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| Thursday, 13 January 2005 |
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Letters | |
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It looks as though the tsunami that hit the island had a mind of its own and wanted to inflict the maximum damage possible. It struck on a Sunday and Poya day. The preceding day was Saturday and Christmas day. It struck at mid-morning which is a time of activity with people on the beach, at Sunday fairs and travelling by road and rail. It struck on a day that the President was out of the country. It struck in winter, the tourist season. It struck just a few days away from New Year's Day causing the planned festivities in hotels to be cancelled. It struck at a time when our cricket team was in New Zealand making them despondent and unable to continue with the tour. From the Buddhist point of view the large number of people who died did not die as a result of their bad Karma. Everything is not due to Karma though it is the most important factor. Their deaths were the result of the operation of natural forces such as earthquakes, landslides, wind and waves. But for the majority who perish, it is simply a case of death by the operation of the forces of nature because nature has not been selective as in the case of lightning. It is interesting to note that such disasters are referred to in English as Acts of God. That presumably is the Christian view. In World War II Churchill told the Archbishop of Canterbury that all steps had been taken to prevent his church from being damaged by bombs falling nearby. "That may be so," said the Archbishop. "But what if there is a direct hit?" "In that case my dear Archbishop," said Churchill, "You must regard it as a summons from God." C. MAHINDA, Makola Sri Lanka is recovering from the brutal aftermath of the terrifying tsunami's which have left a trail of death and destruction in its wake. At the time of writing, the death toll had reached 30,000 in Sri Lanka and is still rising. The rest of the population which has been unaffected by the tragedy have come forward in droves, volunteering assistance. We have been bombarded with sickening images of mangled, decomposing bodies afflicted with rigor mortis, and property which has been totally destroyed. Undoubtedly this is the greatest natural disaster to have befallen Sri Lanka. The time has come to set aside all our differences and work together for the betterment of our motherland. Let's join hands as one race, the human race, devoid of differences in caste, creed or religion. This is the greatest tribute that we can give to those who perished beneath the wall of water. This would ensure that they did not die in vain. KURAISH SALDIN, via e-mail The Finance Minister should be congratulated for having appointed as Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission a person with a thorough knowledge of Capital Markets and Insurance. Even the present Commissioners appointed by the Government are persons who do not have conflicts of interest and have the time to deliberate carefully and take decisions in a balanced manner. The previous private sector Commissioners were on so many Company Boards that they spent their time shuttling between Board meetings and not giving their full attention to matters of the SEC for which they had been appointed. Some of them used to vanish after having high tea served from the Hilton claiming 'other work'. It was only the Ex-officio members like the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Central Bank Deputy Governor,Registrar of Companies etc. who took their role seriously. The Insurance Board which was sleeping for the past two years should now be rejuvenated with the appointment of a Director General qualified in Insurance. This is a far cry from how the SEC was run during the past regime. The person who succeeded an earlier Chairman who had to resign in disgrace, was a retired officer close to being an octogenarian. He represented the SEC at many overseas conferences without knowledge of the topics discussed. His qualification for the post of Chairman was his friendship with a leading UNP official in the Treasury. He spent most of his time with his family abroad , but drawing his full pay from the SEC and the Insurance Board. He was a nice old Gentleman, but not suited for this 'hot seat'. The present Chairman more or less works full time unlike his predecessor. He was forced to leave by the UNP appointed Commissioners of the past simply for trying to do his job impartially. The decision by these Commissioners to allow a Commission member accused of insider dealing a second opinion was ridiculous and put the SEC in the role of playing God by deciding who should get a second opinion or not depending on their status in life. The irony is that the Bible states that all men are treated equally before God. These Commissioners should be asked to explain their acts of commission and favouritism before a Court of all victims of the SEC to whom they never allowed the privilege of a second opinion. The Government has acted in a very mature way in not re-appointing these people to the SEC. Let us hope for the sake of the industry that they do not return in the event of a future UNP Government. UNP please heed! ANIL FERNANDO, UK Insurance claims of 'Tsunami' victims There will be a considerable number of victims who will be applying for their refunds of life insurance claims in the very near future. It