• Innocent civilians fleeing LTTE terror

• Is there a basis for opposing private medical education?

• Gal-Edanda Road neglected

• Sri Lankan Lotteries

• Poor 155 Mattakkuliya bus service

• Inundation of residence

Innocent civilians fleeing LTTE terror

It is reported daily in the print media that an exodus of civilians are fleeing from the uncleared areas - Vakarai to the cleared areas.

Innocent Tamil civilians are fleeing to avoid a LTTE tsunami.

The Government, the other local humanitarian organisations should stretch all avenues to help these innocent people and provide them with best of comforts (not only basic needs), medical care, transit schools to continue with their education etc., until they return to their own settlements. We should never make room for them to feel unwanted people.

The three Armed Forces and the Police also have a great responsibility to win their hearts so that they will never want to live under the jackboots of the LTTE tyranny. It is the responsibility of the Government and the rest to treat these unfortunate innocent civilians with dignity as they are all our brothers and sisters.

Malin Abeyatunge, Australia, via email

Is there a basis for opposing private medical education?

With reference to the article from Prof. Fonseka on the 'role of private sector medical education'. (Reference Sunday Observer Dec. 10)I think it should be of interest to many.

In Sri Lanka, it is a fact whenever a proposal is put forward on tertiary education to be offered by non-state local institutions, there are many who oppose the cause. In this regard, Prof. Fonseka states that the obvious response is a knee-jerk reaction to such causes in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Fonseka has put forward three questions for which, answers are pretty obvious, and it would be interesting to know answers for these questions from those opposing sections.

If some one thinks that non-state sector medical education would negatively impact the free education in Sri Lanka that would be a myth.

Because if the Government maintains free education policy to safeguard certain section of the society, private medical education should not be a factor for the authorities to withdraw such a policy, as it is unlikely that such sections of the society would be able to afford the cost of obtaining a private medical education.

If another thinks the quality of the programme or outcome has a negative impact that too would be a myth.

I am sure Prof. Fonseka and the like will make the framework and modalities to avoid such for decades to come.

After all, there are many options available to regulate such concerns.

Then one may need to understand the opposing sides concerns in detail. In fairness to all those who oppose the cause, the public will definitely like to know the basis for such opposition.

LAKSHMAN, via email

Gal-Edanda Road neglected

Gal-Edanda road which begins adjacent to the Kajugahamula Junction, Gonawala (W.P) is an alternative vehicular road to Kiribathgoda.

There are ruts and pot-holes and the road is in a state of disrepair and badly neglected. The pedestrians are unable to walk and the vehicles find it difficult to proceed and the position is further aggravated on rainy days. It is observed that at several points the road is cut across for laying pipes to obtain water but these points are not properly covered. The soil covered points wash away on rainy days creating mires.

Hope that the relevant authorities give this matter sufficient cognizance and arrange to repair the road forthwith which would be quite conducive to the users of this rutted road.

SAM PRIYANKARAGE, Gonawala

Sri Lankan Lotteries

Sri Lankan lotteries which are State sponsored concerns every Sri Lankan. The profits that they derive from the ticket sales are enormous. The prize money that is being paid to the winners are (if I am not mistaken) almost half of what the Lotteries Board's collections are.

Also, one has to agree on the expenses these Boards have to incur by way of the enhanced salaries paid to its staff and the colossal amounts spend on its propaganda work. These expenses when considered is a must for the welfare as well as for the progress of the Board's.

As these Boards are concerns of the State, they are involved in various development projects of the State as well as in humanitarian acts in way of helping the poor masses by allocating generous contributions to cover-up medical expenses and other urgent needs promptly. These meritorious acts should be praised and appreciated by each and every citizen.

Now about the prizes and the taxes, these Boards deduct from the poor winners. When we watch the TV during the lotteries draw, what we see are approximately 95 per cent or more are from the poor families. These people are very fortunate to win a prize as it will be for generations.

When the prize is Rs. 10 Lakhs the Board deducts one Lakh as PAYE tax which almost all Sri Lankans see as an inhuman act.

It is obvious that the State needs money, but to deduct such a large amount is very pathetic. If the State is determined to collect some money in way of PAYE tax, they can do so by deducting one per cent or half per cent which would be quite reasonable.

We also see in the TV the announcers deceiving the masses by saying 10 Lakhs instead of 9 Lakhs. These winners are poor and honest Sri Lankans, but if we look into the colossal amounts of money earn by some of the politicians by way of salaries, commissions and bribes, the prize monies are negligible.

Still nobody is bothered about the income of some of the politicians as the present law of the country has made them immune to any taxes.

Is this reasonable?

Also, the prize money of Rs. 1,500 paid to the agents is not sufficient at all. If this can be raised to Rs. 5,000 which the Board can easily afford, and also their travelling expenses could be reimbursed, the agents will be a happier lot.

MERRILL DE SILVA, Moratuwa

Poor 155 Mattakkuliya bus service

The public are at the mercy of notorious bus drivers and conductors all the time, from the point of time you get into the bus. In the morning you get into the bus and you are pushed and shoved right to the middle of the bus.

The bus is packed like Sardine and you have to stand on one leg. School girls the other day were thoroughly harassed by a pervert due to the crowd in the bus.

The most tormenting of all is the wait inside the bus for over 20 minutes at Armour Street and another 10 minutes at Maradana till they collect a crowd and another empty bus appears. Do they realise that people have to get to work on time by 8.30 a.m. and can get fired in their jobs if they continue this for 3 to 4 days or for a week. On the return another 20 minutes at Hyde Park Corner (Ibbanwela Junction) in the evenings. Who should get credit for this?

Is it the driver and conductor who has full control over the public although they have to pay their fare and travel or the Ministry of Transport who are paid to work inefficiently but get increments the moment they step out on the road with placards. Why is the authorities paying lethargic public servants who are clock watchers with public funds?

Minister Fowzie's immediate attention to this crucial situation will be greatly appreciated by all commuters as you have given us a hearing on many occasions.

JEAN BUULTJENS

Inundation of residence

We are non-pensionable ratepayers as well as Senior Citizens residing in the house constructed 23 years ago, and exist with our life-long savings. In the past we have not encountered any problem referred to below.

Our house is at the end of 1st Lane on the last circular section which joins to 2nd Lane. During the past four years, our premises have been going under water slightly, in view of certain changes in the neighbourhood and the Municipal Authorities have passed the blame to the U.D.A. but it remains unattended to-date, as there are no drains along either side of the road.

For the past 15 months, we found that whenever there was heavy rain, the condition got worse and much of the water ended up into our garden and now inside the house as well up to a height of approx 1.5-2 feet of muddy water.

Hence we were compelled to take shelter at my son's residence causing inconvenience to his family as well. Most of our belongings - electrical appliances, furniture and clothing inside wardrobes too and the motor vehicle have been spoilt and the vehicle had to be towed to a garage for repairs. Now the most important questions are.

1. Who is to be blamed?

2. Who will bear the loss?

3. When can we get back to our house without roughing out elsewhere?

4. Who is responsible and who will give us the assurance and ensure trouble-free living as senior citizens and also hope the responsible authorities will compensate our losses, which were not due to any faults of ours?

The Mayor/Municipal Commissioner of the Moratuwa Municipality, please take necessary action.

M. WIJAYARATNE, Moratuwa, via email