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| Monday, 11 November 2002 |
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Letters | |
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It was certainly a landmark judicial conclusion to a long standing investigation, this incident also not being the only one. It brought to mind however, something that I had forgotten of several years ago. While in New York after the 1983 holocaust, a former office colleague who had just fled in '83 and invited me for lunch, was still extremely bitter. He recalled how his father's skull was split open by marauding crowds and the whole house destroyed with him barely escaping, while the rest of Colombo was similarly ravaged, obviously planned and led by sinister political or other leaderships. The same thing had occurred in 1958 with the most gruesome destructions of lives and properties. He concluded bitterly that all political leaders who presided over these and many more, not to mention the tortures in the North in the 60s and 70s, should have been each sentenced to 500 years in prison. Having known the Sinhala people as a whole he was quick not to blame all of them. Where does this latest addition to accusation lead us then? History is full of the most regrettable tragedies like these where peace has had to be made, and the people never looked back thereafter. There is no question in the latest incident in questioning the legal process, but there is much to question political use of such process. As John Bruton, when Prime Minister of Ireland said "With whom else does one talk peace except with one's enemies?" - And there are 2 enemies, not one! One trust that we shall know, all of us together, how to proceed from here. C. Suriyakumaran - Colombo 3.
Dr. Kingsley De Alwis's letter is more frightening than disgraceful! When will Sri Lanka truly break-away from being so dependent and ingratiating to "foreigners" of a particular colour? We live in times when there are no boundaries between colour, creed and race anywhere in the world. In Canada if a citizen or a visitor (to Canada) were to experience what Dr. de Alwis and his family experienced at this "ayurvedic" hotel, for sure that hotel or institution would be made to close down, and the owners and the employees would face prosecution. I sincerely wish that the hotel industry and the general public will begin to regard themselves as worthy citizens, and not feel obliged to make special concessions to any individual or party. Kumara Soysa - Canada.
Paying for music whilst 'holding the line' During peak hours we take important calls to various departments, offices, and other places. The "Hello" is said most politely thereafter after having asked for the person we wish to speak to, the answer comes "Hold the line" and from then it's a case of holding the line whilst some music is being played and this goes on and on and nobody seems to answer, whilst of course our bills go up and up, not coming down, whilst the world goes round and round. I am quoting lines from a current hit. How are we to keep our bills down when we have to hold that line for as much as 7 - 8 minutes at times maybe even more. Maybe the telephone operators cannot help it too. But shouldn't there be some solution to this? In some firms we even hear a long tale - You have reached so and so - if you wish to speak to so and so, press this, and if you wish to send a fax press another or if you wish to speak to someone else and so on - when you are finally connected a good 4 minutes have passed and after all this turmoil comes the answer "Please hold on". All this is rather annoying and expensive too, so could some kind reader enlighten me on what could be done. We all like to keep our telephone bills down, but that can never be done when we are holding that line listening to music. Those calls to be taken during office hours and these were peak hours. I just cannot see what could be done, Can You? Yvonne Keerthisingha - Rajagiriya.
Withholding tax on interest income I am pleased to observe that necessary amendments to the Inland Revenue Act will be made in due course in respect of the following: (1) Deposits When a limited company places a deposit with a Bank or Financial Institution, the entire income is taxable @ 30% or 35% as the case may be. The 10% withholding tax deducted by the Bank or Financial Institution could be claimed as credit by the said company. In the past, in the absence of necessary amendment it was announced that 90% net income receivable be taxed while the 10% WHT was non refundable. This had resulted in added tax paid by the limited companies and discouraged them from making investments in the Bank or Financial Institutions. (2) Treasury Bills According to the amendment to be effected when an individual purchase Treasury Bills in the secondary market, the net income received will not be taxable. This will stimulate participation of individuals in the Treasury Bill market. In the case of companies or associations, the gross income from Treasury Bills was considered as taxable. According to the amendment, a notional tax credit is permitted computed @ 1/9 of the net income. This will also encourage such companies and associations to invest in Treasury Bills. Therefore, it could be observed that attractive tax concessions are granted in accordance with the new amendments. These steps give support to the Treasury Bill operations. (3) Interest on Deposits A monthly income of Rs. 6,000/= or an annual income of Rs. 72,000/= per deposit in a Bank is not subject to Withholding Tax. (However, in the case of Savings Certificates or Certificates of Deposits the total income is liable for Withholding Tax with no limits. This limit has been increased to Rs. 12,000/= per month