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| Tuesday, 18 March 2003 |
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Letters | |
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Who approved five schools within 400 metres in Thalakotuwa Gardens? It is my imagination to believe that the UDA and CEA were set up to protect the population? The Urban Development to plan, monitor and authorize the proper building and infrastructure. Moreover, that was why it was termed Urban Development. The Central Environment to plan, monitor and authorize development of any infrastructure if it is not harmful to the environment. I believe the Government has wasted the poor people's taxes in setting up these institutions as they have failed to carry out their duties towards its community. Twenty years ago I purchased my house in an environment that was the envy of all Colombo Citizens. Although it was in Colombo 5, this housing scheme was still in its village splendour. It was under developed. Therefore, the place was green with birds chirping round the year. Noise and pollution from vehicles were absent. It was a pleasure to walk the scheme at any time of the day, as the air was fresh and clean. Development of course must start and did start with the road being made by the contributions of the residents in the scheme, as our road is private. Then the Low Lying Board cleared and Gabianed the canal. The land that they reclaimed was sold to the Ilma International School who developed and now has a 600 strong student population as the residents were tolerant to accept the inconvenience of school traffic at the height of the office and lunch hours but were able to cope with it. The question I now pose is how many schools do a housing scheme need, and how many schools would be proportionately allowed in urban areas? We had at by 2001, the Badrawathie Government School and the Ilma International within a 100 metres. By any yardstick in any proper urban planning, this would be considered the most. However, it was not to be. Approval was given to the Asian International School in a clandestine manner slap-bang next to the Ilma International. They have another 700 strong student population. Adding more insult to injury they have approved a further two schools - one is the Elizabeth Moir School and the other with a high politico who has vested interest in that school. Now it will be altogether five schools within just 300 metres. The whole scheme would be having a 3000 or more student population and 3000 or more vehicles commuting on the Thalakotuwa road. The Thalakotuwa Housing scheme has about 120 houses that were well-planned with five by-roads and a twenty foot main roadway for easy egress and regress. As an irate resident please tell me whether I need my head examined for asking how the Urban and Environment Authorities approved so many schools in the middle of a residential housing scheme? Consider this scenario in the mornings. You just cannot leave for work in the morning until it is 8.30. The road is chock a block with vehicles emitting polluting gasses for a good two hours. This road was not meant for heavy traffic. It's only 20 feet wide and lightly mettled for very light traffic. These vehicles then do not leave the scheme, they will park and wait until the schools are over. They will block the roads, the bye ways and cause to be a hindrance to the residents. Then comes the crucial lunch hour period. This is from 12 p.m. onwards. If a heart patient happens to get into this block - he or she - may as well say good bye to this world. The jams not only irritate the residents who are locked in their homes; the drivers of the vehicles are also so irate that they will not fail to use abusive language on anyone and everyone. In fact we have more than a dozen complaints of abusive language on the residents. Quite understandable. Who would want to sweat it out in the jam that is now lasting almost an hour cursing the schools, the children and the authorities who approved. This is what I call "Road Rage" - everyone wanting to tear the other apart. I always believed that nothing works unless there is or was blood shed - which is bound to happen in the never ending chaos. Negotiations, pleading, even litigating have no meaning whatsoever to the corrupt bureaucrats who make life a misery for the people and the community. I believe that our rights as residents who wanted a peaceful and unpolluted surroundings now infringed. Only the Urban Development Authority and the Central Environmental Authority now stand accountable. Anarchy will set in if there is no immediate action taken. The poor Police cannot handle the urban fiasco that has been planned by the authorities. They and only they (the urban and environment authorities) must solve this immediately. If not as I said earlier please do not wait until something tragic happens. Y. C. CHANG,
