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| Tuesday, 25 May 2004 |
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Good hearted negative advices Prof. Sunanda Mahendra The Sinhala term 'goda perakadoruwa' is used by villagers to denote the function of a person, especially in the legal field who so acts as if he or she got sufficient experience in legal issues. Not knowing the consequences, whosoever listens to such a person will fall into disaster for receiving adverse advices. 'It's very easy, for I know the law' is how they start the conversation, centred round a legal issue, pertaining to income tax, encroachments, land disputes and sales, property, inheritance etc. Sometimes the person in the event or the victim of the event is pushed from pillar to post and a lot of money had to be spent unnecessarily. The other day a friend of mine had a problem linked with his claim on Employees Trust Fund, a legitimate withdrawal of a certain sum of money deducted from his salary over the years. According to the regulations, the claimant ought to receive the said amount within a period of two months. If that period is lapsed one should make further enquiries as to the delay. My friend in a social gathering of friends had posed the question and said that he had been waiting for more than four months. One of the friends in the gathering had taken much notice. 'Oh my god, hurry up, for you will never get that money'. 'Why shoud't I get that for it's my lawful earnings?' said the claimant. 'But your papers may have gone to the income tax department'. 'Why should it go to the income tax when I am a tax payer in certain other ways'. 'Oh. I know for certain the delay is caused due to an impending deduction'. Why should one deduct any money from my legitimate earnings. 'It has happened to several others'. Anyway one becomes the all knower and the other the innocent receiver of the advice. The receiver of the advisor was internally disturbed for he knew no reason why his claim should go to any other unit other than the Trust Fund Board. Believe it or not, my friend had a sleepless night and in the early hours of the morning he went to the office of the Employees Trust Fund which is known by ETF, a very important public service section. As the claimant happened to be slightly influential, he tapped a certain friend working in the same premises and wanted to clarify the matter. The administrative officer who was decent in mannerisms (hardly the type of species) and soft spoken got the application number and returned within a few minutes to say. "Your cheque will be ready in a short while. Can you wait for a few more minutes'. 'Yes certainly. But may I ask you a question?'. 'Yes you may'. 'What was the cause of delay?' 'Oh it's as simple as this for parliament was dissolved, taking the ministries over, and then came nominations and then the elections the new year season, and the Vesak etc etc.' There was a certain sense of humour about him. 'Do you also send these application to Income Tax Units?' The friend asked humbly. 'Why for what reason?' Asked the officer. 'A friend of mine told me last night'. 'Is he a specialist in these matters?' 'I felt that he was. But I don't think so'. 'Never get advised from goda perakadoruwas, for they are like a pack of quack doctors, with a stethoscope around their necks. So seek advice from those who know, and not from those who are half baked or those who pose as knowers'. |
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