Wednesday, 26 May 2004  
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Sensible move on public liquor imbibing

Government plans to crackdown on persons consuming liquor in public places are bound to draw a deep sigh of relief from the peace-loving public. Proliferating pockets of inebriated revellers in public places are fast proving a social menace and contributing substantially to violent crime, sexual promiscuity and increasing indiscipline among both the young and the old. In other words, the widespread consumption of liquor is the trigger factor in increasing social decadence.

Accordingly, the decision by the authorities to clamp down firmly on the public consumption of liquor is greatly appreciated and we hope law enforcement in this regard would be stringent and uncompromising. Concurrently, the authorities also need to look into the possibility of limiting the accessibility of liquor by the young in particular.

This observation is prompted by the increasing sight of intoxicated and indisciplined young revellers who tend to pay scant regard for law and order and the norms of decorum and good behaviour. Women and girls are very often the victims of the stinging barbs and taunts of these rowdy elements.

What we are objecting to in this context, is the free use of public places, such as pavements and parks, for drunken orgies of this kind. When such excesses happen uncurbed, the rights and freedoms of the rest of the citizenry are deeply affected and infringed. This is to put it mildly because very often, the peace loving public are subjected to humiliation and harassment by the more violent of the liquor imbibers.

Besides, it has now been firmly established that liquor - consumption is a predominant factor in rising violent crime. For instance, some drunken brawls have ended-up in drunks summarily snuffing out the lives of their "buddies".

So, it is essential that the law in relation to these matters is firmly enforced. Liquor consumption in public places should be eliminated while the private consumption of liquor would remain - by definition - a personal matter.

Nevertheless, the excessive and inordinate consumption of liquor by a people is no source of pride. While to "booze" or not to "booze" will remain a personal choice, proliferating opportunities to do so in public, could only bring national ruin in their wake.

While it is a fact that liquor consumption and alcoholism are on the rise in Sri Lanka, it is not difficult to see a causative link between these social blights and increasing opportunities for the unrestricted consumption of liquor. Certainly, roadside liquor parties could be a fillip to liquor addiction which could in turn lead to hard-drug addiction and graver malaises. We urge an end to these opportunities for liquor consumption.

Improving tourism

Sri Lanka is a favourite destination of tourists from around the globe. As one creative advertisement put it, tourists are lured by nature, culture and adventure in Sri Lanka. More tourists are arriving in the country than ever before, with hotels and tour operators offering attractive packages for a 'holiday of a lifetime'.

Our tourism product cannot be not complete without the input of the human resources sector. Hotel workers, drivers, guides and others help make tourists' stay here as comfortable as possible. As more tourists arrive and tourism expands, more workers will be needed.

Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike and his officials have already taken this trend into account and initiated several programmes to increase manpower requirements in the tourism sector. Extensive training and guidance should be a hallmark of this recruitment process, because tourists should be given a correct impression regarding our island.

In this context, the Sri Lanka Tourist Board should be commended for training more than 1,000 beach boys from Kalutara, Beruwala, Hikkaduwa and Bentota, which the majority of 'sun and fun' tourists visit (Daily News, May 20). Beach boys used to be a nuisance to tourists, seeking money and offering a host of unsolicited services such as guiding. There have also been instances of sexual and physical abuse of beach boys. With the implementation of this programme, the authorities have observed a "marked decrease" in activities that may hinder the tourists.

In the tourism trade, drivers often double up as guides. This arrangement obviously saves a lot of money for the tour operators. But they must ensure that the guides are armed with accurate information on tourist attractions, especially those connected to our rich heritage and are able to answer tourists' questions confidently. They should also be able to converse fluently in English, German, French or Japanese. Thus, an all-round training regimen is essential for tourist guides.

The SLTB has taken a step in the right direction by training 136 driver-guides, who have been given an overall knowledge of the country's history, culture, traditions, climatic conditions and other relevant factors.

Improving the skills of hotel employees is equally important. Along with drivers, they are often the first line of contact for overseas visitors. They must leave a lasting impression in the visitors' minds. Hotels should maintain in-house training programmes designed to improve the performance of their employees.

More rural students should be given a chance to join the hotel schools, which have now opened branches in the provinces. This will help reduce unemployment and give the youth an opportunity to participate positively in a burgeoning industry.

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