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Getting foreign aid?

I have read too many recent articles about the supposed delay in receiving billions of dollars in foreign aid putting our country in economic jeopardy. I'd like to question this whole process and concept. I have some understanding of financial matters, having worked in two Sri Lankan banks for 7 years.

My point of view, especially as a parent, is presented below.

I would like to categorize aid from foreign sources as loans and grants.

Loans are generally business deals. The lender lends money to the borrower with the intention of getting back all the money (called capital) plus an adjustment for risk, inflation and profit (called interest).

My advice is that our country should accept a loan from a foreign source only with the absence of the risk and profit component.

That is to say, we agree to pay back the capital, plus, at maximum, the inflation component (at the published inflation rate for the loan currency). For the US$, this is currently between 2 to 3 per cent. Every other offer is not a genuine hand at helping us; it is taking advantage of our poor needy nature and people.

It has been a shame for me to watch our finance ministers go begging ( in the true sense of the word) and return with a loan where we have to pay 6 per cent interest on a US$ loan.

In the USA, car buyers can usually buy a car and pay interest at less than this interest rate. Is the lender helping our country or helping themselves? I leave the judgement to the reader.

Don't we Sri Lankans have enough foreign loan repayment instalments already? I don't believe all our children should start life with the huge weight of enormous loan repayments tied to their legs restricting their every freedom and childhood carefree dream. How can we as parents borrow unwisely knowing the burden we are leaving on our children?

So, let's re-think getting loans/aid with high interest rates.

Grants should be welcome with open hands, provided there are no strings attached. We don't pay anything back. Grants are a gift to our people.

NALIN D. JAYASURIYA.

Independence

Independence Day celebrations were conducted with much pomp and ceremony and all those Sri Lankans who knew the true significance of the day, welcomed it in the spirit it deserved. After all, it marked the anniversary of the end of foreign rule and a proud people like us knew only, too, well what it meant to be free, once again.

What then was the problem it posed to the LTTE? It is well known that the LTTE do not play our National Anthem at their ceremonies but on Independence Day, the National Flag was prohibited from being hoisted. Is the National Flag not their national flag and are they not part of the nation of Sri Lanka? There may be several reasons for their behaviour (or aversion).

Perhaps the LTTE do not, after all, share our happiness at being free from foreign rule, perhaps they could not find any national flags in those areas; perhaps they had no flag poles; perhaps they genuinely wanted to fly the national flag but there was too much pressure from the international community for them to desist; or perhaps they believed that they are not part of the nation of Sri Lanka and they picked this as an opportunity to tell the rest of us exactly where they stand.

The last proposition is, in my opinion, close to the truth than any of the others because their position with regard to a united nation of Sri Lanka has always smacked of insincerity. Surely they cannot, even in their wildest dreams, think that they are not sons and daughters of this nation, because if they think that, then what right have they to fight for what they are claiming on behalf of the Tamil people?

On the one hand, I like to console myself that we truly live in a democratic country where one has the freedom to do whatever one wants, within the framework of the laws of the land and as such the LTTE were merely exercising their democratic right but on the other hand, it is glaringly obvious that they are a law unto themselves and that the laws of the land mean little to them and nor do they share the feelings of the majority of Sri Lankans, since they have made their own laws and care not a fig for the nation of Sri Lanka.

There could not have been a better way for the LTTE to show their disdain and disregard for the Government and the people of Sri Lanka.

Not forgetting their track record nor their position on certain issues, the JVP had the guts to join mainstream politics and test their strength with the voters. With elections set for April 2, this is a golden opportunity for the LTTE to do likewise.

The LTTE cannot run away from the fact that they are, first, Sri Lankan and only secondly, Tamil. One is compelled to question their intentions without our wonderful island home.

Sri Lanka is not a cake that we can divide and do with as we want. We should all be able to ice it together and admire our handiwork sans any exclusively advocated by any ethnic group within our country.

RASHANTHA N. DE ALWIS-SENEVIRATNE - 
Kohuwala.

Think tank to combat bureaucracy

It's heartening to establish that the President C.B.K. is to set up a national think tank, to expedite major national issues, dragging on from a long time. There are matters dragging on since 1994 PA rule, due to the red-tape bureaucracy, prevailing in several ministries.

One such instance is the 77/94 political victimisations still not sorted out. Innocent public who were deprived of a good life time, due to this dragging on, are today receiving a mere t' penny pension of Rs. 6,000, instead of their due SLAS, SLEAS exam cum interview promotions, which should have actually placed them at grade I officialdom drawing a five figure salary.

Let the proposed think tank consider this matter to redress these innocent public using their good office, to remedy the mistake done since 1994. This political affair has ended up today to ruin the national assets of a nation, to make them lead a miserable life, as reasonable precautions were not taken timely.

KASTURIARACHCHI WARNAKULASURIYA - 
Piliyandala.