Safeguard country's traditional religious parades I wish to express the sense of sadness, shock, and also shame which I felt (sentiments shared by many other spectators, I know) at the presence of the German Tarara band from Hamburg at the Gangarama perahera in Colombo recently. I fail to understand what possible place a very 5th rate foreign band has in one of your country's traditional religious parades. The members of this band showed absolutely no respect for the religious aspect - their only interest being to draw attention to themselves.I would be very saddened at the thought that the wonderful traditions of your country run the risk of contamination by completely unrelated external influences, for purely commercial purposes. I can only hope, and count upon your influence to ensure that your country's traditions are safeguarded and that my fears do not become reality. SHEILA AHLES, The future of the Tamil people We are Tamil people living in the Central Province for several generations. We have the right to vote and to own property in the area without restriction. We live happily among our Sinhala and Moslem brethren. I believe it is the same in the other provinces in the South. What is happening in the North and the East? In many areas we know that the LTTE are in sole command. It is an LTTE leader who rules a particular region. Other LTTE leaders, with absolute power, rule other similar regions. They are responsible only to the Leader immediately above them. And so on, up the ladder of power that leads ultimately to the LTTE Chief, V. Prabhakaran. They are disciplined and well-organized, and govern without Police or Law Courts. How much freedom is there for the people of those areas? It is now one year since negotiations began for a peace settlement of the Government with the LTTE. They are working towards an MOU. Strangely, the person who represents the LTTE is one Dr. Balasingham, who lives abroad and who is a British Citizen! Can he really speak on behalf of us Tamils? If Mr. Prabhakaran claims to be the LTTE leader and works for the cause of the Tamil people, why does he not come out from his concrete shelter and work openly? He is respected by us, has fought for the Tamil cause, and could do much to bring about ultimate peace in Sri Lanka. What about the Tamil people of Jaffna and the North East? Is their voice being heard? What about the Tamils in the South? Is our voice to be heard? All who desire peace for our country, Sri Lanka, must consider these important questions. R. SIVAKUMARAN, Donations for prisoners' children Recently there was a photograph of a politician donating schoolbooks to the children of prisoners. While sympathizing with these unfortunate children, and in no way trying to dissuade people from helping them, I cannot but help at the irony of our politicians. On one hand, they do nothing to reduce the number of prisoners - no change of laws to accelerate court cases, nor to amend whom to be taken in. Assuming all prisoners deserve to be in prison, the idea of putting them there, is either to make them feel the inconvenience caused to their personal life - which should include the family, or to reform them. We can forget about the latter in our country. So while we keep the prisoners in prison, not only feeding, clothing and looking after them, but also looking after the needs of their family, I see no point in anyone NOT wanting to go to prison. Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai, Apropos the letter of March 3 under the above caption two important issues have been raised, viz the colossal expenditure incurred by some parents of brides and bridegrooms in holding weddings at star class hotels and invitees displaying a callous disregard for manners in not responding to the request R.V.S.P appearing in invitations in case the persons invited are unable to grace the occasion. The holding of weddings in star class hotels or in other inexpensive places or in one's own home is a matter that has to be decided by the parents and it is not a bone of contention. I now come to the second issue. The visiting duo have emphasised on the lack of etiquette, manners and courtesies on the part of many of the invitees to their wedding held in a star class hotel and they saw stars when they noted several unoccupied seats. Their grouse was the absentees who had not cared to send regrets if they were unable to attend the function. In point of act, I wonder how many in present day Sri Lanka knows what the acronym R.S.V.P. denotes. I am an octogenarian who attended a Buddhist English School in Colombo. Pali was thrust on us. However to enrich our English, our teachers adopted a positive attitude and taught us many Latin, Greek and French terms with their meanings which they envisioned would come in handy in our future lives. As such people are old and studies in English would immediately give the meaning of a common Latin, Greek or French term. The medium of instruction in all schools at present is Sinhala and I wonder whether even an educated person could fearlessly explain to another the actual composition of the term R.S.V.P. In fact many educated persons in my locality have come running to me for elucidation. I have told them that the four letters stand for 'Respondez Sil Vous Plait' - a French term asking the invitee to please reply if not attending the reception. Now, please examine this riddle critically and ask yourself whether we are doing justice to all and sundry by using this foreign and outdated term on our invitation cards! Why not say 'If unable to attend, please inform early' Quite simple! Hotel bookings would also not be a problem! W. O. H. INDRARATNE, |
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