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| Wednesday, 31 March 2004 |
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Letters | |
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Consequent to pressure and agitation from the travelling public, articulated through the support and the generous columns of the National Press, one of the two problems facing regular air travellers between India and Sri Lanka has been initially addressed. This being the question of additional daily flights, the presence of two more airlines in the sector, now set in motion, will go far to ease the seat shortage issue. All those concerned both in the government and outside who worked to secure this objective deserve the appreciation of the travelling public. However, the more important of the two problems is that of the airfare itself, that has not been conclusively addressed. It is noted, together with the announcement of the introduction of two more airlines in the sector, a reference was also made for a marginal reduction of fares - indicating, for the purpose of this representation, that fares in existence now are indeed perched at a very high level and could be reduced with ease. The announcement of reduced fares came more as a promotional exercise rather than as one calculated in the wider interest of the travelling public. For instance Colombo/Madras (Chennai) return fare which stood at nearly Rs. 20,000 a fortnight ago has now been reduced to Rs. 11,000 by one airline and Rs. 14,000 + by another - for a limited period. Clearly, the airlines are not inclined to lower their fares voluntarily and are quite content "making a killing" now that there is none visibly available from the State side to protect the interest of the travelling public. It has been pointed out whereas the distance between Colombo and Singapore (2,050 miles) Colombo and Bangkok (1,778 miles) return airfare is about Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 26,000 respectively, there is little justification in a return flight to Madras (Chennai) costing nearly Rs. 20,000 for a distance of a mere 482 miles - a point which our authorities can convincingly argue with the airlines to the benefit of the public. Taking the Singapore-Bangkok fare calculation sources within the industry say a Rs. 8,000 fare for a return flight to Madras (Chennai) for this distance will allow the airlines an attractive profit. The daily fully-booked flights in an additional incentive to them through greater and assured volume. It is for the Civil Aviation authorities at our side, even at this late stage, to take the initiative on behalf of the public now that the latter has done much of their work in this burning issue. So far as the public is aware, the State has remained silent - save for a brief debatable and unhelpful statement from them to the effect "Market forces will decide the pricing". Market forces, it has been seen in many a discipline, can manoeuvre that number of players involved in a particular trade sitting down and deciding ("cornering" if you will permit an impolite term) on a price well above their cost and against the public interest. Let it also be emphasized even the Rs. 8,000 suggested is a luxury to most passengers in this route who are not the elitist, vacationer class - but who come from the lower middle classes forced to undertake such an expensive journey out of a sheer necessity - on medical grounds, to visit a child studying in India, to attend a compulsory family function, on a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage, on some business to eke out a living and many other. This is therefore, not an acrimonious argument to pinpoint blame on one or the other but a plea to all those concerned to help secure relief to the travelling public frequenting this sector. From the looks of it, there is indeed much space here to objective helping. A. KANDAPPAH Appeal to Postal Dept. intellectuals Postal department should put their heads together and formulate a fool proof system of remitting money from one country to another like 'Western Union Transfer'. It remits even big amounts all over the world from one country to another without problems. The Department may study 'western Union Transfer System' if they so desire, if they want to implement a fool proof system for the good of all. This activity of theirs will result in less and better work by the Investigation Dept. The fool proof system of Colonial days has turned out to be 'not fool proof system' now. The Dept. is unable to enforce deterrent punishment to the culprits owing to obvious reasons. The payment of remitted amount should be recommended by two executives of the postal Dept. on two dates in two months in the presence of the payee who should prove his identity beyond doubt. Then the amount should be paid by the Post Master only and not by ordinary clerks of the Postal Dept. I am suggesting an example but the intellectuals of the Postal Dept. are far more intelligent to introduce 100 per cent fool proof system like the 'Western Union Transfer' system. In the meantime, the Dept. should clear the fraud cases and after clear proof that the payee has not taken the money, be honourable to pay the poor members of the public whose money has been defrauded. This will take very little time. Subsequently the Dept. should investigate who the postal employee who has connived to encash 'Not negotiable' Postal orders which should go through account and cannot be encashed at the counter. Such offences warrant automatic dismissal according to Postal Dept. rules and regulations. the Dept. should not agonize the poor payee because of the Postal Dept. problem. Thereafter, there will not be fraud case investigation and the investigation Dept. will do some other investigation of the Postal Dept. and the Postal Dept. will earn a name for good efficient service. the Dept. should not turn deaf ears to the appeal of the public as it tells on their efficiency and obligations. If the Dept. is inactive, there will be more frauds and more work to the investigation Dept. Maintaining silence in this context is not golden. the Dept. should send consoling letters to the victims thus 'Action is being taken to finalise and compensate your loss within 3 months' if your complaint re-loss of the amount is proved. If Western Union and other institutions can do it, why cannot the Government of a Republic do it. The Dept. should be kind, active and be honourable to the public. Pay early the money that has been defrauded. The payee should not beg for his money which has been remitted through 'Not negotiable postal