is the hope of the insured that their claims will be met if there is adequate evidence/proof that their lives were lost in the Tsunami disaster. All the life insurance companies and corporations should issue a statement to the public media indicating their stand in this important matter as otherwise the public will lose their confidence in the life insurance if the benefit of the insurance is not awarded to them when their case is genuine! DAYA WIJAYARATNA, Gelioya Tidal terror dragged a few pensioners too Tidal terror has dragged a few pensioners to watery graves. We must thank the President, Prime Minister and Finance Minister for the liberal assistance given to pensioners and public servants. Galle, Kegalle and Kalutara have already paid arrears to many pensioners. They are able to redeem their small properties mortgaged and save their pawned valuables, jewellery etc. They are all ever grateful and thankful to the President, a real mother who feels for the crying needs of the less fortunate. To be fair and just pay the arrears of others eagerly waiting to alleviate their sufferings and agony. Give the dependents of victims (pensioners) their due arrears and increase to tide over the crisis. They have lost all their properties and all belongings. Pay up the arrears to all. Some departments are snail slow to pay up while some are commendable. They have already paid. CARL NANAYAKKARA, Kalutara The observance of the first day of the new year by some ceremony or celebration is of very ancient origin, and is carried out differently in different countries depending on the religious beliefs and customs of each country. Today we observe with growing concern that each year seems to promise less of whatever bliss there was in the preceding year, and more of the adversities that threaten mankind's elusive dream of peace and happiness. Events of the preceding year offer a discerning mind an idea of what can be expected in the new year. Not all nations regarded January 1 as the beginning of the year. According to the Julian calendar which preceded our present one, the new year began on what is today January 13, and this system existed in England till as late as 1752. The ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians and Persians had their new year on September 21. It is from the Romans that we get the custom of exchanging greetings and presents. The main purpose of the celebrations on new year's day was given to honouring Janus, the two-faced God of light and day. This led to the Catholic Church prohibiting her subjects from celebrating New Year, which she considered a pagan feast. Later on however the Church made New Year's day a Christian festival, the feast of the circumcision, and encouraged its celebration. Japan celebrates New Year with much festivity and innocent mirth. The Chinese regard New Year as their greatest feast. Like the Japanese they also display their joy through fireworks. In France, Canada and Scotland New Year assumes greater importance than Christmas as far as celebrations are concerned. The American Indian tribe offered gifts of appeasement to effigies of a plumed serpent which was regarded as the enemy of the sun and staged elaborate dramas depicting the struggle between light and darkness. Ever since American Independence, it has always been the custom of the US Presidents to receive guests on New Year's day. In most American cities the watchnight is kept in churches, clubs, and drawing-rooms, and the New Year is ushered in with a wide variety of ceremonies at the stroke of midnight. In spite of continuing wars, political enmities, underworld murders and various crimes, making money with all criminal ways, the man still wants to know what the new year has in store for him and with that in mind celebrates the occasion. ANANDA WIJAYAWEERA, Ratmalana The Tsunami came to Sri Lanka at a most unexpected moment and left a tale of destruction both human as well as materialise. The most hit areas are in the South and Eastern coasts where the two main forms of income came from tourism and fishing. For many years both the Coast Conservation Department and Tourism officials have been fighting a losing battle to stop the erection of cottages for fisherfolk and Hotels and restaurants. Especially in the tourism sector influential persons not only manage to intimidate officials and go ahead with their unauthorised constructions but also finally get covering approvals too. After the Tsunami most of there unauthorised structures were destroyed. It is said that in Wadduwa, Beruwala, Hikkaduwa and Weligama areas some persons have started re-construction work at the same locations. The Coast Conservation Department must act fast and even under emergency regulations acquire all State and private land from the beach and declare it as a protected area. This area could only be used by the public and tourists for recreation purposes as is done in Pattaya in Thailand and Telaviv in Israel where the hotels are quite far way from the beach and in some places there is a public road between the beach and the hotels and restaurants. Politicians are also partly to blame as they often if not always obstruct and stage protests when the Coast Conservation Dept., and UDA plan to demolish unauthorised structures whether they be on the beach or road. Let the Coast Conservation Department treat this as an opportunity to conserve the coast from sea erosion. PADMI FERNANDO, Dehiwela |
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