or Rs. 144,000/= per annum for charitable institutions. This is an additional support towards such organizations. Observation: With effect from 1.4.2002 the entire income earned by private Provident Fund Associations from Treasury Bills is liable for tax with Withholding Tax credit permitted. Since approved Provident Fund Associations are taxable @ 10% it is practically known that the Treasury Bill income (net) received is tax free. Usually, a major portion of income earned by Provident Fund Associations is from Treasury Bill operations and the balance is from loans to members. I quote below the following example of a Provident Fund Association for the year 2002/2003. Treasury Bills Income (net) - Rs. 900,000 Income from loans given to members - Rs. 100,000 Total income - Rs. 1,000,000 The income of Rs. 900,000/= would be grossed to Rs. 1,000,000/= (taxed at 10%) with the notional tax credit of Rs. 100,000/=. Therefore, practically only the income from loans given to members is taxable. On 15.8.2002 the Association would have paid Rs. 25,000/= as the first instalment of income tax payable for 2002/2003, whereas the tax liability for the entire year now, after deduction of notional tax credit available is only Rs. 10,000/=. Therefore, the Rs. 25,000/= tax paid on 15.8.2002 covers the tax liability of the Association for nearly 2 1/2 years resulting in money being blocked. I recommend that the Dept. of Inland Revenue: (a) permits that no more instalments be paid on 15th November 2002 and 15th February & 15th May 2003. AND (b) arrange for refunds to be made on submission of applications. I hope the Dept. of Inland Revenue will issue a press notification with regard to this matter. I suggest that the public-at-large should obtain clarification from the Department early for corrective action. After all, the concessions granted by the Department should be enjoyed by all with the least possible delay. Tax on dividends Whilst thanking the Dept. of Inland Revenue for removing the anomalies with suitable amendments, it should be mentioned that the 10% Withholding Tax imposed on dividends results in a reduction of income to the limited companies receiving such dividends. In the past limited companies were not liable for tax on dividend income. I hope the Department would make necessary amendments to remove this anomaly as well. General Notifications by the Dept. of Inland Revenue are usually published in the newspapers. It would be better if the Department could issue copies of such notifications to the following bodies who register themselves with the Department for this purpose, at the same time they are released to the press: (1) Professional Institutions (2) Trade Chambers (3) Taxation Committees etc. Similar arrangements could be done by the Sri Lanka Customs which is also a very important Department. This step will ensure that the public-at-large is properly informed of any new regulations that are implemented, amendments to existing regulations etc. on time. S. R. BALACHANDRAN - Council Member, The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka
With all the talks of educational reforms and reorganisations in the offing one wonders why the educational authorities are ignorant of the fact that there are several National Schools in the Colombo district are functioning without principals. The situation has led to serious dislocation of academic and administrative work in the schools concerned some of which have a student population of more than three to four thousand and a tutorial staff exceeding one hundred. With no one in real authority the tutorial and administrative staff of these schools ponder from whom to take the orders. Is it so difficult for the Ministry of Education to solve the problem by simply advertising forthwith the vacancies for the post of principal in these schools without leaving the student population of the relevant schools in the lurch? C.P. - Colombo 3
Recently on one of the TV channels, I observed sugar cane is being cultivated once again in the Hingurana area of the Gal Oya Valley. This is a very good move by whoever undertakes the work. At the same time I must sound a note of warning to the people concerned that correct and effective elephant control methods should be adopted from the very start, if the venture to be a success. An ex-Wildlife Officer, in charge of all the elephant control operations in the sugar area, I had to construct electric fences between the Amparai and Kondawattuwan tanks. Further more, between the Army Cantonment, and the Paragahakella Agriculture camp. This was done to prevent the herds of elephant moving from the Himadurawa and the air strip area. Construction of the fences saved the sugar plantations to a great extent, if not elephants will filter through. Elephant control watchers be employed to first drive away all elephants seeking shelter between the Amparai/Inginiyagala Road, Gal Oya river and then construct the electric fence. In addition to elephant damage, the sugar cane is attacked by buffaloe and wild boar. This problem too should be solved, with the aid of watchers provided with shot guns (after necessary authority obtained from GA). This assignment is a very tough one, as strict supervision should be maintained, by the authorities. GAMINI DE SILVA - Malabe.
After buying 39% of equity stakes of important bus companies Ibis has indicated. They will add buses and train employees of these bus companies. This is of course good news for suffering commuters here. Since Ibis is London based, it is logical to expect a high standard of road transport by these to rejuvenate bus companies and fare must hopefully not be at sterling level! We await to board a bus for a comfortable ride after many many years. K. U. PUSHPAKUMARA - Pitakotte.
