I refer to the article published in your paper on 8.11.01, under the above mentioned topic and sent by Chandra Bandara of Kandy.

In this letter the writer has queried why there is a dearth of intellectual knowledge among people living in the tropics, which has prevented them from being great inventors and the like, while there is an abundance of natural resources in these lands.

He has also wanted to know whether excess of sunlight has an effect on their intellect.

It is a fact that almost every person living in these places, experience much inconvenience by sweating profusely, due to the direct rays of the sun falling on them during almost all the months of the year. This factor and also the presence of much humidity, in the atmosphere has undoubtedly convinced many that the majority of people existing here, are smaller in stature than their western counterparts.

Therefore it is very likely that their mental faculties too are also affected to some extent.
Ira Perera
Gonawela