Thursday, 31 July 2003  
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Bank accounts for all?

Newspapers reported recently that Dr. Wickreme Weerasooria, a financial advisor to the Government, has suggested that salary payments in the public and private sectors should be done through bank transfers or cheques, rather than in cash. He had said that this will increase the volume of transactions and amount of money circulating in the country's banking system. The same media report said that only 40% of Sri Lankans are believed to have bank accounts at the moment.

This is certainly a welcome move, but the Government will also need to remove various procedural obstacles that discourage or prevent ordinary people from opening and operating bank accounts, especially current accounts. There is an archaic rule that anyone seeking to open a current account should bring a recommendation from an existing current account holder of that bank. In some situations, aspiring current account holders are not able to meet this requirement, even though they are completely creditworthy and eligible. I have experienced this difficultly with some commercial banks.

When questioned, bank managers say there is a Central Bank regulation insisting on such recommendation.

Well, I would be interested to know what exactly that regulation is, and when it was imposed, and more importantly, whether such a regulation is valid any longer in this day and age? It is useful for us to recall the historical background for this archaic requirement: in the 1940s and 1950s, when banking was the exclusive domain of a privileged few, the Bank of Ceylon adopted this so-called requirement to effectively exclude the hoi polloi from becoming customers of their bank and from operating current accounts! (This is the same bank that did not allow customers to use Sinhala signatures - this policy was only changed in the 1960s when the newly created People's Bank allowed it). This institutionalisation of mid 20th century snobbery somehow became a standard norm for all commercial banks. If the Central Bank has regularised it, that should be reviewed and removed forthwith.

It is amazing how, in this 21st century, all commercial banks in Sri Lanka continue to insist on this feudalistic requirement while claiming to be modern financial service providers!

SURANGA DEEPATILLAKE, 
Rajagiriya

'Ray of hope for the disabled'

It is with great pleasure, I read an article `Ray of hope for the disabled' by Dr. Ajith. C. S. Perera (July 14).

In Sweden, where the welfare system is about the highest in the World, I am very impressed that facilities of a very high standard are provided to the disabled community to make them feel that they are worthy human beings, that they too can lead a normal life just like any other person. If only a percentage of the availabilities here can be introduced in Sri Lanka, I am very confident that the disabled community will feel that they are worthy citizens who can contribute in their own way for a better world for themselves as well as for the country.

I sincerely hope that the humble beginnings of The Sethpawana Society will now gain momentum, reawakening the responsibility of The Government, the private sector, The foreign missions, the Sri Lankans living abroad and the foreign nationals who have interest in the country through adopted children and other interest. Greater emphasis must be placed urgently as one cannot forget the increased number of disabled people who offered their services to safeguard the sovereignty of the nation through all these years of war.

Their services cannot or should not be forgotten as without their contribution, the country's economy and life in general would have been in real shambles. Through all these years, the plantation industry has been able to prosper, the tourist and the garment industry survived, among several other foreign exchange earners to the country and also despite all the setbacks Sri Lanka were even able to provide a cricket side who were World Champions. A big portion of the credit therefore must be attributed to these very disabled people of today who are now watching the action from the sidelines.

If anarchy ruled the country, all achievements would have been nil but today Sri Lanka has all the chances to repair the economic damage and expect a prosperous future when the current peace process is finally completed.

Therefore it is of paramount interest that the initiative taken by Preethi Colonne must be well-supported by the Government and the private sector who were able to survive throughout these turbulent years, also the sports clubs, and even the private citizens, and show their gratitude and respect.

In the same token mission abroad also Sri Lankans living abroad and foreign national which must take wider interest to assist with ideas, material and finance. The Government can set the first example by diverting a small percentage from the Defence Budget which is now drastically reduced.. thanks to these disabled people !! 'If little drops can be collected from each and every corner one day it could be a very big ocean?

LAKSHMAN JAYAWARDENA, 
Sweden

A pension for the blind

Many people who are blind and visually impaired live with their family members without any means of self-support. They have no employment and therefore no income whatsoever. The unemployment rate of the blind in this country is at an all-time high - over 95 per cent. Our per capita income is below the poverty level, not because we do not like to work but that we are not considered employable. Even among the employed, many have jobs that barely provide enough to meet their bills. If these statistics are true for the sighted community, the situation would be considered a tragedy and a catastrophe.

Social Services/Social Welfare call what you may, are just not interested in the well-being of the blind community. Government programmes and services are all directed to benefit the sighted population while the blind are discriminated against. The fact is that there are fewer blind people is making it easy for our politicians to by-pass the blind. At the same time our policymakers have no clearcut agenda to see that the benefits trickle down to the grassroots - the blind and the disabled.

