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And now we have Ramanie de Zoysa coming to the aid of Charles Pereira
claiming his feature that began with Prabhakaran but entirely devoted to
Mr. Anandasangaree as an excellent one.
We are perplexed that so much venom is being spat on Mr.
Anandasangaree just because he expressed his view on a Federal System
and suggested the Indian model as deserving of study for our
consideration. And also UNESCO considered him a worthy recipient of a
peace award.
Ramanie de Zoysa appears to have gone to great trouble to dissect
Indian politics to pooh-pooh a system and such information she has waxed
glorious has no bearing on considering Federal models from other
countries; and India happens to be our immediate neighbour and the Sri
Lankans have an inherited culture from that sub-continent.
She has also unearthed from long-forgotten and dilapidated archives
Tamilnadu political material that had been rejected by the politicians
and people of Tamilnadu many decades ago. These strangely seem of
interests only to the LTTE, Ramanie de Zoysa and those of her tribe.
Although we are familiar with them, these do not interest us.
However, we will make just a reference to the Tamil Tribune from which
Ramanie de Zoysa has generously quoted. A discarded organ of antiquity
was revived by the LTTE funds to serve their needs; and strangely
Lankaweb finds solace and support in it.
Let's leave that aside, for no purpose is served dwelling on it.
Ramanie de Zoysa claims that Charles Pereira's 'excellent article has
not been removed' but proudly displayed under the heading 'Lankaweb
latest political analysis.' This is indeed an incredible claim. What
Charles Pereira indulged in that feature was mudslinging on Mr.
Anandasangaree. Is this so difficult to understand? There were no
politics of Mr. Anandasangaree 'analyzed' in that feature.
Charles Pereira began his feature with the name of Prabhakaran and
then promptly went on to a diatribe on Mr. Anandasangaree, a man totally
opposed to the LTTE even at great risks to his life. He also gave the
impression that anyone opposed to the LTTE is deserving of a harangue
heaped with utter condemnation of whatever solutions they may choose to
propose.
Ramanie de Zoysa has also thought it fit to claim that Mr. Pereira
speaks for a resounding majority of the Sinhalese by which she seems to
mean that whatever he said about Mr. Anandasangaree is shared by a
majority of the Sinhala community.
No writer in his or her senses would be foolish enough to make such
an audacious claim and this makes Ramanie de Zoysa's position unworthy
of journalistic integrity. We did hesitate to respond and Jacinta Cruz
sure did tell us not to waste time with people who go off at a tangent.
But we decided otherwise.
Since the feature attempted to associate a large majority of the
Sinhalese people with the position expressed by Charles Pereira,
supported by Sunil Kumara and now by Ramanie de Zoysa, it was important
to express our conviction that this premise is not only false but also
quite mischievous.
People who have difficulties understanding the differences between
political analysis and mudslinging should seek other avenues for active
involvement. Sri Lanka has already paid a massive price and we have to
clean up all fronts for the country to get back on its feet. Strange
though it may sound, it appears the LTTE and Charles Pereira are against
the Federal system.
What are these folks trying to achieve by mudslinging Mr.
Anandasangaree and subjecting his political integrity to a raging
upsurge of eruption and rant just because he has a genuine and
legitimate political ideology to offer to the country? In this, one can
conclude with hardly any doubt that the LTTE, Charles Pereira and
Ramanie de Zoysa and not to forget Sunil Kumara are all 'Birds of the
same feather' in 'jocund' company.
We already have information that the LTTE is quite appreciative of
Charles Pereira, Ramanie de Zoysa, Sunil Kumara and Lankaweb for their
excellent contribution to the interests of this terror outfit. In
conclusion all we can say is that please do not 'Feed the Tigers.'
Do appreciate the courage of those who have dared to take a stand
against Tiger terrorism.
