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Since of late, we hear that Ranil Wickremesinghe is expressing a lot
of things about how to govern the country. If he is a person with more
experience than President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we can expect that his
utterances may have some relevance.
But as the leader of the opposition, his job is to pin-point the
loop-holes and correct what the president and the Government is doing,
instead of giving directions as how to govern the country.
For sometime he has been asking to replace the Defence Secretary with
his own choice Janaka Perera. That is a job he has no business to talk
about. He can't suggest any appointments because it is the job of the
president to appoint anybody he deems suitable to carry out his and his
government's policies. The officer is also bound to implement the
policies of the government, but not the policies of the leader of the
opposition.
When Mr. Wickremesinghe was in power, he could make his own
appointments. But we remember, when he was in power for two years, he
could not and he did not replace the officers, appointed by former
President Chandrika Kumaratunga. So he could not implement even his own
policies.
It is the view of many people, that Ranil Wickremesinghe is not a
far-sighted politician. But a good businessman. Mr. Wickremesinghe says
that he made the minus economy plus economy. That is the job of a good
businessman. If he was a good politician he could deliver the goods to
the people with his plus economy. But such a thing did not happen.
He was dreaming of coming to power after April 15. But now that date
is pushing further and further. We would like to point out to him, if he
wants to come to power, let him wait until the end of the two-term
period of the present President.
And until then, let him extend his full co-operation to President
Rajapaksa to solve the major problems the country is facing without
hurling baseless criticism at the Government and harming the country's
good name and its economy.
A. W. G. MUDIYANSE,
Katugastota
----
Earlier this week after visiting Putapathy I was taking a SriLankan
Airlines flight from Bangalore International Airport. Having left
Putapathy at 4 in the morning after a three-hour drive, I reached the
Bangalore International Airport but was surprised to be told that the
airport will open only at 7.30 a.m. Myself and the two ladies who
accompanied me had to wait on the road side with a few others to get in
to the airport.
Having gone to the airport and got the boarding passes as well as a
pass for the lounge as business class travellers, we went up to the
Immigration area to go to the departure lounge.
There too, we were told that the Immigration counter is closed and
will only open at 8.30 a.m. Another long wait. Having gone to the
departure lounge, there was no separate lounge for business class
travellers as in other international airports.
Ticketing people had given us lounge passes, which ultimately turned
out to be only a voucher to obtain a snack from a small snack bar within
the departure lounge. After more than 5 hours travelling and idling, we
were surprised to find out that there wasn't a suitable place to relax.
I was horrified to see the state of affairs at this International
Airport particularly in the light of the rapid economic development that
we all hear of our great neighbour.
I trust that the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka will bring
this matter to the notice of the authorities in India.
RIENZIE T. WIJETILLEKE,
Colombo 7
----
This is in response to Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne's reply to my letter
dated May 2 published in the Daily News, regarding the above subject.
I too would like to apologize for using the word appalled or 'appal',
as the Doctor was kind enough to explain, by referring to the Oxford
English Dictionary. I admit that 'shock and terror', are words most
inappropriate.
I would revert back to simple language and replace these words as
'surprised and amazed'.
I would like to state that 95 per cent of people who read the Daily
News are not Rhodes Scholars. They are ordinary people - House wives,
office workers, school children and busy business people. Most of them
read the news paper 'on the run'. Read it while travelling in buses,
trains, railway stations waiting rooms, bus halts and at the medical
practitioners' reception room.
These people are not erudite readers. They don't have the time or
inclination to reach for a dictionary or encyclopedia, to enjoy their
favourite news paper. The above explanation would suffice to inform or
in his own words educate, Dr. Abeyratne as to who is an average reader.
Of course it is Dr. Abeyratne's prerogative to write to satisfy the
erudite reader, who is in the minority. The Daily News will be hard
pressed to make a profit if it only makes the erudite reader happy.
Coming back to the main subject, 'can the death penalty be
justified?'. Could Dr. Abeyratne give us his learned opinion, one way or
another, on this burning issue? A simple readers' wish is whether Dr.
Abeyratne is for or against death penalty.
F. S. R. JAYAMANNE,
Australia, via e mail
This debate is closed.
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There had not been a single instance of crime in my village, Hattaka
(in Hiniduma Electorate) and neighbouring villages during the Sinhala
and Hindu New Year, thanks to the total ban of alcohol by the Government
during the festive season.
It is common knowledge that the majority of the crimes in Sri Lanka
especially those in the rural areas are due to alcohol consumption by
the uneducated people.
Alcohol is known to enhance power over others by facilitating
aggressive behaviour towards other people.
When people bully or assault other people, alcohol helps them to do
so in certain circumstances and in rural areas, there are some people
who drink heavily during festive seasons, with the little money they
have saved during the previous few months.
Most of my relatives living in my home town informed me that there
was not a single case of murder (e.g. stabbing) or any other crimes such
as assault in the rural areas during the April festive season thanks to
the total ban of alcohol (arrack, kasippu and toddy) during the festive
season.
All the civilized and educated Sri Lankans would be very grateful to
the present Government if this alcohol ban is extended to other festive
seasons such as Christmas and the New Year.
DR. D. P. ATUKORALE,
Colombo 7
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After I read the letter of Darmitha from Kotte appeared on May 3
Daily News, I have realized how bad the service of this Divisional
Secretariat is.
When people come to us for Medical support to the National Hospital
we don't pay any special attention or any priority according to their
status or jobs. We see all of them as our patients and do the necessary
help to restore their health conditions.
As we go into the other Government institutions we don't see the
appropriate service as we expected especially from Thimbirigasyaya
Divisional Secretariat.
One of my friends who is working as a Doctor had visited the
Divisional Secretariat 2nd floor without exposing himself as a doctor
prior to his wedding regarding his marriage registration. He said he was
treated like as he is not a citizen of this country.
Even my uncle who is a pensioner also complained about the staff at
Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat (especially male employees). They
don't consider the age or the gender they act unfriendly with their
customers.
My suggestion to the Minister is to employ a group of people who give
adequate customer service and give a good impression to all the
Government Departments, so the citizens of this country will appreciate
you the best!
DR. R. THILAK,
Colombo |
