Wednesday, 05  March 2003  
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A national approach

I must express my appreciation and gratitude to Daily News for publishing news and views of all shades and maintaining a high standard of journalism. Your views have always been on National (as opposed to communal) level. Had all our "National" newspapers done this, the ethnic problem would not have reached this low level.

Please continue your good work so that there will be peace and justice in this country.

V. G, 
Trincomalee.

The death penalty

It would appear that there are moves to enforce the Death Penalty in Sri Lanka. I am aware that, though the Death Penalty is in our Statute Book it has not been enforced in practice; therefore, I fear that what is being advocated is that death sentences be enforced.

It is accepted that the death penalty has not really been a deterrent against violence and, in this day and age, there is strong international feeling against the death penalty even being in the Statute Book. Most of all, I feel that life should not be taken for any reason whatsoever, even as a punishment of someone who has taken a life.

I hope that the Government would not only prevent the death penalty being enforced in this country but also remove it from the Statute Book itself.

MANEL ABEYSEKERA, 
Colombo 7.

Conduct unbecoming of Rupavahini

At the outset, let me tell you that I have nothing against nudity or adult films shown in the cinema halls, as they are viewed by the public at their own will and pleasure. But when such films are forcibly sent to your living room without a warning, it is highly unethical and objectionable.

Government TV channel Rupavahini commenced a film at 9.30 p.m. on Saturday (when children were not sleep) without any warning that it is a film most suitable for adults.

Some of the nude and sex scenes, dirty dialogue (Galavapan Hette/Veesi) were not censored/deleted properly. Only when such nude/sex scenes started it was cut, but showing a little part (adult fare) which is not suitable for a home theatre, to be viewed by the entire family.

It was good that there was the Sri Lanka cricket match on the Eye channel, as such most of the children were glued to that screen.

So only a little damage was done, but all are not cricket mad. I was also switching channels during the commercials on Channel Eye and observed such scenes on few occasions. If the entire film was viewed I would have seen more and more.

Our Sri Lankan tradition and culture do not allow such films to be viewed in a home theatre, by a mother even with adult/married children. You feel embarrassed to view such scenes with your adult children. Of course this nothing for some "Brown Sahib" families who view such adult fare together.

This movie being a Sinhala movie there was the tendency for all family (extended family) members to sit together with a "Bulath vita" to view a Sinhala film at no cost and without any inconvenience.

To quote the dialogue in one of the scenes in the film which I saw during the match breaks, "Remove your blouse".... "Lie on the floor facing upwards". What a language for family?

When Rupavahini wants to show such semi-nude films with sexy dialogue, (Adult fare) Rupavahini should give ample warning that it is for "adults only". It is also best that the film show starts at about 10.30 p.m. instead of 9.30 p.m.

To add insult to injury, I hear that the theme of the film was "Crime Pays"?

Over to the blind Rupavahini authorities, the Ministry of Media and the Minister of Cultural Affairs.

ARIYASUMITHRA WIJEYARATNE, 
Pilyandala.

Ragging and indiscipline

Ragging was reported in Kegalle schools recently. This has spread from Colombo, Kandy to other parts of the country. A 15 year student, a newcomer, has been badly beaten up and was hospitalised. The culprits are in remand.

And yet another incident is reported from the Kegalle Vidyalaya where the students are reported to have gone to the house of a teacher and assaulted him for getting them expelled from the school. These boys too have been produced in courts and put under remand.

Ragging is going on unabated due to the inefficiency of the school heads and teachers. There seems to be no end to effective control of these undisciplined students. Some teachers themselves are in toe with the culprits.

What is the remedy? - the big question so far not solved. It is the opinion of the majority that harsh punishment should not be meted out unless as a last resort, after corrective action has failed. The students are still learning not only the subjects taught them but also to be good and useful citizens of the future and the leaders of society.

This problem existed and exists in all universities of the world and it will continue to exist as long as the university education exists - or even primary or secondary education. It can never be completely eradicated. Only thing is to make meaningful efforts to contain it, to the barest minimum level which should be decent and law abiding and peaceful.

Only remedy seems to be for the clergy of all religions, PM, President, teachers and school heads and administrators to get together as one and help solve this problem or rather contain it. Court action and punishments must be the last resort.

V. K. B. RAMANAYAKE, 
Maharagama

Air fares fly high

As disclosed in the business page of Daily News a few weeks ago, huge difference of fares between Sri Lankan Airlines and other reputed airlines is a matter of concern.

Senior Manager of the SriLankan Airlines has stated that passengers prefer to fly in their airline as they provide better catering services, and more facilities to travellers. This statement implies that the people travelling in other airlines have to starve on the flight, and they are not treated properly. Nevertheless, our national carrier is known among the travellers as an exploiter of foreigners as well as fellow citizens travelling to and fro Sri Lanka. For instance, fares to sub-continent cities from Colombo is indiscriminately increased from time to time, thus making pilgrims, students and small-time holiday makers to bear the brunt of it.

As we know in other countries airlines are at the liberty of offering competitive rates to travellers, whereas in Sri Lanka, in spite of liberalized economic policies followed by the state, so called national carrier is allowed to monopolise the air travel. It is inferred that SriLankan Airlines is compelled to charge exorbitant fares to make up for its ostentatious and prodigious expenditure in the management. Unreasonable price increases of our national carrier should not be a barrier for tourist industry.

R. D. P. GUNAWARDENA, 
Kalutara

Democracy a la Sri Lanka

"Democracy" is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as "Government by the people or their representatives". This would mean that the people are sovereign and since it is impractical for all to meet for the purpose of governing themselves, they elect representatives who are empowered to govern on their behalf. An ideal system indeed.

Sri Lanka prides itself in proclaiming to the world that it is practising democracy". But what is reality is the position? For the best part of three decades, the country is under a state of emergency. Emergency laws are promulgated by the issue of gazettes overnight and these override the normal laws of the land".

At the start of this system of government by emergency, the Cabinet of Ministers have their approval for such laws but it is one individual holding office as - Executive President who can willy nilly promulgate such laws with a stroke of a pen".

V. Gnanesampanthan, 
Trincomalee.

Cheaper pharmaceuticals soon

A welcome news item appeared in the Daily News of 21st February 2003. It was stated that five generic drugs and four parallel imports would be available from Friday 21st February 2003. The drugs are supposed to be cheaper by 45% to 83% under this scheme.

These drugs will be available only at Osu Sala outlets and CWE pharmacies.

Why can't the drugs be made available even to the private pharmacies and the prices controlled so that they would not be able to make a quick buck at the expense of poor patients. A similar announcement was made some time back by the Ministry after VAT came into operation and for a week after this announcement the drugs were cheaper. However, after that the private pharmacies started selling the drugs at higher prices than what it was before bringing down the prices. I contacted the committee, which was formed, to inquire in to these complaints and the answer that I got was that the private pharmacies say that their stocks were imported after paying GST and NSL and therefore they are unable to reduce. The committee was helpless in ordering the private pharmacies to sell at reduced rates.

The main question is whether this time also, the same thing will be repeated. The Govt. should be firm and see that private pharmacies also sell drugs at reduced rates. The whole problem in Sri Lanka is that in most cases vested interests come into the scene and Govt. cannot implement any decisions taken. If the drugs are reduced as stated in the news report, then it will be a great victory for the Govt.

GEETHA PERERA, 
Ratmalana

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