Thursday, 21 August 2003  
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Proposed cola ban in India

A news item in Daily News few days ago said that a certain organization in India is spearheading action to ban two beverages in India as some of the samples tested positive for pesticidal residues.

The introduction of a new pesticide to the world market is a very time consuming, very expensive process which will cost more than several million US Dollars.

The actual data required to approve a pesticide to the market ex effect on environment, beneficial organisms, marine organisms is so stringent to ensure the protection of the user and the environment.

The production process of the two beverages are known for several decades and it is strange that the pesticidal residues were detected only in India and not in the West.However there could be pesticidal residues in beverages (a) by sabotage (rival or interested groups may insert them using new technology to create social unrest) (b)the process of cleaning the used bottles malfunction which will enable the traces to be left if those bottles are used for keeping pesticides.

Therefore the companies concerned should examine the bottles that has been produced by these groups and take remedial action as soon as possible if sabotage is suspected.

I am sure that there is no such problem in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Rohan Rajapakse, University of Ruhuna

Assaulting the guardian of law

The incidence of violence of politicians and their relatives are on the increase. Somewhere in the end of March a Member of the Parliament with a crowd of about 30 supporters stormed the Seeduwa Police Station and removed a suspect forcibly from the cell there in.

In April another MP was involved in a clash at Nuwara Eliya and two police officers were injured.

The MP accused the police of having assaulted him and got himself admitted to hospital and the matter ended there.

In the month of May a minister has allegedly walked into the Police Station in Nuwara Eliya armed with his revolver and abused the police officer to his maximum satisfaction. Subsequently the same gentleman went to Borella Police Station sat on the chair meant for the OIC and refused to leave the police station till his supporter who has charged for a traffic offence was sent out scot free.

Recently a minister' s son who was writing obscenities on a convent wall assaulted a police officer who went to stop this.

The latest incident is a minister's son-in-law had kicked a police sergeant following a road accident in the heart of Colombo.

Complaints with regard to the above incidents have been inquired into by the police in detail.

I am confident that the Inspector General of Police would have protested against the acts on the part of the public.

The Prime Minister has enough and more work. It is the duty of the disciplinary committee to take action against errant politicians and their henchmen. Rule of the law must be allowed to prevail at any cost "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

Police stalwarts like Herbert Dowbiggin, Sidney de Soysa and Elaric Abeygunawardene must be turning in their grave having heard these incidents.

ANANDA JAYASENA, Boralesgamuwa.

Using Bio Metric Data Recognition

I came across your article that stated about preparing for the future and about why we should not make a big fuss in the case where our fingerprints are required to issue visas.

I would explain why we should make an issue,most people were making the point and they said that they are degrading us and all that by requesting our fingerprints since in Sri Lanka only illiterate people provide their fingerprints but this is not the reality. Fingerprints are used to uniquely identify any person from another as each person's fingerprints are unique but the reason why we should object to this method is this, when they take our finger prints to issue visas it is said that the fingerprints are stored away in an electronic system without anybody knowing how secure their fingerprints and their personal data is, by any chance there is a security hole and any person gains access to this system the person can learn and study the patterns of a certain persons travels to the UK as well as having all his/her personal data with him which would enable him to track the person down, it might sound a bit off but whenever you store data in a computer do you know who access and what data is retrieved?

And any records getting mixed up could have devastating effects. e.g. If the record states that one individual has died on his visit to UK but it had been an accident and the record have got mixed up when the certain individual who comes to get his visa might even be arrested since the computer states that he is already dead.

There are other ways that information can leak out and peoples which might lead to even identity fraud which is a serious problem in Western countries where they use similar systems to store away people's personal data.

MADHUSHAN MADAWALA, via email

Bank accounts for all, and debits tax too?

A reader has written at length on the suggestion made by Dr. Wickrama Weerasooria that the salary payments of the public and the private sector should be done through bank transfers or by cheque.

Receiving payment by cheque will necessitate the payee to call over at the drawee bank to obtain payment or in the alternative obtain payment from a money changer who will charge a commission and the debits tax levied after the last budget.

The writer has stated that bank managers say there is a Central Bank regulation insisting on what has been described by her as an archaic rule that anyone seeking to open a current account should bring a recommendation from an existing current account holder of that bank. Either the writer is mistaken or the banker who tendered such advice is ignorant.

It is a requirement in banking law that the prospective customer for a current account is properly introduced, not necessarily by a customer of the same branch but from a person of standing who could identify the customer. In Sri Lanka introductions by a J.P, Notary Public, Commissioner of oaths or any other person of standing is acceptable. Leading cases on the subject of proper introduction of customers familiar to knowledgeable bankers are too numerous to be quoted here.

A proper introduction is sought mainly to establish the identity of the customer and his integrity because it must be checked whether he is a suitable person to be entrusted with a cheque book.

