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P-TOMS to be followed by peace

The President should be admired for the bold action taken in the above connection, in spite of all the opposition group of people. Hence, the above to be implemented immediately to achieve the above duel purposes.

Accordingly, she should now make use of this given opportunity to secure peace which is extremely important and essential for the entire country.

This could be achieved by winning the confidence of the rebels in the North, who should be persuaded to shun violence and work together for the common good of all the people and the entire country.

I have no doubt this could be achieved provided wise and correct decisions are taken at the correct time, also appreciating at the same time what they could do for the benefit of the entire country, if given the opportunity, which would definitely achieve peace and prosperity for the entire country. For this purpose, all including her lieutenants should give her the full backing and the cooperation she needs in achieving this endeavour.

If provided, the above action of hers should convince others that she will steer the caravan in spite of dogs barking and jackals howling reaching the destiny of peace. Her quality of calling a spade a spade should qualify her in achieving the above.

TOMMY WANIGESINGHE - Kurunegala


Can someone explain what is going on?

It has been in the news that the flour prices have been reduced and that the price of bread will also be reduced subsequently. The news and media announced that flour was to be imported from Turkey and that the consumers will benefit soon because the monopoly by Prima was destroyed.

An English daily recently carried two articles on the same page saying 'Breads and buns for fish' and 'Low quality flour'.

Anyone reading it will understand that it could be a specially concocted news item because it was confusing and did not make any sense and was simply undermining the efforts of the Government to solve this never-ending problem.Can we consumers, voters and innocent citizens of this island have the real facts regarding the wheat flour which is consumed by us.

SEETHA RANAWAKA - Moratuwa


Disregard for the philatelists

It is disappointing to note that the Philatelic Bureau is still showing its inefficiency and disregard for the Young Philatelists of Sri Lanka.

It has been brought to the notice of the relevant ignorant staff at the bureau that 'Commemorative issues' should be well within the reach of collectors, (Rs. 50-stamp for vesak why?) and to overcome this ignorance/ arrogance, I understand that the Senior Philatelists have had made representation to the authorities and started issuing a set of 'Definitives'.

It is most disappointing to note that they are unable to even reprint the un-available definitives (e.g., 50 cts stamp not available in the Post Office for the past six months) and make available to the public the necessary stamps.

What is the so-called 'Pilatelic Advisory Committee up to?

N. V. H. - Ratmalana


How some attendees behave at Company AGMs

Often it is observed that some persons who attend the Annual General Meetings of listed companies behave like beasts when they come to the reception tables for short-eats and tea.

The meetings generally start on schedule and proceed well according to the agenda almost till the end. However, before the chairman could declare the meeting is concluded, number of attendees start leaving in a mighty hurry and do a bee line to the reception table, grab as many short-eats as possible, pack them into their hand bags and get away as fast as possible.

Generally it is the matured and elderly persons who come well prepared with old hand bags/black poly bags resort to this shameful activity. At the meetings they often fire some questions and jump up at every turn to propose and second motions put to the house, may be to impress upon the Chairman and Directors that they are keen participants.

At the recent DFCC AGM they run to the reception desks was so intense that even ladies got pushed around and some plates fell on the ground.

One accountancy student who had come to the meeting on a proxy to observe the company meeting procedures commented that there was better discipline and procedures even at school meetings.

Being in competitive business, the listed companies are obliged to follow the Codes of best practices in corporate governance, accounting and management etc. Apart from presenting the Annual Reports and Accounts printed at heavy costs, a great deal of effort, meticulous arrangements and costs are involved in conducting AGMs at star-class venues.

Hence it is imperative that some effective steps be taken to ensure that the reception and tea, which form the final episode of the meeting, is not marred by a handful of disgraceful and opportunist attendees. Prevention of bringing handbags to the meeting may help to some extent. The Commercial Bank avoids this problem by issuing a token to each attendee at the end of the meeting to collect a box of short-eats, which could be consumed or taken away.

GAMSB - Bambalapitiya


State Bank of India pensioners

State Bank of India, Colombo Branch, successors to the Imperial Bank of India, will be completing 50 years of service to this nation in July 2005.

In the teeth of severe competition in the Banking industry, the past and present employees of this Branch made it possible to render an invaluable service to its constituents during this period.

However, sadly the past employees who were responsible for building up a prestigious image of the Bank, have been neglected. Their paltry pensions have not been revised at all, over the past 30 years.

The Commercial Banks' Association which represented the Commercial Banks in Sri Lanka met annually to grant a ten per cent increase to the Banks' pensioners, to cushion against the rising cost of living. However, with the winding up of the Commercial Banks' Association in 2002, State Bank of India unilaterally decided to discontinue the grant of the annual increase from 2003, whereas the other Banks are continuing the practice when the pensioners are really in need of it at a time when the cost of living is rising like the Jack's Bean Stalk.

