• More deaths at unprotected crossings

• Children - future wealth of the nation

• Plight of the Insurance Industry in Sri Lanka

• Any 'consciousness' of no avail

• 'Ibbankatuwa tombs'

• Outstanding EPF dues

• English

• Pipe laying in Panadura

• Route permit cancelled

More deaths at unprotected crossings

We often hear of tragic deaths at unprotected railway crossings. The authorities apparently cite lack of funds as preventing the installation of gates, which are very costly.

In the 1970's, when Leslie Goonewardene was Minister of Transport, a horrific accident at an unprotected crossing led to his appointing the distinguished public transport consultant John Diandas (now no more with us) to report on the problem. Diandas, with typical thoroughness, visited every level crossing in the country not once but twice; first by road and then by rail.

In trains he rode on the footplate (i.e. the engine) his purpose being to observe the crossings from the viewpoint of both engine driver and road user. Diandas wrote a concise interim report which I recall as headed "A large number of small measures" in which he itemised many simple steps that could be taken quickly and inexpensively. Puzzlingly, he was informed that this was sufficient and that he need not proceed with his final report.

I do not know how many, if any, of these simple and basic measures were implemented, or if they were implemented, whether they have been maintained.

One was, I remember, that approaches to crossings should be kept clear of obstacles such as bushes and shrubs that impede the view of the drivers. The authorities should look at this report again as it may well be still very relevant.

SURIYA WICKREMASINGHE-Colombo 3

Children - future wealth of the nation

It is very simple and clear to all that children are the future of country. So they should be groomed up in a balanced way so that they do not become frustrated. All of them should have a destination on life. They should be taught in such a way that they learn to have confidence in themselves.

I think in this case the overall environment plays a vital role. In the environment, parents play the main role, then the teachers and others have to help them grow as worthy citizens.

Most of the children are mentally weak due to lack of confidence. They are always afraid of many things. Their confidence must be increased; otherwise they will never become self-dependent. But how is it possible?

At present most of the schools teach children under unbearable pressure. Now it is a common scene that a child's weight is less than that of the textbooks he or she has to carry. During the time of going to school the child can't bear its school bag and it is carried by someone else.

Under such pressure, most of the children lose interest in studies. they are afraid of mathematics, English, Science etc. I think the pressure should be decreased. Quality is better than quantity. So a huge number of textbooks are not needed if a few books are used to teach children.

Teachers have many responsibilities. They should make study interesting and enjoyable to children. In school most of the teachers like to beat children as punishment. This cruel habit must be given up. Children are not criminals. They obey if they are advised nicely. So beating is unwise.

The relation between the parents is very important for both physical and mental health of a child. If the relation is nice, the child grows up with a healthy state of mind. Finally, children must be given the opportunity to take part in different types of contests.

A. ABDUL AZIZ - Negombo

Plight of the Insurance Industry in Sri Lanka

The Insurance Board of Sri Lanka is now a separate entity with a Director General solely in charge of the subject to administer and regulate the industry as per the Insurance Act No. 43 of 2000.

Now that Fire and Motor Insurance have been detariffed, the Insurance Companies are privileged to transact business as they can introduce new terms and conditions even deviating from the present practice of issuing policies which could be detrimental to the interest of the policy holder.

Certain companies have already introduced a Policy Fee which is normally charged at the inception of cover but now the Policy Holder will have to pay the Policy Fee at each renewal. There is no uniformity in charging this Policy Fee as some companies are charging different amounts and some companies levy this amount as an administrative fee.

This is only a start. There could be many more in the future. Who will check on this? Can the Regulatory Board check it? But they have detariffed - the companies can say they are now allowed to do as they like.

Who is the watchdog to fight the rights of the Policy Holder? After tsunami some insurance companies are finding it difficult to finalise certain claims. If it is so, it is the result in charging net rates on risks and further undercutting such rates to meet competition and get more business to be the leader.

This is not insurance - where is prudent underwriting? Instead, it is undercutting.

Now the companies are contemplating in increasing the rates. It is a known fact that the reinsurers are not interested in the Sri Lankan market as the rates charged by them are very low. Anyway time has come to increase the rates, if not, companies will not be able to get the appropriate reinsurance cover.

In the event all insurance companies take a decision to increase the rates, what is the stand of the Brokers and the Chamber who represented matters to the Minister some time back by saying any increase in the tariff rates would effect the cost of living and the Policy Holders will protest.

The Insuring public are very much insurance conscious of covering their assets adequately and are fully aware of the present trend in the increase in prices. Therefore they will not mind a small increase in premium.

If the tariff was implemented as scheduled i.e. with effect from June 1, 2004, the insurance companies would have bravely faced the December catastrophe. As far as the insurance companies are concerned, Fire Insurance is one class of business which brings in a substantial amount of premium income for the company to set off the losses incurred by other classes of insurance like Motor and Health.

In Fire Insurance, rates vary from risk to risk and the Insurance Companies have to charge a suitable rate to commensurate with the risk by inspecting such risk etc.

The Companies were doing this earlier but now in order to get business for their survival they charge low rates.

At present it is a cash flow business to earn more premium as much as possible to be the Leader (Premium wise). Some talk very high about their solvency margin and produce documents to substantiate compliance with IBSL requirements and their financial security and stability.

This is the ideal time IBSL should check the solvency margins of all insurance companies.

Can the Policy Holder expect any guidance or assistance from the present Board? Sorry to mention - the Board for their convenience have passed on their responsibility to the Insurance Companies to regulate themselves. Then why should there be a Regulatory Board?

Is the IBSL aware of the reinsurance arrangements of all insurance companies and the refusal of certain reinsurance companies to grant reinsurance cover as our rates are very Low? The talk in the Insurance Market is that the reinsurance rates would go up this year. Then Companies have no other alternative other than to increase the local rates.

