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| Tuesday, 21 December 2004 |
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Letters | |
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The Government must make every effort to widen the tax-net. Tax evaders must be detected and roped in. If the officials engaged in collection put on their thinking-caps it can be done. In one cartoon a seedy man was squatting by the side of a stream panning for gold. Behind him was standing a well-dressed man holding an impressive briefcase with the words Inland Revenue Department stamped on it. In the cartoon the man has his head turned towards the revenue collector and the caption was, "I'll let you know, if I find gold." On one occasion an efficient expert was hired by the owner of a large business establishment. The expert in the course of his survey saw a man seated alone in a room with his legs on a table doing nothing. He said that the man should be got rid of as he was of no use. The owner said, "That man is thinking. He has saved me a lot of money with his ideas and he is worth his salt." The Buddha advised his followers to pay their taxes honestly. Jesus Christ said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's. But many Buddhist and Christians appear not to follow their advice. It is an open secret that many professional people like lawyers, doctors, architects and surveyors earn more than what they reveal. C. MAHINDA, Makola Different and alternate way of advertising We are bored and tired of viewing advertisements which are being repeated on a half an hour programme several times, covering almost half of the half hour. Some ads are repeated at least twice at a stretch and at regular intervals, which itself is boring. Why not have at least an alternate and different way of advertising at least to keep the attention of the viewers and make use of the money spent on ads? What I mean is when you show an ad on the different TV Channels, why not have it the second time on a different way. For instance without showing the same two limes always show two apples or two beautiful flowers or two children. Then you can draw the attention of the viewers. And again without repeating the same ad for months-after about a month, change to some other novel of showing the same ad. That will at least take away the boredom and keep the attention of the viewers to a certain extent. Then again do not show unpleasant things, like coffins and corpses, afterall we view the ads to get some pleasure - the idea of seeing TV is to enjoy the time and also to be beneficial to all of us. So adopt novel and different ways and change the ads regularly and let it be pleasant to the viewers. V. K. B. RAMANAYAKE, Maharagama It is very sad the people who voted for the election of members to Parliament are deprived to see the performance of its members in Parliament on TV. Today many people in the country own a TV and have first hand information of what is happening around the world are known within a few minutes, yet what is discussed in our Parliament is not known to the masses in the country who elected these members to Parliament. The daily print media do not give a full coverage of the debates in Parliament for the information of the masses in the country who elected these servants of the people to Parliament. Time and again, the prices of daily newspapers are escalating in the world market and now they have reached beyond the purchasing power of the reading middle and low income families of the country who seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave but have now given up buying daily newspapers as they cannot afford to buy nor they can subscribe for the Parliament Hansard. During election time the politicians make us believe at election platforms that we are the kings and queens and they are the servants of the people. In real terms we are the kings and queens only for a period of 24 hours (election day) and never see them again, only on TV laying foundation stones, cutting the ribbon in opening up new buildings, lighting the traditional oil lamp etc. In some days there is no quorum in Parliament, these politicians should remember that the taxpayers' money is spent in maintaining them and the Parliamentary House of Representatives. The people have the right to watch the proceedings debate etc. and for the benefit of those people who are aspiring to be elected in future Parliament can learn a lot from these proceedings. Everyone in the country do not get the opportunity to go to the gallery of the Parliament to watch the proceedings. In developed countries Australia, England, Canada there is a special TV channel to televise Parliamentary proceedings and the people have the opportunity to watch the debate etc. The Government and all party leaders in Parliament should join hands and take meaningful action immediately to give the people who elected them the opportunity to watch their debating skill for the good of the people and the country on live TV from Parliament. Let the people who voted Members know who is taking the people and the country forward and who are against the forward march. To thine ownself be true and remember, we must leave this world better than it was found, since we are only passengers in this planet. F. A. RODRIGO SATHIANATHAN, Kelaniya It is reported in DN Dec. 10 that GLP has taken up the position that SBD had been contemptuous of court not as an individual by himself but as the personified UNP. This aspect has been exhaustively dealt with by the Supreme Court. GLP has very conveniently outlooked or forgotten Article 66. GLP and Dr. J. J. speak of 'International Tribunal'. It seems that they have forgotten the British Court of the highest order 'The Privy Council'. Even this council cannot entertain cases settled by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. GLP and Dr. J. J. seem to be threatening the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka with comments about 'International Tribunal'. DENROY, Etul Kotte Indian 'Rasputin' - a probe required The Slave Island Police have done a fine piece of work in apprehending the self-proclaimed Indian astrologer without much fan-fare. The W.P.C who played the role of a decoy should be particularly congratulated for her uncanny skill in trapping the voyeur posing of as a clairvoyant. This pseudo-astrologer has managed to extend his visa for nearly four months and stayed in a five star hotel and later at a posh residency. He has advertised in local newspaper of his skill in reading one's future by looking merely at one's face, employed interpreters in Sinhala and Tamil and played out large sums of money from gullible persons, besides engaging in amorous dalliance with unsuspecting clients of the fair sex. What is called for is a not only condign punishment for his conduct but also a probe into his earnings during his stay, his violation of visa conditions in doing business here and breach of exchange control regulations, if any. M.P., Wattala Karate (the art of unarmed fighting) became the subject of interest worldwide and in Sri Lanka too. Practically in every nook and corner here Schools of Karate cropped up teaching various styles of Karate under many jargon of Japanese, Korean and Chinese names. Ironically now for most people Karate is an anathema after watching non-ending duels in certain action movies produced in the east to thrill the teenagers. These movies have become more fiction than true. It appears that many young men rush to Karate schools for quick training as they have some old scores to settle with their opponents. Some may train to fight and win in a local tournament to gain quick recognition as champ in their grade. For them, the mental discipline is useless; the pure oriental style of Karate techniques are unimportant. But for a very few who knows the value of Karate - it is a priceless piece of mental discipline and control and more important than exposing the incredible strength of slashing various hard objects with bare hands. The late Gichin Funakoshi (the father of modern day Japanese Karate) continuously stressed his students that 'one learns and practices Karate to become a peace loving person with an unshakable correct mind.' This philosophy holds good even now. It should be instilled by all Sensei (teachers) on their students and even on those possessing dan (black belt) - whatever styles they know. Importantly, no prudent Karateka should stay back to fight when confronted. The practical self-defense, although one knows the techniques, is to shake hand with the opponent, explain and reconcile. This is Karate. But this method is next to impossible in a gang attack where circumstances are unfavourable. Dojo (training place) Karate techniques or Jackie Chan's movie techniques are unworkable. The wise self-defence is to take to one's heels. H. L. D. E. PERERA, Mattakkuliya |
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