Traffic congestion on the highways is always on the increase despite
many alternative plans to alleviate this. At many times the alternative
plans itself has been the contributory factor for further congestion of
the traffic.
For example, Marine Drive developed for easing the congestion of
Galle Road is causing the increase of congestion in the same road at two
locations, namely Ramakrishna Road - Galle Road junction at Wellawattha
and St. Alban's Place - Galle Road junction at Bambalapitiya due to
traffic emerging from those bifurcations back again to Galle Road in the
evening and morning respectively.
When that traffic enters the already packed Galle Road, again it
aggravates the situation. This Marine Drive alternative completed only
last year took some 20 years for its barely 5 km stretch because of the
court cases filed against it.
During this twenty years demand of the highways also has increased
many fold and the demand is always on the increase. sThe proposed
highway to connect the High Level Road and Matara is also experiencing
similar obstacles and possibly destining towards similar fate.
Another failed alternative as far as the traffic is considered is the
Duplication Road though this road has paved way for development and
improvement of the metropolitan thus contributing again to aggravate the
traffic congestion.
In a smaller country like Sri Lanka where land demand is high and
always in the increase, transposing, and even tunnelling to ease the
congestion will be a failure mainly due to longer duration taken for
laying those transpose.
Tunnel transport also requires enormous high capital investment
firstly to rearrange the already existing underground facility systems
and then to establish it will be another gargantuan monetary fund.
Instead the relevant authorities could shift their policy planning
regarding transport and highways to a strict definite pattern that will
stand all the pressure requirements of the generations (without copying
the western worlds' business bullying).
As part of it, relevant authorities should consider replacing the
existing outdated railway system from Putttalam to Matara, and the
proposed railway to Kataragama by a 'fly over' or overhead lighter
railway system as that in Malaysia and Singapore. Katunayake
International Airport also shall be included in this system.
There will not be many problems or environmental concerns in building
up the necessary infrastructure in parallel above the existing railway
lines.
If that overhead lighter railway essentially with double tracks
become operational, space of the replaced present system will pave way
for a super, express highway from Katunayake to Matara through Colombo
without obstacles of compensations and court cases and it will put an
end to the accidents at level crossings which are on the increase.
Implementation of this plan within a short period of five years is
paramount important and though may consume large initial capital, (much
less than that for subways) it will be a booster for further economic
growth and the beneficiaries will be present and future generations.
Sri Lankan government shall use the good will of the Malaysian
government who are stupendously successful in searching and finding 'swadeshika'
solutions to their technical woes in implementing this as a technically
sound and economically viable project.
DR. S. MAHADEVA, Dehiwala.
Draining of foreign exchange due to the higher prices of wheat flour
and the inability of the paddy farmers to sell their crops at a
reasonable price, seems to be a crisis faced by the country. Mixing of
rice flour in preparing bread seems to be not so popular as expected.
Kiribath is delicious and nutritious food consumed at special
occasions throughout the country. Sinhala New year is one such occasion.
Some people prepare Kiribath on the first day of every month.
So extending this practice, if we can have Kiribath prepared with
country rice on every Monday as breakfast to begin the week, it will be
a good solution for many of our problems.
This should not be implemented by banning bread on Mondays but by
being exemplary from the President to the farmer and the worker. If
there is a sufficient demand, eating houses will come forward
automatically, with Kiribath on every Monday morning. G. C., Ethul Kotte.
Recently a labourer of the Dehiwela MC came to spray my small garden.
I showed him that there were no areas of stagnant water. Nevertheless he
did a one-minute spray on some shrubs and boldly asked for money.
When I showed him the roadside drain which was highly silted and
covered with vegetation and containing dirty stagnant water where
mosquitoes breed, he replied that he has to spray gardens.
I could have given him a few rupees but then he will not spray the
poor people's gardens where spraying is necessary. The general
impression among residents is that these labourers regard the spray
equipment as an additional source of income.
They spray the gardens of those who pay and then empty the balance
contents somewhere. Years ago there was a system where the labourer had
a card for each residence where we had to enter the date of spraying and
sign thereon.
This had been done away with perhaps due to loopholes such as
employees forging initials etc. This could be corrected by having one
card with the labourer and one with the householder.
With duty consciousness at such low level the MC would never get rid
of the mosquito menace. Earlier the drains were desilted monthly and
roadside vegetation cleared. We have not seen such activity for years.
C. A., Nugegoda.
Thank you for publishing the above article of 20th by J.S.
Ameresekere.
I had a nasty experience on the 20th at Duplication Road. while I was
crossing the road on the pedestrian crossing, a speeding three-wheeler
almost knocked me down and as a result I injured my leg as well as the
shock I got.
I have to thank God for saving me from any major injuries to me as
well as to the driver. He accepted the fault but anyway they have to be
educated on safe driving and also the traffic rules and regulations.
I quite agree with J.S. Ameresekere that most drivers do not obey the
road rules and most are selfish. no courtesy is shown towards the
pedestrians.
DANTON K. S. MANUEL, Colombo 3.
I wish to point out to the following statement made in the Grade 7 'Sinhala
Language and Literature' Text book published by M.D. Gunasena
Publications page 56 under chapter no. 7.
The Muslims believe that the footprint found in Sri Pada was that of
Prophet Muhammed.
This statement is totally false and the Muslims do not believe as
such. Instead, the Muslims believe it as the footprint of Prophet Adam.
This has been correctly mentioned in the Grade 7 English language text
books.
Hence, we request the publishers to make arrangements to correct the
mistake in the already published edition as well as in the forthcoming
editions.
Moulavi M. J. M. Riyal, Negombo. |