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A9 Highway - the 'Goose that laid the golden eggs'THE peace talks that were scheduled for October 28 turned out to be a non-starter with the parties agreeing to disagree on the subject of the A9 highway. Humanitarian issues and the opening of the A9 highway were the conditions laid down by the LTTE although at first they agreed to attend the talks unconditionally. It was a foul start by the LTTE and ended up as a wasteful exercise. As an aftermath of the talks, the Norwegians keep chanting the same old manthrams-carrying the peace process forward and 'safeguarding the Ceasefire agreement'. If one were to analyses the CFA and the peace process, there appears nothing to be safeguarded. It has been flouted time and again by the LTTE and is now stark naked stripped of all its respectability. Under the guise of a humanitarian issue, the LTTE and its proxy the TNA want the A9 highway opened. The truth behind this LTTE request is the loss of funds. They were losing the goose that was laying them the golden eggs. The Government is no doubt aware of these wily tactics. The supreme court decision on the North-East merger, the closure of the A9 highway, the multiple attacks by the security forces on the LTTE bases have taken a massive toll on the LTTE psyche. It was reported that even as the Government and the LTTE delegation were proceeding to Geneva for talks, the LTTE did not fail to explode claymore mines in the North and East. Such is their commitment to peace which the Government has been through over and over again. The alternative would be to initiate a road parallel to the A9 under total control of the security forces. I studied the map of Sri Lanka and found a road which was a minor one proceeding northwards from Puttalam along the west coast to Pooneryn and across the lagoon to Chavakachcheri. It will be well-nigh impossible for the LTTE to be a watch dog on two roads at the same time. One wonders whether foreign correspondents including the BBC accredited ones have brought out the lack of humanitarian aid to the North. I have not seen, heard or read any report pertaining to the shortage of food supplies to the north except by the well fed LTTE and the TNA parliamentarians. Is this a fib which even the BBC has failed to report? ARAVINDA GAUTAMADASA - --------- Difficulties in obtaining dual nationalityInspired by the Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama's resolve to 'Crackdown on errant public servants' which the Daily News carried as headline on August 29 displaying four telephone numbers (2667277, 2667373, 2667171 and 2667100) I contacted one Mr. Siripala of the Public Administration and Home Affairs Investigation Unit with a view to obtaining my dual nationality certificate (Ref. CIdual nationality certificateT/U&/19(2) 20920), which I am legally entitled to, having paid Rs.200,000 on April 25 against Receipt No. 921243. I was quoted Investigation Unit's reference number as 09/149-7171. Over six months have passed now yet I am still to hear, either from the Investigation Unit or from the Immigration and Emigration Department, itself. I have been subjected to severe administrative incompetence from the very inception when the dual nationality fee was Rs. 5,000. This resulted in a long drawn battle on a matter of principle when the errant Government officers failed to send me an application form to London in the first instance until the fee went up to Rs. 100,000. Because of my determination and my resolve to fight injustice with respect, it turned into a procrastinated struggle, which made me go through a chain of command in the process - Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries in the Ministry of Defence, Immigration and Emigration and three Executive Presidents of the country. Early this year, despite presenting an official letter from an Assistant Secretary, MOD under his reference CIT/U7/19(2) 2725 stating categorically: "Please make the payment i.e.: Rs. 100,000 under the same reference number assigned to you and not necessary to re-apply as a new applicant I was made to pay Rs. 200,000. However on the reverse side of the receipt No. 921243, it is stated: "President has authorised the above named person to grant dual nationality on 18.10.1992 and payment has been received in this connection on April 25. Therefore, it is confirmed that he is eligible to have dual nationality". - sgd. A. Wijesiri - April 25, 2006. I am disappointed, if not rather annoyed, at the attitude of the public servants who continue to show a Nelsonian eye to this matter and decided to reign silence again! Can the silence on the part of the officers who are dealing with my case be attributed to loss of words, now that they have 'slipped up' by making me re-apply and over charging me? Or have I been subjected yet again to an orchestrated bureaucratic pestering! In the circumstances I would like to focus this issue direct to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister Amunugama's personal attention and seek justice