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| Tuesday, 9 September 2003 |
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Fleecing passengers on the Colombo -Chennai air-route The Colombo-Chennai return air-fare - which a few years ago was in the Rs. 3,700 (economy) range - was progressively sent up and remained around Rs. 8,000 about a year ago. It now stands at over Rs. 20,000 - a sum well beyond the reach of most passengers. Whoever now frequent this sector do so grudgingly and because there does not seem to be an alternative to them. This is a high-intense traffic route for the two airlines enjoying a monopoly viz: SriLankan Airlines and Indian Airlines. Reasons for the dramatic passenger increase in the sector are several. India becoming a major manufacturing power and establishing herself as Sri Lanka's largest supplier of goods currently attracting a large 2-way business traffic: educational and hospital facilities declining here while on the ascent there swelling the ranks of passengers; the regular traffic of Indo-Lankans visiting temples, relatives and visiting India for other reasons - have all vastly contributed to the increasing traffic in this route. Above all, Sri Lanka's per capita income rising from about US $ 200 a few years ago to $800 presently results in more people being in a position to afford the luxury of overseas air travel and holidays. This results in the almost daily exodus of pilgrim groups (varying from 100-200 persons at a time) visiting the Dhammadweepa in general and Buddha Gaya in particular. All these factors have greatly contributed to bringing much pressure on seat-availability in this route. Under normal circumstances, one would have expected the two airlines concerned to meet the challenges of sharply increasing traffic by re-negotiating with the 2 governments seat-allocation arrangements or take other appropriate steps to meet the challenges - without hurting passengers with the burden of unreasonable increase of fares. It is also unfortunate that relevant authorities in Sri Lanka failed to take suitable steps to save our passengers from the clutches of an artificially created "captive market" that the 2 airlines seem to have engineered exclusively to their benefit - giving tuppence to passenger welfare. The following comparable study at the mileages between the 2 destinations and return fares applicable in other popularly patronized routes makes it very clear that the 2 airlines are not being just by passengers:- Colombo-Singapore 2,050 miles Rs. 30,300 Colombo-Bangkok 1,778 miles Rs. 26,600 Colombo-Chennai 482 miles Rs. 20,400 Without going into the nitty-gritty of how airline fares are eventually calculated. I find upon a simple calculation of dividing the cost by the mileage involved the Singapore and Bangkok sector costs about Rs. 15 per mile whereas passengers in the Chennai sector are forced by pay Rs. 35 per mile. This alone is sufficient for authorities in both countries to seriously and immediately look into the matter and take steps to protect passengers on both sides. While return fares should go back to about Rs. 7,000, steps should also be taken to increase the number of flights weekly to meet growing demand. If availability of aircraft is a problem of the 2 airlines, I am sure the two governments will consider allowing other private airlines in both countries to increase their flights here. Additionally, a new airline ASIA-AIR operating out of Malaysia is making the headlines in the Far-East out-manoeuvring most other established airlines in that lucrative region and is compared to Richard Branson's Virigin Atlantic that became the darling of British passengers for saving air travellers there from the machinations of greedy airlines in Britain. I am sure Asia-Air would only be too pleased to come to the assistance of our passengers in case SriLankan and Indian Airlines are unable to bring their fares down. A. KANDAPPAH, Colombo 3 New challenges in architecture The post September 11th tragedy is an important milestone in architecture. It is a discipline old as the civilization of mankind and never in history a tragedy of this catastrophe has been recorded. Skyscrapers were never meant to park airplanes. The most tragic human carnage was observed on electronic media at one point of disaster in New York due to planning and designing of the twin towers. Most cities around the developed world have suffered due to lack of architectural planning and the deterioration of buildings resulting in unplanned construction. Planners have to understand the local conditions, culture, climate and people's occupational possibilities in their projects undertaken for construction. What happened to World Trade Center Towers in New York is an eye opener to modern architects on the aspect of damage done to property and life unprecedented in history. It is a lesson on how much we can go up or down in building construction. The disaster happened to the cities of US should not flow to other cities of the world in time to come, never. The professional lead in the area of research of this kind is very negative in our times and it is necessary that the Architects should address their minds in the kind of built - environment professionalism. Much attention has to be given when people occupy the constructions to meet exigencies and basic human utilities - water, air and light are withdrawn to the required measurements they are expected to be. It is up to the chambers of the construction industry to take note of the management to minimise human disaster. It is the responsibility of the Institute of Architects to enhance resources to conduct seminars, workshops and public awareness programmes on future planning of cities, slums and holiday resorts. BANDULA NONIS, Beruwala. I was distressed to read in the media an article where a Journalist from Nuwara Eliya Mr. Rajaratnam has deplored the attitude of Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) adopting the easy way out of managing their valuable charges in the form of the premier tea