Although the Bank proudly advertises a continuity of 140 years service to the nation, the past employees who were responsible for its present standing are completely disregarded. The W and O.P. scheme so commonly accepted and operative in the Banking Industry both in India and Sri Lanka is not operative at this Colombo Branch. Moreover, they are not even prepared to extend the pension facilities enjoyed by our counterparts in India.

In the midst of the severe heartburns and imprecations of the past and present employees of the bank, State Bank of India, Colombo, is hopeful of moving towards the next 50 years progressively.

J. A. Gomez - Colombo 6


Human-elephant problem in Galgamuwa area

The attention of the Wildlife Department should be drawn to the problem of human-elephant conflict that has arisen in the Galgamuwa area of the Kurunegala district.

A news item published in a newspaper dated recently says that a woman who lived all by herself in her house in a village of Galgamuwa area died from the attack of a wild elephant. This is not the first time that such unfortunate deaths have taken place in this area where wild elephants are abundant. But, not all these elephants enter the villages and only one or two of them come and cause devastation.

According to villagers, there is also a single murderous elephant that roams at night along the roads killing people.

So, the residents, especially in the areas Pothanegama, Giribawa, Thambuththa and Warawewa have to live in fear of their lives because of this problem and they often have to be on the alert for the wild elephant that kills people. The lives of people are in fact, in jeopardy if this dangerous situation continues.

What is needed to be done is to capture the roaming jumbos and send them to a far-away wilderness.

It's a sad fact that the Wildlife Department is dilatory in remedying the situation.

If the relevant authorities don't take immediate action in this regard more and more deaths are likely to occur.

L. W. GAMINI C. KUMARA - Colombo


Sale of municipal quarters

This is with regard to the letter in the Daily News of 04.04.05 on the above subject.

It seems to be another attempt to mislead the authorities and the public by presenting distorted facts about this matter. We wish to point out that these houses are not built by the Municipality and by obtaining a bank loan.

The land on which these houses are built did not belong to the Municipality but purchased later from the National Housing Authority.

Payments have been made but the deeds have not been furnished yet. These were originally staff quarters given to the then occupants of these houses in 1983.

The writer contends that it is only the Kandy Municipality that sells officers' quarters to the staff. This is not so. There are many instances where other. Municipalities have granted houses, lands, stalls to various people by selling or leasing their property.

The oldest case in point in Kandy is the staff quarters of Katukelle, Deiyannewela, Mahaiyawa model tenements.

In any case, Kandy Municipality by resolutions on two occasions had decided to sell these houses to the occupants (vide resolution No. 09 (57) of 23.02.96 and No. 09 (55) of 30.10.98). Furthermore, a certain trade union filed a case in the Kandy High Court to obtain a 'Certiorari Order' against the sale of these houses. The case was dismissed.

We hope this letter would suffice to put an end to the interest taken by some party in this regard.

P. A. W. KAHAPOLA - (Representing the Occupants), Kandy


Stress Free Card

Reference the above news item by Sarath Malalasekera (4/7/2005). I would like to bring to your notice that I was a little scared to read the above news item as I have already introduced 4 cards of similar type 2 years back by the name Pyra Card.

As the news item mentions, mechanism is the same. Pyra Card has a magical sq. pyramid grid, 9 copper pyramids, beneficial cosmic colours, a gold pre programmed disc and a Fa Maa activator. 4 cards in 4 colours for 4 specific purposes, a crystal placed on the card, space for a photograph.

According to the Pyra Network, when a Pyramid Yantra is programmed and used the Yantra becomes a part of this huge revolution and starts getting results due to the power of huge network.

Prof. Jiten Bhatt is the concept originator who has done a tremendous research work for more than 25 years on this subject.

QUINTIN DEWANARAYANA - Moratuwa


Accountability?

A look at the past few days' newspapers reveal details of murders most gruesome; and most non-elite, so given perhaps just an inch, if that, of space on an inside Page. And the justice finally meted to wrongdoers, even the elite among them, evidently, never merits the same reader interest. Shrugging off accountability is the name of the game. What is, in fact, the measure of accountability:

* Is it ok to fudge 'family' accounts?

* can a condominium committee violate the rules applicable to other owners?

* is not the inclusion of charges for a non-functioning video-surveillance system an act of criminal fraudulence?

* is it unnecessary/not possible to reinforce the moral/ethical teachings of a school system?

Dives in the Biblical parable goes to Hell not because he is rich, but because he lives a life of indiscipline and self-indulgent luxury, not showing active mercy to the poor.

NIMAL BRECKENRIDGE - Colombo 7

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