in obtaining my dual nationality legal document with the refund of Rs. 100,000 which has been over charged unnecessarily. If this is the response what one would expect from the authorities concerned in relation to dealing with dual nationality issue, what hopes can the President have from thousands of expatriates who are contemplating to respond to his beckoning to come down and work for their motherland? DR. TILAK S. FERNANDO - -------- Cinderella treatment for Nawala residentsTHE rapid deterioration of the basic services provided to the residents of Nawala by the Urban Council and other authorities is causing anxiety. What is distressing is that despite the inconvenience caused to ratepayers, this seems to be of little concern to the authorities. The nonchalant attitude of the Urban Council, Ceylon Electricity Board and road maintenance authorities has virtually driven the residents to a state of despair and frustration. Electricity failures occur with monotonous regularity. The failures are often for prolonged periods from five minutes to five hours. While the stoppage of electricity for maintenance work is appreciated, the stoppages are often beyond the notified periods. Children's studies are interrupted. Sensitive electric and electronic equipment is damaged, household work and professional work is affected. Security is impaired as thefts occur during prolonged power failures. Despite representations made to the authorities, the electricity company apparently remains unmoved. Even to report a failure to the 'Breakdown - Unit' the number listed is never accessible. Is this the price we have to pay for privatisation? While the charges for electricity is escalating, the service provided is deteriorating. Road maintenance is afforded very low priority. Only the roads that lead to Parliament are of concern. Roads are not levelled and dotted with huge pot-holes and covered with slime at certain spots. Apart from the damage and wear and tear to vehicles, it is a driving hazard. In Koswatte, all roads were given new name boards except Swarnadisi Place and its by roads. Nawala is also plagued by mosquitoes. Systematic spraying is not done despite the health authorities regularly warning of malaria and Dengue. The ratepayers find it difficult to understand the indifference of the authorities. Is it that Kotte is their main concern being the administrative capital while Nawala will continue to receive Cinderella treatment it has always received? Are not the ratepayers entitled to expect the basic facilities and conveniences? Telephone calls and letters to the Urban Council and related authorities have been of little effect and nobody apparently cares. Worshipful Mayor! It is timely to look into these aspects and also impress upon all officers that they should be receptive to the complaints of ratepayers and deal with them with courtesy. ROSHANTHA FERNANDO - --------- Medical profession as a businessI was horrified to read Mrs. Almeida's letter (DN Nov. 2). The terrifying ordeal that she underwent and the botched surgical procedures that her husband has been subjected to were simply beyond my belief. Whilst my heart goes out to the Almeida family, the behaviour of these unscrupulous doctors and the hospital staff in question was unimaginable. If all these were true accounts, I have no doubt in my mind that this particular incident constitutes gross negligence and serious professional misconduct by the surgeon responsible. He should be brought to a disciplinary hearing by the General Medical Council and if proven guilty, should be struck off the register never to practise medicine again. Not only that, he should also be charged for grievous bodily harm with intent under the criminal law. This is an absolute disgrace to the ethics of entire medical profession! DR. GREGORY FERNANDO - ---------- Alarming traffic problemI am very much concerned about the traffic situation in our roads today. I hope the authorities concerned do something about it. In spite of the 'No parking regulation' on the side of the road, it seems that the situation has not improved. There is no point in making regulations to prevent no parking on the side of the road, if we cannot stop the proper movement of traffic on our roads. One point I must bring to the notice of the authorities concerned, especially the Traffic Police is that in countries such as, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand etc., the traffic runs so smoothly that no one blows the horn. There are some roads, not more than 40 feet wide are made 'One Way'. The system was implemented about a year ago in Colombo, but it had to be abandoned because there was no proper planning and there was objections by some people who complained that they had to walk a long way. But what is happening now, with the 'No Parking regulations'. It is the same problem, people are made to walk a long way. More than obstruction of traffic, it is the movement of traffic, that is causing the problem. M. RAJENDRA - Colombo, |
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