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| Monday, 26 January 2004 |
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The Foreign Ministry should be highly commended for accepting the truth on few matters although they are very bitter specially at this year of elections. However in doing so, the ministry has sadly forgotten that the readers of the National dailies in Sri Lanka are a much more mature lot and are able to see through the camouflage and pick up the facts in spite of the almost ridiculous attempts by the ministry officials to justify the wrong doings. We are aware that a separate Foreign Ministry was established in 1977 and it was under the UNP, it functioned until 1994. Several of the present Cabinet Ministers including the present Foreign Minister worked as deputy ministers of that Ministry and people would like to know why they did not raise a finger at that time against corruption? One cannot wriggle out of situation by merely, saying that malpractices happened over and over again in the past. The backdoor appointments to coveted western missions cannot be justified by saying that they were qualified people. The question is why a large proportion were selected from one particular constituency over much more qualified and experienced officers from general clerical service. If the opening of the new missions in Poland, The Philippines, Los Angeles and Toronto by the previous government also contribute to the high cost of the foreign ministry, what is the point of keeping them functioning even now? For whose benefit are we keeping them opened? The ministry should take immediate action to close down those embassies considered as marginal missions usually kept open to gratify the political supporters. JUSTIN PERERA, Nugegoda Vision and mission - what they mean to the police The write up in the Daily News titled "Negligence of inmates main cause of house breaking" (Jan 8.) and the in-depth analysis by an A.S.P. concerned who has returned after a course of study abroad is an insult to the intelligence and integrity of the citizens of this country. As a Retd. Snr. Police Officer who had served in the Police Department for over 36 years I was ashamed and shocked on the approach of the higher officers (SGO) shifting responsibilities of their incumbent duties of preserving law and order to the individuals in this country. The Police Department has a strength of 86,310 embodying Regular, Reserve, Home Guards and PSA. I wonder if the householders are to look after themselves whether this amount of Police officers are necessary to cover 7 main provinces and some cleared ares only in the North and East. Besides, the TaxPayers are forced, to up-keep the Police Department by paying without their knowledge a sum of Rs. 13,123,105,258.10 allocated in the Budget with a special allocation for the intelligence sectors. Will the A.S.P. give a prudent answer for a pertinent question whether this mammoth strength and a heavy Budgetary allocation is necessary if the citizens are to look after their personal property? This indirectly requires the house owners to be in their houses day and night if that is so, what happens to working couples, are they to abandon their jobs and look after the houses as voluntary prisoners. The Sri Lankan citizens always like to have their houses filled with essential commodities and luxury items. The household commodity is the mirror of the status they enjoy. The ladies always want to be above equal at parties, get-togethers and any social events by wearing expensive jewellery and fashionable sarees and garments. Therefore, it is the tendency of Sri Lankans to collect and store these items in their houses. If there is fear infused that the Police cannot give them protection for their person and properties, perhaps then the jewellery shops, furniture shops, shops of luxury items - TV, Radios, Videos and Antiques shops will go dry without consumers. Though, we to a certain extent follow Gandhinism in non-violence and Ahimsa as taught by the Buddha, we are not prepared to sit on mats without any household goods. I hope that next time when this officer returns from abroad after a course of study he will not advise the countrymen not to buy jewellery, expensive clothing, luxury items etc.,etc. A Police Officer needs not go abroad on a course of study on return to advise the general public that they have to lock their houses, install grills, deposit valuable jewellers and cash in the vault in Banks etc. The Sri Lankan citizens are quite intelligent to know to themselves how to protect their homes to the best of their ability. Yet, there are instances beyond their purview in which instances they need the Police. Even today many have installed remote control locks, flash lights and alarm systems. What is lacking today is the police patrolling and the presence of Police in nooks and corners to prevent crimes/offences being committed. In foreign countries except graded stations others are closed at night. But their investigation skills are much higher and the citizens have a degree of respect for law and order which is not so in our country. Yet, in foreign countries the general population relies heavily in the Police and they have a confidence that the Police will look after them and they are safe with their person and properties. But it is negative in this country. In the good old days the Police Gazette (PG) indicated the stages of the moon, so that the OIC could enhance the Night Patrolling during darker days. Besides, there were day patrol, evening patrol, mobile patrol, inter station patrol, and inter district patrol like the devils in the night the Police personnel were roaming around in their respective areas giving little chances for the wrong doers and thereby minimised the housebreaking and other crimes and offences. I do not intend to say that there were no contravention of law or no offences committed at all then. But compared to the present day it was very much less. In my opinion to prevent housebreaking and related offences is by patrolling and Police presence day and night. This country enjoys the services of the Police for the past 137 years. In the by gone years the Sri Lankan Police was in the limelight due to its professionalism, dedication and investigative skills. The Police officers discharged their duties efficiently, vigilantly and diligently without any political interference, independently to preserve the rule of law. But sadly for the past three decades the country was ruled under Emergency Regulations (ER) and Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) which blunt the capabilities in Police officers as they took cover to detain the suspects and to interrogate for days and months forgetting the penal code and the Prevention of Crime Ordinance giving only 24 hours grace for the officers to expedite inquiries and to bring offenders to justice. Perhaps it is disappointing to note that, from the reverend clergy to the pavement hawker accusing and