Decaying Roman archs

It is regretting to observe the damage done in the name of modernisation to the famous remaining pieces of Roman architecture within the city of Colombo and suburbs, specially to the Roman archs found in our old buildings.

Such architecture could be seen in all Railway Stations in Colombo along the coastal marine belt, Colombo Dental Institute, University College House, Malay Street, Department of Examinations, Fort Police Station, and the Court Complex Hulftsdorp, etc.

This architecture mentioned here belong to the Dutch and the British periods, but a remarkably old piece of Roman arch has been unearthed by the Dept. of Archaeology in the Jawatte Cemetery, Colombo which belongs to the Portuguese era.

The arch has been built by Cabok rock and the well adjacent to it. It has been recorded that the arch is a part of the Church of Our Lady of Deliverance that has existed in the 15th Century of the Portuguese era.

The place having a recorded history of nearly 500 years, is the only remaining historical evidence of a place of worship during the Kotte period. The significance of this place of historical importance has been outlined by Rev. Dr. Don Peter, Historian of the Catholic Church.

The place has been visited by the then Christians of the Kotte era for blessings against sickness, maternity, curse and protection from devilish rituals. Although the place is now covered with shrub growth, the area is demarcated as an archaeological site by the department.

The responsibility of recognising the site as an archaeological demarcation belonging to the Kotte Kingdom was undertaken by the Department and its maintenance has been temporarily done by St. Peter's College History Union.

It is very sad that such valuable historical monuments of this type are exposed to decay without the notice of responsible authorities such as schools, educational institutions and line Ministries concerned.

When and where rehabilitation of this sort of places the architects should be mindful to design the new structures in conformity to the standards required to reproject the authenticity of the monuments lost. What is practically happening is the total loss of any trace of evidence left out to imagine that the place had any such valuable monument of history.

Our architects are sensitive to copy everything from outside and neglect what is peculiar in terms of nature, history or culture. The Dept. of Archaeology cannot undertake the vast responsibility of preserving every single monument that belong to the parts of history of this country.

BANDULA NONIS - 
Colombo.

First Sri Lankan Moor Lady on Supreme Court Bench

Reference the news item in the Daily News of December 22, 2003, I wish to bring the following information to the general public on the appointment of Her Lordship Justice Shirani Tilakawardena, to the Supreme Court Bench.

Her Lordship is the granddaughter of late Suhaib Durai Mohamed Burhan Proctor S.C. and N.P. who was practising at the Maligakanda Magistrate Court, Colombo, was also the Secretary of the Maradana Mosque (Inc: Colombo for many years and she is the niece of late M. Mohideen Burhan, Proctor S.C.N.P. Avissawella Court and niece of late M. Marzook Burhan retired government servant, founder member of the All Ceylon YMMA conference, National Council of YMMA, Maligawatte, Sir Razik Fareed Foundation, Moors Islamic Cultural Home, All Moors Association and various other organisations and also a gold winner of the YMCA oratorical contest.

Her Lordship is the daughter of Dr. M. Nafih Burhan, FRCS Surgeon attached to the General Hospital and various other hospitals retired.

Her Lordship Justice Shirani Tilakawardena is the first female Attorney-at-Law to join the Attorney General's Department since then she is the first Sri Lankan Moor to rise to the High Court, Appeal Court, the President of Court of Appeal before being appointed to the Supreme Court by the President.

Although she is married to a non Muslim. She is the granddaughter of Sri Lankan Moor family of Colombo.

Al Haj O.M. Ariff - 
Colombo 9.

Bribery Commission with the Opposition

It is sad that there is a large volume of accusations of vast scale frauds amounting to billions, by individuals, institutions, politicians and some Ministers as well. Add to this, the build up of violence, murders, drug trafficking, and other vices.

In this set up no Government can last long, unless drastic action is taken to stop corruption in all its forms, and also violence as well. It is common knowledge and true, that unless there is a powerful Opposition in the Parliament, the Government in power will ride the high horse and end in disaster, as it has happened now.

As a remedy to prevent a recurrence of this sad plight, may I suggest to those in Authority on Constitution matters, to consider the possibility of placing the Bribery Commission and a section of the CID, under the purview of the Leader of the Opposition.

If we do love our country, let us seek ways and means to stop corruption, violence and other vices, before it is too late. It is aimless to have an Opposition without teeth in this world, when corruption is rampant.

G. P. DHANATUNGA - 
Kolonnawa.

Pension anomalies and elections

The Minister of Public Administration at a meeting of a pensioners society last year promised that the pension anomalies would be rectified by the end of August last year. But so far nothing happened. Instead, the anomalies have worsened after the recent 10 per cent increase of pensions.

A special class officer in the general clerical and allied services who retired in the 1970s or 1980s gets a measly increase of Rs. 400 per month whereas the same category of recently retired officer gets over Rs. 1,000 increase.

It is therefore necessary for all pensioners, their families and sympathisers to work against the UNF government at the forthcoming elections.

A. P.

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