I listened to a panel discussion over the SLBC on 23.10.2002 at which the head of the Traffic Police, Colombo and another person interested in the prevention of road accidents explained some of the causes that lead to road deaths. It was revealed that the majority of road victims are old people and schoolchildren who use pedestrian crossings or even use the pavements. Overtaking was said to be the main cause of head-on collision amongst bus drivers who always speed on any part of the road without due consideration for other road users, three wheeler drivers come next. A third world country like Sri Lanka which has to go with the begging bowl cannot afford to build speed highways for fast moving traffic. At this discussion not a word was spoken about drunken drivers or the penalties and fines that should be enhanced sky high to give the fear of Moses to errant drivers who undoubtedly cause them due to their utter negligence. I remember very clearly having read a news item some years ago that in Soviet Russia the death penalty was the maximum punishment imposed on errant drivers for homicide on a conviction for such offence. Should our motto in the above context ever remain "LICENCE TO KILL" as a measure to reduce the growing population. EARLE R. DE ZOYSA - Ratmalana
When VVIP of any country including Sri Lanka makes vituperative accusations and immediately or almost immediately issue statements quite contrary if not opposite to the earlier statements plus pyrotechnics one is reminded of the quote. "When Gods wish to destroy a person they first send him mad." Sad but true. MAJOR S. MERVYN DUNUWILLE - Andiambalama.
The October 24, Thursday's Daily News Mihisara text, on the topic of "The Toilet Papers" was introducing a new "No-mix Toilet" which is veritably, I do believe, a sensible option that would indubitably enable easy and environment friendly method of "sanitise and reuse" sewerage system. "Makes you flushed with pride," says the correspondent of the article Devaka Seneviratna. But flabbergasted to see "The Thinker", the world famous, venerated masterpiece of sculpture by Augustee Rodin, was made to sit on a toilet commode. It is not surprising that the unique value of this powerful figure of man hasn't become apparent, hitherto, in a world enveloped in globalization and modernization where masters and the masterpieces are ridiculously blasphemed in such a way that the editors of newspapers are at the mercy of entrepreneurs and advertisers who, neglecting the bounden duty, paying little attention to probable harm, whatsoever, have practised travesty vitiating renowned ancient statues and antiquities. It took twenty years for Augustee Rodin, the great French sculptor, to mould "The Thinker", which though not finished up its finishing touch, had been meant to be a part of a group figures designed for the door of a museum, depicts a man sunk in deep thought, leaning forward with the chin resting on his hand. This statue is at present at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. K. G. SILVA - Gampaha
Today the cost of living is bouncing high and most people find it difficult to exist with what they earn through employment or by any other means which is limited. The price of essential foods and commodities (rice, flour, sugar, dhal, coconuts, vegetables, meat and fish, milk foods etc.) have, at the same time, become prohibitive. This situation has escalated corruption, robbery, bribery, deceit etc., in order to make ends meet. The increased price of LP gas has made a serious impact on the home budget, specially among those who live in flats where firewood cannot be used for cooking purposes, and all of them are not rich enough to pay such high price, but compelled to do so. The price of coconuts has increased to Rs. 20 a nut. It was reported in the press that when the government planned to import coconuts from India, to be sold at a reasonable price, it was foiled by wholesale dealers in coconut, for their own benefit, regardless of the poor consumer. When the living index is high, the people usually blame the government for creating such a situation. Promises given by politicians before elections have seldom been looked into after the elections. The government must try to bring down the cost of living as no one else can do it. ARYADASA RATNASINGHE - Mattegoda.
An appeal to C.G.R. authorities An incessant embarrassment! ..... Men and women, commuters and the sick, office workers and labourers, they all rush madly to board the train to Matara from Kandy at 5 a.m. This is what happens for years at the Kandy Railway Station, mostly during week days. The neck-to-neck race starts from the entrance to the Kandy Railway station lest they would be deprived of seats. Those who manage to secure a seat become the 'winners'. But the winners, everyday, seems to be of the same faces without any significant change or difference, irrespective of the place they get in the race. They do not become winners on the 'first come-first serve' basis, nor the 'last come-last serve' basis. Then what is this criterion or ambiguous basis to become winners? Contrarily to both above, it is very sad to tell that this is on no basis, but a friendly basis, which is much irritative and agonizing. Once get into a compartment, one will notice that a majority of seats that are not physically occupied are kept reserved for their friendly associates, by leaving different objects on seats like bags, umbrellas, handkerchives and even pieces of paper etc. Those who get into a rear most compartment will have to walk through all the compartments searching for seats which are not reserved. The old and the sick, at least, have no mercy teachers and pupils, parents and children, some carrying infants on shoulder, all travel standing without a little space, even on an edge of a seat to hang on, amidst the hustle and the bustle in the thronging compartments. On its way, even before reaching Polgahawela, the whole train with insufficient number of eight compartments, becomes fully congested and packed so that no single movement of people on board could be made. They are like pillers on earth. How unpleasant and risky is it, to observe that this regular practice of the young ruffians to jump into the train through windows? Why do these incorrigible characters behave in such a way that other people who are innocent and helpless get hindered? I, as a passenger, on behalf of all other victim-passengers, make this kind appeal to the authorities concerned, to take immediate remedial measurers whatever possible, to do away with this daily practice of inhumane activities of that nature, without leaving it to have fallen in deaf years. BANDARA ATAPATTU - Via e-mail.
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