The Government and the plantation companies, including the
smallholders should take immediate steps to increase the extents under
rubber cultivation to achieve the maximum advantage of the price
increase for the above produce.
According to reports, this position is expected to remain for another
quarter century, giving adequate time to achieve same.
New planting must make use of all vacant land abundantly available on
most plantations and other areas to be used for this purpose.
This would also assist to prevent earthslips, thereby generating
additional employment and also revenue, for which purpose the clones
giving the highest yields to be established.
TOMMY WANIGESINGHE
Kurunegala
On a TV news telecast on July 02 Western Province Chief Minister
Reginald Cooray was seen inspecting the public library of Colombo 7 to
look for shortcomings there discussing with the Mayor of Colombo.
I could now believe that some positive action would be taken to
improve the present condition and add more facilities to turn it what it
was over a decade ago.
In an English newspaper I mentioned about the condition of the
canteen where, to brief the matter, crows perch on all the available
non-functioning fan wings and do their ‘work’. Even the authorities did
not take any action to clean the dirtiest canteen in one of the biggest
libraries.
I wish to add the request I made in regard to the public library at
Kotahena through the columns of the ‘Daily News’ of April 19, 2005.
It was about the ‘intense heat’ specially on the upper floor. It was
like a furnace. Even the fans on full speed could not give some comfort
both too the staff and the visitors.
The main reason is that the concrete roof and the four walls of the
library are exposed to the sun. Since the windows are all covered with
glass with half a foot of gap for wind, provision for ventilation is
totally out.
I can understand that windows are all covered to prevent any
possibility of passing out of books and magazines. But why not cover
them with wire mesh and open the windows for the wind to blow in.
I am certain that if officials visit this library between 11 a.m. and
4 p.m. they will realise in what a ‘burning situation’ the public is
engaged in their reading and the school children in their studies.
Apart from that, from recently we find when the librarian goes on
leave after informing the authority another comes to take up the duties
the following day around 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. instead of the normal time.
I am told the relief person first goes to Town Hall, signs the
attendance register in time and then attends to his or her commitments
before reaching the library. By this delay, the public is greatly
inconvenienced.
Why not report for duty direct to the library? This is written after
tolerating enough.
Finally, it is requested to take immediate action in regard to the
wind-blocking windows.
Lastly, a couple of English papers that have been introduced for the
reading public are not available in the Kotahena branch and I hope that
action will be taken to provide same.
NAZLY CASIM
Colombo 13
Combating possible aerial attacks by the LTTE’s Air Wing, on vital
economic and military targets has become a matter of immediate urgency.
Measures already taken are not very effective, though they have
managed to deflect the attacks from the targeted installations. More
effective measures are necessary.
One measure the Defence Authorities should immediately consider is
the setting up of a balloon barrage system around all vital
installations. This was a measure adopted during the last war to
safeguard against enemy raiders.
I believe the barrage balloons will have to be floated some distance
away from the protected target, so that any intruder plane if trapped
will not fall on or too near the target.
Such balloon barrages may be strung up to a height that would
entangle low flying, radar evasive planes.
Those strung up to guard the Airports must be installed in such a way
that they can be lowered when civil airliners, and our own planes need
to enter or depart the Airports.
The mechanics of this defence system will have to be worked out by
the Defence Authorities in consultation with all concerned bodies.
Installations around which balloon barrages may be set up are the
harbours and ports, airports (civil and military), power stations,
reservoir dams and power houses, the oil depots and tanks, all military
centres, Parliament and some Government buildings of importance.
One other issue the President has to look into regarding the LTTE’s
air capabilities.
Many analysts have determined that the LTTE’s air force was built up
and strengthened due to the following:
1. The Terms of the CFA, its violations by the LTTE and the very
deliberate indifference or acquiescence in such violations by the UNP
Government of 2001-2004;
2. The number of arms shipments allowed to be smuggled by the LTTE
during this period.
3. The items allowed to the LTTE through the Customs, and escorted by
the Army into the Vanni, which included plane parts for later assembly;
it is reasonably surmised.
4. The decimation of our intelligence outfit due to UNP betrayal, and
of the LRRP which could have destroyed the LTTE’s air planes and
runways.
S. A.
As a regular Monday morning traveller via the Kandy-Colombo intercity
express train, I wish to bring to the notice of the railway authorities
of the issuance of duplicate tickets.
Incidence of this nature has been on the increase ever since the
computerised ticketing procedure was frozen. Commuters get embroiled in
heated arguments over bookings, which in turn makes all others’ lives
miserable.
It causes severe embarrassment to women as well. When a complaint is
made, the guards on duty take them down earnestly, only to find that the
mistakes are repeated week after week.
Is there something going on behind the counters?
Let’s clean up SLR.
ANAS
Katugastota
I have just one simple question for Dr. De Silva regarding the above
subject.
For intelligent design as described by its various proponents to be
put in place, there had to be a designer. Who or what created the
designer?
In this line of argument, the designer had to be in existence before
the first reproducible molecules came into being.
We thus go back to the first cause and also remove the factor of
Randomness that is so essential to understanding the Neo-Darwinian
explanation.
However unlikely the probability of events needed for the coming
together of various inanimate molecules to form a reproducible molecule,
the event only had to happen a few times in the billenia that preceded
the first life forms, for it to set in place the sequence of
evolutionary processes that are in evidence through the palaeontological,
genetic and embryological landscapes.
DR. MAHES LADDUWAHETTY
The recent statements by the Leader of the United National Party, the
Secretary General and Lakshman Kiriella MP smacks of jealousy and lack
of knowledge of the feelings of the people of the country in the face of
the military victory in the East.
Whatever they say people believe that the military has won the war in
the East though acts of terrorism will remain for sometime.
Even London and other cities with all their defensive and offensive
capabilities remain victims of terrorism, so much so that England is not
as safe as Colombo.
In this scenario, the least that the UNP can do is to keep their trap
shut without exposing their treachery.
If they believe that they can win the next election by criticising
the military and ridiculing their victories they only show how far they
are from the people.
All those who attend demonstration are the party diehards who will
not leave the UNP, even if Ranil crosses over.
Therefore the UNP leadership must think of other ways and means of
winning the next election rather than wait to topple the Government in
two months. They make fools of themselves when such statements are made.
JR as leader had a target and he organised the party towards that end
and won the 1977 elections.
DR. NEVILLE FERNANDO
Nawala
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