alleging in no uncertain terms that Police Department is highly politicised. The present IGP Indra de Silva in an interview to the BBC after assuming office admitted that to a certain extent Police is politicised and he attributed the reason to some of the Police officers eligible for their promotions and for other related perks were stagnating in their ranks for years which had caused frustration and that had driven such victimised officers to annoyance and embarrassment when they see their colleagues elevated ahead with the help of political influence and pressure. The disgruntled elements seek redress in political patronage to get their promotions etc. and he suggested that the promotions as according to the old system if followed perhaps the stagnation in promotion and many other ills could be remedied. This is one factor, which has driven the Police officers to be on the sideline and allow the country to fling into evil. It is a daily occurrence that many of the Police officers from top to bottom are in the corridors of court houses to get their promotions as they have lost faith in their due promotions and the saying goes there are two kinds of promotions in the Department. "One is Court" and the "other is Board". Vision of the Police Department is "Towards a Peaceful environment to live with confidence, without fear of crime and violence". The Mission is "Sri Lanka Police is committed and confident to uphold and enforce the law of the land, to preserve the public order, prevent crime and terrorism with prejudice to none - equity to all". The contents of the right up completely contradicts the Vision and Mission of the Police Department. Having stated this I hope the Police officers holding responsible ranks will not run away from their responsibilities. The Police Department is a prestigious one as an Ex-Police Officer my only hope and pray is that without attributing lame excuses the Police from top to bottom have to put their heart and soul towards its Motto "Vision and Mission" build up the confidence of the general public and keep the Police Flag flying higher and higher. A.R.P. Local insurers must maintain international standards There are reports of some local insurers claiming to maintain international standards in their operation. It is, however, possible that their claims are confined only to profits from the business, but certainly not in their technical standards. If, as claimed, such insurers are operating according to international standards, they should abide by accepted principles in the subject worldwide. Unfortunately, they have proved more than once to have fallen far short of the technical standards expected of an insurer, especially since theirs is a subject which is primarily based on the principle of utmost good faith. These insurers have failed miserably in that connection, at least in respect of Motor Insurance. They are trying to introduce new conditions in their policies which are never said to be found in policies issued by insurers worldwide, taking undue advantage of the deregulated state of motor insurance obtaining in Sri Lanka, to the detriment of laymen, who constitute the majority of insured. DI, Colombo 2 There is a big hue and cry to the fact that the President had taken over the three Ministries she handed over to the UNF Govt. in the year 2001and as such, the Govt. is unable to proceed with the peace talks. The general public is aware that the peace talks came to a grinding halt way back in April 2003 when the Govt. was having these three Ministries. Now they are trying to hide and blame the President for all their misdeeds. According to JRJ's 1978 Constitution as he once said he had everything he wanted in that except changing a man into a woman and vice versa. So much powers were vested with the President. When JRJ made that statement, Prime Minister Premadasa noted that his role had been reduced to a 'Dignified Peon'. So by 1978 Constitution, the President is All Powerful. To begin with, it was not necessary for the President to transfer the Defence portfolio to the UNF Govt. As the President is the Commander in Chief she has all the Rights to have or hold the portfolio of Defence. But during the transfer of powers hoping for co-habitation and good governance it has been interpreted as her weakness. Only after she took it back, the UNF Govt. realised it. It was accused of the President for Spending a Collossal sum of money in war, but now there is no war. Has the prices come down? Take for instance gas, train, bus fares, electricity, water, telephone to mention a few. Most of the essential food stuffs have gone up in price with the introduction of Value Added Tax. John F. Kennedy the American President once said 'We want peace', but not at any cost'. But what is the cost we are paying for peace? It was President as back as 1995 who started the peace talks and also she is the one who invited the Norwegians Then in power the PA Govt signed the Liam Fox agreement. What happened to that? When President wanted one of her representatives to be included in the talks with LTTE, it was flatly refused. The same with the Muslims. They cannot participate with their self identity. But when President wanted amendments, this Constitution and submit a bill in Parliament on 3rd August 2000 she consulted with the opposition UNP and more than sixteen of their proposals were enacted. But what happened in Parliament on that day is history. In that there was provision for Interim Administrative structure etc. Even if it did not have solved the major problems of the minority faced at least it was a start in solving some issues. President is the only leader after Independence to admit that the minority have a genuine problem. In 1999 when a suicide bomber attacked her while being treated she asked the majority community not to harm any one. What a noble thought at that time. Also she had her Foreign Minister in all her talks. now the Foreign Minister who is a learned man coming from Veera Puran Appu's family is sidelined. The novices once who were with the President and some who have no interest in our motherland are in the forefront and or the front stage actors who spell out lies every day. Like an "Apple a day keeps the doctor away. Their lie a day keeps the public away". Last but not the least, India is very important for us. We cannot bypass India. The President had kept them in our good books. The signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Trade Pact in Dec. 28, 1998 and keeping them informed about our peace process. They are the largest democracy, our closest neighbour, in the SAARC. So without aiming at the President's chair let's all unite to solve this problem. Now its time for this Executive and the Legislative to join hands forgetting our party affiliations, caste, creed, language, race and join as Sri Lankans. We will unite and bring the deserved glory to our motherland Sri Lanka. NOBLE VETHANAYAGAM, Hulftsdorp
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