those who are born in a few years time, in maturity age will not appreciate the dedication and sacrifices the armed forces personnel made to be incapacitated life long, as the such in matured age such persons who had not experienced the terrorist impact and the suffering the people of all communities underwent and will also not be aware that most personnel were from poor families and from remote villages and that they sacrificed their young lives to save the nation from terrorism. As such, from such persons the commitment to look after the armed force personnel may not be forthcoming as it is happening now and they cannot be blamed for it. Even the political commitment will not be forthcoming in thirty to forty years with such vigour and enthusiasm.

Thus, instead of more Stupas, construction of psychological cum psychotherapy cum rehabilitation centres will be more beneficial in all other provinces for immediate use with provision for periodical expansion depending on the need for increased residential accommodation for those in old age requiring specialised attention in forty to fifty years time. Thus, instead of Sama Stupas; Ranaviru Sama Rehabilitation Centres could be constructed in all other provinces including the North and East to provide the same services to LTTE forced civil victims of terrorism and whose poor parents of the North and East may be encountering difficulties to look after them.

Currently generous philanthropists have been constructing Stupas for temples and for ashramas and Stupa construction will continue without the Government having to incur the cost of construction. Prior to Independence many philanthropists had constructed and financed centres to look after old persons, orphans, mentally retarded persons and even now the occupants and the public gratefully remembers those philanthropists with gratitude and ceremonies are conducted to recall their voluntary contribution.

These centres with special facilities should not be opened for the deserters and those who are not affected with incapacitated conditions to misuse them. Doctors and others associated in hospital services and many other persons may even provide voluntary services even if the centre sites are distant from hospitals.

Buddhist Mind

Appreciations

Many of these antics are recounted in his article that appeared in the Ceylon Observer of July 30, 1995. I am happy that they were published, for the sake of my own three sons who were growing up physically distant from their grandpa since I chose to reside permanently in Canada in 1974.
No one could help but feel at ease in dad’s presence because of his wit and genuinely affable manner. He taught me that friendliness begets friendliness and that genuine interest in a neighbour invites reciprocal interest. The friends he made remained his friends for life.
I also remember him for his writing talents that had taken him into journalism when he left school. In my growing years in Sri Lanka, The Ceylon Observer, Ceylon Times and Sunday Observer were the platforms for his story telling.

I remember especially the weekly serials on his unique street characters like Pasthol Moosa or the king of beggars that put smiles on our faces. Earlier on in his journalistic career he had shown a knack for poetry in the several years that he courted his “Princess Golden Heart” - my Mom, via the columns of the Ceylon Observer. And the clippings of these poems filled a locked cabinet in his bedroom as I discovered one day.
Then there was his fine poetic piece “The Kandyan Love Song” that he dedicated to Mom and to “Romance that grows sweeter with time” which was set to music by Alesandra Castilleno. Ruth, my wife enjoys playing it today on the piano. And in those courtship years before their marriage, he systematically showered Mom with beautifully bound classics of English Literature which filled the bookcases of our home in Schofield Place, Kollupitiya, and which I avidly read in my teenage years. Each book was inscribed in his bold handwriting on the inside cover “To Princess Golden Heart from Wilver Arden”; those initials my Mom told me stood for “Great Heart”. He was a prince of a man to her.

Their long romance was the prelude to a solid and happy marriage. A related memory is a family home constantly open to a steady stream of friends, relatives and even former domestic servants who tasted my parents’ warm hospitality whenever they dropped in to visit.
It must also be said that my Dad who was openly given to joviality had a manly reserve to openly showing grief. The prime example was when Mom deceased suddenly following complicated surgery for a bad hip fracture in April 1983. My brother-in-law Hubert Aloysius told me of Dad spending many a moment, several times inside the home bathroom, shedding tears for her during that fateful time.

Today, I keep and re-read his letters to me and to my children written in their early primary and secondary school years in Canada before he deceased in 1998. All his letters were hugely positive and inspiring as he encouraged my children on to self-accomplishment and to having good character qualities, a reflection of his own mould formed during his school days at Trinity College. So also were his letters to me encouraging me to complete my graduate studies, and later, to move on in life when I decided to settle permanently in Canada.
Looking back, although in my early teen years I did not follow in his large footprints of excelling in sports at school (for which I was teased at Royal College by teachers who knew my dad), I still feel I have many bits of him in me - especially the importance of being positive and resilient, of cultivating good friendships, of having a sense of good humour and the gift of community with anybody you meet. I do also keenly follow the game of cricket which he played and was an ardent lover of, because of his enthusiastic interest that affected me in my growing years as we discussed matches and players together.
It was superb having him as my dad and I love him always for the wonderful memories he has left with me.

Mark Aiyadurai
Victoria BC
Canada

-Marky

There was no doubt there was keen competition even during those days to become a planter. I was told, from his young days he was very keen, sincere and dynamic and mastered the techniques of all aspects of tea and rubber planting and manufacture. It did not take much time to prove to the different managements he worked for, that he was capable of managing large plantations.

