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Yes, Mr Samarajeewa’s suggestion is good. However, there are other
factors that contribute maybe unwittingly to road lawlessness.
(Reference DN Apirl 17)
1. The apathy/indifference of the Police to road accidents. They
generally discourage accidents being reported and ask and encourage the
parties to settle the matter amongst themselves. They think that an
insurance cover takes care of the matter! A very different attitude from
their vigilance on speeding and drunkenness! I wonder why?
2. The fact that insurance companies pay ‘on the spot’ or faster than
before. This is good and much time is saved to say nothing of the hassle
avoided. However, in the ultimate it encourages the very lawlessness we
would like to see eliminated on the roads.
3. Even if one wants the offending driver/owner prosecuted, there is
such a hassle — copies of Police entries are not given speedily, the
same with copies of Court orders and funnily enough, insurance companies
take a long time to process and pay 3rd party insurance claims!
Your insurance company will not help you to claim from the 3rd party
at fault. You are on your own! Why the difference in attitude? So when
you want offending drivers prosecuted, it causes you such a hassle, you
don’t go that route but take the easy way out and thereby encourage
lawlessness on the road.
4. The damage caused to you can be in the six figure range, but the
fine imposed - paltry. Licences are hardly suspended or cancelled.
5. When we encourage lawlessness and death results - none of our
arguments/attitudes/or interests are consolation to the bereaved or
justification enough.
6. My opinion is that the solution to lawlessness on the road lies
with the Police, Insurance Companies and the Courts getting together and
acting in concert to make road discipline a reality by coming down hard
on errant and negligent drivers. Mr. Samarajeewa’s useful suggestion is
but one of them.
7. What we lack is the will.
LASANTHA S. SALGADO - via email
At a time when public criticism is rampant about the lethargy and
indifference of the public service to problems of the general public, I
wish to bring to your notice the exceptional manner in which the present
Director of Pensions gave me relief.
The revision of my pension in terms of the recent circular was messed
up by the relevant Divisional Secretariat.
I appealed to the Director of Pensions regarding this matter. He
rectified the error within a matter of three weeks and informed me
accordingly. I would have lost nearly Rs. 3000 per month by way of
pension, if not for the timely intervention of Mr. Thilakarathna,
Director of Pensions.
I am grateful to him for the timely and expeditious action taken to
rectify my pension anomaly, and on behalf of the thousands of pensioners
who have slaved for the country for periods of 3 to 4 decades, I thank
him profusely.
He is a model public servant and is the ideal person for the Post of
Director of Pensions.
G. WEERAKOON – Rajagiriya
Perhaps one of the worst roads in the island, if not in the whole of
Asia is the Kandy-Hantana Road. Today this road is in a poor state and a
threat to public life. There are not only pot-holes on the road, but
also deep drains created by the rain water that flows down on either
side of the road. The parking of vehicles make these drains deeper and
deeper.
At several places, deep drains are located even across the road. When
it rains, these drains and pot-holes are seen as small streams and pools
of water and they get deeper and deeper every time it rains.
Drivers are unable to even imagine the depth of such drains and
pot-holes. In addition, the road is filled with rocks that roll down.
Driving down this road is like going on horse back! Even the
pedestrians now find it difficult to walk. The damage caused to vehicles
while driving down this road is unimaginable.
The stretch of the road near the Kandy Hospital, which is a prime
institution of the city, is the worst.
Three-wheelers parking is a mess and a threat to even human life.
This results in traffic blocks which become worse during hospital
visiting hours when vehicles are stopped on either side of the road.
Very soon, it will become impossible for vehicles to use this road.
Meanwhile the Government land on either side of this road near the
hospital is occupied by hundreds of squatters. These squatters dump
garbage near the Institute of Fundamental Studies and is an eye-soare.
These stretches of land should have been converted to a vehicle
parking area for the hospital.
Such a venture could have helped ease the parking problem and also
could have been converted into a paying venture if charges are made for
vehicle parking. A good example of such a venture is the Apollo Hospital
in Colombo where there is an organised vehicle park.
But this road continues to be in a mess. This situation was even
highlighted in a Rupavahini news programme on April 15. But it is a pity
to find that no official or a politician became interested in at least
temporarily repairing this road. I hope that this letter will receive
the attention of the authorities.
DR. SIRIMAL ABEYRATNE – Kandy
I wish to extend the heart-felt congratulations to the members of the
Sri Lankan Cricket team on behalf of Sri Lankan Sangha Council of
America and Canada for reaching the World Cup Finals to be held
today(28).
Our national team truly represents all of Sri Lanka - Buddhist,
Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Sinhala and Tamil.
The entire country should pay attention to the excellent teamwork
demonstrated by this group - each young man a home-grown product and a
source of pride for each and every Sri Lankan everywhere. Let us learn
from the cricket team the lesson of working together to accomplish
mutual goals, and grow together as a unified society.
Let us hold this team’s achievement as an extraordinary example of
national Sri Lankan unity, and use it as a lesson for putting aside
differences and factional agendas in favour of the good of the whole.
May the spirit of this winning team inspire us to find a lasting
peace at home, and a sense of national oneness that can be shared by all
of us.
VEN. WALPOLA PIYANANDA - Dharma Vijaya Buddhist
Vihara, Los Angeles
World Cup Final Match On April 28, 2007 is Really a day for the
Lions who are ready to win a second World Cup Crown
Dedicated are our players
Calling everyone to play with Team Spirit
United are all Sri Lankans in this World Cup Match
Party Polity not mixed
Cricket World Cup 1996 brought fame to Sri Lanka
Happy in the face of every Sri Lankan
Anticipating the win at the finals
May the God ‘Allah’ help us to become the World Champs
Pray the God for His Blessings
Sanath, the Master Blaster to be the ‘Man of the Match’ everyone
expect.
A. Y. L. U. MARIKKAR
It is a great pleasure to express our happiness over the achievements
of our cricket team of their entry to the final. Telecasting of matches
through Eye channel is not satisfactory due to poor reception.
Therefore, I request the officers concern to telecast the final match
through all the State channels for the entertainment of all cricket
lovers in Sri Lanka.
V. RASIAH
Been in Canada we have so many Sri Lankans with diffrent
Castes/Religions etc. When you talk to them they always comeup with a
justification for their view, for which many disagree.
This includes a divided Sri Lanka. (Reference DN April 26). But the
strange thing is all the Sri Lankans want the United Sri Lankan cricket
team to win the World Cup 2007.
And they take pride in telling they are from Sri Lanka and their
country boys are doing well in Cricket and wear the Sri Lankan T-shirts
and even give one or two cricketing points to Pakistan/Indian or the
great Englishmen to improve their cricket.
So can anybody tell me other than cricket why are we divided as a
nation. Think of it if the country is united, we shall be telling
Singapore/China/Canada how to improve their economy.
And Canadians will be standing in front of our embassy trying to
migrate to Sri Lanka. Will that day come in the near future?
SHIHAN - via email |
