
MOHAMED ZAHRAN
COLOMBO : Is lighting crackers to celebrate the New Year not anachronistic? Beyond being a waste of money, have we considered the severe noise pollution it creates? Think of the terror it brings to infants and animals, who are left trembling in fear at the deafening blasts. What about the children who suffer devastating injuries from these explosives, often requiring hospitalisation? And the staggering cost of their treatment?
Isn’t it time to channel this money toward a noble cause—feeding the poor or supporting an orphanage? Starting the New Year by giving back could be far more meaningful, especially when our country faces an economic crisis and the cost of living continues to rise.
Let’s choose compassion over chaos in 2025!