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I attended an emergency meeting of KACPAW (Kandy Association for
Community Protection through Animal Welfare) on June 4, 2007 and was
horrified to learn that three healthy KACPAW dogs had been removed for
adoption by an individual.
Instead of taking them to his home these dogs had ended up on the
surgical table of the Government Vet Hospital the very same day where
they were subjected to extensive and invasive surgery during which some
organs were removed and one dog died.
We, as members of SOFA are indeed pleased to note the stand taken by
KACPAW Committee Members who had requested that an inquiry be held by
the relevant authorities.
I understand that the two surviving animals are very well looked
after by the Clinical Department of the University Veterinary Faculty.
We anxiously await the outcome of the said inquiry.
Dr. C. GODAMUNE -
President/SOFA
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I write this to draw the attention of the public to keep them
informed as to why the first section of the Kadawatha by-pass has not
yet been completed, even though this is not the optimum trace, because
of this by-pass, the prevailing congestion has been eased out to a
greater extent.
Now the problem is part of this by-pass is still not yet completed,
that is the section from the Police station to Ragama Road.
On the instruction of one politician, because he needs an under-pass,
the RDA was compelled to design a grade separated intersection on this
by-pass where it meets the Ragama Road. Myself being a citizen of Sri
Lanka, logically have the following issues unanswered over the decision
taken by the politician:
1. This by-pass has two intersections with four legs each, other than
these two intersections, it has another two intersections where it meets
the A1 Road. If you decide a grade separated intersection for Ragama,
then why not one for Ganemulla? Both these intersections discharge
almost the same volume of traffic.
The figure shows the intersection where grade separated inter-section
has been proposed and by now construction has already been commenced.
2. There are so many economical and sustainable treatment to reduce
the potential number of conflicts likely to take place at an
intersection like, un-channelized, channelized, roundabouts, signal
lights (fixed), signal lights (variable) and grade separated
intersections.
So it seems grade separated probably the ultimate treatment. So when
you travel along the Kandy Road, starting from the Kelani bridge, is
this the only intersection that warrants a grade-separated intersection?
3. On behalf of the public, I would prefer to have the reason that
has prevented the RDA not to undertake a feasibility study covering
elements such as the transportation system effects, economic development
effects and environmental and social effects? I really prefer to have
the GM RDA’s response on this issue?
4. As a result of this decision, the following issues have emerged.
Who is responsible for these? Again I prefer the GM RDA to respond to
these for the benefit of the public?
a. How much is the delay claim submitted so far, by the present
contractor caused due to the change of the scope of contract?
b. How much is the estimated cost of the proposed under-pass? And
whether it is to be funded by the Government or by borrowed money?
c. Whether its geometry satisfies all desirable limitations or
restricted? I hope the GM, RDA will promptly response to the above
issues then we as public will come to know how ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya’ is
being implemented by his staff?
GRAPRO JAYASANKA –
Gampaha
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We are writing this with reference to the above captioned matter on
behalf of all the employees in Statutory Boards.
This is to bring to the notice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that
the restructuring of salaries was not made applicable to the employees
like us working in the Statutory Boards.
There are several Public Administration circulars (01/2006,
01/2006(1), 06/2006, etc.) issued in this regard but none of them were
referred to the Statutory Boards.
Though in the particular circulars it is mentioned that “a separate
instructions will be issued by the Department of Management Services in
consultation with the NCA with regard to the application of salary
revision and allowances in respect of the Public Corporations and
Statutory Boards”, so far nothing has been done in this regard.
Further, there were circulars issued regarding the Cost of Living
allowance (PA circulars No. 12/2006 and 02/2007), which were also not
made applicable to the Statutory Boards.
It has been more than a year since these circulars are issued on
restructuring of salaries and Cost of Living allowance, our salaries has
not been increased by a single cent and nothing concrete has been done
to increase the salaries of employees of Statutory Boards.
It is a fact that the Cost of Living goes up at a rapid rate and we
are facing severe difficulties to meet our needs with no increments in
our salaries for years.
Is the Government only concerned about the well being of the
employees who are working in Government owned institutions? Is the rise
in the Cost of Living only affecting the employees in Government owned
institutions?
Is there a different attitude towards the employees of Statutory
Boards? We would like to remind that the Statutory Boards are mostly
governed by the guidelines and circulars issued by the respective
ministries. In most cases, the Minister appoints the members to the
Board of the Statutory Board and a few higher ranked Ministry officials
are appointed to the Board too.
Further, the Minister appoints the Chief Executive Officer/Director
General of the Statutory Board in many instances. In that case, why
there is discrimination/double standard in giving benefits to the
employees in Statutory Boards?
Is the Ministry involved only in administration? Isn’t it a
responsibility of the Ministry to give benefits, which are duly entitled
by the employees? It is learnt that the Government is trying to increase
the salaries of the private sector employees.
Generally, the majority of private companies give their employees
annual salary increments, based on the performance of their employees.
In the circumstances, we (employees of Statutory Boards) feel that there
is no one to look after the well being of employees at Statutory Boards.
Although the staff of these Statutory Boards has been recognised as
‘Public officers’, the tag of ‘Public officer’ only appear on paper and
no benefits, which other public officers enjoy, are given to us.
We at Statutory Boards contribute to the Sri Lankan economy in the
same way as other Government institutions.
For example, the Statutory Boards that we are working has been
entrusted with regulating an important, vibrant sector/industry of this
country and we work closely with the regulated sector for the betterment
of this country and other stakeholders.
Therefore, no one can isolate and discard the Statutory Boards since
these are providing an invaluable service and earning a lot of money for
the Government, but the fact is that no one really cares about Statutory
Boards.
The authorities only care about the Statutory Boards when it comes to
propaganda campaign on development work of the Government to lift the
image of the Government that rules the country. This has been the
practice for many years.
We, as employees at Statutory Boards request to make the public
officers happy and confident, by giving us a salary, that helps us to
satisfy our basic needs at least.
We hope that you will look into this matter at your earliest and give
us some relief.
D. E.
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It is strange how these days, all over the world, the most distrusted
and reviled person is the politician.
I was at John Hopkins University in the 80s when Ronald Regan was
campaigning for re-election. I inquired from my professor why only 35
per cent of Americans vote. He answered: We regard all politicians to be
crooks and it does not matter which party wins!
It is an old show that every man has his price but in those days,
persons who chose politics were the land-owning elitist class, and they
were all honourable men, everywhere.
A famous British woman economist made a defining test: Ask to which
school he sends his children. Since usually, crooks collect the most
votes, things are wrong everywhere.
A local avatar of hackneyed ‘Poverty eradication’ announced the
acceptance of his plan by seven Presidents while they sailed down a
river in Bangladesh at the conclusion of the conference.
He proudly told: ‘None of them read my report but they all promptly
signed it. It was a miracle!’
It occurred to me it would have been a miracle if they did not sign
it!
KINGSLEY HEENDENIYA -
Nugegoda |
