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| Monday, 23 June 2003 |
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Letters | |
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A case for a private university A large number of our students now go to Russia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal for higher studies. Russia has been a favourite destination among our students for medicine and engineering for many years, whilst more affluent parents send their children to Australia, U.K., Canada and the United States. There are hundreds of affiliated Universities and Student Placement Centres advertising everyday in the newspapers to send students abroad. I feel this has become a big business. More precisely, a big racket. Why should we spend a vast sum of money on foreign education? This is because our universities, which work like real government departments, reject such students. If these students are bad, how come they are accepted by the foreign universities? It is because there is nothing wrong with the students, they are good material and they meet the admission criteria of such universities. Our universities do not have the resources to accommodate them. What has happened to our universities? No foreign students come to our universities for higher studies now. Have our universities failed as seats of learning? Why cannot we start a fee levying university so that anyone can send their children (as long as they have the basic qualifications) to such a university including foreign students. We do have a big number of qualified staff to start another university. This will give additional revenue to the country; additional direct employment to at least 500. After all our standard of education is definitely far superior to that of the other SAARC countries. Better start with a Medical Faculty which will ease the pressure on the existing system. It will be a good check on the existing universities. If the people of this country want to start a Private Medical Faculty, why not allow it? See the number of International Schools we have, all over the country. A Private Medical Faculty can be financed by the private sector. It could offer places to the foreign students as well and give scholarships to the bright and deserving local students. Usually our doctors do not like Private Medical Colleges being opened, as they feel their jobs are at risk. But this is a selfish motive. We know how selfish the GMOA is. But we certainly cannot allow either GMOA or JVP to run this country. RANJAN DE SILVA - Nawala. Newspapers of the recent past would show various lotteries having published their jackpot prizes running into several millions of rupees. The lottery institutions are no doubt playing with the lives of those who patronise them. I am stating this because of the criminal activities that are being committed daily, specially demanding ransoms and plundering human lives. Further, why make a winner float in money? The first prize of a lottery winner that starts with a million should go to a winner during that week itself. But it does not happen. The reason being too many balls that are numbered from which five or six numbers have to be the 'winning numbers'. Therefore, all lottery institutions should reduce their 'drawing balls' so as to accommodate winners every week. To show such colossal amounts as big prizes may be a trick of the trade to boost the sale of tickets. But no one can survive merely on tricks. As jackpot prices anyhow finally reach the winners why not make the initial prize be won at the beginning itself. The Ministry of Finance should make some suggestions to the lottery institutions taking into consideration the aforesaid matters. Furthermore, who knows the sale of lottery tickets may be declining that is why so much of advertisements are done by all such institutions. More winners mean more people will talk about it and there will be a brisk sale. NAZLY CASSIM, Colombo 13. Misery of intercity bus travel There are various modes of public transport, the 'air-conditioned inter-city' bus being the luxury mode of transport available for the average citizen. Although enticing terms such as "A/C, Express, Luxury, Inter-city" are explicitly displayed in the front of these buses and more advertised by the 'bus-criers' at the terminus, these adjectives are mere fancy terms only meant to lure the innocent passengers. They become still more innocent and hapless once the travel begins. As one gets into the bus parked at the terminus, there is a sigh of relief. The air-conditioned comfort is very satisfying and soothing; but no sooner the bus gathers momentum, the driver stealthily turns down or totally shut down the A/C. In very many buses, these air-conditioners are neither regularly serviced nor properly maintained, thus rendering them ineffective. Looking at the 'express' and 'inter-city' factors, these too are a farce. It not only stops to pick-up and drop passengers enroute, but also stops by at relatives or friends for a chat, not caring for the ill fated passengers, who are most keen to get to their destination as early as possible. The passengers seated in the front, near the aisle are forced to face another element of discomfort and embarrassment. Although there is a limited number of seats, additional passengers who opt to travel standing are lugged in to the bus. They stand crowding at the alley, creating discomfort and nuisance to the seated passengers. These additional passengers are not issued with tickets, and gives a personal income shared by the crew. There are very many rules and