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Government Gazette

Payment of Cost of Living Allowance

The payment of Cost of Living Allowance based on the Cost of Living Index will have far-reaching effects for industrial peace. The Government has already determined the salaries to all categories of employees in the public sector on accepted norms and principles.

Some trade unions keep on agitating without a scientific study of the methods adapted for the revision of salaries. These agitations are merely based on relative salaries of the higher and the lower grades and not based on the factors on which the salaries have been determined.

The decision of the Government to increase the Cost of Living Allowance based on the Cost of Living Index is commendable as this is going to bring relief to the employees, specially in the lower levels. The payment of Cost of Living on equal basis will progressively reduce the gap between the higher salaries and lower salaries.

For example, an employee getting a salary of Rs. 12,000 will get his total emoluments increased by 9.16% while an employee getting a salary of Rs. 30,000 will get his emoluments increased only by 3.66%.

It is the responsibility of the trade union leaders to understand the progressive steps taken by the Government and educate their rank and file and refrain from resorting to strike action leading to break down of the public services and causing upheavals to the economy of the country.

D. A. RUPASINGHE, Pannipitiya


Flight No. UL316 - July 8 Kuala Lumpur - Colombo

I am a frequent flyer on Singapore Airlines (SQ) for the past 15 years; since these flights arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport late at midnight, and as the security situation in Colombo is not that good, I decided to fly on an airline that arrives at day time from Melbourne.

I booked my flight on the Malaysian Airline - Melbourne/Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur/Colombo on Air SriLanka.

My wife and I requested wheel-chairs at Melbourne since we are in our late seventies and feeble. On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport on schedule, it was a case of disappointment. All passengers left the aircraft, leaving myself, my wife and two other wheel-chair passengers and there was no immediate action to take us by wheel-chair to the Immigration, Customs counters etc; perhaps the aircraft crew may have not been informed.

I noticed the aircraft crew had left the aircraft and were coming out.

There were two young men, perhaps they may have been attached to the Air Sri Lanka staff, inquiring how many wheel-chairs were needed and running about in search of wheel-chairs.

Later, having got into the wheel-chairs, two stewardesses took us to the Immigration counter and cleared us and then proceeded to the Conveyor Belt area for collection of our baggage.

I noticed that all passengers had cleared their baggages and had left the airport leaving our baggage behind. While in this deserted area, I noticed two security officials who spoke to me.

I identified my baggage; the Customs Officer who was on duty, seeing our plight cleared us quickly.

I then requested the stewardess to take me to the Duty Free Shop (Uni-Walker Ltd.); she told me that she understands my problem, but that she is not permitted to go into the Duty Free section. I had no choice but to take my walking stick (my supporter) to the Uni-Walker Ltd. shop to make some purchases.

Having purchased the Duty Free items, there was no one to load my baggage comprising 2 heavy suitcases, two travel bags and duty free items onto the trolley.

A member of the Uni-Walker Ltd., staff went out and got 2 porters to push the trolley.

Having got a ticket to go by van to Colombo, these 2 porters loaded the baggage to the van and demanded a sum of Rs. 500 from me. I asked them what was the distance they pushed the trolley and informed them that I am a Sri Lankan and not a tourist and gave them Rs. 200; a glaring case of exploitation.

There appears to be no coordination between the SriLankan Airline staff and the Airport Authority.

We still have to learn from developed countries how to treat elderly people. What a sad state of affairs in my country of birth, once known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

F. A. Rodrigo-Sathianathen, Battaramulla


Double standard?

With regard to recent fighting between the LTTE and the Government in Trincomalee district, the Government claims that the retaliation is due to humanitarian grounds. But the SLMM says it doesn't agree that military offensive can be conducted on humanitarian reasons, it cannot kill people on humanitarian grounds.

Israel is killing people including children, dozens and dozens. But the international community, especially the so-called westerners are silent or they agree with Israel and the USA that Israel has the right to bombard and kill helpless people on humanitarian grounds.

Scores of people die in Iraq and Afghanistan every day including small children. But why this double standard?

