• Federal system - best solution

• UN Secretary General's post

• Street lights on Sri Jayewardenepura Mawatha

• Help disarm Tigers
  
  
  Federal system - best solution

As a child of this country, living in the Jaffna peninsula, I am earnestly looking forward to the Government of Sri Lanka to take productive measures to safegurd the precious lives of the people of the country.

As a student of the University of Peradeniya, I do feel no racial discrimination or partiality here and experience all sorts of happiness and satisfaction. I do really enjoy the peaceful environment here, and I hope the day will dawn when all the people of this country shall feel the same. Above all, my Sinhala friends are even ready to safeguard my life.

I do feel very happy to learn that the Sinhala people like the Tamil speaking people are kind enough and help minded. It is up to the selfish minded politicians of the past who are the co-founders of the present prevailing situation. They should therefore take the responsibility for what is going on today in the country.

As the whole world including the Government of Sri Lanka has accepted that the best solution for the ethnic problem of the country is a Federal System, with concerning the prevailing situation of this country, I firmly insist the International Governments to join together and help both the parties in conflict to arrive at the meaningful and ultimate solution for the long standing ethnic crisis of this country.

I want the Sri Lankan Government to ensure the future when all the people of Sri Lanka shall experience a peaceful life with showers of love and mutual understanding, and when all the people shall realize that the language is only the different, but not the feeling and desires.

As the majority Government, it is its noble duty to fulfil the aspirations of the minority and protect them under its wings. I think ensuring the aspirations of the Tamils won't mean disregarding the aspirations of the majority Sinhalese .

The LTTE which originated as a result of the activities of the politicians of the past, has been fighting for the establishing an independent state.

On the otherhand, the Government of Sri Lanka has been confronting with them for ensuring the territorial integrity of the country. Therefore the best intermediary solution is Federal System. I do expect a Federal Union of Ceylon marching towards the ultimate goal of socio-economic and environmental development.

Achieving that solution by peaceful means will only be the productive and appreciatable one. Unless, otherwise, they should not hesitate to take responsibility who is going to be responsible for causing loss of valuable lives who are alive today in the future.

I do ever feel very happy because I am not a killer, and my hands are pure. So, therefore, I do feel that I have the eligibility to write so.

It is my opinion with others that God has created this cosmos with its precious lives, and he is the only one who has the genuine power to determine their fate.

At last, I would like to state that the Jaffna Peninsula is getting affected by sea water intrusion, and the severe nitrate pollution, and demand the responsible powers to urgently consider the matter, in order to prevent the peninsula from changing into a desert.

I do feel greatly satisfied that I have done something for the betterment of the people of the country, including my wife and my daughter.

S. Kirubananda, Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.

UN Secretary General's post

We highly appreciate the Government's stand in regard to the post of Secretary General to the United Nations. The general public was confused since there had been many names including Niranjan Deva mentioned other than Sri Lanka's official candidate Jayantha Dhanapala.

Most Sri Lankans will not know that Niranjan Devadittiya who is now known as Niranjan Deva has been the only Asian immigrant who canvassed the banning of immigrants from Asian countries when he was a young Conservative party member in the UK.

When he contested for the election in UK under the Conservative ticket, he claimed that he is from India - to draw the vote bank of the Indian population and to justify his case, he did shorten the name to Niranjan Deva.

It is amusing to note that now he wishes to contest for the seat of Secretary General under Sri Lankan identity. Although he is a member of the EU Parliament his credibility has been eroded and now looking for new pastures to reignite his popularity.

We again salute the government for the bold stand and also caution the Government to be aware of these opportunists.

J. B. DE SILVA, Hendala.

Street lights on Sri Jayewardenepura Mawatha

The street light posts installed in the centre of the new Parliament Road from the Ayurvedic roundabout up to Welikada Police Station does not function from the time it was installed.

The period is more than ten years. This stretch of the road is in pitch dark from dusk to dawn which caused inconveniences and accidents to the general public and motorists who use this road frequently. Specially on rainy days the motorists find it difficult to drive on this stretch of road during the nights and as a result several accidents have taken place.

Therefore, I appeal to the authorities concerned to act immediately to restore the street lights on the centre of this road.

M. Z. MARKAR, RAJAGIRIYA.

Help disarm Tigers

The Washington Times (WT) in its editorial of August 20 states 'the Tigers ability to rearm themselves needs to be curtailed'. Excellent! Thanks for Washington's interest in our Island Home!

Please may I ask the WT from where they Tigers buy their arms? Is it not from the West? The factories that manufacture arms for Bush & Co. to fight wars to destroy 'terrorism' in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine and soon in Iran, etc., are the same sources from which the Tamil diaspora buy arms for the Tigers. What then is the need of the hour?

The WT Editorial sentiment must be converted from good advice to good works.

This will mean the closure of these weapons factories. Will Washington with its ambition to rule the world do this? The closure of arms factories?

SYDNEY KNIGHT, Rajagiriya.