• Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting

• A tribute to our valiant army

• Health risk in Mattakkuliya

• Law that is never enforced

• The motorcycle - a family vehicle?

  
  
  
  Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting

THE meeting of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers in Colombo for three days is a very significant event for Sri Lanka. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Finance Ministry must be congratulated for sponsoring this in the midst of other pressing national issues.

The Commonwealth of nations stretching from West to East encompassing all the continents and major trading blocks are important players in trade and development in a fast changing global economy.

As a very large family of nations, it encounters the so called North-South divide, the newly emerging world trading patterns and regional trading blocks.

The very diversity of their history, cultures, resources and development experience, would bring to bear a very rich learning exercise at the meeting, for greater understanding of development issues, finance and trade.

Most of the issues and problems emanate from a diverse politico-economic environment, they seem to link to a world system under the currant globalisation process and therefore need to be viewed as such.

Beyond finance and financial management, lies the real world issues of poverty, lack of steady economic growth and access to markets, rising energy costs, environmental pollution, money laundering, illegal emigration, drug trafficking and rising terrorism. All nations in the Commonwealth have a share of these problems and their ill effects.

From a Sri Lankan stand point this very important meeting, ought to focus not merely on short term palliative measures, but on a long term strategic framework to address these and other trade and development related issues facing our nations.

The issues related to trade and development are the real ones, that can bring to bear effective solutions to problems that most countries suffer from.

For example, small economies like Sri Lanka need to have access to markets of developed countries, to benefit from the global trade expansion and growth, that is taking place, thereby earning adequate foreign exchange to pay for rising energy costs, adopt new technologies and steer the economy on a self sustained growth path.

Under the present context, the growth and development of an economy is constrained largely by lack of access to foreign markets and the various trade negotiations as the WTO have been too show to achieve anything substantial. Promoting multi-lateral trade is the best way of maximizing the benefits of free trade.

BERNARD W. DISSANAYAKE - Rajagiriya

A tribute to our valiant army

Over nineteen million people offer a colourful bouquet to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a glowing tribute to our valiant Armed Forces.

It is true and sad that hundreds of our precious youth are dying to save our 19 million people from the barbarian killers of the LTTE.

The people praise the President for taking proper and appropriate counteraction. Victory is round the corner. our brave and bold boys of the army will deliver the goods. Our 19 million people are behind the army.

We appreciate their patriotic and brave performance.

We have been too patient and tolerant. It was misconstrued to mean weakness. This is the best solution against the daily massacres of the brutal terrorists.

Carl Nanayakkara - Kalutara

Health risk in Mattakkuliya

It is a welcoming effort that the National Dengue Control Unit of the Ministry of Health Care and Nutrition is co-ordinating dengue control activities in the country with the Italian Cooperation of the Foreign Ministry.

Presently, there is a hue and cry due to an outbreak of dengue carrying mosquitoes on the increase mostly in overcrowded regions and particularly evident in Mattakkuliya North (including the many divisions and sub-divisions in the hinterlands of Summit Pura).

These breeding areas are obvious to both residents and public alike, but not local authority and the delegated contractor in charge of cleaning drains and waterways.

If one view the Mattakkuliya North and all the scattered Puras public and private drains, one would see the stark health hazard to the teeming population in the vicinity.

One such private, unauthorised and haphazardly paved drain is adjoining sideways to the Sri Wickrema Ramaya (temple, Sri Wickrema Mawatha). This private drain is always stagnated with waste water channelled by residents in the vicinity.

The Sri Wickrema Mawatha derelict canal (opposite the Saint Mary's Service Station) is a real threat to the health of countless people living in the vicinity.

Another glaring stagnated canal is in Crows Island at the entrance. Many people have suggested that the appropriated word for Mattakkuliya is Mosquitokuliya for obvious reasons.

Just emitting disinfectant smoke from a mobile generator and spraying disinfectant liquid as counter measures are non-effective. First clean and clear the drains, canals and lakes of garbage, organic matters and fallen earth.

No private drains should be constructed with the blessings and money from the area politician or party organiser of the area during the pre-election period.

The Public Health Inspectors under the new Bill envisage 'Prevention of Mosquito Breeding Act' should first charge the local authority and their delegated contractor for breeding all brands of disease carrying mosquitoes and keeping the people awaiting in fear over this threat.

H. L. D. E. PERERA - Mattakkuliya

Law that is never enforced

There is a law prohibiting the slaughter of pregnant cows, buffaloes and calves. This was revoked some time ago by a parliamentarian, whose strident voice drowned all others, when taking the five precepts in public.

The animal lovers, who stormed his office in protest, were firmly and rudely shown the door. After renewed efforts by protestors, the rule was reinstated by the present regime.

But only on paper, it seems! The other day somebody called an abattoir and asked whether it was possible to buy a pregnant cow and buffalo and was assured that they could be made available immediately.

Slaughter brings so much profit to the slaughterers, that they easily pay their way, not only in cash but with flesh hampers distributed to the objectors from lorries coming from far off places, carrying the live cargo - already half dead, with tails torn off, limbs shattered, eyes gouged out - to the slaughter house for mostly skinning alive.

The authorities should be able to impose its rules, whether they apply to the two-legged, the four-legged or these endowed with feathers and fins. We hear of fertiliser farms where cattle past their prime are welcome.

Surely the Mahinda Chinthanaya can make room for such profit-making ventures, so that the animals that sustain our children's lives with their precious milk and the battered bulls supporting the carter's livelihood can and their lives in peaceful retirement without having their threats slit by the butcher's knife?

The Buddha did stand to attention after his enlightenment to gaze at the Bodhi tree that sheltered him - to show his disciples what gratitude was all about.

After all, one of the first bits of advice (now much in vogue) preferred by the Arahant Prince Mahinda to the King was, "You, Sir, are not the owner, but only the protector."

And, as we are here referring to those who simply cannot protect themselves, should not the Government be strong enough to enforce the laws made by itself on behalf of those who are defenceless?

PREMA RANAWAKA-DAS - Moratuwa

The motorcycle - a family vehicle?

In most other countries, it is generally understood and agreed that the motorcycle is meant to transport a maximum of two people, namely the rider and the pillion rider.

In this Paradise Isle however, it is not uncommon to see entire families of up to four persons being transported in one motorcycle. A little child, not more than two or three years old would be seated precariously on the petrol tank, bending forward and holding on to the handle bars.

Next is the rider and behind him will be seen two other children not more than six or seven years old sandwiched between him and the pillion rider (wife), the last person trying desperately to keep the two children from falling by encircling them with her extended arms and clinging on to the jacket of the rider with her fingertips.

This dangerously over laden motorcycle will be speeding in very congested and overcrowded roads darting in and out of the traffic lanes, trying desperately to get the children to school in time, completely disregarding the safety of the passengers and the other users of the road.

It is not difficult to imagine the terrible injuries that will be caused in the event of an accident. The children with no proper hand or foothold will be the first to be thrown off and to suffer very serious injuries.

Ironically, only the Rider and the Pillion Rider will be seen to wear helmets, as otherwise they would be liable to be charged by the Traffic Police.

It was only on August 21 this year, that the newspapers carried a report of the tragic death of an entire family of three, namely the father, the mother and their five year child immediately following an accident when their bike collided with a lorry while overtaking.

How many entire families had perished in this fashion in the past is anybody's guess. Considering the sorry state of our roads and enormous congestion especially during the busy hours, it is high time that steps are taken to stop this dangerous practice immediately.

I am unaware as to the present law in this country regarding loading of motorcycles. If there is no such law, steps have to be taken to enact same forthwith.

W. ABEYSEKERA - Kandy