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I was distressed to read a story in the Independent Online (in its
Cape Town, South Africa edition), which was captioned ‘Malinga too sexy
for Sri Lanka’. The headline conveys the erroneous impression of a
stuffily intolerant Sri Lankan society, which is disapproving of young
Malinga’s looks and hairstyle.
This is far from the truth, and the allegation is based on a single
letter by reader Ranjith Chandrasekara, published in the pages of the
Daily News.
It is views of his sort, and dissemination of them, that plays into
the hands of anti-Sri Lankan propagandists in the international media,
shaping world opinion about this country as intolerant of difference and
diversity.
Worse still, Chandrasekara’s mentality, with its narrow minded
prejudice and prescriptions, is indicative of the bigoted thinking that
has plunged this country into violent conflict.
In the days that Mervyn de Silva (my father) edited the Daily News,
his letter would have promptly found its way into the waste paper
basket, derisively dismissed as crank mail.
DAYAN JAYATILLEKA - via email
The British MP Keith Vaz who is spearheading a campaign to bring
about a peaceful settlement for the present conflict in Sri Lanka, is
not worried at all about the plight of Tamils either in England or in
Sri Lanka. Here are the facts:
1. During his speech to the British House of Commons on May 2, he
mentioned that the all-party group had decided to invite the LTTE chief
negotiator (presumably Thamilchelvam) to address the London Parliament
thus trying to give celebrity status to a leader of a terrorist
organisation banned by the Government of Britain.
2. Mr. Vaz also suggested that this ban on the LTTE terrorists should
be lifted.
3. Although it is well known that the LTTE have killed thousands of
Tamil men, women and children for not supporting activities of this
terrorist organisation and also that they continue to recruit, train and
use child soldiers, in armed combat, Mr. Vaz never said anything about
it in his speech.
If he is really concerned about the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka, as
he claims to be, how is that he was silent on these two vital matters?
4. Mr. Vaz also referred to the fact that a large number of Tamils in
his constituency of Leicester East have made representations to him
about the suffering that their relatives are undergoing in Sri Lanka.
However, if this MP is really concerned about his Tamil Constituents,
how is that he is again silent about the extortion of money from hard
working Tamils in England that the LTTE agents in Britain are carrying
out to fill the Tigers’ war chest?
Britain has experienced the effect of Al Qaeda operatives who do not
mind killing or maiming innocent civilians e.g. July 7 bomb explosions.
It is a well known fact that the LTTE has a better track record as
regards suicide bombers. To that extent, Keith Vaz and his Parliamentary
colleagues who extol the virtues of the LTTE are a threat to the
peace-loving people of Britain.
ALBERT J. FERNANDO - via email
The Sri Lankan official residence in St John’s Wood should be
restored and not sold.
It is in an unique and enviable area of Central London and the
Government of Sri Lanka will never be able to afford another similar
property.
C. PERERA - via email
Why this ‘Mess’ in Colombo (applies to suburbs too)- Colombo
Municipality is a mismanaged den of rogues (Reference DN May 04). To get
anything done you have to beg and bribe everyone. Maligakanda Water and
Drainage section is a glaring example.
You can see how surveyors and others give money to get plans passed.
The man in charge (supposed to be a chief engineer or something like
that) is eternally not at his seat from start to end. He is supposed to
be at meetings. (with whom) Naturally, there would be flooding.
L. DE SILVA - via email
Very recently speeding buses killed a number of people, both
passengers and pedestrians (including traffic controlling policemen) and
such accidents created great losses in every aspect to the families of
the victims.
When we read in newspapers or watch on television of such accidents,
they really made us feel so much.
Speeding is the main reason and the law enforcement authorities know
it well, but are helpless because no driver speeds in front of them.
Bus halts are planted at suitable points but buses are stopped where
they are used to. However, if a policeman is on duty, it is stopped at
the halt. I have written several letters in the past, when accidents did
occur during such period, insisting the police to be in mufti if
actually such offenders were to be prosecuted.
I remember when a proposal was made of introducing traffic police in
mufti to apprehend the speeding maniacs and other offenders, the private
bus crew vehemently opposed it and with that, the proposal was dropped.
They know that they are the law-breakers, yet they want to enjoy that
‘killing freedom’.
Since then the innocent life of the people is continuously
‘plundered’ by the private buses just for the gain of a few rupees. I
believe that the Minister of Transport would discuss this issue again
with the IGP and introduce the traffic police in mufti, considering the
rate of fatal accidents that increase rapidly specially convincing the
bus crew that they have no right to interfere in matters relating to the
police department or for that of the Government.
Human life is precious, therefore if the bus crew threatens to strike
over this matter, they should be allowed to do so. If a grace time of
about one hour is given both for the arrival and departure of office
workers and also as more State buses are on the road, the bus crew will
face serious economic problems and would resume their service
crestfallen.
The Government should not give in under any circumstances to the
unfair demands of the bus crew. The Minister should also ban radio or
cassettes being played inside buses as not only the noise is unbearable
but also the driver could not hear the voice of the passengers or of
vehicles tooting behind them for attention.
The strict enforcement of issuing tickets was in practice only at the
beginning and now it has changed as usual.
Lastly, the authorities should instruct the private bus owners to
display the relevant telephone numbers of the authority inside the
buses, so that instant complains could be made.
NAZLY CASSIM – Colombo 13
The Wadduwa Railway Station is a heavily populated transit point with
the passengers who come from the suburbs such as Moronthuduwa, Nanduwa,
Kalapugama, Gonaduwa, Delkada.
A number of buses from the above said villages carry passengers in
the morning up to the Railway Station enabling them to catch their early
train to office.
The trains which arrive and depart non stop at Wadduwa do not meet
the requirement of the commuters as after 7.00 a.m. until 7.35 a.m.
There is hardly a train to Colombo which stops at Wadduwa.
Samudradevi and Sagarika both from Galle heading to Colombo run non
stop. It would be prejudicial for the passengers, if any body demands to
stop the above trains at Wadduwa.
And alternatives found for the interest of the passengers are the
train which starts its journey from Panadura at 7.30 a.m. to be extended
up to Wadduwa and start its journey at 7.20 am from Wadduwa to reach
Panadura by 7.30 a.m.
Hope that this would give some inspiration for the commuters who
travel in the packed 7.35 a.m. train.
Else, the other alternative is to increase the number of compartments
of the Colombo bound train which starts its journey from Kalutara and
arrives at Wadduwa by 7.35 a.m.
This 7.35 a.m. train is a heavily packed four-compartment power set.
It is amazing to see how crowded this train is. Everybody prefers to go
to office well dressed to start their work in fine mood.
Hope that the Minister of Transport would pay attention to this
problem on behalf of Wadduwa commuters to find a comfortable way to
office by implementing one of the above options.
ROHAN NISSANKA - Moronthuduwa |