Herewith we put forward the suggestion for the introduction of a Social Security Act with a welfare and a public assistance programme to benefit the blind. The primary aim of this Act would be to provide security against certain of the major social and economic hazards of life. We aspire nothing less than protection against the pennilessness of unemployment, security against the destitution of age, and mitigation in the desolation of blindness. With the passage of this Act, public welfare and job opportunity will become a national concern. Here there is not just the money and the financial independence and security to be considered. Actively working and being productive provides a sense of self-worth and self-esteem. The worker will find relief from apprehension, the aged physical comfort, the blind and the disabled - hope. These are core issues of the disability rights movement.

Blind Citizens Front is determined to see that blind are heard once and for all. We ask the present Government what specific steps will you take to protect the livelihood and the democratic rights of the blind and the disabled community. Sure there is a positive answer.

M. C. JAYASIRI, President, 
Blind Citizens Front

Pay hike, why?

The Opposition in Parliament and the Trade Unions are demanding increases in salaries. The Ministers too, in turn are so happily announcing a salary increase with the next budget.

Naturally this increase will be confined to the Government Servants. However, such an increase will cause additional burdens to the others due to the resultant increased cost of living. Why do people want salary increases? Undoubtedly to meet increased cost of living. But on the other hand if a salary increase to one sector spirals a further increase in cost of living for everybody what is the justification?

A Minister, (11.07.2003) claims, "sound policies of the Government and steps to maintain rigorous discipline in all sectors had put the country's economy on a sound footing and we plan to deliver these dividends to the people." Is it only the Government Servants, "the people"?

There are millions of unemployed and retired private sector employees living on meagre savings. How the dividends will be passed onto these people unless through reduction of cost of living is beyond comprehension.

So the best strategy should be to reduce the duties and bring down the prices of selected items with an eye on the further development of agriculture and milk production.

METTHANANDA WIJEKULASURIYA, 
Polgasowita

Kandy during the Esala Perahera

It is a well-known fact that almost 14 lakhs of people gather together in the city of Kandy within a few days to see the Esala Perahera. Among these people, if each person brings one thin polythene shopping bag or one plastic bottle of water, the total accumulation of these material within the Kandy city will be approximately 1,400,000 of shopping bags and 1,400,000 of plastic bottles. If this quantity is dispersed haphazardly throughout the city it would cause drainages to be blocked thereby spilling drainage water on to the streets, create bad smell due to the blocked drains and rotting of degradable garbage, and also provide optimum breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Some people even have the habit of dumping the food rest and other unwanted material into the Kandy Lake.

Unless well disciplined the gathering of a large number of people will environmentally degrade the city of Kandy. Therefore the following decisions have been taken in order to reduce the likely environmental degradation:

* The visitors to the city of Kandy during the Perahera week must carry their necessities in a cloth bag, or any other environmentally friendly bag. Such bags could easily be made at home. They must avoid carrying items in thin polythene shopping bags.

If people require, they could purchase environmentally-friendly bags such as cloth bags, paper bags, cane bags etc. within the city and in the outskirts of Kandy. Manufacturers of environmentally-friendly bags will be given the facility to sell their products during the Perahera season. If anyone needs further clarifications or advice they could call Dr. (Mrs.) Ajantha Perera - Tel: 01-509950.

* People are advised to bring their food in a box, rather than as a parcel, since food parcels require the use of lunch sheets.

* Carrying of plastic water bottles should be avoided, however, containers will be kept at various places throughout the city in order to collect the used water bottles, and glass bottles, and people are requested kindly to put all bottles into those containers.

* Penalties will have to be paid if one is found dumping garbage into the Kandy Lake.

* All the schools within the city of Kandy are requested to refrain from using thin polythene bags during the Perahera season, and the shop keepers are also requested to use environmentally friendly packaging material.

* During the festival period the people of Kandy are requested not to use polythene decorations for celebrations, meetings or funerals.

The whole purpose of this work is to collectively respect the city of our national heritage.

These decisions were taken at a meeting held on 11th of July at the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Tourism and Environmental Activities. The meeting was presided over by the Minister Al-Haj A. M. S. M. Shafie. The meeting was attended by his Secretary, M. B. Ekanayake, the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Yaparatne, Heads of Governmental Departments of Kandy or their representatives, the Heads of the Security Forces or their representatives, and the environmental organizations of the Central Province.

Dr. (Mrs.) AJANTHA PERERA, 
Tel/Fax: 94-1-509950, Advisor, Environmental Protection Program of the Kandy Esala Perahera

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