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Presidential Fund to hospitals

I had an opportunity of visiting the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital after a period of several years.

It has been maintained very well, clean and beautiful, and the staff too are very kind and courteous.

May be because of the babies and small children whose different sicknesses had compelled them to show mercy towards the patients and politeness to the visitors when compared to their counterparts in other hospitals.

The nurses, in the Cardiology Unit, seem to be a dedicated lot and as they vigil in the night towards those who are suffering. May the incumbent staff and the future ones carry on their good work forever in a hospital like this which is meant for children.

I also heard a sorrowful matter in regard to an operation of a child. This hospital does not operate owing to lack of either surgeons or medical equipments.

Parents are requested to go to Jayawardenepura Hospital to get operations performed to their children where the cost is less. This is very much hurting. It is very evident that only poor people rush to this hospital to save their children-their 'asset'.

True, the President's Fund positively responses the needy patients but the authorities have not thought of pumping the funds in a better way for many to get benefited. I mean, to buy the necessary equipments to the needy Government hospitals instead of spending for individuals.

The new President, Mahinda Rajapakse, who was able to stop payments closer to a billion that was released from the President Secretariat under the former administration, which amount to his conscious has appeared to be 'utter waste' must divert his attention towards the hospitals mentioned below to provide their necessities.

We have seen business establishments spending lavishly for their advertisements or to promote their products sponsoring carnivals, exhibitions, musical shows etc. Good efforts in attempting to thrive to themselves while serving others as well.

But should not they consider donating necessary medical equipments that are required to hospitals, specially like children's and cancer hospitals.

Simultaneously, our surgeons to whom God has given the 'gift' of successfully performing any kind of operations must also be lenient towards the poor patients undergoing operations by offering very low rates.

Because it is a 'life' which is invaluable and an ant too rushes to its hole to save itself if it senses danger. By the time the doctors feel about their own life when on the death bed it is too late to think of not saving a life because of money.

NAZLY CASSIM - Colombo 13.


Directly threaten the LTTE, please!

WHEN the Ambassador to the mighty United States of America in a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka delivered a blunt warning to the LTTE and even went on to imply that the US Government may militarily back the Sri Lankan Government it was music to the Sri Lankan Government and practically everyone who opposed the LTTE.

The speech followed US Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice's praise for the restraint shown by the Government of Sri Lanka in the face of the LTTE provocations.

But Mr. Lunstead please be a little realistic true we (the Sinhalese) are a gullible race, but if your speech is as sincere as the tone indicated, we now want specifics (dates/deadlines etc.).

When do you and the American government plan to:

* Militarily train and assist the Sri Lankan Armed Forces?

* When will these programmes commence?

* How will you help us with the counter-terrorism initiatives?

* How will you block illegal financial transactions (which are already taking place despite banning the LTTE in the US).

And when do you and the US Government plan to declare enough is enough and that the LTTE has crossed the limits of restraint.

Mr. Lunstead you are asking the business community to become ceased with the peace process.

Despite over 150 armed personnel having lost their lives (in the past several weeks alone) in vain during a time of ceasefire, can you and your Government as well as the world, not see that we are still ceased with peace!

Your speech as great as it may sound should really be directed at the LTTE.

SHENALI WADUGE - via email


TNA parliamentarians should give up their personal security

IT was reported that some Cabinet ministers, TNA Parliamentarians and some NGOs have expressed their discontent to President Rajapakse and criticised the search operations conducted by Police in Colombo and other big cities to round up suspected LTTE terrorists, drug dealers and other criminals calling that such operations tantamount to human rights violations.

The allegations are directed to the new defence advisor Mr. Kotakadeniya too who has had immense experience in rounding up LTTE terrorists and other criminals during his tenure as DIG Operations in Colombo.

His actions saved many lives of politicians and innocent civilians during this period.

Had such operations continued right throughout, then Lakshman Kadirgamar would not have had this untimely death.

Many of our intelligent officers would have been still alive. This timely action by the police is to safeguard every citizen, every public place and economic targets from a possible terrorist attack.

Those Parliamentarians and NGOs who oppose this search operations imply that they are not at all in danger and not vulnerable to any terrorist attack.

In that case, they should flatly refuse security personnel enlisted to them for their protection by the Government at taxpayers expense, as they don't need to fear of any possible terrorist attack.

In this context, I salute the Defence advisor Mr. Kotakadeniya, the IGP Chandra Fernando and the Police for doing the right thing to protect the citizens.

I am sure our new President will not unnecessarily interfere with maintaining law and order to please few Parliamentarians or interested parties.

MALIN ABEYATUNGE - Australia.


SLMM finds the government not guilty

A newspaper headline of January 19 states that the SLMM has found the Government not guilty of bombing the SLMM offices.

They have also cleared the LTTE of the offence.

This is the sort of humiliation that our Government has invited upon ourselves by employing the outfit that constitutes the SLMM.

The SLMM are now hell bent in trying to establish that it is the Karuna faction that has been responsible and that it is the Karuna faction that is doing all the killings and that we should disarm the Karuna forces. Is the government going to tolerate such cheek?

The Government has a duty not to let any outfit insult our country. Unless it wants to bring down further humiliation on us the Government should dismiss the Nordic monitors and appoint instead Pakistan, India and China as the monitors.

If India declines then Pakistan and China may oblige. We will then have self-respect.

L. JAYASOORIYA - via email


It's simply not cricket!

IT was indeed sad to find a local journalist covering the present Australian cricket tour reporting that the 'Sri Lankans domiciled in Melbourne were happy to see the backs of our cricketers as they flew out to Brisbane'.

I must mention that this is far from the truth. We too have contacts in Australia and the actual position is that our fraternity down under had been looking forward to welcoming our cricketers, in spite of their recent poor performances.

True, they were disappointed with the news that Sanath Jayasuriya will be missing out due to injury. But the Sri Lankans over there were overjoyed that our cricketers were coming to Melbourne.

This fact was evident to everyone who followed the proceedings on television as well.

No doubt, this reporter, a former cricketer himself had added more than a pinch of salt and dwelt on his own fantasies when he made those unworthy comments.

On the 17th instant, the same scribe began his report by stating "Sri Lankan cricketers are in for another whipping..." (sic). Of course we chalked up a comprehensive win against the proteas - bringing smiles on Sri Lankan faces after quite a period of time.

Surely, there should be some professionalism and balance when reporting news.

True, everything has not been tickety-boo in the Sri Lankan dressing room according to news reaching us. But everyone should rally round our team, especially when its morale is low.

Our captain and the majority of our players are a commendable lot and should be encouraged at every turn by all segments of the Sri Lankan community, including the media. Why kick a man when he has fallen? It seems that this reporter is being instigated by some interested parties.

Let me remind this reporter that if he does an honest job his supper will definitely be tastier.

PRIYA PEIRIS - Moratuwa.


Alcohol/Tobacco Control Authority

WE understand that a private Bill has been submitted to Parliament by Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera requesting to establish an Authority on Alcohol/Tobacco Control.

This is a positive approach towards control of tobacco/alcohol consumption and promotion of those products. But we would have preferred if the Bill submitted by the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Government proceeded, instead of a private Bill.

If it was delayed in the hands of the legal department due to certain issues on the influence of the two industries. This is the reason that it paved the way for several companies in the related businesses to go to courts seeking legal rights.

Also, it had created opportunity for many institutions and NGOO to go to courts against those companies and score their marks. We cannot believe and accept that these institutions are really keen in making this country alcohol/tobacco free paradise.

M. JAYASURIYA - Mt. Lavinia.

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