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Do not allow threats to digress obligations towards masses

Two years of deception, deprivation, and mass-scale plundering and the attempted and treacherous handover of Northern and Eastern Provinces to the terrorists under its fascist ISGA demand was arrested by the prudent action taken by the President last November and new hopes and aspirations mounted with that event resulted in the election of the Freedom Alliance Government. Patriotic masses all over the country determined to prevent segregation of the country and a return to alienation, en-bloc voted to defeat the treacherous kleptocratic vendors of nations destiny and over 2/3 of the electorates were comfortably won by the Freedom Alliance. Thus, a clear and loud message was given on the desire and the aspirations of the people. This message has once again been unwaveringly and emphatically stressed by the Provincial Council elections.

The Government now has the total backing of the masses and an inflexible message on the direction to move forward for safeguarding the unitary status, alleviate misery, rebuild the nation, and raise the living standards of the people under its 'Rata Perata' (Country to the fore) program. Traumatized by the ascending people's uprising and solidarity with the Government, the reactionary vested interests aligned to the rogue kleptocratic vendors of the nation and collaborating with the fascist terrorists LTTE have initiated deflective measures to deny the masses the fruits of victory, and divert the course of the country in a destructive path. This is not a new trend and ever since the people's revolution of 1956 many similar attempts had been made to reverse people's victory.

In the fresh attempt, employing the ever docile media mafia totally submissive to its diktats, the reactionary forces have launched a massive propaganda crusade to emphasize the urgency and importance of the peace plank and force the Government in the direction of the so-called peace plank over and above all other issues, as a prelude to future intrigues of implanting dissection and anger among the masses on various issues. As a result of these conspiracies, all issues related to the people have been rolled back and debates, discussions, comments and other discourses have been projected on the so-called ISGA, Peace Talks, War Threat and Karuna issue.

LTTE and the proxy TNA leading the crusade in one of these fronts blatantly demand the ISGA, accuse the Government of collaborating with Karuna and threaten to return to the warpath.

The dollar hungry NGO peaceniks and factotums, calling themselves as political commentators, academics and leading journalists have been used to launch the attack from another front by filling the newspaper pages with a heap of articles advocating in favour of the abhorrent ISGA, and deviously accusing the Government for harbouring Karuna and pushing the country towards another war. In the third front, the reactionary anti-national elements in the business community warn economic disaster, investor repulsion, and denial of foreign aid in the event of lack of commitment to commence the so-called peace talks.

All these doomsday prophets overtly and covertly attempt on one basic thing, which is to force the Government away from paying attention to the people's issues and development, which was the force that installed the Government in power.

The prime duty of a Government in power is to precisely assess the burning issues of the people and take urgent steps for the development of the country in total conformity with the aspirations and desires of the people that voted it into power. In keeping with these requirements, the Government has already taken several steps to address the burning issues and launch many development oriented projects.

The Freedom Alliance manifesto has a clear-cut program and policies to address the country's needs and hence the Government should discard all reactionary threats and impediments and totally commit itself to rebuild this nation for the benefit of the posterity.

A. A. M. NIZAM - Matara

JHU to work with Govt.

Recently in Parliament JHU announced it will work with Govt. if TNA behaves undemocratically. Good thinking! Don't delay! You are not too late though late!

A small party can do something to the nation only if it joins and works with current government. Else, they only have to waste time criticising everything with no positive contribution to the development of the country. So JHU should act quickly, decide and support Govt to other small parties too to follow them and to take the country forward! Voters will love to see it.

K. U. PUSHPAKUMARA - Pitakotte

Pensioners hopes become dupes

Officials of pensioners' organisations were invited to the Auditorium of the Public Administration in Independence Square on March 2, copies of Circular No. 06/2004 containing details of the proposals of increase were distributed. At this meeting, those of us who are familiar with pre-election promises insisted that at least about 2 to 3 hundred pensioners should be picked at random and their pension increases paid the very following month.

This I believe was done. An assurance was also given that the rest of pensioners will be paid the increases within the next two months.

This has not happened and Government has changed hands.

Now new proposals are being put forward and Cabinet papers are to be submitted. This is the usual pattern regarding which all of us are familiar with and the end result is that matters go on and on by default.

The manner in which the Pensions Department is setting about to grant the increases, taking one file at a time is not a practical move, especially as the number of pensioners run into several lakhs.

In this context, the authorities, especially the Director of Pensions should study the recommendation made in the Administrative Reforms Committee, Report No. 4 of September, 1987 headed by H.S. Wanasinghe, with particular reference to para III (b) which reads thus:

"The Committee feels that it may be cumbersome to make revision of individual pensions based on revision of individual salaries. Instead it recommends that the average percentage by which the salaries of public servants is revised be calculated and such percentage be applied for increase in the pensions".

