Friday, 6 February 2004  
The widest coverage in Sri Lanka.
Letters
News

Business

Features

Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

Mihintalava - The Birthplace of Sri Lankan Buddhist Civilization

Government - Gazette

Silumina  on-line Edition

Sunday Observer

Budusarana On-line Edition




Please forward your letters to [email protected]  in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.


 

 

The strike wave

The spate of strikes that has gripped the country is due to the Government's failure to approach the grievances of the employees realistically and or implement the decisions taken or promises made. Discrimination and favouritism in handling salary and pension anomalies have made confusion confounded with bureaucratic bungling adding fuel to the fire.

The employees of the Health Department have been on strike around 90 times during the last 12 months. Most of the strikes were on salary issues whilst others were over assaults, abuses, promotions, appointments, uniforms, interunion rivalry and even for egoistic purposes.

The strikers from doctors to labourers are those in Government Hospitals catering to the poor sections of the society and it is the poor who were harassed as a result of the work-stoppages, which could have been avoided if the health administrators took prompt action and the trade union leaders acted with restraint.

The Railway strike which started over a salaries issue, has now enveloped the long term privatisation target envisaged, as well, which strike also affected the poor and not so affluent.

Finding this being an opportune time, the Income Tax Employees too joined the fray to get their salaries upped, which strike is likely to benefit the rich. If others receive salary increases there is no reason why the Income Tax officers too should not.

These work stoppages, on the one hand, is due to the Government pursuing an all out privatisation policy, selling institutions, lands, water resources, forests etc. to the private sector, national and international, at the behest of the World Bank, which does not serve the best interest of the country at large, and on the other, due to the failure to take prompt action to find solutions to the issues involved. Then again, the on-going Government - President tussel, no doubt, has made the Government weak and ineffective which in turn adds to the political militancy of trade unions.

It may be argued that there is politics behind the strikes. That should be viewed in the context of what trade unions are for. Trade Unions fall into the category of organisations which are interest groups concerned with politics - organisations which are meant to influence Governments and political parties on issues that affect the working people. Trade Unionism, therefore, cannot be separated from politics altogether.

It is also a fact that political militancy of trade unions is the result of politicians controlling trade unions but that political militancy cannot be engineered if not for the economic plight of the workers.

Thus, it is not wrong to say, that the present spate of strikes is due to the Government's creation of the circumstances leading to the strikes. It is, as such, the responsibility of the Government not to prolong the strikes which inconveniences the public. Immediate action should be taken to end the spate of strikes by providing solutions to the issues at stake.

UPALI S. JAYASEKERA, 
Colombo 4

Save 'Gentleman's Game'

Most of cricket lovers are of the opinion that the clubs affiliated to the Cricket Board go behind "MONEY" and elect business tycoons to guide the destiny of the "Gentleman's Game". The cricket lovers feel that remedial action has to be taken immediately by the respective clubs to get rid of people in their clubs having connections with Cricket mafia who throw much weight to have things their way at board elections.

As the AGM of the Board is drawing nigh, all the Clubs should put their heads together to elect gentlemen of good calibre, integrity and honesty to guide the affairs of the Board. I could recall with much respect the eminent personalities like Messrs. Robert Senanayake, J.R. Jayewardene, Dr. N.M. Perera, Gamini Dissanayake, Luxman Jayakody, F.C. de Saram, P.I. Peiris, Ana Punchihewa and Upali Dharmadasa who as Presidents of the Board rendered a yeoman service with dignity and honour winning the confidence of everybody.

Gentlemen of such calibre and mettle are still within the clubs affiliated to the Board. We hope that an eminent person befitting this high office be elected for the greater prosperity of the game of cricket at the next AGM.

P. D. YASARATNE, 
Moratuwa

An open letter to Mr. Anton Balasingham

I refer to news reports that you have protested against the Sri Lankan Government's intention to enter into a Defence Pact with India. The tone and contents of your preposterous statement prompted me to write this letter.

In case you have not already read my articles on the two armed conflicts in Sri Lanka in the media and in various Web Sites, may I introduce myself as a left of centre Civil Engineer from the South who had his Secondary and Tertiary education in Colombo in the 50s and early 60s.

I used to be very sympathetic towards the JVP and the LTTE both of which I believed were carrying out justifiable struggles on behalf of the non-English speaking and other under privileged sections in the two communities. In fact I had been hoping for greater cooperation between the JVP and LTTE since both their struggles had a similar class and political content.

This view was also shared by a number of my friends from the North. It was also strongly canvassed in my open letter to the JVP which was published in the Sunday Observer of June 10, 2001.

Regrettably however, by the early part of the century the LTTE had been hijacked by the like of you acting merely as Trojan Horses particularly for the US, the Vatican, UK, Norway and Australia. You would note that all of them have vested interests in the country and clearly wish the country to be divided to make their ruthless exploitations easier than in a united Sri Lanka. This is a consistent policy they have been following world-wide including the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Africa and Indonesia.

Your own conduct since the Hijack clearly indicates that you owe greater allegiance to the above parties than to Sri Lanka or even to the original catchment of the LTTE which consisted primarily of non-English speaking and other oppressed sections in the Tamil community. It is indeed despicable for a clear foreign agent who is not even a citizen of Sri Lanka to be attempting to dictate to the country regarding the nature of the relationship we should have with India.

Your only possible defence, is that it was one of the many verbal agreements that the PM, LTTE and Norway have had. That may be the reason why the PM has refused to divulge any such verbal agreements to the People, Parliament, Cabinet or even to the President.

