|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 15 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries
|
Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Many years back due to an oil price crisis, not so unwarrantably severe as it is today, the Government of the day declared Saturday a non-working day with a view to controlling and conserving fuel. Some establishments still abide with this declaration while a fair portion reverted to the 5 1/2 day working week with the economy stabilising gradually. With the present scenario the contrasting feature is that the vehicle population was about 1/3rd of what it is today and today's oil production in total disarray created by aggressive, selfish power hungry blocks. The oil price fiasco is so very severe today it would be wise if the Saturday working ban is re-introduced, if not revoked, with also a total ban in the use of vehicles, local airlines (not 3-wheelers) on Saturday, trains and bus services excluded but with restricted services. Export oriented industries exempted. Round the clock vigil by police to fine unauthorised vehicle movement on this day. Prior to this catastrophic situation with a bouncing economy we were rubbing shoulders with World Bank and IMF officials with the begging bowl behind our back. With the present situation, we are in the above conservation idea can bring us some sort of respite in our fuel funds in addition to controlling other wasteful fuel consuming activities. Or else, we will have to carry an extra large begging bowl and still get nothing if we do not show these world institutions what measures we are adopting to consider our aid applications even though we are not responsible for the present commercial wheels being derailed. N. B. MELVILLE PERERA, Kohuwala On the eve of the last general election the Government in power proclaimed the anomalies of pension scales would be rectified and in fact held 'a symbolical presentation of renewed pensions' to a few pensioners selected at random. Patently, it was an election gimmick that petered out subsequently. The old pensioners were hoping against hope to receive their overdue enhanced pensions. In this respect, the pensioners gratefully remember how they received the arrears of the cost of living allowances under the administration of Chandrika Bandaranaike, the head of the PA Government. The number of pensioners who retired before 1996 is not a large number as some conjecture. For example, one who retired in nineteen seventees, would have been sixty years old (it was compulsory for a government servant to retire at the age of sixty.) Such a government servant must be 60+34 up to date. How many are surviving, in ninety and over today? Just a few. Therefore, those who retired in seventies; most of whom are feeble, sickly and senile should be paid their arrears of pension at least on humanitarian grounds, the sooner the better: on the same basis those who retired in eighties, must be in the age group of (60+24) about eighty four today. Their plight must be considered next. There might be a large number in the final stage who retired in ninetees. If payments of pension arrears on the basis of age, on three steps, seventees, eightees and nintees the problem could be sorted out expeditiously. Harping on the fabulous number of pensioners who retired before 1996 is paranormal. A. P., Kotte October 5 media reported of the inaugural meeting of the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation (NACPR), launched by the President, in a bid to seek views of a wider cross section of the society, on peace related issue. The President had reportedly said that, the government was ready to negotiate with the LTTE's Interim Administration demands, provided that, there is parallel talks on the final peace deal. Main opposition party, UNP had stayed away from the first meeting, saying that, talks should resume on LTTE's ISGA demands, stance taken by TNA, Tiger's proxy in Parliament. During past two years of UNP regime, soft handling of LTTE terrorist organisation, has resulted in a de facto Tiger administration in uncleared areas, with LTTE police, courts, 'taxing' etc. Tigers also have put up new camps in cleared areas, and killed hundreds of political opponents and security intelligence personnel. ISGA demand is all about relaxing government control in cleared area and sea, so that the LTTE could take over the entire administration in N/E. Considering UNP's track record of continuous giving into Tiger demands, it would be a futile exercise to appeal to UNP leadership for participation in NACPR. As the Sinhala saying goes, it would be like 'feeling the outside of a bag, which has been united and examined'. Way back in August 2000, when the President presented the Draft Constitution Bill in Parliament, after years of deliberation with UNP and other parties, having pledged support, UNP shamelessly turned table in Parliament, behaving in the most abhorrent manner, unprecedented in Parliamentary history, tearing and burning order books and hurling filthy abuse. Unruffled by the contemptuous behaviour of UNP members, the President held the floor for one and a half hours, delivering one of the finest speeches ever made in the floor of the House, inviting the UNP to support the proposed Constitution, aimed at ending 17 years of bloodshed. "If we are to liberate the Tamil people from the yoke of terrorism, we have to march through a political programme, that ensures the right to live', the President declared, on that memorable day. After lapse of four years, 'search for peace' has started afresh, upon the launching of NACPR, under the President's auspices, with the participation of peace loving Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim parties. Now that the people have given an overwhelming mandate to the present government in both General and Provincial Government Elections, to forge ahead for a peaceful resolution of the ethnic issue, as pledged in the UPFA manifesto, UNP's boycott should not be cause for lament, for, even after participation, they walk away at a crucial stage, jettisoning peace aspirations. UNP would have felt happy, had the government started talks on LTTE's ISGA demands, that would have led to the separation of the country. After all, that was the way that UNP Chief Negotiator, Prof. G.L. Pieris conducted 'peace' negotiations, always giving in to LTTE demands, that has led to the virtual takeover of N/E by the terrorist organisation. Our President's endeavour, by convening all democratic forces together, is to build up a strong united force to counter the grand design of the LTTE to divide the country. 