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To speak of the L.T.T.E. is to speak of brutal murders of innocent
children - helpless civilians, use of suicide bombers, slaughter of
Buddhist clergy and destruction of civilian targets. In other words
terrorism at its worst.
Today the civilised world is fighting against Terrorism. Their one
aim is to eradicate it completely from the face of the earth, so that
people can live in peace, without fear.
Conferences of world leaders are held to achieve this end. But one
finds it hard to believe the sincerity of their decisions.
Though countries ban certain organisations as Terrorists and list
them as proscribed in their countries, little else is done.
The sincerity of their efforts to eradicate terrorism is in doubt. I
say this specially with reference to the L.T.T.E., a terrorist
organisation. While professing to take drastic action against terrorists
and any one connected with them - it is hard to believe that Britain is
turning a blind eye to the presence of Balansingham of the L.T.T.E. in
their country. Will they treat Osama Bin Laden in the same manner?
To prove that Britain is committed to the eradication of Terrorism,
it should be a meaningful step for Britain to arrest Balasingham and
charge him in a court of Justice for the atrocious crimes committed by
the L.T.T.E.
It is action of this nature that will deter the L.T.T.E. terrorists
from causing further harm to civil society and compel them to come to
the negotiating table.
D. M. VICTOR E. PIERIS,
Kalamulla.
Inaccurate, irresponsible announcements about movements of trains
have become the order of the day since recently.
The Railway Station at Ragama steals the cake. On June, 17 the first
day trains running to a new schedule, while schools, Government
departments and the business community working on revised time, it was a
real commotion.
There was a large complement of commuters including myself waiting
for the Gampaha bound train to arrive as usual on the Platform No. 2. An
announcement over the address system stated that the train would arrive
on Platform No. 3.
What a stamped it was, commuters struggling to get on to the overhead
bridge to get to Platform 3. But alas the train steamed to Platform 2.
The rush began, this time to reach for the train now resting aside
Platform 2. The train remained motionless for sometime when another
announcement said that the train being immobilised will not proceed to
Gampaha.
In the meanwhile another train arrived from Colombo, terminating at
Ragama.
If the authorities at Ragama were flexible and realistic in their
judgement and thinking, they could have organised this train to take the
large gathering of commuters to Gampaha and the matter would have been
solve with the least inconvenience to all.
The higher-ups thought otherwise and diverted this train back to
Colombo, half full.
The only train now left was the one to Rambukkana, a train replete
with a load of fish boxes. This futile exercise caused the commuters an
hour or more late for school and work places for no fault of theirs.
Another incident which took place sometime back, also at Ragama is
worthy of recalling here.
The Platform 4 was full of people awaiting a train on the Chilaw/Puttalam
line.
A train drew up on Platform 3 and an announcement went out to the
effect at that this train is bound for Chilaw.
On hearing this, all the passengers rather astonished disembarked
while those on the Platform happily boarded the train.
A while later another announcement came out stating that the train
was proceeding to Veyangoda. Those inside the train started spilling out
while those now on the platform began to get in.
The Chief Station Master must ensure that only competent persons well
versed in the movement of trains are authorised to have access to the
public address system.
J. I. R.,
Kandana.
A weekend paper in coconut size headlines exposed a Member of
Parliament for declaring a false date of birth.
It would not have been an easy task to detect this fraudulent
declaration and all those who were involved should be congratulated for
a job well done.
Under the prevailing laws all Members of Parliament are required to
declare their assets. Almost everyone makes a false declaration and some
claim they do not want to be dishonest and make no declaration at all.
Verifying these assets are far more easier than digging into a date of
birth which is of no concern to the public as we all know who
politicians are.
All what is needed is to submit these asset declarations to the
Inland Revenue Department.
It defies logic as to how some Parliamentarians can afford to educate
their children abroad with the salary they earn. The public will be
happy to see Members of Parliament irrespective of the manner in which
the wealth is accumulated, pay the due taxes.
Whichever the party in the Opposition, they will never take up this
issue as they live with the hope of making a quick buck when they also
come into power or by crossing over, if they are unlikely to come into
power in the foreseeable future.
Some citizens group should advocate voting at future elections only
for candidates who can distribute a list of their assets when
canvassing.
C. P.,
Colombo 4.
The other day, when somebody threw brickbats at Anandasangaree, a
colossus in Sri Lanka's democratic politics today, it is fitting that
Arjuna Hulugalle, contrary to such thinking, has offered a respectful
bouquet, vide Daily News of June 29.
Just like our Tamil leaders of the past, such as G. G. Ponnambalam,
S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, C. Suntheralingam, Lakshman Kadirgamar etc., he
loves Sri Lanka and his Tamil people in particular, and his approach to
the ethnic issue conforms to that of all past and present leaders of the
Tamil community, the only exemption being the Tigers who claim to
represent the community by keeping just 5% under their rule.
With amendments to the Constitution, when Sri Lanka replaces the
Executive President with a ceremonial President, all Sri Lankans and
particularly the Sinhalese will be delighted to see Anandasangaree in
that respectable position.
G. G. J,
Pita Kotte
There are two commercial hubs located in Katunayake, namely, the
Bandaranaike International Airport and the Export Processing Zone.
A large number of people travel by bus to these two locations from
Nittambuwa on a daily basis. At present only a few CTB buses ply from
Nittambuwa to Katunayake. The other alternative is to use the buses
coming from Kandy to Negombo, but these buses are fully packed from
Kandy itself and there is hardly any room for travelling from Nittambuwa,
Veyangoda and Minuwangoda up to Katunayake or Negombo.
At present only a few of the passengers are able to board the buses
and a large number of passengers have to try their luck to get into
subsequent buses and as a result they are compelled to report for work
rather late in the day.
We kindly request the concerned authorities to provide 2 to 3
additional buses during peak hours to cater to the daily increasing
passengers.
UPALI KUMARATHUNGA,
Alawwa. |
