Congratulations! SLAF staff for retaliating and repulsing in good
time, restraining the attack on the Katunayake International Airport,
thus averting a major catastrophe and loss.
We praise and thank all the brave patriotic SLAF men who fought with
courage and determination to outwit the unscrupulous elements.
We hope they’ll be even better prepared to defend themselves and the
country in case of future impediments of this nature.
We salute the Sri Lanka Air Force personnel for their ingenuity and
patriotism.
C. Mohanlal de Mel
Moratuwa
The wicked beasts that shoot and kill elephants should be imprisoned
at the Dehiwala zoo. Although many boasts about the local culture, the
local psyche seems to have gone haywire.
Not only corruption but also inefficiency and stupidity seem to reign
supreme. Buses are driven by maniacs, drug addicts and alcoholics who
crash head on, three-wheeler drivers cannot see or hear approaching
trains, pets are thrown with litter to the roads and garbage is strewn
across public highways.
Public officials prey on poor people and that is the only enterprise
they know. It is time when psychiatrists, psychologists, sociologists
and educationalist speak out about the lack of intelligence and general
knowledge of people who come out of schools after the infamous and
disastrous take over of schools.
What is the use of a higher rate of literacy, if what students learn
is rubbish? What is the use of sending computers to rural schools, if
they lack the vital knowledge of science, mathematics and English. To
take good decisions, all three subjects are necessary.
Whenever reforms were planned or executed by political leaders such
as Felix R. Dias Bandaranaike, R. Premadasa, Ranil Wickremesinghe or
even Chandrika Kumaratunga, the negative lobby always paved the way for
the anarchy prevailing to-day. Politicians are mere scapegoats but the
real culprits are racist extremists.
Sinhala politicians are not responsible for the present crisis. The
Sinhala racists and Tamil politicians are directly responsible.
Prabhakaran should stop killing innocent Sinhala politicians and members
of the Armed Forces.
How much they serve and protect the minorities? They do it to the
best of their ability. The President is a shining example. Whey should
they unnecessarily sacrifice their lives?
Bring legislation against racism cloaked in culture. Open the doors
for modern education. Ban alcohol, smoking, animal slaughter, racism and
discrimination. The future generation should not be sacrificed on the
altar of unlearned - some of the politicians’s emotional fantasies
bordering on fanaticism. Both Tiger terrorists and racial terrorists
should be silenced.
Sunil J. Peiris
Moratuwa
With reference to the interesting debate on this subject. I tend to
think that individual responsibility is a pragmatic way to approach this
subject in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, rather than going
down the path of legislation (Reference DN March 20).
I think every flesh eater, regardless of their beliefs should be
willing to slaughter for the flesh they consume. It’s an easy let off to
buy meat at the butchers or the market and conveniently forget the
process of slaughter.
In a few Western countries and some countries where nomadic tribes
live (eg. Mongolia) children are exposed to the slaughter of animals at
an early age, so they can understand the process of ending life to
sustain another life.
They are also made to understand the suffering involved in the
process. Perhaps we could do more to make society understand the process
of slaughter and breeding conditions of animals solely for their meat
and encourage individuals to make up their own minds.
Roshan Dodanwela
via email
A Government, which governs people is elected by the people.
Therefore it should work only for the welfare of the people.
Actually, according to my point of view the Sri Lankan Government
works for the welfare of the country.
Our President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a very educated intelligent,
versatile and perfect States person for the country. As a foreigner I
appreciate his method of governing the country.
When we take the present situation, it is very decisive moment of our
lifetime.
It is because of war, what kind of war? A war between our patriotic
soldiers and those separatist LTTE terrorists. So, our present
Government is trying to eradicate all those roots of war from the time
it came to power. I saw that Government bore with patience much of those
harrowing acts done by the LTTE.
When the LTTE killed our innocent people in Kebitigollawe, when they
killed our internationally famous, patriotic Mr. Kadirgamar, when they
killed Parami Kulatunga, no one came forward to show their protest or to
send their message to the world against LTTE’s heart-rendering attacks.
I am a foreigner, my country is Bangladesh. How many corrupted
practises are happening in our country against minorities. No one is
there to raise a voice for us.
I saw how our present Government (Sri Lankan) treats all Sri Lankans
alike without taking into consideration their different communities.
But some of our people (those extremist) who have misguided have no
sense about it.
Also the government is following a very effective way to find out
those people who have a link with the LTTE. The Government is following
this method, not to kill them, or do something harm to them, it does
this only to find out any secret links with the LTTE which is a threat
to national security.
It is not only for protection but to root out terrorism from the
country. Please try to understand these things and work very wisely.
Because it is your country, you should support to strengthen the hands
of soldiers and Government to eradicate terrorism.
I love Sri Lanka and those people who live in this country. So, I
request all citizens to be very vigilant about the present situation.
Ven. Sumonyyoti Sraman
Bangladesh
The purpose of this letter is to bring to the attention of the
authorities about the widening of the bottleneck at the entrance to
Swarna Road, Colombo 6. Notices under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition
Act (Chapter 460) was served on 17.11.1964 to all tenants and owners of
premises Nos. 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 that it was required for public
purposes.
The widening of the Swarna Road was categorised as top priority as
far back as 1968 by the then Member of the CMC Wellawatte North to the
full length of the road terminating at the Canal Bank.
Since then alternative accommodation has been provided at Cooray
playground housing scheme in the same ward for everyone who occupied the
houses at the bottleneck of Swarna Road mentioned above.
Now these houses are being converted to shops and either sold by the
original owners or rented out. None of the original owners of the houses
are living there.
However now the area has been developed with a bridge over the canal
leading to several hundreds of houses built in the Housing Scheme
undertaken for shanty development. But the entrance to Swarna Road is
left in the same undeveloped condition without widening.
Further I wish to state that while I was developing my property at
Swarna Road with my two brothers in 1968, I was asked to donate some
valuable perches of land along the 1st lane Swarna Road to the end of
2nd lane. (This is about eleven perches land) by the CMC authorities
before approval was given for subdivision of my property.
This was done to assist the CMC to proceed with the widening of
Swarna Road without hindrance. All these matters are facts and may be
verified from the relative CMC file No. ME/PBK/119/69.
Presently much inconvenience is caused to the increased pedestrian
and vehicular traffic as the area has been developed and hundreds of new
houses have sprung up down Swarna Road and its neighbourhood.
In the recent past, this road has become an alternative link-road
that connects the Airport Road, Narahenpita, Kiruilapone and Havelock
Road. The road also now provides main access to leading international
schools in addition to the residents in that entire area that extends
beyond the canal.
Concerned residents of the area have made several previous
representations to the authorities on this matter including me.
I am now writing again with the hope that this appeal would receive
the attention of the authorities together with the previous letters and
trust the authorities will endeavour to effect necessary actions towards
solving this long overdue problem in the interest of the public.
S. M. A. MOHIDEEN
Colombo 6 |