plantations from their head offices in Colombo. He attributes that in consequence, these valuable entities are being down graded or effectually being run down. These sentiments expressed by this journalist is being endorsed by senior and accomplished trade unionists who always fought tooth and nail for their "pound of flesh" when a discussion was on where they constituted the custodians of the estates workforce - and in confrontation with the hierarchy of the plantations and even whether they be from the earlier Janatha Estate Development Board or the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation and subsequently the Regional plantation Companies - but still remained gentleman thereafter. I refer in particular to those two gentlemen mentioned Mr. Sathasivam now from the Ceylon Workers Alliance and Mr. Chandrasekeran from the Upcountry Workers Front. Minister Arumugam Thondaman also endorsed the futility of this exercise - and collectively they have even apparently made representations to the relevant governmental authorities. They are in the national interest urging the intervention of these personnel as the custodians of this vast quantity and quality of national wealth in the form of the Plantations. These plantations have to be continued for posterity and unless and until they are nurtured they will be denuded when rejuvenation and rebuilding of same will constitute a Herculean task. I commend the journalist and the trade unionists mentioned for being forthright in their condemnation and trying to "close the stable door before the horse escapes". If not, it could be too late as the accusations levelled in this relevant article constitutes frightening reading. They allege the inefficiency ineptitude and lack of experience of those who manage the estates from Colombo - as according to Mr. Rajaratnam these" senior executive officers who run the administration in Colombo without any knowledge of what is happening in the estate sector". Minister Thondaman alleges and vehemently protests the prevailing conditions in estates in the Kandy and Matale districts where for several months the wages and other dues have not been paid to workers. The contention in the article that application of fertilizer having been curtailed and even stopped is 'just asking for trouble'. It is sad that the international lending agencies like the ADB (Asian Development Bank) and the World Bank are suppressing the inflow of finances for development of the plantations in consequence to this prevailing scenario. I do concede that there are always exceptions to the usual and what is mentioned may be in the minimum to the usual. Hence what has been narrated above drawn from the article referred to and from authentic hearsay coming to my ear from many of the plantation company's hierarchy whom I meet very regularly. I commend the Stassen Group of Companies, the John Keells Group and also presumably the Free Lanka Trading Company Group who are amongst others who manage Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) where they have to retire from employment for a recently drawn out voluntary retirement scheme on or before reaching the age of 55 or at the most 60 must state that it is then and only then that the younger aspirants to those high positions who are now hibernating and frustrated in junior assignments will have the incentive and initiative to spruce up and work harder as they will know that there is a place at the top for good performers. A case in point is Richard Peiris & Co., where they have recently appointed a highly educated competent and efficient individual as the virtual Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to this large "Blue chip" conglomerate as I remember correct who is still in his mid 30s. This is what is necessary where the aspiring competent executive should like in the Western World reach the top whilst in the age group of the 40s. Hence it is up to the Government to prepare the pitch to eventuate in this happening for greater performance oriented output at their young age. The question of value addition to the main products to bring in Foreign Exchange to the country and with tax incentives allowed by Government proves the cornerstone for progress and development. Clinton Rodrigo, Colombo Wildlife Department Park bungalow maintenance Gonaviddagala Bungalow at Uda-Walawe National Park was opened to the public in 1997, and from this date up to now, I have stayed 3 nights every year consecutively for the past 6 years. On each occasion I visited this bungalow only one bungalow keeper was present and its very difficult for one person to cope with all the work and arrangements should be made to send someone to assist the bungalow keeper at least on the dates when the bungalow is occupied. It's a pity that this huge bungalow built at an exorbitant cost is not maintained. If this is neglected it will be a "White Elephant" to the Department. With the massive cost incurred to build this huge bungalow the Department could have constructed two to three small bungalows. After spending three nights at Uda-Walawe National Park I spent two nights at Mahaseelawa bungalow at Yala National Park. Even here the bungalow is neglected. All toilet fittings, beds and doors are broken. No one seems to be interested to maintain the bungalows. It's even better for the Department to increase the present occupation rates and maintain the bungalows in a proper standard. In my opinion the main fault for the quick deterioration of these bungalows is the inferior quality materials are used during repairs and no regular proper supervision is done by the senior staff as regards bungalow maintenance. I wish the Minister concerned and the Director Wildlife Department spend a night at Gonaviddagala Bungalow and see the pathetic condition of this bungalow. At last a handsome tribute should be paid to the bungalow keepers for delicious food prepared by them to the visitors even with the limited resources they have to cope with. LESTER PERERA, U.S.A. |
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