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| Monday, 03 March 2003 |
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Letters | |
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Wanted - a face lift for Sri Lanka's image overseas Peace is here having survived 365 plus days - an achievement in spite of minor infractions. What comes next? We are opening our doors to foreign investment following on the stamp of approval that peace is here to stay. An elated population breathes a sigh of relief hoping for a sincere and lasting peace with trust. However, it is not a time to sit back and relax. Nothing is permanent. Not even peace after 20 years of turmoil unless we all strive to keep it through hard work, and a sincere effort to give our best to our country and our children who will bear the torch after us. We need to lead best by example. The "should do" list can stretch across continents. Enumerating what we should do is fruitless without a proactive approach. In strengthening our economy, we do depend largely on foreign investment. Foreign investors are astute and look for more than cheap and intelligent trainable labour. The government machinery they deal with may not be equipped to the levels of efficiency and effective management that foreign investors look for in moving forward without frustration. We must remember that we have a competition. Do we produce the levels of quality and efficiency required? May be we do in some areas and don't in others. In a competitive global economy there are many waiting for a piece of the pie. To rise above the rest we should be more consistent. The need for fast turn around, follow-up on matters, attention to deadlines, timely responses, high standards of communications and public relations are essential criteria to develop if we are to compete globally. Countries like India, Pakistan, Bangaladesh and China compete with us in one area - a low cost work force. We need to differentiate ourselves from the rest to gain the confidence of potential investors who have other choices. These potential investors include our own expatriate population. The confidence of the Chinese expatriates is evidenced in the fact that 70% of foreign investment in China comes from its own expatriates. The foundation should strengthen through language skills in English. Introducing the language in schools alone leaves behind a few generations of the current workforce that has suffered in the political wrangling over language. In these areas we have a long way to go. Our education system marginalizes some of the important skills that need to go hand in hand with academic education. We need to look around and begin to address these areas, provide adult education and professional development for the current workforce. Universities need to introduce new courses to better equip the educated to be productive in the work force. The time has come to introduce work ethics in the education system. Within the country there are resources and people need to take the initiative to take a close and hard look at what needs to be done. On the other side of the shores of Sri Lanka, much remains to be done in our foreign missions that are the first point of contact for business or tourist interest in Sri Lanka. Many Sri Lankans who deal with our missions overseas complain about the lack of courtesy and efficiency extended to the public. If Sri Lankans complain, what about potential foreign investors or others who interact with our foreign missions? Some are too polite to comment-they simply walk away. Many Sri Lankan residents in the United States have complained about the state of our mission in Washington. Most complaints are about the lack of English among some key staff members. Some are impolite and not committed to the job. Although English is not our language, being articulate in an international language is critical in serving at a mission overseas. Some complaints are justified because common courtesy is to be expected of anyone dealing with the public-especially in a diplomatic environment. Yet, one needs to give the benefit of the doubt in other areas where square pegs are sitting in round holes-totally uneducated and unequipped or trained for the job. Who puts them there is a question that needs answers because of its effect on our image. Appointments are made regardless of the skills necessary for the job, proper training or expectations of their role; employees are shipped out to foreign lands to represent the country as a payback. Even the entrances to our missions are not a welcoming sight. This is not for lack of staff or funds. Sometimes, it takes only soap and water and a broom or vacuum cleaner to keep it simple, clean and welcoming. The most frustrating part of entering one of our missions is to witness idle employees walking back and forth, chatting and wasting time. Look up at the ceiling spider webs grow above. Look down at the floor there will be sand and dirt on carpets and unpolished floors. Looking around with an eye for aesthetic beauty and pride in projecting a good image of our country is the lowest priority --or is it that they don't see? Do we need to teach people to look around and take action? There is a dire need for better management and higher standards of accountability. Can we do better to train and educate the front line employees who represent our country? Courtesy, good manners and cleanliness does not come with a price tag. Rather-they come with human decency. If we are to give Sri Lanka a facelift, we need to grow the intangibles that are fast disappearing. Sadly, we are talking but not doing anything about it. Let's take some action without looking for excuses and accepting this as our inevitable plight. Anjalika Silva - USA Though hepatitisB and HIV are the most dangerous infections of this century, gone are the days people worry over common infectious diseases. Though medical science have developed remarkable feats there is little that medical care can do for a lung that has been over inflated by smoking, or by a liver that has been scarred by too much alcohol. Alcohol related deaths are at a height. Deaths due to lung cancer has tripled. What is the answer? Clearly we need to look at what we reasonably expect our doctors to do for us and what we must do for ourselves. Life expectancy tables make it clear that doctors alone cannot determine our life span. If Sri Lankans can anticipate to live longer and if longevity could be chosen by the majority of Sri Lankans, the question becomes how best to do it? During a study seven health habits were identified. There is no magic elixir, no exotic prescription. But the seven habits are:- 1. Breakfast regularly 2. Meals at regular times - no snacking 3. Moderate to brisk exercise four times a week 4. Adequate sleep - seven-eight hours in the night 5. No smoking 6. Moderate weight (control weight) 7. Alcohol only in moderation if at all Now make your choice? If longevity in life is necessary. DR. A. NANDAKUMAR - Hatton During our holiday in Sri Lanka we had the pleasure of attending three weddings. One of a family member and the other two of very good friends. Similar to our friends wedding great preparations were made for the family wedding. Writing the guest list was an unenviable task my inlaws had to do and lists of guests were written, rewritten and then were again subject to further scrutiny. In this day and age