Sir — The fact that insect populations are being rapidly decimated has been known for some time. But scientists have found that light pollution is a significant cause for the disappearance of insects. Artificial light has a negative impact on the natural behavioural patterns of insects. Moths attracted by bulbs die owing to the heat, predators like rats have an unfair advantage when it comes to spotting insect and mating signals of fireflies are lost in the sea of light. Excess lights can easily be turned off. This will also save crucial electricity and cut down carbon emissions. Let there be darkness.

Roshni Sen,
Calcutta

Strong comeback

Sir — Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been elected the president of Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa had spearheaded the end of the bloody civil war in the island nation. It is thus not surprising that he has come to power on the back of one of the most heinous terror attacks in Sri Lanka, in which more than 250 people were killed. His image as a strongman may have brought him to power, but the question of the disappearance of thousands of people at the end of the civil war are yet to be answered. Rajapaksa’s role in these disappearances has been suspected for long. Still one hopes that Rajapaksa will be able to quell the spectre of Islamist terror in the country without resorting to unfair means.

For India, Rajapaksa’s ascent is cause for concern. It is well known that he is favourably disposed towards China. To counter this influence, India must establish better ties with Sri Lanka at once.

T.K. Nandanan,
Kochi

Sir — The victory of Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the Sri Lankan presidential elections is a cause for concern for India because it will have a bearing on the latter’s presence in the Indian Ocean region where Beijing is increasingly making inroads. During Rajapaksa’s visit to India as defence secretary in 2014, the ministry of external affairs had delivered a tough message to him. It was communicated that the Narendra Modi government took a stern view of Sri Lanka allowing Chinese warships into the harbour at Colombo. This could not have gone down well with Rajapaksa. Beijing’s vice-like grip on Sri Lankan politics will only get stronger with Rajapaksa at the helm. New Delhi is bound to be apprehensive.

S.S. Paul,
Nadia

Sir — There seems to be rough times ahead for the island nation of Sri Lanka. Have all errors of the past been erased? This is the foremost question in the minds of Sri Lankans now. The country is inhabited primarily by the Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamils. But it also has a sizeable Muslim population. Religious tensions have simmered in Sri Lanka for a long time now. It is now the responsibility of an active and aware media to ensure that the ruling regime in Sri Lanka treats all its citizens equally.

P. Senthil Saravana Durai,
Mumbai

Sir — After years in political wilderness, the Rajapaksa family is back at the helm of affairs in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s wartime defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, triumphed with clear mandate. Although his rival, Sajith Premadasa, had some clout in the north, especially among Tamils and Muslims, he failed to do significantly well in other regions. The Easter bomb attacks added to Premadasa’s woes. India had witnessed a downgrading in bilateral relationships with Sri Lanka when Mahinda Rajapaksa had been in power the last time. It is well known that Mahinda Rajapaksa gave in to each of China’s demands in the name of ushering in development and led the country into a debt trap. One hopes that Gotabaya Rajapaksa has learnt lessons from his brother’s mistakes and will take a more balanced approach towards China.

Rahul Chouhan,
Ujjain

Sir — With strongman politics on the rise, it is hardly a surprise that Sri Lanka has voted Gotabaya Rajapaksa to power. Human rights seem to have become an antiquated concept that does not hold any relevance in a dog-eat-dog capitalist society.

Aditya Basu,
Calcutta