It has become a difficult task to send a telegram by a SLT land phone
subscriber. Now if a subscriber wants to send a telegram has to hang on
to the telephone to book a telegram by dialling 1263.
Since the SLT has programmed and answers are recorded where one has
to keep on hanging on to the telephone to book a telegram. This new
system has caused much hardship to the subscribers.
Even after booking a telegram, one has to wait indefinitely until the
officers at the call centre attend to our bookings. They only give us a
reference number but not given a number to communicate in the event of
delay. If a person wants to send an urgent telegram of a funeral, by the
time the call centre attend to us, the funeral is over.
On several occasions I booked telegrams on 1263, but I couldn't send
a telegram due to undue delay at the call centre 1263. Their immediate
taped answer is all call centre officers are busy and to leave our
numbers for the call centre officers to call us for our telegram.
Before the SLT adopted the new system, when we dial 131 for telegram,
we never waited for long 3-4 hours to give a telegram.
If the SLT is really interested in the service of the valid
subscribers, SLT should immediately take steps to accept telegram as was
in the good old days by answering the 1263 personally without making the
valid customers hang on to the telephone for hours to book a telegram.
A. S.,
Colombo
----
I would be much obliged if anybody will kindly enlighten us whether a
proposal of granting pension to unmarried females of the demised
pensioners is being implemented.Today these so-called spinters are in a
precarious position.
They are almost like destitutes without having any other source of
income. No employer dares to give them any sort of regular job due to
their unhealthy condition due to undernourishment. They do not own a
piece of land and at the mercy of the landowners.
They are not welcome by their kith and kin since they are frightened
that they would become an eternal burden to them. When these spinters
fall sick there is no way for them to take proper medical treatment.
Due to these precarious conditions, most of them are resorting to
commit suicide, since there is no other way for them to survive in this
world. That is the only option for them. Hope somebody in the Pension
Department will clarify us in this regard to revise our hopes for
survival.
P. PERUMAL,
Wattala
----
Recently the media reported that LTTE Political Wing leader and
spokesman S. P. Thamil Chelvam told the chief of SLMM that the
Government of Sri Lanka decided to enter into a ceasefire agreement with
LTTE and hold peace talks because it was convinced that LTTE was capable
of forming a separate State, and therefore SLMM should not disturb the
balance of power.
Is this statement true?
No, when Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe's Government entered into the
ceasefire agreement in an undue and totally unnecessary haste without
even consulting the defence chiefs, the LTTE was panting with it back to
the wall. In addition to the setbacks, they suffered in open
confrontations they were getting hit by the valiant Army Long Range
Patrols.
One very senior LTTE commander was killed in the first attack and in
the next attack Thamil Chelvam narrowly escaped death but was maimed for
life. This ambush was intended for Velupillei Prabhakaran.
This brought such mortal fear into Prabhakaran and LTTE hierarchy
that they conveyed their desire to talk peace to GOSL which was ever
willing to reach a political solution and never intransigent. This was
very evident in the clause in CFA which says 'the Army Long Range Patrol
will be disbanded' which was one of the main conditions laid down by the
LTTE.
Taking cover behind the CFA, LTTE killed over 60 intelligence
personnel. Just before CFA, some traitors betrayed the Long Range Patrol
personnel in the Millennium City.
KUMARA JAYALATH
----
While violence of all kinds prevails in the country, why do we fail
to deal with violence under our very noses - namely the cutting of huge
shade-giving trees at the corner of Wijerama Road and Bauddhaloka
Mawatha?
These trees - planted in the days of colonial rule are very old and
very beautiful and for decades have adorned Colombo. The land next to
the Meteorological Department was sold to the British High Commission -
and ironically we are allowing trees bordering, and on the road, planted
by the British, to be cut with impunity.
In many countries such trees are protected and cutting them is a
punishable offence. Where trees grow on boundaries, people often align
their walls to include the trees. What is the Municipality doing against
this vandalism? Where are the Ruk Rakaganno - an organisation to protect
trees?
ANANDA AMARASEKERA,
Colombo 7
----
A few days back we went to save some cattle from slaughter, because
some doctors of Kandy General Hospital donated the money as they wished
to perform a meritorious act during the Vesak season. We were able to
save three cows from slaughter for the doctors.
At the Suduhumpola slaughter house we were surprised to find a large
pregnant cow awaiting slaughter. However, this animal was saved from
slaughter in time, by the staff and students of Swarnamali Vidyalaya,
Kandy, after they paid a sum of Rs. 35,000 demanded by the butchers.
The slaughter of milking cows and pregnant cows, I understand is
banned. We animal lovers and Buddhists in Sri Lanka should be grateful
to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for reintroducing this ban that had been
repealed by the last Government. An investigation should be initiated to
ascertain how the Kandy Municipal Council authorised the slaughter of
this pregnant cow, more information in this regard could be obtained
from the staff of Swarnamali Vidyalaya.
We are also grateful to the President for his order, banning the
killing of dogs caught by Municipal and Provincial Council authorities,
only allowing these unfortunate animals to be handed over to welfare
societies and NGOs that carry out humane methods of eliminating rabies.
With the merit the President would acquire by the meritorious deeds
he has performed such as - giving a free meal to students of poor
schools; meals to poor pregnant mothers; closing liquor bars situated
close to schools and places of religious worship, - may he get the
blessings of the Triple Gem to solve the ethnic problem in the
North-East.
Dr. C. Godamunne,
Kandy Humanitarian Society |