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| Thursday, 17 October 2002 |
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Letters | |
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Considered the poor man's food chain, the CWE over the past many years served the public with essential commodities at reasonable prices. At times of civil commotions such as the one in 1983 and 1989 it was the CWE establishment which ensured the supply of goods when all but a few of the private traders braved to keep their shops open. Prices were jacked up at the whim and fancy of the owners, cashing in on the chaos in the country due to the disruption of supplies within the country and imports. The CWE transport service one remembers, did a commendable job of ensuring that supplies were distributed to their outlets in the whole country. That, Lalith Athulatmudali did a splendid job in this situation should not be forgotten and only because it could be declared an essential service and any moveable or fixed assets was at his disposal to ensure that there was no shortage of supplies. It is a reminder therefore, that the distribution arm of food in particular, must always remain in the hands of the state. This is a fundamental responsibility of any Govt. in power. A situation that of 1983 could happen anytime and the public at large would be solely at the mercy of a few individuals with a monopoly on both prices and supplies. Privatization of state enterprises such as the Bank of Ceylon, The Peoples bank , and a whole host of profit and loss making institutions needs to be examined beyond the Govt's purported requirement of generating urgently required cash, by their sale. The advertisements in the state and other media that all citizens of Sri Lanka are in debt to the tune of 75,000/-, and that Privatization of state stakes is the only way out, is questionable. Specially at this juncture, where the outcome of the Peace moves are yet to be defined. Vis vis a parallel Govt. could take shape in the North and East where the economic Policies could be at total variance with that advocated in the south. The Public may at the end, find that these monies have been spent only to build Nothern and Eastern infrastructure without a penny worth of benefit coming to the south.- Or for that matter such institutions could be financed and controlled by the North or their proxies with a strangle hold on the South. Why Public institutions are bankrupt or loss making or yet insufficient in their returns is solely because of bad management. The business of Govt, is not business, but to govern ; and yet, all Govts' since independence indulged in stuffing these institutions with lackeys and made use of these institutions to meet with their political objectives. At the helm of these institutions were those who did not know a anything about management or even if they did, they danced only to the dictates of the bosses. Private enterprises, where I have worked at premier Multi National companies and around a dozen other, as director, senior management and consultant over the past thirty years had no mission statement in the business. " Serve the People" - it says, at best- " Serve the customers." Privatization of the CWE is a firm No. - The average man needs no company slogan which says serve the Customers. We need an Institution which says " We serve the People.". G. MAHEN. P. SIRIWARDENA- Malpendeniya, Kegalla.
"Have you read Lorna Wright's article on Elders?" (Daily News; Oct. 1st.), a friend asked me. To begin with I prefer the term "senior citizens" rather than "elders", a word classified in the Oxford dictionary as "persons of greater age/advanced in life. Secondly I fail to see them as one of our country's reserve of strength. The majority of senior citizens are retired wage earners or persons both enjoying and claiming dependency. A glance at the population pyramid of which, Sri Lanka, quicker than in most countries, is changing from a sharp triangle into an oblong shape with the wage earner age group receding and the dependency age groups, above and below, widening alarmingly. There are multiple factors, ranging from mental and physical health (my friend Bennett frown Trown and wonder why 'spiritual' has been omitted), to be taken into consideration. They may or may not be "a reservoir of strength: since the younger generations have flipped over from being respectual and helpful to being either rebellious or resenting having to "pay homage to elders". As such, grandmothers looking after small children when mothers have opted for migrant labour abroad, can seriously upset the psychological well being in the family circle. Is a trendly house a worthwhile exchange for a husband who has strayed elsewhere. Being a senior citizen myself, in view of the situation in our country today, I would suggest that senior citizens let nature takes its course as far as physical appearance etc, are concerned. And any remaining reservoirs of strength be kept in abeyance for what the few remaining years of life may demand of you as an individual. One suggestion - with democratic reforms falling over each other to be implemented - what about a Senior Citizens Village, - inhabited, organised and administered by people who have helped in guiding their country or making a mess of it? MALINI BALASINGAM.
We write with reference to an article in the "Readers' Mail" column of the Daily News of 02/10/02 by W. Panditaratne of Kandy. He writes that the Daily News of 14/09/02 states in a review of this book 'How To See Ceylon' that its author Bella Sidney Woolf "is said to have married Robert Lock. This name however is incorrect". He quotes from Leonard Woolf's 'Growing' stating that it was Wilfred Thomas Southern who married Leonard Woolf's sister Bella. It seems that the writer has not read the original edition nor the latest, i.e. the 5th edition of 'How To See Ceylon' about which the review appeared on the 14th. In the original edition (1914) the name "Mrs. R.H. Lock" is given in brackets beneath the name Bella Sidney Woolf on the cover and she even ends her foreword as "Mrs. R.H. Lock". In this latest edition, we have included an article by Mr. Richard Boyle titled 'Bella Woolf: Seeing The Exotic Other' as an introduction. In this it is very clearly stated that Bella was married to Robert Lock who was the Assistant Director of the Peradeniya Gardens in 1910. He died in 1915, and she was re-married to Wilfred Southern in 1921, who later became the Governor of Gambia. In Leonard Woolf's autobiographical book titled 'Growing', published in 1960 when he refers to Wilfred Southern "who later married his sister Bella", he is referring to her second marriage. Therefore, the mention of Robert Lock as Bella's husband in the review in the Daily News is correct. In fact, in her foreword to the first edition she says "Last, but not least, I am indebted in the highest degree to my husband for his practical advice and assistance in planning the Guide. I can but hope that it will help some others to an equal enjoyment of the many hundreds of miles we motored together along the sunny roads of Ceylon". This is written in 1914 and then it is Robert Lock she is referring to as her husband. P.G. CUMARATUNGA- (For Visidunu Prakashakayo (Pvt) Ltd.), Boralesgamuwa.