order' which cannot be encashed but go through Account. Their conscience will admit the fault of the Postal Dept. Immediately, make it clear that the payee has not taken the amount and give him a consoling letter and thereafter pay him the amount early. THUNAALAI S. A. MASILAMANY As it is well known, Sri Lanka's premier Ayurvedic center is the Ayurvedic hospital in Borella which is also a teaching hospital. It is located on the eastern boundary of the city of Colombo and in fact partitioned by the two municipalities of Kotte and Colombo. The premises of this hospital is protected on the east by a parapet wall running parallel to which is an artificial canal which has a bridge on it for the passage of Dr. N. M. Perera Mawatha (Cotta Road) popularly known as Sri Jayawardenepura Parliamentary road. Of course, our Parliamentarians generally avoid this stretch of the road in preference to Castle Street for the reason I propose to mention presently - as they usually do, grabbing the best of both worlds. This canal has been dug during the Dutch rule of Sri Lanka centuries ago. Believe me or do not as you may, the stinking stench that emanates from this canal is unbearable. It is inconveniencing not only the many hundreds of patients undergoing institutionalized treatment at this major hospital, but also the members of its large staff. I am not too sure as to under whose purview the responsibility of cleaning this canal rests. It may be the Urban Development Authority, Water Resources and Drainage Board, the Municipality of Colombo or that of Kotte or any other. But the fact remains that this is a health hazard that should be attended to as a mater of priority by whatever authority that bears the responsibility for doing so. But it also seems that they purposely breed mosquitoes here in their billions in the same way as agricultural animals are bred by farmers. Dharmapala Senaratne I am a small investor who buy/sell shares at the Colmbo Stock Exchange over a period of 12 years. What I have noticed is, it is the small investors who lose when the market fluctuates. It is the small investors who buy at the highest prices and they are the ones to sell at the lowest price at a loss. The newcomers to the market buy or sell shares without knowing the quality of the shares. It is very strange to note one particular share HNB (N.V.) being traded at a price around Rs. 40. It went down even to Rs. 35. Only a few thousands are being transacted daily. Most probably the sellers are small investors who don't know the real value of this blue chip. According to the 2003 year end results, the earning per share is 14.10 and the dividend is 40 per cent per year. Also 20 per cent divedend for the year 2003 is to be paid on March 26. At the current Bank fixed deposit rate of 7 per cent this share is cheaper even at 55 per cent - Rs. 60 per share. In addition to the dividend equal to bank interest rate, chances of capital gains are there. I hope the small investors who sell this blue-chip share at the current price will take a note of this. M. RAJARATNAM The General Elections are fast approaching amidst a spate of violent incidents by both the main contenders in this regard. It has focused immediate attention of the general public that the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in our island has been shattered by contravening all norms of the existing Elections Laws of the land. However the fear psychosis is yet being experienced of the vast devastation of men and materials during the past. Therefore, it is in the interest of the peace loving citizens to elect an honest and dedicated representative to the Parliament whether he is from the right, left or from the centre. M. I. M. MUDASSIR The famous Pacha Gaha of Galle Among the objects that are significant and famous in this world are sometimes mountains, rivers and trees and various other things that people very often think they are unique. For instance people speak of the Seven Wonders of the World. Among the oldest trees in the world we reckon the Sacred Bo Tree at Anuradhapura as famous in the Buddhist world. The river Ganges in India is a sacred river for the Hindus. We in Sri Lanka adore the mountain Sri Pada as sacred in the world. However have you heard of the Pacha Gaha of Galle. Although it is one among the common shady trees in the island, it has become famous and significant for the main reason that it affords a useful service to man. It stands on the outskirts of Galle harbour. It is a rendezvous for a galaxy of human beings. Its shade is a great boon to anyone who needs the shade over one's head. A variety of people find umbrage under this tree. Among them are palm readers, who invite every passerby to get his or her palm read. The gullible individual is tempted by the suave calling often to learn about the expected fortune predicted by this individuals. This tree is situated on the road to the Law courts in Galle Fort and most litigants fall pray to this individual. One other person who reside under this tree is the vendor of Medicinal oil. When a cluster of people passby he displays his store of bottles containing the Medicinal oil. This oil he announces cures many an ailment. His vocabulary is so tacit and inviting that many an unsuspecting passerby is induced to buy a sample of oil for it is predicted that it serves to alleviate a host of ailments, which normally man is subjected to. It is a well-known fact that the street vendors of Medicinal oil palm off coloured coconut oil or gingily oil. Another person who takes advantage of small crowd formed under the Pacha Gaha is the acrobat dressed is patched up coloured dress. Sometimes he uses a bicycle to display his stunts to the flabbergasted crowd. After the show he passes round the hat for donations when those who witness the event surreptitiously and slowly evade the turn and proceed away from the scene. There is one other claimant of the broadside of this famous tree who mounting on a soap box starts speaking to the air. When an attractive crowd gathers he most eloquently preach on an alluring topic. Once the speech is over, the people who were in the audience most charitably make monetary contributions to this man who in no way implored for it. Thus unscrupulous people make their living through lies "Pacha" and cheat. These various people find the shade of the Pacha Gaha a stage to display their individual effects in procuring an effortless living though more tolerable than committing crimes which are much more serious than these harmless undertakings. GODWIN WITANE. |
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