A cheque once issued becomes a Negotiable Instrument. These precautions are increasingly relevant in the present times when money laundering is rampant and various other frauds have surfaced.

The writer's contention that the practice of obtaining introductions was adopted by the Bank of Ceylon to effectively exclude the hoi polloi from becoming their customers is therefore untenable. As an ex-employee of the institution I can say boldly that the bank never accepted signatures only in English during the 1950s. It was the first bank that ventured into the distant outstations during that period not expecting all its customers to sign only in English. There were customers including the Maha Sangha who always wrote their cheques in Sinhala. Those proficient in Tamil signed in Tamil. There was once an instance when a customer signed in Gujarati characters.

Bank debits tax was first introduced around 1958/59, during the MEP regime. There was much dissension among banking and business circles on this iniquitous tax which was not levied in any part of the world.

An eminent banker of the time the late N.U. Jayewardena wrote and spoke extensively on the negative implications this tax would have on the banking industry. Every time there was a change of government from the SLFP to the UNP the tax was done away with and vice-versa.

The banks faced enormous operational difficulties having to change their stationery formats each time a change was effected. However, debits tax was not introduced when the SLFP regained power in 1994.

To the surprise of everybody the UNP which was so averse to debits tax introduced this tax in their last budget, not only to current accounts but also savings accounts as well. This disincentive has led to a drop in the volume of banking business, and it is in this unconducive ambience that the financial advisor to the Government has advocated bank accounts to all.

M. T. M. DE SILVA, Moratuwa.

Charity should be exempt from extortion

A few weeks ago, the children of my school in England gave 10 music keyboards to the Festival of Performing Arts, which is taking place in various venues. The parcel was clearly market CHARITY and arrived very quickly. (The handling was done quickly from UK, at a modest price) imagine my horror when I find that the customs did not inform my colleague of the arrival of the packet until 4 days later, even though a telephone number was clearly inscribed. The result is that they demanded a deposit of R15,000, R1860 landing charges, R700 transport (where to?) and R7059 incidental expenses!

This is iniquitous. The gift which these children sent has turned out to be a burden. Do you think anybody will care? You can be sure that every detail of these charges will be relayed back to UK and that further gifts, already planned, will not be forthcoming. Please draw attention to this appalling situation. Charity should be exempted from such extortion.

ALLISON WALKER-MORECROFT, Colombo

Removal of sweep selling booths

The previous regime as well as the present one is engaged in an unmerciful act by way of removing the unauthorized structures or shanties. If these poor people abide by the ruling of the authorities, they are being compensated in a reasonable way to put up their shacks or whatever it is without encroaching on crown land. Those who do not comply face the consequences of getting their shacks bulldozed without anymore warnings.

Sweep tickets are printed and sold by the State.

The income gained by the sweep tickets is enormous, and all goes to the State coffers.

These in turn finance the students by way of scholarships, help the armed forces, hospitals, etc.

If the local authorities could give a second thought before removing these booths, they will be doing a meritorious act for the sake of the poor sweep sellers as well as contributing their share towards the State coffers. I'm writing this after reading the newspapers about the high handed acts done by some of the local authorities without considering the plight of these poor sweep sellers.

Please allow the sweep ticket selling booths to remain where they are.

DE SILVA, Moratuwa

Assisting the handicapped

Thanks to a very close friend of mine who is from Sri Lanka, I read an article by Dr. Ajith. Perera, of a new movement to generate support to assist the handicapped in Sri Lanka. I have been to Sri Lanka over 10 times now and have enjoyed the country, the beautiful scenery but above all the great and warm hospitality of the people. Over the years, I have travelled in over 65 countries and I would still say Sri Lanka is NUMBER ONE. On principle, I do not live in big Tourist hotels but among the local people, in villages and smaller towns.

By this manner, I have been able to cultivate several friendships which are many years old. Despite the war, I have continued to visit Sri Lanka. The most appalling sight is the attention that is paid to the handicapped. With every visit, I found these numbers increasing and it is a very big shame that these very people who have sacrificed their youth, to protect the Sri Lanka are totally ignored. I strongly recommend that the Government and the private sector must take immediate steps to create employment so these young people can continue to make a very worthwhile contribution towards the prosperity of the country.

Facilities like ramps and toilets for handicapped and other facilities, must be introduced to make their presence comfortable. I am sure even the other handicapped people who have been hitherto ignored can also benefit.

Every time, I return from Sri Lanka, I feel so disheartened that no attention is paid to uplift the standard of life for these under-priviledged.

I hope now is the time for all to open their eyes and as a moral obligation, show their gratitude by giving this movement their spontaneous support.

THORE.WIKSTROM SOLLEFTEA, Sweden

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