I would therefore like to propose to the Insurance Board to encourage co-insurance amongst local companies which would save a substantial amount of reinsurance premium sent abroad annually. This proposal was made by me to the IBSL two years ago but no action was taken.

With my long years of insurance experience I still feel that the reintroduction of a Fire Tariff is very sensible at this point of time as the present insurance market is an indisciplined one where no realistic rates are charged.

Therefore I would like to appeal to the Ministry of Finance to look into the reintroduction of the Fire Tariff once again in the interest of the industry in consultation with the members of the insurance. Insurance Industry is a financial giant and if no remedial action is taken by the Government to save it from ruination it will very badly affect our economy.

S. L. FERNANDO - Panadura

Any 'consciousness' of no avail

This has reference to K. Jeyarajah's letter captioned 'Christ consciousness is the only way' of June 27. - a reaction to the text of my talk titled, 'The humanising effect of contemporary religions on society with special emphasis on Christianity', published in the centre page of the Daily News of March 8, 2005.

In the Christian scheme of things, faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the sole and only path to salvation for the individual. This is borne out in the Gospel of St. John, where the latter quotes Jesus Christ himself as saying thus:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me." (John 14:6) ('Good News', New Testament with Psalms, published by the Society of St. Paul). As far the Christian is concerned, the cultivation of this or that 'consciousness' would be of no avail. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation.

Rather than disprove this point Mr. Jeyarajah only fully substantiates this by citing the episode in the New Testament where some persons, who were not Christ's disciples, were found to be 'casting out devils' in persons in His name.

It is the invocation of Jesus Christ's holy name which ensures that 'the devils' are driven out. Anyone who believes in Jesus is a follower of His, and the seemingly impossible could be achieved through faith in Christ.

LYNN OCKERSZ

'Ibbankatuwa tombs'

Reference articles in Daily News dated April 20 and 26, 2005 titled 'Ibbankatuwa tombs', Ibbankatuwa tombs is a burial ground which belongs to the period 1 BC to 1 AD which is known as iron age or the megalithic period.

There are many settled families who settled in this land before this place was declared as an archaeological reserve. And there are a few families got settled after the declaration.

As such officers of Department of Archaeology have carried out a survey and marked the ancient tombs and recent settlement and forwarded a proposal to transfer the settlers out from the Archaeological reserve. The discussion with relevant authorities have been started already.

As a result of this programme steps have been taken to transfer the said families to a land where there are no archaeological monuments. Any unauthorised erections have been banned. The steps have been taken to take legal actions for people who have tried to make some erections.

Some of the lands where the tombs are located are of permanent properties of few families. Steps have been already taken to declare such lands as archaeological protected monuments under a gazette notice.

Further two excavated places have been improved to the exhibition level and the artifacts collected at the sites are kept under the authority of Central Cultural Fund and it is proposed to build a museum with those artifacts.

DR. SENARATH DISSANAYAKA - Director General of Archaeology

Colombo 7
 

Outstanding EPF dues

The lead letter titled 'Outstanding EPF dues' appearing in Daily News May 16, should relieve concerns of very many terminated employees languishing in the hope of getting their withheld EPF awards, for no fault of theirs but purely due to non-remitting EPF recoveries by non-complying employers.

The 8 per cent contributions recovered from employees, if allowed to be retained in the hands of employers until the end of the following month, for over 30 days, tempts to be misused, which should be made an offence.

Labour Department should devise a way of getting employees' 8 per cent remitted to Central Bank on the very date of payment of wages perhaps utilising State banks channels.

The employers' 12 per cent share as usual could be sent before the end of the following month together with relevant 'C' Return amalgamating 8 per cent and 12 per cent for C.B. to post up employees' individual accounts.

Immediate remitting of employees' 8 per cent to C.B., would deny employer the temptation and opportunity to misuse employees' share in which event make remitting his 12 per cent more difficult and tends to default thereafter for months and years with collusive closing of eyes by the administrators within for reasons best known to them.

ASOKA KARUNARATNE - Pannipitiya
 

English

I'm grateful to Sinhala service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation for its bilingual news broadcast everyday at 7 a.m. First, the news is read in Sinhala and next its English translation is given. Likewise, it's commendable that the SLBC has given Sri Lankan listeners the opportunity of listening to the BBC world service by prolonging broadcast hours.

This is, in fact a better opportunity for advanced English Language learners to improve their English language skills in every way.

L. W. GAMINI C. KUMARA - Colombo 10
 

Pipe laying in Panadura

China Geo Engineering Company along with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) is engaged in some pipe laying work in and around the Panadura area public roads for the past number of months causing great inconvenience to both residents and road users.

This exercise scheduled to have been completed by mid April 2005 is yet continuing resulting in all road side drains being damaged and most roads opened up.

Now it is common knowledge that from this month these areas are going to experience foul weather resulting in floods and sea water spilling over.

The foreign contractors, the NWSDB and the local authorities concerned should take immediate steps to avert the possible dangers resulting from a great deluge, much before the damage is done.

V. K. Wijeratna - Panadura
 

Route permit cancelled

It seems that the National Transport Commission wants to cancel the route permit of HT-2520 (the bus which was in the April 27 railway crossing accident).

The Express Train demolished the bus. That bus is not going to travel on any road ... thus cancelling the route permit for that particular bus is hollow and meaningless.

My suggestion is that some capable attorneys file action lawsuit against the bus driver, conductor and the bus owner. Assuming the bus had insurance, ask for compensation one million rupees per deceased passenger. Also summon the National Transport Commission for permitting these killer bus drivers on the road.

GAMINI WEERASEKERA - USA