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Ranil Wickremesinghe diagnosed the Government is suffering from
Chikungunya. Unfortunately, he could not yet diagnose the diseases of
the 18 patients who are now warded with Chikungunya patients.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has prescribed the necessary treatment to
the three patients, one of whom has returned back to the Cabinet leaving
others in the waiting hall.
The President sacked three Ministers out of the Cabinet to defeat
attempts made to sabotage the Government’s progressive journey and he
maintained party discipline.
Due to the improper diagnosis of the leader of the United National
Party, 18 patients had already walked out from his clinic to another for
better facilities and there are fourteen more waiting to cross over.
Once they join hands with the Mahinda Chinthanaya, Ranil
Wickremesinghe has no to resign from the leadership and make room for
the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to look after the remaining elephants
roaming in the opposition without trunks.
The right thinking people believe that the 18 Mps crossed over to
teach a memorable lesson that RW has not learned during his political
career.
MAHINDA NIHAL PERERA –
Moratuwa
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Today interested parties are taking up issues to prevent the intended
ban of the two-stroke engine of the three-wheelers presently used in Sri
Lanka.
The ban is to take effect from about one year’s time - that is
there will be no further imports of these three-wheelers after one year.
In the meantime, of course all the present three-wheelers can all
continue to be used as in the past. The present three-wheeler drivers
can certainly continue to drive their vehicles.
There will be no question of any of them losing their jobs or their
dependents having a loss of income, as put out by those now opposing the
ban. Of course the Government says it will permit the import of spares
for these three-wheelers for another four years.
So that all the present three-wheelers will be able to maintain their
vehicles till at least 2011. If a serious problem occurs about the need
for spares over a longer period, then the Government could assess the
situation, and even permit the import of spares for another two years.
Having said all this, it must be understood and appreciated that the
intended ban in one year’s time is being imposed as it constitutes a
health hazard to our people.
In view of this, even other countries have now banned the use of the
two-stroke engine in three-wheelers. If the ban is not imposed, the
Government will be held responsible exposing our people to health
hazards that could well occur.
Other countries have also taken steps to enforce the ban we are now
intending to enforce.
As it is now being revealed in the media that in view of the
impending ban, the sales of these two-stroke three-wheelers is rapidly
increasing, and in January of this year, sales have rocketed to over
4,000 three-wheelers for the month, and this may jump to unprecedented
sales of these three-wheelers before the ban comes into effect.
This will certainly increase the health hazards that our people are
going to be exposed to, and perhaps it is even time to bring in the ban
without any further delay.
It must be understood that the country must realise the importance of
not causing any further health hazards to our people with a health
service that is not all that capable of handling the problems of the
people’s health care now in its hands.
Whilst the intended ban for health reasons is by itself sufficient to
hold back the further imports of these two-stroke three-wheelers, there
is also another serious problem caused by these three-wheeler drivers.
They openly violate traffic regulations on the highways, and
virtually do not care a damn for other users on the roads. They openly
violate the observances of the traffic lights, rules for one way, etc.
on the highways.
Most of these drivers move right in the centre of the road, even
sometimes without any passengers, preventing the smooth working of the
highways.
At the roundabouts when other vehicle drivers slow down to give way
to traffic on the right, we find the three-wheeler driver from behind
creeping in through the space provided for right of way to other
vehicles to pass through, and causing problems to the vehicles who are
ready to move on.
This constitutes a real danger to car drivers as the three-wheeler
creeps in between vehicles and attempts to speed off. If the car driver
is not watchful, he will certainly crash into the three-wheeler as he
attempts to creep through. This is a common occurrence on the highways.
Whilst about 10 to 15 per cent are fair and reasonable, most of the
other three-wheeler drivers cause grave problems to other motorists on
the highway. They cannot be controlled, and even turn abusive often when
people try to correct them.
Really most of the three-wheeler drivers are a menace on the highways
and cause a grave danger to other motorists.
Certain parts are removed by the three-wheeler drivers to enable them
to cut and swerve, and as a result you find the three-wheeler driver
cutting fine by you and making his way.
Even the side plate on the right of the three-wheelers to prevent a
passenger from getting off, is taken off the vehicle, and any one trying
to move from the right of the three-wheeler may find himself in grave
danger, if he is over-run by an oncoming vehicle.
Whilst the Association of Three-Wheeler Drivers is writing so much of
the problems resulting from the ban - which are only imaginary - one
wonders what the Association has been doing all this time.
What attempt has it made to discipline its drivers, see that they
observe the rules of the highways - are not abusive.
They have just said nothing or done nothing about making its drivers
observe the traffic rules in this country - violating all the traffic
laws that are prevailing.
Stopping in the centre of the road to pick up and drop passengers,
thereby preventing the smooth floor of traffic. They even park on narrow
roads, causing enough problems to the pedestrians.
Let us look at this whole problem practically and in the greater
interests of the country. Today we have enough and more two-stroke
three-wheelers in this country. Three-wheelers are just parked waiting
for hires.
The three-wheeler drivers themselves say that there is a drop in
income and they all attribute it to the excessive number of
three-wheelers in this country. When you look around one is more than
convinced that there are enough and more three-wheelers in this country
and really we do not need any more.
What we have is enough and more to provide transport at the cheapest
cost, which the three-wheelers are doing, particularly for the poor, who
cannot afford taxis etc.
More three-wheelers will also mean further problems for the country,
where traffic has virtually ground to a halt. We often find
three-wheelers just going empty and preventing other vehicles from
moving ahead.
It is obstructing the free flow of traffic and causing further
traffic jams. A reduction in the number of vehicles is what the country
needs today.
When we have enough and more three-wheelers - a number just lying
idle - do we need to import any further three-wheelers with the two
stroke engines - where we have enough and more also because of the
health hazards our people are exposed to?
As it stands therefore, no serious problems will be caused by the
intended ban on the two stroke engine fitted to three-wheelers in the
future. There is no danger to the employment of the present
three-wheeler drivers for a fair period of time.
There are enough and more three-wheelers of this type to provide for
the needs of our people - with thousands of three-wheelers even lying
idle.
The country certainly does not need any more of these three-wheelers.
It also needs to be concerned about the health hazards to which our
people could be exposed to.
The problems on our highways - where traffic has virtually ground to
a halt. Whilst solving the health problems, it will also be able to rid
the highways of its grave problems by the reduction of vehicles.
A lot of financial interests are at stake. Billions have been made
through the import of these vehicles, and naturally these sources are
fighting hard to keep the imports going.
Even lending companies seem to be buying something like 50 or more
vehicles monthly and offering easy credit terms. The resistance is not
coming other than from the sources that will stand to lose so much if
the ban comes into operation.
In the greater interests of the country and its people that the
Government should go ahead with the ban and not bow down to pressure
from interested sources. It should stand firm and do what is right by
the country and its people.
MAURICE LORD -
Colombo 13
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I was delighted to read the article written by Dr. A. C. Visvalingam
(DN Feb. 24) on the most important issue facing Sri Lanka.
Dr. Visvalingam needs to be congratulated for the way in which he has
communicated the need to adhere to common sense and the need to be
blatantly honest is securing a lasting solution to the debilitating
issue that has suppressed the potential of all Sri Lankans for several
decades.
As a proud Sri Lankan who has become an Australian, I can only say
that, I have never been felt discriminated in Australia because I had
spoken another language and had come from another culture.
It is high time that all Sri Lankans feel happy and proud being
called Sri Lankans and do away, in all official deliberations, the
unnecessary labelling which has led to the problem that is haunting our
beautiful Motherland.
DR. TILAK MALLAWAARACHCHI -
via email |
