Over to you Transport Minister and Traffic Police

The International School at Anderson Road, Kalubowila is having untold problems with the three-wheel drivers. Although there is a board for only 6 three-wheelers, there are about 15 of them sometimes, obstructing our rear gate and also the gates in the neighbourhood. As everyone knows, most of them are hooligans and it is impossible for a respectable person to talk to them.

I have personally approached the Police and our Municipality, but they are not taking any action, may be because of political interference.

Especially in the morning hours and also during afternoons, the matter is worse to the extent that the whole road is blocked, despite the fact that there is a Traffic Policeman on duty.

Lots of parents complain to us that they are unable to park their vehicles near the school at least even for a few minutes, only to drop/pick their children.

It would be a great help if the authorities could help us to move this three-wheeler stand to another location, in the greater interest of our esteemed institution.

MANGALA WIJEKULARATNA

Over to you Chairman Maharagama UC

I have been a resident in Maharagama for the last 21 years, and the one thing I have noticed is the ever worsening traffic situation at Maharagama junction, specially the stretch of road from clock tower to the turn off to Dehiwala/Erewwala road.

As far as I can remember, except for a few weeks during the tenure of the previous Chairman of Maharagama PS., the pedestrians were never able to use the pavements (built for this very purpose) as hawkers have not only occupied them, but have put up near permanent structures.

The pedestrian, specially thousands of young school children, have thus been forced to walk on the road risking their lives in a city which is notorious for traffic congestion.

Lately, to make things worse, the authorities have allowed three-wheelers to park along the road, denying the pedestrian even the portion of the road they were using since they lost the pavements to hawkers.

It was dangerous enough to walk at the edge of the road then, and now it is a case of courting danger as they walk almost on the middle of the road - not by choice by being forced.

As things stand, we the masses in Sri Lanka are left to grin and bear all the negligence, inefficiencies and failures of duty by local bodies.

The recently upgraded Mahagarama Urban Council, must address this grave situation forthwith.

It is very unfair by many thousands of residents in Maharagama and the adjacent areas, whose lives have been put at risk by the authorities, just to protect the livelihood (that is the excuse given all along by the authorities) a few hundred of pavement vendors and threewheeler owners.

GEHAN WIJESINGHE

Over to you Minister of Highways and Kotte Urban Council

I’m happy to see the Daily News has come forward to mediate between the authorities and the people on developing the facilities much needed to the public.

There are plenty of suggestions you would see just driving on a road for a few Kms. However, just to begin with, I will propose to expand the highway between the Ayurvedic hospital and Rajagiriya junction (1/4 KM only) which has not been done for several years.

Until you complete that, repair the road on the bridge in front of the Ayurvedic Hospital (Rajagiriya) where making heavy traffic is for nothing.

I’m wondering why the UC of Kotte does not use two cement bags to solve this without wasting millions worth of time and fuel by people.

Shame on you UC Kotte.

PRADEEP GUNAWARDENA
Rajagiriya

Over to you Chairman CEB

Being a resident of Chelsea Gardens Colombo 3, I would like to hilght that this road does not boast of a street light.

There is a lamp post at one end, that is located on the strech of St. Anthony’s Mawatha. This sheds light only for the first two houses down the road.

The rest of the road is in total darkness and this has also led to people and vehicles making use of the road for unpleasant activities during the night.

The only illumination of this road is at the expense of the residents all of whom are taxpayers who are forced to have their gate or garden lights on due to this.

It would be greatly appreciated if measures are taken to erect a street light down this road.

S. THAVAM
Colombo 3

Over to you Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs

This is the second or third visit to the Vajira Road, Colombo 4 Department of Registrar of Births.

I handed over an application to get two originals of a birth certificate on January 29, 2007 but when I went to the department on May 8 (after 4 months) it was still not ready. When I inquired from the office they told me to check in the record room.

They were supposed to post it because all applicants have to hand over a self-addressed stamped envelope at the counter. It’s absurd the posting was not done and it had been handed over to the record room. There was only one gent who handled this section and there was a large crowd, no queue. The receipt was taken over by him.

There is no space to put your hand into hand over the receipt, only a finger can go in). After handing over the receipt, I had to wait for more than 4 hours to get the birth certificate, which had already taken more than 4 months.

There is a board put up Pamawata Thitha. But the people in the crowd were cursing because most of them had sent in applications very early and they had not received the certificates.

Some even complained to the Additional Registrar, but the excuse he gave was that there is only one person to work there at the counter, why don’t they have additional staff?

A birth certificate, death certificate or a marriage certificate is a very important document, so there must be additional staff or computerised certificates to issue to the public. It is high time that this department work is looked into by the relevant authorities and the Minister.

A WORRIED APPLICANT
Raddolugama

Over to you Chairman Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha

The road leading to our premises, Dr. C. V. S. Corea Mawatha, is in a very bad state, and repeated requests to the Chairman, Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha, to have the road repaired and street lights provided, have been ignored.

Garbage is being thrown on the side of the road, as well as at the top of the road by people passing by in their vehicles.

B. Gunasekera

Over to you Minister of Education, Provincial Director of Education, Trincomalee

I am the wife of the deceased sub teacher, Trincomalee, who died of a heart ailment. At the time of his death my son born on 25.06.1986 was underaged and hence he couldn’t avail his share of the death gratuity of his father that was due to him.

Now that my son had reached his required age, he is now entitled for his share. In this regard I have already appealed to the Director General of Pensions, and in return he had authorised G. A., Trincomalee to release his share.

But the G. A. Trincomlaee says that a cheque for the amount had already been posted to Zonal Director of Education, Trincomalee and advised me to correspond with him.

I have already sent my request to him under registered express post on 24.2.2007. But up to date not even a reply received from him regarding same.

I wish to bring this to the notice of the Minister of Education, and Provincial Director of Education, Trincomalee so that some redress may be granted to my grievance.

T. SEETHALUXMI
Trincomalee