The Government and the LTTE, the two warring parties, through internal and external efforts and, perhaps, providentially too, have come to an understanding between themselves to negotiate with each other and to resolve the causes of the war amicably and peacefully. But there are some persons and groups in our country, knowingly or unknowingly, wilfully or otherwise, who are trying to rock the boat that would upset the apple cart and bring back the sufferings, loss of life and damage to properties. There might be some temporary gain to such persons or groups. But in the long run it will be a tragedy to the country and to all the people of the country including those who are trying to do such things. Some other people, without meaning any harm, are in a hurry to reach the end that they create some incidents which complicate matters and delay the on-going process to resolve the problem of the country. It is in the interest of the country and in their own interest too that such people refrain from doing such things. Small problems that affect the people at this point of time should be left to the Government and the LTTE to sort them out with the help of the facilitators and the monitors. They should wait patiently for a little while more. Can't those who had waited till the food was cooked wait till it gets cooled off to eat it as the saying goes. Why be in a mighty hurry and upset the entire food? Arul- Colombo 13
Much has been written about pedestrian crossings but I wish to highlight three aspects which have not been pointed out earlier. 1. The positioning of pedestrian crossings should be where it is visible from a distance so that pedestrians can see a vehicle approaching and drivers also can see pedestrians from a distance. Contrary to this, given below are few places in Colombo where there are pedestrian crossings just after a blind corner or bend posing a danger. a) Proceeding from Thunmulla and turning left to Thurstan Road, there is a pedestrian crossing just after the bend. b) proceeding along Bauddhaloka Mawatha from Rupavahini junction and turning right to Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, there is a pedestrian crossing just after the bend. c) Proceeding along Thurstan Road turning left towards Flower Road near Royal College roundabout there is a pedestrian crossing just after the bend. d) Proceeding along Nawala Road from Nugegoda and turning left towards Narahenpita Road at Nawala Junction, there is a pedestrian crossing just after the bend. Steps should be taken to position pedestrian crossing away from blind corners and bends to reduce the danger to both motorists and pedestrians. 2. The visibility of a pedestrian crossing is very important. Most accidents happen when motorists do not properly see the pedestrian crossing. There should be warning signs, crossings should be marked in luminous paint and area round the crossing should be well lit up at night. 3. The lethargy of pedestrians using the crossing is also a matter for concern. When given the chance to cross, most pedestrians take their own time to cross. Pedestrians should walk across as quickly as possible and let the vehicles pass through without holding them for long. The pedestrians, motorists, and police should pay attention to above matters and take preventive actions. K.G.E.- Nugegoda
Upper Kotmale hydro-power project The Upper Kotmale Hydro-Power Project issue is again being raised and there is growing protests against the construction of this Project. In spite of all the opposition the Minister of Power and Energy is adamant to go ahead with it. Does he realize the following factors which must be given thought to: 1) The threat to the environment and eco-system of the locality 2) Heavy silting of the reservoirs, specially after long periods of drought. This is evident in the present Kotmale Reservoir in particular and in the other Hydro-Power reservoirs. 3) Uprooting families from their established habitat and settling them elsewhere, causing severe constraints and disruption to their living patterns. This was evident at Rathkinde where the people from Teldeniya were settled, for the construction of Victoria Power Project. 4) Uncertainity and inconsistent power supply during long periods of drought which is a common occurence in tropical countries depending on the Monsoons to bring rain to the catchment areas of these reservoirs. Monsoon rains are erratic and unpredictable, as a result the power project would have to shut down or run at deficit power output. 5) Most vitally, politicians have not yet learnt to respect and give ear to the views and ideas of other Ethnic minorities.. G.S. HEMARATNE- Nugegoda.
With the introduction of Debit tax w.e.f. 1st June 2002, banks were required to deduct 0.1% tax on all debits to the current accounts and remit to the Dept of Inland Revenue. Since certain debits, like investments in the stock market, purchases of Treasury Bills, payment of income tax etc. were exempt from this tax, customers were requested to claim such refunds direct from the bank before the 15th of the following month. The banks were instructed to credit these refunds to the current account and remit only the nett amount to Dept. of Inland Revenue. However, one leading foreign bank has written to its customers that such refunds will be subject to a bank charge of a considerable amount. The reason being that this bank provides other electronic banking facilities and the customers should use these facilities for transactions that are not liable for debit tax. While it is appreciated that the advanced electronic banking is no doubt a plus factor the basic refund facility introduced by the Dept. of Inland Revenue should be available to all customers without any additional charge. It should be noted that the majority of customers do not make use of the electronic banking facility. Further the refund of Debit tax does not involve any payments by cheques or other documentations, it is only a credit to the current account, hence an additional charge is not justified and many amount to violation of fundamental rights of a customer. I hope that the bank concerned will reconsider its decision in order to maintain its high reputation. Adan- Mount Lavinia.
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