• Unbiased verdict

• Flow of traffic through St. Alban's Place

• Implementation of P.A. Circular No. 1/2006

• Don't discourage honest politicians

Unbiased verdict

FIVE lakhs have been awarded to Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President by the Supreme Court in a fundamental rights case filed by him against a complaint made to the CID by Kabir Hashim, UNP member of Parliament. The Police and the CID had initiated investigations in regard to the matter.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Kabir Hashim, the fourth respondent had not produced sufficient reasons to the police to prove the charges in his complaint, against Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He has only produced reports published in newspapers in his complaint to the police.

It appears that the complaint had been made against Mr. Rajapaksa, at that time the Prime Minister, in order to defame and disgrace him.

Now the point arises, as to whether the UNP, especially Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the UNP and Karu Jayasuriya the Deputy Leader are not responsible for this kind of action by a member of the party.

It seems that Ranil Wickremesinghe and Karu Jayasuriya are turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to the above. Drastic action should be taken against Kabir Hashim for his action.

It is not understood why the IGP and the Deputy IGP, CID commenced investigations on the charges in the complaint when there have been reasons insufficient for investigations as decided by the Supreme Court.

Surely the IGP and the Deputy IGP, CID are not babies. They are experienced and well-trained officers.

A. C. - Ambalangoda.

Flow of traffic through St. Alban's Place

IT IS noted that 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. Alban's Place has increased considerably and the number of vehicles passing through St. Alban's 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 a 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.

A large number of commuters to and from the Bambalapitiya Station also used 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 potholes. There is a lot of inconvenience to the commuters when it rains.

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 takeover 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.

RSAP - Colombo 4.

Implementation of P.A. Circular No. 1/2006

THE Budget for 2006 submitted by Mahinda Rajapaksa, President and Finance Minister, on December 8 granted a reasonable salary increase to public servants who are finding it difficult to run their life and family with the salary they have been drawing.

But, salary anomalies among public servants are prevailing for a long time, because the salary scales of SLAS, SLEAS and similar islandwide service officials were not adjusted for more than two decades whilst secondary and other inferior grade servants' salaries were adjusted and readjusted several times.

As a result of this, there were severe salary anomalies between executive grade officials and others. For example, when we take hospital nurses, labourers and other servants (except MBBS and Specialists) in the Health Ministry, they are given higher salary scales during recent past. Likewise, the schoolteachers and principals of the Ministry of Education were given higher salary scales than Assistant Directors of Education, their superiors.

In 1993, the annual basic salary of an Assistant Director of Education (SLEAS III) was Rs. 33,000 and of a Grade I principal was Rs. 30,000. Now, the ADE'S salary scale is lower than that of a Grade II principal or Grade I teacher. At present, the salary scale of a Grade I labourer of a hospital is higher than that of an ADE in SLEAS.

This is the way the all island service officials (ADEE) are treated in this country. Can anybody expect to promote the level of education paying a mean salary to an Assistant Director of Education lesser than that of a labourer! These are a few examples of salary anomalies to be pointed out.

The Tissa Devendra Commission and National Commission for Administration tried for years spending millions of Sri Lankan Rupees taking all anomalies away to bring about a New Salary Scale to all public servants.

It was reasonable since there were no anomalies and was based on the importance of the post, duty and service of each and every category.

Judges, physicians and the all island service personnels are given around 65% of salary increment because of the duty they perform and since their salaries were not adjusted for two decades.

However, no public servant is given less than 25% increment, and the reason for less percentage was their salaries were adjusted and given reasonable increment time to time.

In order to implement, the salary adjustments and increments, the Ministry of Public Administration issued the Circular No: 1/2006 on 12/01/2006. But, some trade unions whilst never understanding the reality and in fear of that if the salary increase is given, their members (the workforce) will be benefited as the least increase too, was not less than 25% of their salary and as a result of this, they (unions) would lose their control over the workforce. So they got together and pulled President back to withdraw the Circular No: 1/2006 on hearing ex parte.

If the Trade Unionists are sincere towards their members (public servants) they would have, instead of opposing the Circular No. 1/2006, allowed it to be implemented and then fight to correct the wrongs of the circular.

Once the circular is implemented, nobody can revoke it by making amendments. The public servants too, at least would have obtained 25% salary increase as a relief for the past three months until the circular is amended as the opposing unions demand.

They do not know the fundamental tactics of trade unions: 'Capture and establish whatever right/benefit from employer and then fight for the rest.'

S. JESUNESAN - Colombo 5.

Don't discourage honest politicians

THE JVP has done an excellent service so far. They are highly intelligent and honest. They performed very well when they ran their Ministries, and they always warned the country if there are dangers.

There will be outside forces who will use their influence to discredit the JVP. We patriotic Sri Lankans must not fall into this trap.

JVP - I wish you many more years of success. Hope you will take some important Ministries and show your true colours.

GILBERT JAYAWARDENA