• EPF refunds

• Killing of Saddam

• Super marketers or racketeers?

• The shortage of stamps

• Poor roads in Panadura area

EPF refunds

At the time of enrolling as a member of the EPF, the individual is called upon to fill up the 'A', 'B' and 'H' forms and with that the member ceases to have any hand in the operation of the fund.

The employers from then on, recover the eight per cent from the members' salary and remit to the EPF Department supported with the 'C' form as required, along with the 12 per cent the employer is called upon to contribute.

I applied for my refund of EPF in October 2002, having worked in six different companies, attached with all available documents in support of my claim, on reaching 55 years.

Finally in June 2003, payment was made on the contributions from five out of the six companies claimed, after having informed me that everything was now in order.

During this period of nine months, I was called to the Kollupitiya office of the Labour Department so many times for clarification, in addition to visits on my own, many times to check on the progress.

The clarification were however utterly silly, for the mistakes were obviously committed either by the Central Bank or the employers. Nevertheless, I was made to get letters from the Divisional Secretariat and the Grama Sevaka.

The contribution of one Company that was held back, was then taken up and once again the usual many visits, so many letters and more supporting documents, and finally in September 2004, I was informed that instructions had been given to the Central Bank to release the contribution available on this particular company.

In October 2004, the Central Bank writes back to the Labour Department with copy to me that there are two names under the same number as per their records. This is absolute incompetence on the part of the CB.

In my opinion, the basic purpose of allocating a number to a member is to avoid this situation, where similar names could mislead the accounting of contributions. Had there been a contribution on a particular number with a different name? Surely the CB should have not credited the amount without clarifying from the employer, and this situation could have been avoided.

Once again the usual visits to the Labour Department at Narahenpita and many more letters, and finally I was told that there is only my name under this number and they have even given me a printout. A copy of this computer printout was also sent to the CB, and I have written many more letters.

Since September 2004 to date, I have made so many visits to the CB and the Labour Department, also have written many more letters, to no avail. None of my letters got replies and I do not know how to proceed.

The Labour Department claims that their records are clear and that only my name under this particular number, whereas the CB maintains that there are two names under the same number. I am now sandwiched between the LD and CB. All this is after having contributed for many years.

Where do I go from here?

M. T. M. -
Dehiwala

Killing of Saddam

The civilized world has rightly reacted to the execution of Saddam Hussein with shock, revulsion and dismay. It was the final episode in a well planned plot to silence Saddam engineered by the US which feared that her role in the creation of the dictator would come to light.

The execution was carried out in such indecent haste as to pre-empt the UN and other world leaders from pressurizing the puppet Government of Iraq to stay or delay the execution order.

During the conduct of this farcical trial one saw a rapid turnover of judges hearing the case, several defendant lawyers being killed and a patently prejudiced Kurdish judge handing down the death sentence.

Reference to US involvement was studiously left out of recorded court proceedings. One wonders what the reaction of the public and the media would be if such a farce was enacted in the US or UK!

How can one refer to such a flawed system as 'a judicial process'? He was hanged on a holy day for Muslims without his appeal being meticulously examined by the appeal court.

Finally he was subjected to humiliation, taunts and ridicule in the execution chamber, a drama that was captured on video screens!

An American General is said to have commented that they would have 'handled the execution differently'. Some scribes have taken this to mean that the US too was embarrassed by the treatment meted out to Saddam in the execution chamber. I have my doubts about this interpretation!

The US would have been embarrassed only because this drama was made available for public viewing. If it was conducted in top secrecy, nobody would have been bothered.

It is more likely that Saddam would have been 'given the works' in the Guantanamo Base style with guard dogs, taunts, torture mental and physical, in which sphere of activity the US are world beaters!

In the end one very much regrets that Saddam had to pay the price without any of the other accomplices of world renown in the US who armed, encouraged and endorsed his genocidal and dictatorial actions being brought to book.

In conclusion, one cannot help but admire the courageous manner in which Saddam conducted himself in the gallows facing his captors.

