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The Minister of Education should be complimented for taking steps to
send a large stock of furniture for the recently re-opened schools in
Vakarai (reference DN May 31).
However, a little bit more foresight on the part of his officials
would have gone a lot further to show the population in the cleared
areas that we in the South care.
I refer to the fact that the accompanying photo shows a banner in
Sinhala only. While conveying to the people in the South that the
Government is doing much for the people in the east, the Tamil
population in the areas through which the trucks pass should also learn
of it.
I would like to make another suggestion to foster better relations
between the resettled children and the more fortunate ones in the
Western Province in particular. This is by encouraging twinning of
schools in Vakarai and in other cleared areas with the more affluent
schools in Colombo, Gampaha and other major cities in the South.
This could enable children in these schools to help to establish
libraries, provide furniture and computers and also exchange visits.
A. S. DISSANAYAKE,
Mellawagedera
----
We are constrained to report that our members attached to the
Divisional Secretary Office, Thimbirigasyaya complain that there is
unnecessary long delays in the payment of arrears.
When a member visits the office to inquire about his or her pension
arrears or some other matter pertaining to the pension, the officers pay
no interest to listen to them and always come out with the reply, 'it
will be paid'. 'Attitude of the officers towards the pensioners is very
rude and inhuman.
It is reported that there is a frontline officer who has continuously
served a long spell of years, which is contrary to the transfer scheme
of public officers. As our society is affiliated to the 'National
Federation of Pensioners' we have avenues of receiving information, on
affairs of the Divisional Secretary offices countrywide.
Therefore, we state that 'Thimbirigasyaya is the only office that
adopts a lethargic and inhuman attitude on the payment of the arrears of
anomalies.
Under the circumstances we, as a reputed and longstanding Pensioners'
Society, where our members are scattered right round the country and
also the world, appeal to the authorities concerned to investigate into
the sorry state of Affairs of this office and make constructive
arrangements for immediate payment of arrears'.
K. ABEYKOON,
The All Ceylon Pensioners' Society
----
The Cost of Living has reached dizzy heights which is not welcome or
appreciated. The UNP and the JVP are holding protest marches and rallies
over the rising costs.
The exercise, in fact, is not to bring down the Cost of Living but to
get the people to rise against the Government. However, the people's
response has been poor, not because they do not feel the pinch or are
happy about it but because they accept reality.
We are in the midst of an undeclared war and our defence spending is
soaring. In that situation a welfare state with heavy subsidies cannot
be expected. I wonder whether the UNP and the JVP are expecting a cut in
the defence spending to help the LTTE to gain the upper hand. It is not
that there should be a military solution to the present crisis.
There has to be a political solution, towards which end not only the
LTTE but also the other Tamil organisations and other political parties
should subscribe.
When the UNP and the JVP held political power, the Cost of Living
increased. The UNP did not increase salaries, give employment or venture
on development projects even though the CFA was in force and the
Government did not fight the LTTE. Even when facing the elections, the
UNP went on to increase the price of fertilizer etc.
What the UNP did was something like conserving water without
releasing a little for the people's benefit and satisfaction - extremist
capitalism. The UNP's protest over the CoL now, is as such surprising.
The Tamils in the North are facing more hardships than the Sinhalese
and Tamils in the South. During colonial times the Britishers made us to
eat Bajiri during the second world war to help the war efforts. And we
obliged without even a murmur. Why cannot we do so at this juncture by
tightening our belts a little?
"Kapalla Bipalla Jolly Karapalla, Rata Nesunath Hithata Sepai Ada
Jolly Karala". (Eat drink and enjoy yourself regardless of the plight of
the country) seems to be the UNP's thrust.
It is the responsibility of the political parties to desist from
vituperative politics and rally round to find a solution to the ethnic
problem on a give and take basis without dragging the country towards
disaster.
UPALI S. JAYASEKERA,
Colombo 4
---
There was a time in those 'good old days' when in terms of the
Departmental Order No. A-16, Police officers of all ranks carried their
Police note books with much dignity, respect and quite securely too in
their right coat or shirt pocket, which also served them as a chest
protective, for I am aware of many officers who were stabbed in the
chest by criminals whilst trying to apprehend them for some offence, but
escaped fatal injury because of this protection.
Indeed, these Police note books are issued to Police Officers for the
purpose of investigating these accidents or any other incidents
occurring outside their Police Stations, according to the instructions
laid down in the Departmental Order.
The Police note book should be in the Police officers' custody. If it
is lost, he exposes himself to danger as it is a confidential document.
Despite these implicity clear Departmental Orders, we often come across
most of the Sergeants and Constables flagrantly flouting these
instructions.
Some carry their note books with scant regard tucked in their
khakilongs pocket or hip pocket, exposing this important official
document to the possibility of its being pick-pocketed or hip pocketed,
by some shrewd and dexterous nibbled fingered gentry, either through
mischief or just to outsmart a Police officer may be even for some
interested party to have access to its contents.
In connection with some case they may be involved in subjecting the
Police officer concerned to avoidable disciplinary action, though he may
be a hapless victim of circumstances.
AL HAJ M.S.A. RAHIM
----
A very successful and elaborate ceremony was held at the Homoeopathy
Hospital premises, Welisara on May 04, 2007 to commemorate the 252nd
birth anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of the science of
homoeopathy. He was a German MD. A statue of the genius Dr. Hahnemann
was unveiled and another two plaques were also unveiled.
Minister of Indigenous Medicine Tissa Karaliyadde is in control of
the subject of Homeopathy, which includes the Homoeopathy Hospital, the
Homoeopathy Medical Council and the development of Homoeopathy in Sri
Lanka.
Asoka Malimage, Secretary Ministry of Indigenous Medicine represented
the Minister at the commemoration ceremony. The hundreds of Homoeopaths
present were overjoyed with the positive steps being taken to set up the
Homoeopathy Medical College.
The blessings of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa had already been
obtained 'verbally' and it is only a short time to get the official
confirmation.
At present, on inquiring from the President of the Homoeopathy
Medical Council Dr. S.D.P. Perera, we sadly find that there has been
little progress in this connection.
In the interest of all Homoeopaths and that section of the population
of Sri Lanka who avail themselves of the Homoeopathy Medical System, I
earnestly call upon the Homoeopathy Medical Council and the Ministry
officials to kindly expedite the subject of the Homoeopathy Medical
College.
Past experience tells us that all good intentions and project
proposals slowly fade away when there is no follow up by the concerned
groups and officials.
B. A. AZHAR,
Dehiwala
----
Arguments are going on about the depreciation of GCE (O/L) results.
Some are charging the education policy. Some are charging the attitude
of teachers.
Some are charging the Directors of Education, stating that they have
not properly supervised the classroom activities in schools. But
students attitude plays a major role. If we watch the conduct of
students we can find the cause for this decrease. We can see students
buying condoms.
They are not sweets to eat. Then why are they buying these?
We can guess what is going on. We can see student couples in theatres
and hotels. It looks they are more interested in sex activities than in
studies. They are neglecting their studies.
They have ample opportunities for activities other than studies.
Indulging in sex has become the modern lifestyle and it is deteriorating
the achievements at GCE (O/L) examination.
G. DAVID,
Moratuwa |
