• Setting the clock back

• Duty free allowance

• Unlawful sand mining

• Sausages advertisement misleading kids

• Senior citizens' facilities

• No water on tap

Setting the clock back

I am originally from Sri Lanka and I have been living in the west for the past 3 decades. Every spring, the clock moves forward and we have a new time called the daylight saving time.

As the name implies, the daylight is saved by one extra hour; generally people enjoy taking advantage of the sunlight in the evening and go for walks, visit friends, do some gardening or do some household work without turning the lights. Children do their home work after school in the daylight.

This has produced a lot of saving in the energy field. That's why the US government is going to extend the daylight saving time even further from next year. If it makes saving for US, why can't a poor country like Sri Lanka adopt a similar method?

We could even save more by advancing the clock by one hour as it was done originally. It is not a smart move going backwards.

People will eventually get used to the new time and even enjoy the long evening sun.

R. Singarayer - Canada.

Duty free allowance

The expatriate workers have over the years contributed enormous amounts in Foreign Exchange. Last year they contributed a staggering Rs. 1,500 Million which surpassed the 6 per cent GDP level. And all that the Governments have done for them is increasing the Duty Free Allowance on goods to US$ 1,750. Now the new budget has wisely proposed giving a (non-luggage) duty free allowance of USD 5,000 on the basis of stay abroad for those after two years of continuous employment.

However, another more important concession has been overlooked - the import of a Duty Free vehicle, be it a van, car, motorcycle etc.

Therefore it is nothing but fair that the Government in return allow the duty free import of any vehicle depending on the FOREX remitted by one or more persons in a household. In this context, there are those whilst working abroad as expatriates own a motorbike, van or car. On their return after completion of over two years stay abroad they should be given the concession of bringing down their vehicles Free of Duty.

In formulating a scheme it is important to set limits based on the amount of Foreign Exchange remitted and the number of years worked abroad. I believe in fairness to all who have worked abroad and contributed their share of FOREX the scheme should be retrospectively effective, say within the five years from 2005 or 2006.

In this connection it is pertinen to remember that Ministers and MPs have been allowed Duty Free Cars as also certain categories of Government an Corporation employees. Now the new budget has allowed a consessional duty scheme for public servants. Then again, some time ago, our cricketers were given Duty Free cars.

They brought only fame to the country. But Sri Lankans working abroad pour in FOREX regularly, without which the country would be in dire straits, not to mention the partial solving of our unemployment problem. Otherwise re-introduce the official permit system (with modifications if necessary) which was available in the seventies and eighties.

VERNON DAWSON - Dehiwala.

Unlawful sand mining

Sand mining in Kaluganga between Palatota and Bolossagama has increased to an alarming dimension.

There are about 600 boats engaged round the clock, mostly in the night, in the exploitation of the river for sand. These illegal miners now use locally invented device called BECO made of two welded steel pipes (about 40' in length) with a bucket attached to the end of the pipe for drilling the river bed and siphoning rough sand.

It is sad to mention that although law-abiding and nature-loving citizens domiciled along either banks of the river have vehemently appealed to the authorities concerned i.e. the GA Kalutara, AGAs and to senior Police Officers in respective areas, also to the National Environmental Authority, this social and natural degradation continues unabated.

Their imperviousness to this calamitous problem is hardly understandable. It is inferred that this unlawful distructive business carried on in collusion with some avaricious Government officers of high ranks who are also much benefited from the industry.

In consequence of this massive exploitation, mean water level of the river has drastically come down depriving farmers of channelling water to their paddy fields from the river, sea water gashes upstream even in a short spell of drought, sea erosion in the coastal belt between Wadduwa and Beruwala is becoming more and more devastating since the river does not carry sand and soil to strengthen and protect the shore, and river banks have been severely eroded and collapsed even endangering the houses of innocent people situated on either banks of the river.

Before long the people, who are dependent on running water supplied from the water treatment plant at Thebuwana or water wells in their gardens, will be compelled to procure fresh water from other sources.

If this destructive illegal business would go on unchecked for another few months, Kaluganaga, one of the most blessed water resources bestowed by the nature to Sri Lanka, will not meander its way down to Kalutara to meet the Indian Ocean. It will end its flowing up in Thebuwana; abut 10 Miles above the mouth of the river, creating a salt take between Thebuwana and Kalutara.

It is sad that a large number of school children also have taken to this illegal lucrative business to earn a quick buck at the expense of their future.

Let us pray, May God Save beautiful Kalu Ganga.

R. R. - Kalutara.

Sausages advertisement misleading kids

We would have all seen during the Sri Lanka/Australia/South Africa Victoria Bitter Series the frequently and impudently advertised sausages advertisement by a multi-millionaire company.

It was really shocking to see how the company was trying to hook the innocent children by showing imaginary results of consuming this stuff.

It was seen on the small screen a phrase to the effects only for small children and a kid displaying imaginary karate shots and other children including little girls dancing in karate style. Is this not misleading the young ones.

The ad showed children aged between about five to twelve years. There were plenty of plates of sausages made in different ways, i.e fried, cooked, boiled, grilled and so forth.

The danger I am going to point out is that these are imaginary results of strength eating sausages and not real.

I had read that unlimited consumption of sausages is very dangerous, especially to children and even the grown-ups and that some children had fallen sick and even died. So it is high-time that consumer watch authority and health authorities step in and stop this sort of misleading ads and protect our children. Will some kind doctors give his opinion on this?

V. K. B. Ramanayake - Maharagama.

Senior citizens' facilities

Those over 60 years of age are considered Senior Citizens. Such elders have certain privileges granted by the Government. How many of us know them, how many care to know them.

A few weeks back an officer from a certain organisation visited me and wished to have a chat with me with a view of gathering informations concerning citizens over 60 years of age.

Whilst talking, I told him that it would be of no purpose wasting his time and mine, if what is gathered is going to be limited only to paper.

Then he asked me whether I am not aware of the privileges granted by the Government and some private institutions to senior citizens.

(1) 1/2 fare of the value on travelling by train.

(2) Additional percentage of interest in Bank deposits.

(3) Preference meted out at hospitals and other Government institutions.

(4) Seating accommodations in buses.

(5) Discounts at Osusala outlets and some Pharmacies.

He rattled off many others, but being concerned about train travel, I telephoned the Fort Railway Station and the officer there was not aware of charging only 1/2 fare from senior citizens.

If the officers are not made aware of the entitlements of Senior Citizens, from whom are we to get them on our visits.

I read the newspapers and watch T.V., but have not spotted any announcements or any article to this effect.

I will be very thankful if the authorities make the elders aware of what they are entitled to, and educate the officers in granting such facilities.

What we get to know may not be of much use to us, but we could make others who need to know them, aware of such entitlements.

After all the elders have done much for the country and society and the little considerations will be much appreciated.

CHRISTY RANASINGHE - Piliyandala.

No water on tap

We have had rain almost throughout Sri Lanka upto about the third week in January.

Though it was unusual for this period of time, the rain was quite welcome.

But with all this rain, the residents of Suvisuddharama Road in Wellawatte North do not get any water on tap from the mains from about 7.00 a.m. to around 10.00 p.m. This is especially so in respect of the dwellings around the Suvisuddharamaya temple. Even the temple is faced with this problem.

A. A. R. - Colombo 6.