'NACPR talks are aimed at seeking a federal solution, within united Sri Lanka', the President has declared. Hence, it is the bounden duty of all parties, shedding petty differences, to rally round this noble endeavour, to free the country from the terrorist yoke. S. WEERASINGHE, Pannipitiya Blind citizens front : Annual Appeal 2004 October 15-22 is International White Cane week. Blind persons all over the world celebrate this significant event with much enthusiasm. Accordingly, this is the time when we appeal to our friends and well wishers for financial assistance to continue our programs and services to our members. In a country where job opportunities for the blind are very limited, and in a situation where even social security benefits are non existent, we are concentrating on gainful occupations self-employment for our members. While we are deeply indebted to your esteemed establishment for the financial support given to us in the past, we shall be ever so grateful if you would please help us this year as well, to enable us to help our members live useful and happy lives. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to Blind Citizens Front, and sent to: Blind Citizens Front, No. 11, Housing for the Blind, Katubedda, Moratuwa. M. C. Jayasiri, President, Blind citizens Front The residents of the Mattegoda Housing Scheme are put into great inconvenience, as a result of intermittent power failures, sometimes for more than one hour or even more. This is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs where the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is concerned over its responsibility towards the customers. There may be excuses for such failures, as is often the case with Government departments and statutory Boards. It is no secret. To my experience, the Ceylon Electric Co. (CEC) does a better service to customers than the CEB, and any power failure is attended to within the minimum delay possible. Power failures are inevitable when breakdowns occur beyond human control. In this respect, I should like to ask one logical question. Why there are no frequent power failures within Colombo city, unlike at Mattegoda? If it ever happened, it was very rare. Let us stand to reason. If the consumers in Colombo pay the same tariff on bills for power consumed, without failures, why are the Mattegoda residents discriminated by calling upon to pay the same tariff? When children are getting ready to go to school early morning, the power supply fails, to the great annoyance of the parents. The CEB is supposed to have a large number of highly qualified engineers but what is the purpose if they cannot find a concrete solution to the acute problem faced by the residents at Mattegoda? The CEB is very keen in collecting their bills, and to issue red notices, but it does not look into the grievances of the consumers. To whom should they complain? is it to the 'Kapurala' of a devale? The CEB is a large organisation and it must maintain its prestige not merely by name and fame, but by action, solidarity and efficiency. I think the Chairman must look into the problems with the CEB independently without listening to wrong advice sometimes misleading. The Mattegoda Housing Scheme has 1,122 houses, in addition to other housing projects in the vicinity, extending far into the village at large. Impossible could be done but miracles never. Aryadasa Ratnasinghe, Mattegoda Sethu Samudram, a death knell to our country The Indian Government's proposed Sethu Samudram project involving deepening the Palk Strait is a death knell to our country. Our Colombo Port's main function is to cater to all shipping lines for trans-shipments to all parts in the East, to ports in Australia and New Zealand. Colombo Port's function for exports and imports from our country is minimal. If Sethu samudram project goes through, all importance of our Colombo as transhipment port will cease. It will be convenient and for all shipping lines to use Ports in Madras, Pondichcheri and Ports in Eastern side of India, where it will be cheaper for shipping lines. Our taking up the matter to the International Court will bring in diplomatic estrangement which we cannot afford. However, we have a strong legal position to defend ourselves. The narrow sea path between India and Sri Lanka which is about 30 nautical miles in distance belong to India and Sri Lanka equally. We have a legal claim on one half the distance of Palk Strait as territorial waters. Therefore we can lodge strong protest to India. We can come to an amicable settlement with India. We should be satisfied if we are to be paid a reasonable payment after negotiation for each ship that passes through the Palk Strait. In the meanwhile it will be prudent for us to stop all works at Ports in Galle, Matara and Hambantota as these ports will be idle if Sethu Samuthram Project is carried out. R. M. P. Ramakrishna Crime is generally defined as deviant behaviour contrary to the accepted codes of society. Society will not survive if most of its people break most of its laws most of the time, so man has instituted punishment for serious crimes in an attempt to stop criminal behaviour. Nevertheless, crime has flourished from ancient times. Whether certain types of crimes are increasing or decreasing is irrelevant - crime level has always been too high. These new forms of crime - highly visible and highly publicised; have reinforced the layman's image of the world as divided into good people and bad people. The security technologies have offered ever more sophisticated means of protecting the property and person of 'good' people against the nocturnal onslaughts of 'bad' people. One cannot change the behaviour of anyone but yourself, and you can do precious little to defend yourself from 'bad' criminals, beyond the commonsense rules available from any police department. I believe the principles that are embodied above, however, reflect the best of sociological, psychological, as well as criminological thought on the important subject of crime. G. R. SAMUEL, Sub. Inspector of Police (Rtd.), Ragama |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