regulations in the book, to arrest these shortcomings; but sad to say that they are seldom and if not, never implemented. It would be rather difficult to rectify the above situation without remedial and alternative solutions, and I would therefore suggest that: * Each but should be checked and certified that it is road-worthy and the air conditioner unit functions properly, before the journey commences. * A bus inspector or an officer of the flying squad travel in the bus in disguise, at least at random throughout the whole journey, and empower him to action and fine the defaulters on the spot. * A report of such detection should be submitted to Head Office, to be filed of record * If the bus crews persist to continue their malpractices more than twice, the route licence to be cancelled and the bus driver's driving licence suspended/cancelled. * The drivers and conductors to be given thorough courses and workshops on: - practice and procedures of he service - courtesy towards the passengers, and that they should not be employed if they fail to pass a qualifying test on the above. * The bus driver and the conductor should be issued with badges indicating the registration number and the name, and these should be worn at all times. * Educate the public through media and by displaying instructions in the bus, explaining the rights and privileges of the passengers, and what action to pursue. * If all these fail, hand over the reigns of public transport to a selected foreign agency, where their services have always and undisputedly exemplary. We beg of the authorities to provide relief to the hapless passengers. VICTOR MAPITIGAMA - Kandy To answer a call of nature is very vital. No one could easily resist or postpone this biological requirement. It is the prime duty of the authorities to have this important need fulfilled for the convenience of people at least at important points in the hearts of towns. However, it appears that they have failed to launch or endeavour on such projects, to cater for this very essential human need. Even in Central London there are enough public conveniences at numerous points. In most countries there is proper planning which lacks in our administration. These facilities are available even in the Third World developing countries. Could we call Sri Lanka a Third World developing country? I request the relevant authorities to visit the open area of the new Pettah Central bus stand. Although colossal sums of money have been spent on it, is sans toilets. Many males are compelled to answer their calls of nature at several corners regardlessly in this massive area. The whole area emanates an awful stench, which is unbearable. How can one answer the more complicated call of nature. There is of course one common toilet a distance away, which cannot cater to a group at a time, constructed many years ago. This offensive odour is common at the Mt. Lavinia main bus halt as well and in many parts of various towns. One wonders whether this area has caught the eye of the relevant authorities. This is another example of low standards of a typical Sri Lankan administration. I feel extremely sorry for the fairer sex. They have no options at all but to suppress their urgent needs for long hours. I hope the authorities concerned would agree with what has been said and would take remedial steps to launch projects to overcome this essential need on an extensive scale. SUNIL THENABADU - Mt. Lavinia In the recent past, many innocent lives were lost and many families made to suffer unbearable losses as a result of the reckless driving of a few speed maniacs. Whilst many people have voiced their opinion on how to combat this menace, reckless driving still continues unabated because the punishment meted out to the offenders is negligible. Hence, I propose the following measures which will be a deterrent: (a) Causing death or serious injury due to reckless or drunken driving (i) The offender should not be granted bail. (ii) Impose a longer jail sentence and also a heavy fine. (iii) Payment of compensation to the victim's family. (b) Crossing the double line Sri Lankan drivers are not at all concerned about observing this rule and it is one of the main causes of serious accidents. Therefore the present fine of Rs. 200 for this offence should be increased to Rs. 10,000. The Police Dept. should have more personnel at these points to nab the 'cocky' and reckless drivers who blatantly flout the "double-line law" endangering the lives of many law abiding road users. (This proposal will also provide employment to some of our unemployed youth and the increase in the salary bill of the Police Dept. can easily be met with the enhanced income from the fines), (c) Speeding At present, a person who exceeds the speed limit of 70 kph is fined Rs. 200. The fine should increase according to the speed (according to the severity of the offence), as shown below: Speed Fine 80 kph - 200 90 kph - 400 100 kph - 1,000 110 kph - 2,000 120 kph - 3,000 I trust that the suggestions made above will be given due consideration by the authorities concerned and that meaningful steps would be taken without further delay in order to nab the drunken and reckless drivers and make our roads safe for travellers as well as for pedestrians. It is hoped that there will not be any exceptions - not even the Ministers and MPs who travel at break-neck speed. V. SILVA - Kandy. The global village Under the sun Mothers in eager Plants of peace A noble village Under the sun A global village Under the sun - DHARGANAGAR SAFA |
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