If your defence to justify the above preposterous statement is well founded, the PM has indeed given a categorical and treacherous assurance that Sri Lanka would not enter into any Defence pact with any country that would make the Sri Lankan armed forces stronger than the armed forces of the LTTE. Alternatively, the Prime Minister has agreed verbally to cut the equipment and the personnel of the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka to a strength not greater than that of the LTTE.

If either of the above possibilities are correct the PM would certainly have to pay a price and heavy one at that since he has betrayed the country. It is your obligation to clear him if he is not guilty and has indeed not given either of the above assurances. The ball is clearly in your court on this count.

BERNARD WIJEDORU, 
Mount Lavinia

Withholding tax on Interest

This refers to letter regarding the above subject (DN Jan. 22).

The letter written by C.F. Dehiwela is much appreciated by all of us as it is causing much concern and thus I wish to voice a further point to his letter on behalf of senior citizens of Sri Lanka.

The interest on investments we get as senior citizens is a very low rate today and this we derive from the hard earned Provident fund monies which we have received after retirement. This is the only source of income for us to lead a hand to mouth living today.

N.S.B. is giving 1 per cent more on fixed deposits while Osusala is giving 5 per cent discount on drugs for senior citizens.

Unlike in Sri Lanka, senior citizens are honoured and well looked after in foreign countries and half rate concession is given where ever possible. In view of all these, may I too urge the President and the Minister concerned to exempt senior citizens from withholding tax completely.

K.J. , 
Mt. Lavinia

Choice for training

Three of the leading audit firms have through the press pointed out the benefits to the accountancy students from undergoing training in an audit firm. The practical knowledge they gain is essential for their exams and they are also given adequate study leave. Trainees are not forced to join and they join on their own accord. On the average, only one in 20 applicants are selected for training. These trainees on completion of training commence their career with a starting salary of Rs. 20,000 or more. The training provided at these firms without any doubt is of a very high standard.

From views expressed it is obvious that considering the many benefits to them, majority of accountancy students would want to undergo training whether it is compulsory or not. What is mind boggling is, why does the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) make training mandatory to sit for exams? This is not the case with CIMA.

To gain membership practical experience is necessary but not to sit for exams. At present CIMA qualified accountants are in greater demand in the commercial sector despite some of them not being exposed to quality training in an audit firm. Furthermore, some of them have even fared better at exams.

When it is evident that on account of their training the ICASL students are not having an advantage over their CIMA counterparts when securing jobs, ICASL stand on compulsory training to sit for exams cannot be justified. There are students having chosen accountancy as a career finds it impossible to meet the expenses on travelling, board and lodging. Consequently they have no alternative but to give up accountancy, if they are sitting for ICASL exams.

Some CIMA students who undergo training give up training if they feel that it is a hindrance for their studies. For them, priority is always passing of exams. Considering that all, accountancy students are capable of deciding what is best for their future, compulsory training for those who are not interested in an auditing career should be done away with. Then the perception that compulsory training in audit firms is an exploitation of trainees will be a thing of the past. The parents of students who value training in some audit firms will be even willing to pay these firms for training.

CHANDANA GAMAGE, 
Nugegoda

Example for U.K and U.S.A

The United Kingdom and the United States of America are pleased that Libya has surprised the world with its recent announcement to scrap banned weapons.

The rest of us would be equally pleased if the United Kingdom and the United States of America were to follow the good example shown by Libya and destroy their own weapons of mass destruction.

NALLIAH THAYABHARAN, 
Colombo 5

Vanity of Valentine's Day

As the second week of February approaches, the frenzy of Valentine's Day seems to be reaching its apogee even in Sri Lanka, with all sorts of advertising gimmicks to lure even the least inclined to make a purchase for the loved ones. Comparatively, Valentine's Day has been of much less significance in this country in the past, confining only to the reports receiving from the countries in the western world how this day was spent. However, heavy artful advertising has now forced a new meaning into this day, stretching its boundaries meant only for young lovers to encompass all others alike as well.

This outright commercialization has made Valentine's Day transformed into a Day of Love for everyone alike, with emphasis on showing one's love for someone in a material way with all sorts of gifts ranging from diamonds to trinkets.

The other salient feature of this day is the lining up of dances at five-star hotels in the city which offers the best of what lovers can dream about, while giving an opportunity for the young at heart to enjoy equally, bringing back the cherished remembrances of their times of love. What is strange is the way how unscrupulous vendors of various wares could so successfully re-mould this day to take the maximum advantage to sell their products.

They have also been careful not to spare anyone without being caught in the drag-net of their forceful advertising.

The basic truth that a person can manifest his or her love for someone with a fitting gift should not necessarily be confined only to this day, as it can be done at anytime of the year.

Vendors of Valentine's Day have shrewdly beguiled youthful lovers who find it difficult to express their love for someone to do so by giving a present on this day, which, according to them, is an easier way of saying "I love you".

They sell their wares of love - mostly trinkets, flowers, perfumes and sweets - this way, taking advantage of the weakness in expression of one's love for someone. Perhaps some may be impatiently waiting one whole year to do this on this day, which may or may not produce the desired effect.

Commercialization has no ethics. It has the tendency to exploit even the least commercially viable situations and incidents to their fullest, and not even a tragedy is spared if it can be converted into a profitable venture.

Valentine's Day should not be thrust upon our youth with a new distorted meaning, as it is completely alien to the culture and values that guided our nation from times immemorial, during which love flowed freely in a multitude of ways without being shown or sold on one particular day!

MANIL GUNAWARDENE, 
Talangama

www.lanka.info

www.continentalresidencies.com

www.ceylincoproperties.com

www.srilankaapartments.com

www.ppilk.com

www.singersl.com

www.crescat.com

www.peaceinsrilanka.org

www.helpheroes.lk


News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries


Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager


Hosted by Lanka Com Services