During this period the majority of the labour force on estates was Tamils and he found it quite easy to work together in harmony and look after their interests while producing the best results. He was very fluent in Tamil and he was quite close to them and they loved him very much.
He gave top priority to the well-being of the downtrodden labour force that was trampled by the Europeans at every turn. Thaaththi’s kindness and large-heartedness brought him fruitful results in the many plantations he managed.
In his day thaaththi was tall, good-looking and always smartly dressed. He was highly articulate and charismatic too.
To his brothers and sisters Thaaththi was the darling of the family and they were very proud of him. He was prepared to sacrifice anything for the sake of his brothers and sisters. This rare quality was embedded in him from his schoolboy days.

Thaaththi was also passionately interested in sports and had a great sense of humour. He loved the company of his friends and simple food. He needed no invitation to sing at parties. He sang solo as and when he chose and at other times dominated the chorus with his stentorian voice.
Thaaththi was a God-fearing man who never missed his morning prayers before setting out for work everyday.
He also had a fierce sense of intellectual independence and a deep interest in national issues; in the arena of national political conduct he would insist on righteousness at all times oblivious to the inherent murkiness of political realities.

At the time of his death, he had more than 40 years experience in planting and was a well-recognised Visiting Agent for so many large plantations in the private sector. The vast areas he has replanted in many plantations that he was managing in the low country would undoubtedly bear testimony to the invaluable services rendered by him to the industry and the country at large.
His 15th year Death Anniversay falls day after tomorrow (December 1).
May he attain Nibbana!

Son-Haren

Dr Azeez was educated at the Allapichai Quran Madrasa, Vaidyeshwara Vidyalam and Jaffna Hindu College. His early education itself developed his liberal outlook that barred no race or ethnicity; instead there was the notion that there would be nothing that would succeed a good education. He maintained it firmly throughout his professional and personal life.

He entered the University in 1929 and graduated with honours in History from the University of London. Later he was awarded Government Arts Scholarship and proceeded to St Catherine’s College, Cambridge.
Dr Azeez held several important positions in the Public Service. He started his career as a young cadet at Matale and then he was assigned to the Customs Department in 1942 during World War II. In Ceylon history, he was the first Muslim Civil Servant - a distinction awarded through merit in the Ceylon Civil Service Examination.
In 1942, he was transferred to Kalmunai as Assistant Government Agent to set up an emergency Kachcheri to accelerate the food production of the southern region of the Eastern Province from Batticoloa to Kumana. It was reported that 12,270 acres were cultivated with paddy during that time.

Soon the region was transporting rice to other areas in the country. As a mark of respect, the farmers have reserved a section of land in Dr Azeez’s name. A harvest festival was held on the farm in March 1943 for the first time to celebrate the accelerated production. This event was graced by the late Rt. Hon. D. S. Senanayake (Privy Councillor) and other dignitaries who were brought to the ceremony in a procession of carts. The highest productivity in the region of Ampara District contributed 62% of paddy cultivation of the country. Later he was the Deputy Food Controller, A.G.A., Kandy and finally he was attached to the Ministry of Health.

In 1948, Dr Azeez quit the Civil Service to take over as the Principal of Zahira College, Colombo. The 13 years of his stewardship have been referred to as the ‘Golden Era of Zahira.’ With the intellectual capacity, vision, sincerity, dedication and administrative skills, Zahira became one of the finest public schools and one of the leading Muslim educational institutions in the country.
The college under the Free Education Scheme consisted of students from all communities of the island irrespective of caste, creed, race or religion. Students at the time lived as brothers with unity, integrity and communal harmony to its best.

The writer bears testimony to this as he was admitted to the college at the time of its former Principal, T. B. Jayah and continued during the tenure of office of Dr A. M. A. Azeez. The writer’s article in Sinhala was published in ‘Az-Zahira’ College Magazine and also received the first prize for Sinhala, awarded by the then Prime Minister, Hon S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike for all of which writer extends his gratitude to “Mother - Zahira”. Dr Azeez was so humble that a telegram of best wishes was sent to the writer on the occasion of his wedding at YMBA, Colombo 08.

During this time, the college excelled in studies, sports, scouting, elocution, oratory and debating and nearly 100 students entered the University of Ceylon. The standard of education and discipline Dr Azeez built up at Zahira was excellent. It had a well equipped library and an excellent laboratory too.
No doubt, Swami Vipulananda of Karaitivu, the founder of Sivananda Vidyalam and the poet, Abdul Cader Lebbe were in close association with Dr Azeez influencing Tamil culture and Tamil literature at that time. He however, promoted social harmony among all ethnic groups in the country. He also had a vision far ahead that higher education should be available to women as well.

Dr Azeez founded the All Ceylon Young Men’s Muslim Association Conference in 1950. His role as a Muslim public figure has been etched in Sri Lankan history. In 1952, he was awarded the MBE for his services to the country and in the same year he was appointed to the Senate. In 1963, he became a member of the Public Service Commission. Senator Azeez was honoured on a commemorative stamp in 1986. In recognition of his contribution to literature and education, the University of Jaffna, at its first convocation in 1980, conferred a doctorate of letters on him.

He fervently believed that all communities in this country could and should live in amity through not just understanding and tolerance, but by learning from each other.
Not only Muslims but also all Sri Lankans lost a great personality of social, cultural and educational values with his sudden death on November 24, 1973 at the age of 62. Let me appeal to the grateful Muslim friends to earmark his birth centenary on October 4, 2011.
May Dr Azeez be in communion with his spiritual belief!

Bhikku W. Rathana
Ananda Buddhist Meditation Centre
Indigolla
Gampaha