Until the double standard of westerners backed by the US is stopped, the entire world will be on fire and turmoil. Ultimately the suffering will be on innocent people all over the world.

M. N. M. NAWUSHAD, Peradeniya


July '83 homicide figures

Former DIG/P H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya's (HMGBK) comments 'Genocide of 1983' in your issue of July 16 refers. He suggests the number of Tamils killed in the July '83 'pogrom' - to use his own words - is no more than the usual monthly homicide figures recorded by the Police. He, therefore, contests the figure of 'thousands' quoted by Maj. Gen. Lalin Fernando.

According to HMGBK the casualty figures in that brief but dark period - both Sri Lankan and those of recent Indian origin - is no more than the monthly average of 100. I quote him "If I can remember right the figure was around 440 killed - of which 150 were Sinhalese murdered by Tamil goons".

The calculated attacks on innocent Tamils in July '83 blackened the names of the Sinhalese all over the world - many of them good, decent, religious Buddhists - who were horrified by men turning into beasts right in front of their eyes. HMGBK observes "the pogrom was orchestrated and managed by politicians and the operatives were thugs and criminals".

21 years later at last - and, at least one major Sinhala political figure, President Chandrika Kumaratunga had the courage to apologise to the Tamil people for the crimes committed against them.

The following data for that week of Tamils killed in the pogrom is from a source that enjoys the reputation of being one of impeccable integrity - the University teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) - from their widely-read book 'Arrogance of Power' authored by Rajan Hoole (p123)

- (T.D.S.A. Dissanayake) "471 Tamils killed - including 227 in the Colombo District....".

- (Dr. M.S.L. Salgadoe, JMO/Colombo) - confirms having held post-mortems on 283 bodies - many believed to be Tamil victims of the incidents.

- (Mr. A. Amirthalingam) speaking to the Press in New York a few days after the incidents said the figure was in excess of 2,000.

It may be remembered immediately after the 13 soldiers were killed in Jaffna the army went on a rampage and killed over 60 civilians in Jaffna in one single day. In another incident in Nuwara Eliya where the pre-dominant Indian Tamils had little to do with the call for separatism, a successful Potato cultivator named Paneer Selvam and 13 others were slaughtered.

Since he enjoyed a warm relationship with the neighbours for decades some of those killed had sought sanctuary in his home. Many more Tamils were killed in the Gampaha, Central, Sabaragamuwa Districts including Kegalle, Uva and other areas in addition to the Colombo District figures referred to above. The above figures excludes several dozens who were set ablaze and charred beyond recognition in their vehicles.

There were others who were killed and their bodies burned in many parts of the country, including several in the Colombo District. The source and repository of information of these deaths were the Police, whose image becomes more complex with actual figures being much higher than what official statistics reveal. An attempt, in the circumstances, by the Police downplaying the actual number killed is quite probable.

On 26/07/2004 President Chandrika Kumaratunga speaking on the occasion to award token compensation to July '83 victims put the figure at 'nearly a thousand killings' no doubt relying on the data provided to her by the members of the Truth Commission who joined her that day. The Commission of 3 was chaired by a former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.

HMGBK's figures of all island homicide figures of '374 for the months of July/August/September' appears to be in error and at substantial variance with the actual number of Tamils killed in July '83. And more curious, his astonishingly new claim of '150 Sinhalese killed by Tamil goons' during the period.

A. KANDAPPA, Colombo 11


Happy birthday Duwaraha

The article under the above caption appearing in D/N of July 24, particularly the family photograph of the Tiger chief portraying a beloved father hugging the daughter is so much thought provoking.

A child is no doubt a symbol of innocence and love. Can any one believe that this father could act so atrociously towards children of others? These two children, now in UK and Ireland can be considered very, very lucky that there is no counterpart of their father in the opposite camp, all comprising of humans in the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities.

G. G. J., Kotte


Welcome back

God bless Mr. Sarath Fonseka and protect him to serve Sri Lanka.

Let there be peace forever. Get back uncleared land and make One Sri Lanka.

ROSHAN RAZAK, via email

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