the amount a hotel charges per guest easily exceeds one thousand rupees. Weddings are certainly a costly affair. Invitations were printed and sent out. My inlaws were awaiting people to observe the common courtesies of etiquette and let them know if they were unable to come so that they could inform the brides' party so that they could inform the hotel. Apart from a handful of people who called to say they could not make it no one else called. On the day of the wedding it was very disappointing to find that over 25 people had not turned up neither todate have they called to say sorry they were unable to come. A great expense is incurred at weddings and it is despicable that guests who are invited do not show up nor observe the norms of RSVP. It is also a colossal waste of money when invitees do not turn up. It makes me wonder if these non attendees are even worthy of friendship. I am certain that invitees who do not bother to turn up neither RSVP will not like it when they are given the same treatment at their weddings. So why not in future RSVP to invitations and show some manners! TINA EDWARD - GUNAWARDHANA United Kingdom The best of both worlds This has reference to a letter published recently. Customs officials (C/Os) are government servants but it is a well-known fact that they lead a life of luxury when compared to other government officials. We can see C/Os live in lap of luxury and most of them travel in their own brand new vehicles and some do have their own transport services and businesses in their in-laws names. Some have luxurious homes where "Seetha Gangula" flows right through their sitting halls, water cascading from a picturesque water fall at the other end of the sitting hall, with piped-in music. Sometimes any visit or will think that is a 5 star hotel lobby. It is also a fact that parents try their best to put in their youngsters to customs service due to speed money/santhosam/gifts business. At the end of the day they make a thumping packet by way of speed cash. Some working people who have done professional studies leading to chartered accountancy, law, computer science have given up their professions and joined the customs service - for what? - to be a simple poor government servant? If one looks around the customs personal files, you will find that this is the simple truth. I have seen at the baggage clearance, how C/Os use their official status to terrorise and intimidate the uneducated, poor housemaids and rob them of their hard earned money and/or goods. Some C/Os are very courteous they don't demand anything but say politely, "could you buy 4 bottles of whisky for me from the duty free (I have a ceremony at my home) and that man will pay and collect it from you outside". It is simple, you go again to the duty free with that man (an airport employee) and the duty free also don't ask questions, they put a bogus passport number and issue the receipt. So the bottles thus collected go to the black market - profits to the C/Os and henchmen. This is only one such episode. If I write about my experience (+ my colleagues) with C/Os, I can write a best seller. It is true that we also have benefitted through these bribe offerings as we can bring in anything we want. The end loser is the "government coffers". Some seem to be rather perturbed about the intervention of Income Tax Department with C/Os income. If there is nothing to hide, then why worry - let tax officials and "returns" and inspect their luxury homes. There is a saying, "Join the Customs and enjoy the best of both worlds." If they catch a thief they get a substantial reward from the department, if they look the other side, they get fabulous payments/rewards from the robber barons." This is the simple truth. Bribery and corruption are rampant in the customs. C. SILVA, Colombo 5 As a citizen of this country it has been my policy when actions of officers serving the public are commendable to always give appreciation and hand-over a bouquet. But I am sorry I have now to refer to an incident which calls for a brickbat. I had to send an urgent communication to Colombo from Batticaloa and only recently I was made aware that there was something called a Telemail - a facility which akin to a telegram but a bit more expensive, one could ensure that any communication got delivered within two hours of despatch. I then handed over this communication to the Batticaloa General Post Office but despite the handicap I had of having to fill a form exclusively written in Sinhalese only. I anyway got the form and rushed to a friend of mine who knew Sinhala and filled in the various categories of the form as translated by him and at a cost of about Rs. 60 sent off this communication. I have been struck by the service minded attitude of all postal members of the staff here, right down from the Chief Post Master where after sending off the message, they told me that within minutes I could telephone a number given in Colombo where I could verify if the message had reached them within minutes. The message was sent off at 3.15 p.m. and I verified from this Colombo number that they had received it by about 3.30 p.m. The undertaking is that this message would be delivered to the receiver within two hours. But verifying from the Central Mail Office a very courteous and polite officer told me with much regret that the messenger responsible had taken it for delivery only as late as 8.30 p.m. - five hours later, instead of within the two hours for this high cost mail. This messenger is then stated to have said that even at that time he found it difficult to deliver and finally ended up by delivering it only this morning about 8.30 a.m. - a delay of seventeen hours. Isn't this a breach of trust for the citizen and will serious action be taken against this messenger, since the urgency of having recourse to the Telemail at greater cost was made futile for me. PRINCE CASINADER, Batticaloa The Municipal Council, Matale has announced a reduction on the revised rates for the year 2003, on immovable properties as a means of relief to ratepayers within the Matale Municipal Council. It is heartening to read that at least one Municipal Council has taken a bold decision to reduce the revised rates. The Colombo Municipal Council also should revise the increased rates for the year 2003 on immovable properties as a measure of relief to its rate payers. In an instant case the rate has been increased by 50% on a 16 year old house situated in a private road and occupied by an aged owner and wife. K.B. Colombo 4. Advertisements, banners and posters in the city It has been observed that commercial advertising becoming a nuisance in the city. Banners and other means of cloth and polythene banners are hanging all over the lamp columns and public places. Large scale commercial advertisement is coming up covering important statues, important buildings, religious places and grounds in the city. Colombo is a natural city. City authorities should take much more interest to keep the natural beauty of the city. It was noticed that no development work happen in the city other than the large scale advertising boards came up during last few months. The mayor should not allow cheap scale advertisers to sell the city for petty things. Make the city with professional vision and keep your name, remarkable as a City Father. W. G. WANIGATUNGA, Colombo 5. |
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