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| Tuesday, 30 September 2003 |
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Letters | |
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Very often one reads in the newspapers of instances where policemen have been rewarded for good work by the IGP. Must recently the IGP made rewards totalling Rs. 1.58 million to the policemen of a city police station for arresting a man wanted with robberies and recovering items worth Rs. 1.5 million (Daily News-26/9). I do not know on what basis the amount involved in the payment of rewards was calculated but how can it be over and above the value of items recovered? In other countries Policemen who while they are off duty do some detection or help arrest a person in the act of committing a crime or in the event he loses his life or injures himself receive more rewards than those officers who do the same while on duty. A few days ago an off duty Traffic Policeman while on his way home on his motorcycle saw 3 motor cars racing with each other at break neck speed. He immediately gave chase with the siren blaring overtook one of the vehicles and ordered it to stop. The driver of this vehicle instead of stopping ran over him killing the officer on the spot. The Royal Thai police immediately gave him 8 salary increases to his pension, gave over half a million Baht compensation and also pledged to look after the entire education for his 2 children. Why don't we introduce a similar scheme in Sri Lanka? At present only those injured or killed while on duty receive any compensation even if they acted in the greater interests of the country. If such a scheme is introduced many a crime could be stopped if not detected as at present policemen off duty turn a blind-eye even if a crime is committed in front of his own eyes. PADMI FERNANDO, Colombo The view of Susie Devilliers in her article in the Daily News of the 13th Sept. seems very one-sided. Though at times, funerals in Sri Lanka seem more social than funereal, there are other aspects to be considered. After all if 'being born' is acclaimed with a great deal of razzamatazz, in countries such as UK, with shops vying with each other to sell baby requisites of every description, why should death be a 'hush-hush' affair? Having spent twenty odd years in the UK, this is something, I personally couldn't understand or come to terms with. Death, in spite of it being the inevitable culmination of all life, is regarded as a taboo subject. This is especially so, if the deceased happens to be a work associate or a member of his/her family. Everyone seems to close ranks in ignoring the bereaved person. "Oh, I wouldn't know what to say!" is the frequent response, when asked if he/she has been even condoled with. Or "I wouldn't like to intrude at such a time, they would want their privacy," or similar comments. The consensus, there seemed to be that everyone should be allowed to grieve alone, in private. The grieving process as psychological research has proved is a traumatic one, especially if it involves losing someone dearly loved. Unless invited to do so, one would never presume to even attend your next-door neighbour's funeral! However, in Sri Lanka, it is considered remiss not to visit the funeral house, attend the funeral and offer condolences to the family of the deceased of even distant relatives and acquaintances. All the ceremonies connected with a death help to diffuse the grief of the bereaved i.e. the people that pay their respects to the dead person, according to their religious beliefs, the actual burial or cremation, the 'mala batha' (almsgiving after the funeral), the other almsgivings and religious observances, all help to assuage the shock and impact of death. The immediate family feel consoled, when people talk about the dead person and the good they did etc. Even if people wanted to speak ill of the dead person, they wouldn't have the guts to do so to the bereaved! Whereas in UK everything connected with death is so formalised and private that genuine grief tends to be suppressed as it's considered 'bad form' to display one's true feelings. This results in many health and psychological problems, which manifest themselves, long after the death of a loved person. Though, even in UK, the extravagant outpouring of grief, when Princess Diana - a figure, the majority of people had probably only seen in the media, helped them to come to terms with her sudden death. Funerals in Sri Lanka, with all their sometimes exaggerated fan-fare of grief, meet a somewhat similar therapeutic need and I think, should be viewed from a broader perspective! RITA PERERA, Kelaniya. Recently there has been much correspondence in the press and other media on the subject of conversion in religion. There is no question of any fundamental rights on this issue. A clear decision was given by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka taking into consideration the rights of the constitution of this country. Those who have been converted and certain unscrupulous NGOs with overflowing dollars try to convert the poor and innocent people on the pretext of helping them financially and giving education. They may help the poor - this is a meritorious act of any religion but conversion is degratory to human dignity. Certainly, help the poor and derive merit therefrom but doing so with ulterior motives is unethical. Buddhists too help the poor but with no tails attached. They extend a helping hand out of sympathy, compassion and loving kindness. The Buddha never forced anyone to become a Buddhist. Even to those who voluntarily embraced His faith like Upali of the Nigantha Natha Putta clan He requested Upali to reconsider his decision. The Kalama Sutta expresses the true nature of Buddhism - the law of free inquiry. This is a free world and no one can force another. The Crusders waged Holy wars in the name of Christ. Buddhists never shed a drop of blood to safeguard their philosophy. On the contrary they showed compassion on humanity. This insinuous base motives of converting people should be stopped. They must allow the people to live the life of their choice. Modern science has proved beyond doubt the validity of the teaching of the Buddha. Buddhists do not believe in a Creator God. If there was one then He should have commanded them to follow Him. Buddhism has no commands. It is not for us to debate on this issue. The Panadura debate was sufficient. What we must all do is to think rightly and act rightly and help the future generation to lead a righteous life without hatred and delusion. Let us not infringe on the rights of any individuals, by command or otherwise. Let us move in that direction for the welfare of mankind. VEN. KIRAMA WIMALAJOTHI., Dehiwela. Implement Salary Review Committee Recommendations The Salary Review Committee chaired by Tissa Devendra was a representative committee consisting of eminent and recognized persons representing varied professions and salary groups. It carried out its studies and deliberations in a very professional and systematic manner through varied committees and listened to representations from trade unions and professional organizations. The existing salary anomalies were carefully studied and they finally came out with a report containing recommendations which, while giving salary increases to all groups, also attempted to remove existing anomalies and incorporate all interim allowances in the revised salaries. Instead of implementing these recommendations at least in stages, the Government has proceeded to make ad hoc salary adjustments which are increasingly causing an imbalance in the whole public service salary structure. Recent ad hoc and hasty salary adjustments in the health and other sectors have resulted in confusion and creation of greater anomalies which have repercussions on other sectors and groups. The salary adjustment made in respect of doctors was, in particular, a hasty one done without careful study and unmindful of the many anomalies it was going to create. The subsequent strikes in this sector are largely a result of these adjustments done in haste. The Government has announced a salary increase with the next budget. It is hoped that the salary adjustments will be done on the basis of the recommendations contained in the Tissa Devendra Salary Review Report. Any deficiencies in particular salary scales could be subsequently examined. Giving interim allowances, as has been done in the past few years is not going to solve the problem, but will only be a patchwork solution. NIMAL BHARETI, Mount Lavinia |
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