Provincial Council Elections  2004 - Results
Monday, 12 July 2004  
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Fight against dengue

Today dengue has become the major problem facing the inhabitants of many parts of Sri Lanka, and it is gratifying to note Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse taking the lead correctly on behalf of the sufferers (DN June 5).

I wish to point out that some time back there was an advertisement in the papers to phone up Health Ministry hot-line (011-267 5449) and inform of garbage collection anywhere, where it has not been removed for days. I phoned up this number and informed that Maharagama is one of the worst offenders (the Pradeshiya Sabha) and garbage could be collected seen almost everywhere not promptly cleared. I gave the particular details.

One such place is the road just close to Savings Bank when the garbage covers even half of the road and traffic has to veer course at this point. But sadly no action seems to have been taken for the same story is repeated daily. Why is this lethargy? Another point for collecting so heavily here, is there are no assigned places with garbage bins. This should be done on either side of the road. Bins are the answer for no cats, dogs and cattle could litter them haphazardly and these bins must be regularly disinfected.

So far this has been the worst year for dengue deaths, told suspected cases reaching 7000 by 4/7. Colombo University had reported 430 cases so far for this year. Out of 48 deaths, Colombo MC have 16 cases been reported. Public response is vital but Health Ministry and Local Authorities should take 75% of the blame as they are vital cogs in the wheel. No amount of paper eradication (issuing statements for public corporation etc.) will be of no use, if the primary actions are lethargic.

R. BUDHAPREMA - Maharagama

Deadly dengue in your refrigerator?

You may not believe, but it is true. In some of the refrigerators there is a tray at the rear bottom to collect the water when de-frosting or when there is a power failure. Of course, some of this water gets evaporated due to the heat generated by the radiator and you will never experience an over-flow unless there is a continuous power failure for over 18-24 hours. It is necessary to retain some water in this tray to prevent over-heating and damaging the refrigerator. However there is nothing to prevent mosquitoes using this to propagate their species in cool comfort.

I too was not aware of this problem and quite a lot of mosquitoes were found in my house though there was no access from outside as I have fixed up nets to all the windows and other ventilation holes. It was my niece from Minipe who pointed out the source as the refrigerator. Now I check regularly and add a few drops of detergent to the tray to prevent their breeding.

So, check up the de-frost tray, if it is in the rear bottom of your refrigerator. If this tray is located inside the refrigerator there is nothing to worry.

D. D. J. GUNAWARDENA - Kandy

Arrears of pensions

According to Public Service Administration Circular No. 06/2004, all Public Servants who retired prior to 01.01.96 (now extended to 01.01.97) are entitled to an enhanced pension, and this had to be paid with arrears from January 2004.

Already six months has elapsed in 2004 but the pensioners who are entitled to receive the benefits of the aforesaid circular have not yet received this long outstanding payment.

Many appeals and requests appeared in the press have so far failed to bring any consoling results. As most of these pensioners are drawing their last breath, it would be a great meritorious gesture on the part of those in Authority, if action could be taken at least to pay an advance of Rs. 3,000 per month as from January 2004 from the due payments until the finalisation of the payment of arrears.

D. W. NANDISENA - Colombo 3

HPT Ltd. depositors wait 14 years for their dues

It is now more than 14 years since the HPT Ltd., collapsed (1989/90) many depositors became destitutes overnight due to the failure of the Central Bank to monitor the working of this Finance Company.

Having a nominee Director at HPT Ltd., the Central bank should have exercised greater care and protected the interests of the Depositors who had invested their savings at the time of retirement in their commuted pensions and provident fund, expecting a higher income to match the ever escalating cost of living.

In January 1995, the depositors were informed by the HPT Ltd., that the total liability was Rs. 138 million, HPT Ltd., had a debt of Rs. 20 million due to the Hatton National Bank.

The depositors of the HPT Ltd., thank president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who really understood the difficulty the depositors were undergoing after retirement and directed her officials to negotiate for an early settlement and accordingly 50% of the deposit were made in May/June 1996 without an interest on the Capital.

Having settled the debt due to the Hatton National Bank after the sale of the HPT Ltd., head office building for Rs. 95 million, the balance Rs. 75 million was available for distribution among the depositors. However HPT Ltd., in consultation then with the Central Bank decided in the first instance to repay 50% of the liability utilising Rs. 70.3 million that was available among the depositors.

In April 2000, two depositors filed petition in Courts to liquidate the Company and the liquidators were appointed accordingly.

Since January 1966 up to the time the Liquidators were appointed HPT Ltd., should have received Rs. 37 million from their subsidiary companies and in addition, Rs. 5 million lying to the credit from the sale of the Head Office building.

'When the depositors appealed to the liquidators to pay an interim payment until the final determination of the HPT Ltd., funds, the Liquidators informed the depositors that at present the only hope is recovery of compensation due to the HPT Ltd., on account of several lands and portions of lands taken over by the State for development purposes, road widening etc. and those vested with the L.R.C. Law No. 1 of 1972. By far the most valuable property is the block of land called Kadamunnekumbura (over two acres) situated along the Nugegoda/Pepiliyana Road which could fetch well over Rs. 100 million. If this land is released or compensation paid, it would be possible to pay at least part of the deposit balances.

