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SLT adopts strange measures

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

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Plight of the spinsters of demised pensioners

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

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His leg bears testimony

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

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Violence against trees

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

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Slaughter of pregnant cows

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

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