Many letters and opinions have been expressed on the question of the
original homeland of the Tamils and Muslims.
We have seen in the past fifty five years of majority rule how this
country has been humiliated reduced to paupery and almost to a point of
disintegration.
It is the majority that ruled this country, and it is they, who will
continue to rule, but whether it will be the whole country or only parts
of it is entirely in their hands.
Going by articles and letters in the press it is evident that there
is emerging a wave of opinion that the Tamil speaking people who live
outside the North and east will be annihilated if they do not move out
towards the North and East or wherever the Sinhala governments and a
part of the media is responsible for this holocaust within to happen, it
began in 1958, matured in 1983.
It is a disaster waiting to happen if the majority does not
understand that the aspirations of the people of the North and East
firstly arose due to inequal treatment, and more importantly because
they are concentrated in territories where they are the dominant race.
This has nothing to do with the Tamil language which is somewhat
universal at the moment, as the Tamils are spread all over the world.
Just because the people who inhabit the North and East are Tamil
speaking, they don't become Tamil terrorists. If it please the majority
may call them terrorists of the North and East and refrain from using
the word Tamil.
In reality it has become a disadvantage to the majority by the usage
Tamil terrorists as this terminology encompasses the entire Tamil
speaking people of the world.
I have said over and over; please leave the Tamils out of the
terrorist equation. If the majority fails to understand this equation,
Sri Lanka will become a Yugoslavia in Asia.
WALTER FERNANDO,
Ratmalana
I read Hemsan's article with considerable interest. Although I do not
agree with most of what she has said, I would agree that the ideal
solution to the 'Tamil problem' lies in the establishment of a federal
form of Government.
Writers like she should educate the public pointing out the
advantages of such a system of Government. The politicians for their own
ends have conveyed the mistaken idea that Federalism means separation.
It is up to the media and people like her to educate and convince the
people that it is not so.
Noel Vethanayagam,
via email
The National Lotteries Board issues several varieties of lottery
tickets viz: Mondays Govi Setha and Jayoda, Tuesdays Sampath Rekha and
Development, Wednesdays Jayaviru and Sanida Vasanawa, Thursdays Vasana
Sampatha and Jayoda, Fridays Sampath Rekha and Development, Saturdays
Supiri Vasana and Sanida and on Sundays Lotto and Srama Vasana in that
order respectively.
The first named lottery on each day is drawn first and thereafter the
other - the first named having no serial number prizes and the second
one to be drawn having serial number prizes of Jewellery, Zig Zag Sewing
Machines and foot-bicycles worth about 100,000 rupees.
The problem being there is not enough time to give the full results
of the second named lottery within the allotted time, one thing, the
other being it overlaps with other programmes on other channels.
Therefore, I would like to suggest a way out of it to give the full
results to the viewers.
Please conduct the draw on TV (Rupavahini) by showing the second
named lottery on every day first and the second named next.
Thereby the serial number prize draws can be shown fully within the
allotted time, the other having no serial number prizes can be followed
by seeing the Sinhala version only and one need not follow the rest of
the draw, viz: the Tamil version or the detail of the draw which are
unnecessary and seems superfluous on redundant to know the results.
This will enable to get the full results of all the lotteries and see
the programmes on the other channels without a problem.
V. K. B. RAMANAYAKE,
Maharagama
The two diagrams above denote a typical 18 hour day of a person.
The diagram 1 denotes the Sun-Rise and Sun-Set as we are to-day.
The diagram 2 shows how it will be if we set our clocks backs and get
more Night.
More reasons why we should not go back:
1. All workers will be heading home in the dark.
2. Working girls will have to walk back in the dark streets again.
3. No working parents will see the children playing in the garden as
it will be dark outside.
4. We will have less times for exercise after work especially the
'Walking' time.
5. When the working parents get home the infants may be asleep.
6. Early morning only the kitchen light will go on for a short time
against the whole house being lit in the evening for half hour more.
7. The whole country's oil bill and 'our electricity bills' will be
more as we use more power.
8. The street lights will be on earlier and longer.
9. The men will have more 'evening' time to drink.
10. The whole world tries to capture more 'precious' daylight, as
against us, trying to give it up. may be that the average man does not
understand that we will sacrifice precious Day Light.
RANEE RATNAYAKE,
Colombo
Consequent to the extension of the Marine Drive up to Station Road,
Bambalapitiya, the flow of traffic from Marine Drive to Galle Road
through St. Albans Place has increased considerably and the number of
vehicles passing through St. Albans Place is more than 300 daily in the
morning.
The only other road through which the vehicles could exit from the
Marine Drive (at the end of the Marine Drive) is through Station Road
and Arthur's Place. The Arthur's Place is a narrow road and has a bend.
There is an One Way requirement for Station Road providing access to
vehicles travelling to Majestic City. Further major repairs are being
carried out at the entrance to the Station Road from Marine Drive.
Accordingly St. Alban's Place will continue to serve as a vital link
for a large number of vehicles entering the Galle Road from the Marine
Drive.
Further it should be noted that St. Alban's Place serves as the exit
road for two car parks and for most of the vehicles travelling to the
Majestic City. Besides approximately 20 cars could be parked on one side
of the road, as the road is 30 feet wide. There are five business
establishments.
A large number of commuters to and from the Bambalapitiya Station
also use this road as the entrance to the station is temporarily shifted
towards St. Alban's Place. However it is noted with concern that the
maintenance of this road has been neglected. There are several pot
holes.
There is a lot of inconvenience to the commuters when it rains. There
is no drainage facility. The road has not been carpeted, although
several other by-roads handling less traffic have been carpeted and
there are no lights at night. This is due to the fact that St. Alban's
Place is a private road.
On behalf of the residents of St. Alban's Place I would request the
authorities concerned to take over the road and maintain it as a public
road for the simple reason that St. Alban's Place now serves as a public
road. I have no doubt that the residents and the large number of
motorists and commuters who use this road would appreciate the action
taken by the authorities.
A. R.,
Colombo 4 |