Monday, 4 August 2003  
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Don't abandon "Visa on arrival"

In early 2002, the Sri Lankan Government took a courageous and progressive step to allow nationals of other six South Asian countries to travel to Sri Lanka without an advance visa. This was indeed a step in the right direction, which as the Minister of tourism said at the time, will encourage SAARC nationals to visit Sri Lanka more frequently.

I was therefore disturbed to read recent news reports that this 'visa on arrival' scheme is being misused by a few South Asians 'Apparently human smugglers have found this relaxed visa procedure a boon, and have started using Sri Lanka as a convenient transit point for illegally transporting South Asians to European and Far Eastern destinations in search of higher incomes. Some officials had implied that the visa on arrival scheme may have to be reviewed.

This is indeed worrying. Tens of thousands of legitimate travellers arrive in Sri lanka every month from other South Asian countries for tourism, business, cultural or academic purposes and these visitors have benefited enormously from the visa on arrival arrangement. No longer have they got to languish at Sri Lankan diplomatic missions or consulates and to be at the mercy of officials to permit them to travel to Sri Lanka.

For South Asian Regional Co-operation to become a meaningful, people to people contact must intensify and this is why the Sri Lankan visa liberalisation was such a welcome step towards SAARC integration.

We are, at the same time, aware that a handful of officials in the diplomatic missions and immigration circles have resented this far sighted move from the beginning, as it has reduced their chances for harassing prospective South Asian visitors to Sri lanka. These officials will seize any and every reason - such as the few illegal immigrants allegedly transiting through Sri Lanka - to call for a revocation of the visa on arrival system.

We earnestly hope that sanity will prevail and the Prime Minister and government will not give into this bureaucratic pressure. True SAARC is not heads of state or officials huddling together in each others' countries and interacting at all levels. Then and then alone will regional understanding and co-operation emerge.

SURANGA DEEPATILLAKE, Rajagiriya.

Doctors' strike - strikes the shuttle

The paradox ' doctors pave the way for the innocent sick to their death' that certainly caused a big lamentation among the ailing people few weeks ago had then become a subject matter highly controversial.

Doctors and those doctor-biased may have much more facts to reason out that those doctor-unbiased have. In its true sense, the facts on the subject are deemed necessary to be analyzed in many aspects, if need to come to a generalization on the issue.

Doctors bear arms against the authorities concerned claiming their demands that perhaps may or may not be reasonable to others. Authorities who have had an eye for similar after effects in previous occasions too, get stimulated to take remedial measures only after few deaths are reported.

It is accepted with one accord that doctors render a decorous and dignified service to the nation on the whole, making use of their professional knowledge and practical experience that they gaind with the assistance of a colossal amount of public money.

Doctors are supposed to treat the sick who come to them, and not to hold the poor sick to ransom until they achieve their demands. Whatever the circumstances are, it is worth to point out in my opinion that ultimately, we, the poor who cannot afford only will become the shuttle of the hand-loom to get the blow from either side. But the rich and those who can afford will resort to private practitioners to survive.

It is still heart-rending to remember the tragedy of a woman who died in Ragama hospital at the time of delivering a baby for not been attended by a doctor due to the then ongoing strike. The baby too was later reported to have died. Many other similar incidents of this nature have also been occurred in some parts of the country. Who are responsible on these cases? Will it not be an obloquy to doctors to think that they continued with their studies as medical stdudents with the help of public money to become doctors, but eventually, ill-treat the public obliterating their professional obligation?

I wonder why the doctors cannot realize that it is extremely unfair to govern their monopoly over innocent patients who are struggling for survival. If other essential services such as the Electricity Board, Petroleum Corporation and the Postal and Telecommunication Services too begin to take the similar path in achieving their demands what would be the plight of our country and the nation as well? Will it not affect on doctors way of living? Therefore, doctors too should feel the agonies of the patients.

BANDARA ATAPATTU, Harispattuwa

Doctors strike and public opinion

It is only after reading and meticulously analysing the stories appeared in the press about the subject my mind permitted me to pen a few words.

I supposed everybody will agree with me if I say that for anything there are pros and cons and strikes are no exception. The strikes are not confined only to Sri Lanka but it is global. In our country not only doctors have sought to strike action but also other employees of both in government and private sector with an exception of defence personnel. Sometimes this has occurred even in the Parliament in a different form by ignoring sittings by Opposition.

Strikes are sought as the last resort following a series of unsuccessful discussions. Thus there is nothing wrong in seeking strike action as long as they fight for a worthy cause.

Certain people blame doctors saying that the latter got free education at the expense of tax payers. I think it is not only doctors but also other undergraduates who received Mahapola scholarship too belong to this category. For that matter most of us if not all were given free education right from the kindergarten by the Government.The most interesting part is the majority of very same people who criticise doctors wish their children to become doctors. Is not this ironical?

DR. M.G.H. THILAKARATNA, Katubedda.

