• Health workers - a battle of complexes

• Public Libraries lack facilities

• Public service, a misnomer

• The stranded student delegate

• People provoked and hired for assignments

Health workers - a battle of complexes

Health workers from the specialist physician down to the casual sanitary labourer, suffer from either a maddening superiority complex or a demeaning inferiority complex. Hence is the never-ending battle among various grades and shades of health services. Everyone of them hold the poor patients (the rich go to private hospitals) hostage until the ransom they demand is paid in full. Most of the time, the strikers win because what is at stake is life of the poor.

However, in any other government service in which workers of several levels, from the executive down to the labourer work as a team hardly enjoying any visible privileges one over the other. Moreover, from the point of view of the public, the people have some regard for every worker in any government institution whether he is a peon, clerk or a staff officer. Obviously it is not so in a hospital where the doctors dominate the entire atmosphere.

The visitors as well as the patients respect the doctors most, and the nurses next with nil for others.

Other workers such as para-medics, attendants, sanitary labourers, lab-assistants etc. are eclipsed out of respect and recognition. That compels them to show their importance and the vitality of their service, and give the impression to the public and the patients that hospitals cannot function without them too and remind them that even the patients could die if they do not perform their part.

That is why very recently a particular trade unionist (para-medical) had requested the government to settle their strike without killing the patients knowing well that they don’t mind the patients dying because they want only to compel the government to grant their demands. The funny thing is that most of their demands are for less work and for more overtime, more wages and more recognition.

The health workers at the bottom half feel that they do the spade work and are soon forgotten. Moreover, the doctors enjoy the privilege of private practice too. They feel hurt and their pride dented if they are not treated as members of an elite profession. So the battle of complexes continues mercilessly and the government and the people look on helplessly.

E. M. G. EDIRISINGHE ? Dehiwala

Public Libraries lack facilities

Having entered the newspaper section of the Public Library, Town Hall on 06.04.2005, I found it to be dimly lit. I do not know from how long it has been so. Then I counted and found nearly 20 tube lights non-functioning.

Whose responsibility is it to replace the burnt lights? I am unaware whether the chief librarian is attached to the CMC, Town Hall office or in the Public Library itself. Wherever he occupies the ?high seat?, is it not his duty to find out the shortcomings of the libraries.

Several weeks ago when I visited the library I found the toilets closed and many days later too I saw them in the same position.

Visitors go behind the toilet walls and do ?their job? by which that particular place had turned a pool of impurities. The flies and mosquitoes that enjoy their swimming in it enter the canteen through its windows to taste the available food items, mingling with the visitors. The canteen too is untidy and gloomy with badly soiled chairs and tables.

Closer to the toilet from over a dirty tank, water is running from a broken tap and I do not know since when the water is being thus wasted. But the CMC in general is always conscious enough to talk about the wastage of water and prevention of dengue.

The main reason for the State and semi-state institutions to deteriorate is that the chiefs are confined to their cubicles. At least, if they walk around once a week there is a possibility for improvements in such institutions. But who cares?

The CMC higher officials should visit the Public Library of Kotahena between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and feel the intense heat inside it, specially at the upper floor. It is like a furnace.

Even the fans could not help but worsen the situation. Because the concrete top and four sidewalls are fully exposed to the sun with no trees around like at the Public Library, Town Hall. All the windows are being covered with glass. The floor requires natural blowing from all sides.

Therefore, it is requested from the CMC to attend to the matter of the Kotahena Public Library on a priority basis.

NAZLY CASSIM - Colombo 13

Public service, a misnomer

Many people believe the unexpected tsunami devastation, which jolted their minds, has paved the way for a new concept of unity, assistance and collective effort to rebuild the country besieged with a myriad of problems. But, today the situation has turned topsy turvy. If there was anything left out on the worldwide web, it is the indifference and callousness of some public services in Sri Lanka.

Today one cannot get a job attended to in most departments and State Agencies, where the public is most involved, without releasing that crispy stuff.

If this is not tendered, attempts are made to make the matter in question a colossal issue or place the required file at the bottom of files and thereby delay the work. To get rid of the accumulated waste water from one?s cess pit, a pre-payment ?santhosam? has to be paid to the bowser crew. If the payment is not given, the cess pit is uncleared.

In contrast, the bowser has been donated by the people of Japan to the people of Colombo. Hosanna to the CMC!

Another matter worth mentioning, unwanted red tape is the only tape best played by Provincial Councils redundant staff on the public seeking help. Practically, every desk is occupied by political nominated fair gender who pose as ?Lord of all they survey? with no meaningful solutions to the public problems.

Every State employee is on the alert to down their tools at the command of the trade union boss. Most workers perform their work according to party agenda, rather than for the public.

After signing the attendance register, a beeline to the office canteen for tea and scanning the day?s newspaper are their priorities before commencing work; the task of attending to the awaiting public is less important.

Finally, there is disunity, suspicion and jealousy among blue and white collar employees due to rival party politics.

Who and what prevents the progress of this country and the assistance to the public is thus obvious.

H.L.D.E. PERERA ? Mattakkuliya

The stranded student delegate

The Presidential Classroom of the Future World Leaders summit was held at Georgetown University in Washington D. C., in March 2005, with 400 outstanding students from 20 different countries including Sri Lanka participating in it.

Thirteen of our future leaders from different schools were selected. Two of them left early and the rest of them later led by the manager of the team. A student from Royal Institute went along with the rest of them on March 18, 2005. At the Heathrow Airport in U.K. she was dismayed to find she had no Boarding Pass to USA by Sri Lankan Airlines nor was a seat booked for her.

This young girl, left in the lurch was not even given a contact number in USA nor were her parents informed.

She approached the British Airways on her own and bravely made arrangements to fly the same day after she explained her predicament to the authorities. She had to give the 1st day speech, Sri Lanka - A Land like no other. Realising her predicament they helped her to board the British Airways to USA. She was not met by the Sri Lankan manager but by a U.S. student of the Presidential Classroom, much to the surprise of the manager.

This girl, in spite of the agony she underwent was able to go up the stage and deliver a wonderful speech on Sri Lanka - A Land like no other. Well and truly, in no other country would a young girl travelling without her parents for the first time would be treated so.

The child really proved to be a good future leader levelheaded enough to even get the communique of the Environmental Group which she chaired passed in spite of the worry about her baggage not arriving simultaneously with her by the British Airways.

P. B. N. - Colombo 6

People provoked and hired for assignments

I am a resident of Mattakkuliya and on my way from home to the market on Tuesday last, I saw some youth protestants declaring a protest in front of the head office premises of a well known manufacturing organization situated in Mattakkuliya. When I inquired from those around what was going on, I learnt that the general meeting of the company was being held at that time.

These youth who were carrying a coffin and wreaths hooted and made filthy remarks publicly against this company.

I am not trying to say what this company manufactures is a good product.

But as I realized who was behind these hooligans and the motive behind this campaign was, I cannot accept it as a fair attempt. Moreover, these are not practical solutions to show one?s displeasure towards somebody. Such uncivilized attempts will undoubtedly do greater harm to society.

There are many schools in the vicinity. Many young girls and women were passing this area at that time.

Is there any logic or value in such protests?

S. YOGANATHAN - Mattakkuliya