If he only knew that the final moments were going to be captured audiovisually he may have given his captors a tongue lashing that would have been a great piece of oratory and a fitting and everlasting epitaph.

As the descendant of a great and glorious civilization, he has certainly left a lasting impression on all Iraqis and others who uphold justice and fair play.

N. AMARASEKERA -
 Nawala

Super marketers or racketeers?

I would like to bring to the notice of all the readers something regrettable I experienced a few days back while on a brief holiday in Sri Lanka.

One recent afternoon I had gone to a branch of a leading supermarket to stock up on food stuff, spices etc. to take back with me. One of my purchases was a pack of coconut milk powder, price marked at Rs. 140.

However on inspecting my till receipt after payment, I was charged Rs. 145. When I queried this from the checkout assistant, she referred it to her superior who told me the manufacturer had raised the price by Rs. 5 just that morning (a Saturday by the way).

I then asked whether any price change should be applied to existing stock (as they were most certainly purchased by the supermarket at the unrevised price).

He said I was correct and instructed the girl at the till to refund me and said they had been doing this all morning. Somehow I did not buy that story because had I not checked my bill, they would certainly not have pointed this out to me.

If I thought that was coincidence and these large establishments were responsible and ethical members of the business community, my illusions were shattered later that same day.

I dropped in to the branch of another super market in the vicinity (branches of this have sprung up virtually everywhere) and bought a six bottle case of beer. It was clearly printed on the case by the manufacturer that it would cost Rs. 200 for the beer and Rs. 60 for the bottles if no empties were supplied.

Again on inspection of the bill, I saw that I had been charged Rs 250 for the beers and Rs. 90 for the bottles. The rest of it was a complete feeling of dejavu.

I ask same question from assistant, she asks the supervisor, he gives the identical explanation (this time I get so angry I ask for the revised price list that the brewery sent that morning), he apologizes profusely and orders an immediate refund of the excess charged.

It is obvious that I was deliberately overcharged by both establishments. If not, they would never refund me. I say deliberately because, the (incorrect) unit price was stored in both Point of Sale systems. I just happened to stumble upon this since I have a habit of glancing at my bills in case there is something amiss.

After all, this is my hard earned money. Five rupees might be a relatively small amount but think about the number of transactions they do each day and by how much they must be robbing us. There are only few things worse than being cheated by the people and establishments that you place your trust in.

Therefore, please check your bill against the marked price.

That label is there for your information. It is not an approximation but the price you should pay. And if you do find a discrepancy, point it out. Do not feel bad or ashamed. It is your right to know whether you are being ripped off or not. It is sad to know that business ethics are missing from organisations established well over a 100 years ago.

ABHAYA RAJAKARUNANAYAKE -
UK - via email

The shortage of stamps

I do not think that this matter of stamps being unavailable during the festive season can be pushed under the carpet. It is during the Christmas season that the Postal Department has a lot of business. And in December 2006, stamps were not available. Who blundered? The media is 'talking' about Master Plans. If those in charge cannot get stamps in time, how can any plan be implemented?

Why did this happen? Any sinister motive? Was it to 'punish' the folk who send Christmas cards? Or is it to state that the Postal Department must be privatised? Those responsible for this lack of stamps must be held responsible. No apologies have been forthcoming! Is it difficult to apologize?

Sydney Knight -
Rajagiriya

Poor roads in Panadura area

While endorsing the above captioned letter written by Tudor Hapugoda, appearing in the Daily News of January 16, I wish to highlight other existing health hazard in the heart of the Panadura town.

The way side draining system of both side of the Galle Road has been totally neglected. No regular cleaning service has been provided.

The west side drain of the Galle Road near Gunananda statue has been converted into a mosquito breeder due to lack of regular cleaning service of Panadura UC and this drain is now using as a garbage collecting place, worsened the situation.

I can't understand why the elected members of all parties are turning a blind eye to this health hazard in such a public area.

W. S. Fernando -
Wadduwa