Photograph even petty criminals

Some time back the police in a press statement said they would display the photographs of hard-core criminals. As expected by many this never materialized. The reason being the political backing of these criminals and these politicians will never allow display of photographs of hardcore criminals connected to them. It is no secret that even some of the top politicians have made use of hard-core criminals at some stage in their political career. With the increase in the crime rate the public has lost confidence in the police. Meaningless press releases do not help them to build up public confidence. Police should therefore refrain from making statements to the public that they cannot honour.

I have lodged three complaints at the local police station regarding robberies. On every occasion they have asked me to describe the suspect. Why can't the police follow the practice adopted in other countries? Photograph all suspects taken into custody even for petty crimes. Those making complaints should be asked to identify the suspect from these photographs. The fact that the photographs are available at the local police station would be a deterrent for petty criminals, who are invariably drug addicts, to operate freely.

Understandably Police stations cannot be equipped with camera equipment for this purpose. However, the services of a local film studio could be easily made use of. The photographed criminal can be made to bear the cost of photograph.

C. B. GUNADASA, Colombo 4.

Telecast of parliamentary proceedings

There is a proposal mooted to televise the proceedings of Parliament. This proposal has been suggested before, but not implemented.

The purpose of Parliament is to debate Bills and legislate for the good of the Country. It is specially charged to pass the annual Budget and take up other monetary Bills and votes. Members are sent there by the citizens grouped into electorates every six years.

Why televise the work of Parliament? The members have to concentrate on current legislation before the House and not speak to the Country at large.

If proceedings are televised, members may be tempted to speak to the electorate and not to responsible members in the Chamber. This can lead to the wrong stress in the work of the institution.

Besides, what about the cost of such an initiative which can be very high? Can a poor nation struggling with economic problems and a Budget deficit afford such a luxury? Debates take place in the morning when most people are at work, in Office, Factory, School or involved in home chores.

Already the danger is present for office workers to tune into broadcasts or telecasts during working hours when cricket matches are played and not attend to their duties; and this in a Country which has a low productivity rate; let it not all even lower.

In view of the above, this proposal should not be carried out. Limited telecasts can be shown on Budget Day and other such special occasions which is done even now. The nightly news slots of proceedings give enough information to the general public.

REV. DALSTON FORBES OMI, Colombo 15

Commuters inconvenienced

After the new spacious Central Bus station was opened in 1998, August, alongside the 'Super Market Complex' constructed by the U.D.A. under an A.D.B. loan of Rs. 40 million, SLTB buses from the 'Ruhunu Depot' (Route No. 02) are not picking up commuters to Colombo from the bus bay at the new Central bus stand, as was done previously when the old bus stand was in operation.

The new bus station which consists of 3 large parking platforms, are provided with two queues for Colombo commuters along one platform.

One queue is named as "Colombo A.C." and the other as "Colombo Ordinary".

But, it is observed that no ordinary SLTB buses from Galle and beyond, call over at this Colombo queue to pick up passengers. A large number of passengers hang around in this queue for long hours for want of regular buses to Kalutara, Panadura and beyond. It is observed that only private buses starting from Ambalangoda come into this queue to take in passengers to Kalutara, Panadura, Moratuwa and beyond.

The intervals are far between unlike formerly when SLTB buses used to come into the Colombo queue almost every 15 minutes.

Now, we observe that all the SLTB and private buses coming from Galle, Matara, Tangalla, Hambantota and Kataragama stop at the "Express" bus halt opposite the People's Bank, along Galle road, about 500 meters away from the Central Bus station. I presume this Express bus halt is provided for the Private A.C. coaches and the private buses coming from the South to pick up any commuters to towns Aluthgama and beyond. The commuters from Ambalangoda travelling towards Colombo never get an opportunity of getting a seat at Ambalangoda due to the above problem.

Even the few SLTB buses allotted to Ambalangoda depot, proceed to Galle and then start their journey to Colombo with a full load of passengers from Galle bus stand itself. The Minister of State Transport should please look into this problem immediately and provide some relief to the bus commuters travelling to Kalutara and beyond early.

L. LEKAMWASAM LEANAGE, Ambalangoda

Stranded Lankan holidaymakers

During a recent visit to Bangkok I met many Sri Lankans who had purchased cut price air tickets and come with their families on a 'Dream Holiday'.

But their Dream Holiday soon turned out to be a nightmare when they were told by the Airline office in Bangkok that even though their tickets had 'OK' status for their return trip in 2 or 3 days, it was not even entered in the computer.

Most of these tickets had been sold by lesser known Travel Agencies in Colombo, who had assured the passengers that their return flights were confirmed and OK. As a result many holidaymakers had to purchase new tickets at the usual rate for their return flight to Sri Lanka as the tickets were valid only for the flight on a particular day and no extensions were permitted. the airlines concerned and the Sri Lanka Tourist Board should initiate inquiries into these errant Travel Agencies.

TILAK FERNANDO, Colombo

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