Most of the depositors have passed the Bibical three score and ten (70) and the ever escalating cost of living and the sky rocketing prices of drugs and vitamins they cannot be expected to live long and most of the depositors have joined the majority during the last 14 years.

The depositors appeal to the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge once again to direct her officials at the Presidential Secretariat to liaise with the Liquidators to cut Red Tape and to release the lands acquired under the LRC Law No. 1 of 1972 or pay compensation early.

Justice must not only be done, but it should appear to be done.

F. A. RODRIGO-SATHIANATHEN - Kelaniya

Eye-opener for NGOs

Frankly they are better called no good organisations or good for nothing organisations.

We have over 100 NGOs in the country but we hardly hear of their existence or their activities except when we see a print media statement (perhaps their annual opinion only of a situation) or see them on a rare TV panel discussion where a smithy mouthful of poppycock is uttered to boost their personal ego no doubt which hardly has an effect on the general public or does a service to the clientele they are supposed to serve who do not understand the lingo they are boastfully fluent in.

One thing is certain, though they are unknown to the general public, they are known to thrive on a crisis without of course any transparency in their work.

Their funds are a mystery. Nobody knows from where their funds come and how they are disbursed. Do these funds not come under the Central Bank Foreign Exchange Act? If so, we have a wider control on their funds management.

If not, it is a serious lapse on the part of the Central Bank as millions of Dollars pour into the NGO coffers and tax free at that.

At a recent meeting on Environment and Social Service many were angry to find only two NGO representatives were present although over 100 NGOs were invited and rebuked that a big nameboard and office address was all they have with no performance to show. This alone shows the farcical side of these NGOs.

There are so many fields that these NGOs can cover viz:- food, clothing, shelter, general strife, eye clinics, school requirements for poor children, spectacles donations to the poor, garbage clearance, home for the aged, deaf and blind, minor road repairs in poor villages, water service in poor communities, supply of water pumps to a community, dry rations, polythene menace, reconditioning and painting town and road nameboards.

Except for two or three I wonder if any of the rest of the NGOs can justify their cause in the service to the needy on any of the above services.

The public have a right to know the activities of these mushroom NGOs in hiding.

They should be exposed in the print and electronic media giving their name, address, nature of work, beneficiaries, charity areas covered, funds received, etc.

The only time we see or hear of them in action is during disaster time with two or three vehicles transporting dry rations not forgetting the roadwide banner with the NGO name on it and answering media questions in regard to their concern for relief to the needy with also a barrage of accusations at the authorities for the slightest delay to their purpose. Some piety this when in fact countries worldwide are involved with this disaster relief without much publicity.

Most of the NGOs flourish in our country without an iota of performance to their credit other than enriching themselves with no tax liability, and it is time authorities took a stringent view of these 'fake' institutions.

Registration is quite easy for them but there must be Central Bank, if not Government control over their activities and statements of account must be certified by Central Bank auditors.

We already know what happened to Medicines Sans Frontiers and how they were booted out with their own medicine.

N. B. MELVILLE PERERA - Kohuwala

Sathosa - Kuliyapitiya

With the new management one can see some improvements to attract more customers, to increase sales and to reduce overheads at Sathosa - Kuliyapitiya. In this effort excess staff and the wasteful 24 hr service have curtailed, the quantities and variety of goods have increased, the location and display of goods have changed and the customer hospitality and vigor of the staff have improved. But with all this I have not seen any proportionate build up of customers so far.

As I see as a customer of Sathosa, the main reason for this is that the outlet is located in a wrong place. It is now at an isolated place at Hettipola-Kuliyapitiya Road nearly 1/2 km away from the town centre. At the town centre four main roads are radiating to Kurunegala, to Madampe, to Pannala and to Hettipola. In addition the bus-stand, banks, hospital, schools, officers and especially the other retail shops are located. Because of this the customer attraction to present place is poor.

There are spacious commercial buildings at the town centre, if the management wants to relocate the outlet and develop it as a supermarket.

It would help more people to reach Sathosa and supermarket style buying. At the same time, it would maintain fair prices of daily needs through competition in the marketplace. The supermarket can serve a large clientele with high turnover.

Hence I would like to put forward the public opinion. It requests the management to relocate the outlet at more populous town centre instead of keeping it at a distant isolated place.

C. NANAYAKKARA - Kuliyapitiya

Accumulation of water

When taking into consideration the prevalent weather pattern, and the rainfall itself, it is quite evident that the results are diminishing annually forecasting an alarming situation in the future.

Accordingly, this needs preparation and correction from now on.

For the purpose of accumulating all water when available, it is necessary to restore all tanks which should be given priority, thereby storing all water as far as possible. It is also necessary to stop clearing of jungle and establishing trees wherever possible to induce rain.

Opening contour drains, construction of bunds and terracers thatching etc. should also be practised encouraging maximum absorption of water when available and preventing soil erosion all of which should not be ignored as they would play a major role in contributing to the above effort, thereby sustaining man and nature.

There is no substitute for water, hence let us conserve and prevent waste of water which is most precious as there would be no life without it.

TOMMY WANIGESINGHE - Kurunegala

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