If the principle stated in the above recommendation is applied, grouping pensioners according to the category they retired from viz clerical (GCC, Grades 1, 2, 3 Supra Class); Administrative (Class 1, 2, 3); Technical etc. and applying the percentage increase, all pensioners will welcome same and the increase can easily be granted in August/September pensions.

Everyday newspapers carry letters of pensioners, bemoaning their fate and crying for relief.

What is required is immediate relief by way of rupees and cents, a practical and pragmatic approach, sympathy and understanding. What the authorities must realise is that there are a large number of pensioners over 70 years of age and they retired after putting in the maximum service, i.e. 40 years and they are the lowest paid group.

Please consider their medical expenses alone, leaving the mounting cost of living aside.

S. THAMBYRAJAH - Colombo 3

Strengthening English education

Your editorial 'Strengthening English education' is one of many similar recent articles outlining the government's plans in tackling the low standard of English language in many schools. However, it fails to mention several crucial points that need to be addressed for real progress to be made to many of 11,000 schools in the country.

Whilst I wholeheartedly agree with the activity based Oral English taught in many Grades 1-4 classrooms, it is from Grade 5 that real difficulties emerge. Few teachers consider the textbooks from Grades 5 - 11, suitable as far as interest or in keeping with level of most students. For the majority of students this is the sole English material they encounter. If there are books in the school library, they are often old, in poor condition, and too difficult for the majority of students. For the editorial to state that school libraries should receive classic English novels and other great works of literature, may be fine for the best urban schools but it excludes the majority of students who would find these far too difficult. Whilst Enid Blyton stories may not be 'classics' they are stories that children can readily read and enjoy, and most important - improve their reading skills.

English language lessons must be made enjoyable, irrespective of the O/L examination goals. English needs to be developed as a communication skill and not as a vehicle for social studies. For the majority of schools and teachers, the same methods are being used today as used ten, twenty or thirty years ago. We now have access to technology in the form of cassette players, radio, television, video and computers. Creative use of these resources might do wonders for English teaching. Even the humble blackboard could better serve many lessons, if it was an adequate size and in good condition.

Far too many schools have multiple classes in one hall where the noise level and visual distraction prevents effective learning taking place however devoted the teacher may be. Well trained English teachers are essential but unless more fundamental problems are addressed, their effectiveness will be marginal. May I respectively suggest that all those involved in bringing about reforms in English teaching, spend a week in several typical rural and urban schools. Since they will all be fluent English speakers, they will be able to experience first-hand some of the difficulties I have outlined. Top down solutions always have limited success.

What are the opinions of ordinary teachers and students? Mistakes have been made in the past, but we can learn from these and hopefully benefit by doing better this time.

DOUGLAS KING - Kandy

Completing decades

The Human life span of a maximum 100 years could be divided into ten decades. One completes each decade on the 9th, 19th, 29th, 39th, 49th, 59th, 69th, 79th, 89th, 99th, birthday of one's life, respectively.

A learned Buddhist monk, long years ago advised me to undertake something big or extraordinary in life when completing a decade in order to avoid or by-pass any 'Apalaya' or evil effect or catastrophe such as death, major debilitating or life threatening illness etc.,

According to his understanding and observations, the evil effects most often occur when a human being is completing a decade and entering the next decade. If one undertakes an extraordinary activity during this period, such evil effects may be very often, to a large extent avoided.

When I recollected my past decades I observed the following startling facts which proved beyond doubt the learned monk's observations.

My date of birth 11.6.1934. Completed the first decade in 1943, at Alawwa, where my father was the Station Master.

I was 9 years and I developed Cerebral malaria with fits etc., and was critically ill and narrowly escaped death. Those days there were hardly any drugs for Malaria. Only Quinine and Lumbar Puncture for fits! I, however, narrowly escaped death.

1953 - completing second decade 19th year of life, I entered the University. An 'Apalaya' was thus avoided.

1963 - when completing the third decade, I got married and thus avoided any evil effect.

1973 - fourth decade, my family and I were granted a Nuffield Foundation Fellowship in UK for one year, and the evil effects were avoided.

1983 - fifth decade, I built my own house and any catastrophe was by-passed.

1993 - sixth decade my daughter was given away in marriage, and an 'Apalay' was once again avoided.

2003/2004 - 7th decade, my wife who was also entering her sixth decade, (my wife and I were entering the decades almost simultaneously as she was nine years younger to me) expired almost suddenly after a massive heart attack, this being her first major illness in life.

We had no time to avoid this catastrophe.

We were both planning to tour South Africa and South America (these being the last countries for both of us to visit in the world) in July or August during her birthday or 40th Wedding Anniversary, but simply could not make it.

The 'Apalay' hit us tragically before we embarked on the African/American tour.

If one observes the obituaries most deaths occur at the end of a decade. I therefore, advise all readers of this article to remember to participate in a major event in your life's journey when completing each decade of your valuable life in order to avoid any evil effect on you.

V. C. P

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