S. E.,
via email
There are hundreds of bill boards in all the cities making Sri Lanka
an eyesore. I recently went to our neighbouring country India and was
shocked that they do not encourage bill boards. In New Delhi, the City
is beautifully planned and kept orderly although they have a massive
population.
I also noticed the number of trees. They have maintained the trees
properly. What has happened to our politicians, U.D.A. and local bodies?
Even the environmental authority should intervene and stop this rot.
I love my country, please don't destroy it.
R. DE SILVA,
Colombo
I have read with much interest the articles that have been published
on dual nationality. I am a proud young Sri Lankan who is in the process
of acquiring foreign nationality. I am faced with the situation of
either paying the Rs. 200,000 and acquiring dual nationality or simply
give it up and opt for foreign nationality solely.
If I were to choose the latter, that would mean I can still visit Sri
Lanka as a tourist on the foreign passport and stay for 30 days without
a visa. Even if I acquire dual nationality, it would not matter much as
my holidays in Sri Lanka are fairly limited to 30 days. In the longer
run, if I give up my Sri Lankan nationality and choose to take up
foreign citizenship, my links with Sri Lanka will derail over time and
would hate for that to happen.
A reduction in the dual nationality fee would be the step in the
right direction as it will encourage most foreign domiciled Sri Lankans
to either resume or retain Sri Lankan dual nationality. This will
benefit both country and Sri Lankans living abroad.
I sincerely hope this matter will be closely looked at by the
President and the Department of Immigration Citizenship Division.
DAYAL RANADEWA,
New Zealand, via email
Reference news article (DN Oct. 20).
This is not a surprise to me as I also had to witness such an
incident on my flight to Oslo from Colombo once in 1998. There was a
transit in Moscow.
I was travelling with four other Sri Lankans on Aeroflot.
A foreign woman asked for food or drink in the flight (As it is
difficult to eat the very poor quality meal served in Aeroflot) and an
argument went on during the flight with the airhostess.
When everybody landed in Moscov, this airhostess slammed the
passanger who was on transit and took her hand bag away.
In the visa officer case, why not the Government take action against
him?
It is strange that the SU people kept quite even after hearing about
the incident that happened to the Monk.
Isn't the behaviour of the visa officer reflect some kind of neo
colonialism?
The Government should consider these type of verbal harassments as it
happens in the British embassy in Colombo too.
CHAMINDA,
via email
Since September, the practice of sending pension vouchers by post to
the pensioners has been done away with. The practice adopted from
September by the Divisional Secretaries is to advice the Banks of the
amounts to be credited to each pensioner's account. A large number of
them are members of the P.S.M.P.A., the Public Service Pensioners' Trust
Fund, etc. Although they are not in active Service, the pensioners
remain as members of these Associations until their death.
Some of the pensioners obtain loans from these Associations and their
loan instalments are recovered from their pensions.
The recoveries are advised to the Divisional Secretaries monthly by
the Associations and the deductions are done from their pension
paysheets. Under the new procedure, the pensioners are not aware of
their recoveries as before. Under the former system of payment of
pensions, the pensioner was aware of his pension, the C.L.A. amount
total due, abatements and balance due.
The voucher system was a 'Foool proof' system. Under the new system
we are not appraised about the recoveries been done, from our pensions
unlike before. Now what we do is to submit the Bank Pass Book to the
officer at the Counter and get our Pass Book 'up- dated'.
After that we can withdraw any amount from our pension. If any
mistake is made by the officers at the respective Associations or
'Trusts', the pensioner is not aware of the 'Abatements' as before.
Formerly, we used to keep the details of our pension and recoveries
monthly. Most of the pensioners are not satisfied with the new system
due to the shortcomings mentioned above.
If the Director-General of Pensions, could evolve a system to advise
the pensioners 'Abatements' monthly, then we do not mind the present
system going on or, advise the officers at the Divisional Secretariats
to make available to the pensioners their 'Abatement' details, if called
for.
LIONEL. LEANAGE,
Ambalangoda |
