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WORLD LEADERS who are taking the lead role in combating terrorism
should take serious note of the aftermath of the Anuradhapura airbase
attack in Sri Lanka.
It is the first time in terrorist history, if not world, that 21
suicide cardres were sacrificed in one go by this inhumane terrorist
organisation.
The world is today pre-occupied with Human Rights violations by
various countries done according to their whims and fancies including
the UN.
Where is the human right for these young lives whoever it is
(terrorist or otherwise).
then just came to invade the airbase without giving any value for
human life and its precious dignity. Who is this brutal leader of theirs
just by his order after taking a photo opportunity with him just
sacrifices 21 young human lives within few hours for his brutal
dictatorship like a megalomeniac?
Where is the so-called civilised world looking now - please explain.
NICKY KARUNARATNA
FROM the above captioned letter DN Oct. 22 I wonder if J.B. Muller
really means that Burghers have no race because later in his letter he
mentioned that the Burghers are the least racially conscious people on
this island.
I have no expert knowledge on subjects like “Who are the Burghers?”
etc. But there are authorative sources found in many of the seventy
volumes of the Journals of the Dutch Burgher Union that have been
published since 1908.
In particular, for anyone interested, Volume 62 (1985) edited by G.
Young has a fine informative article by the late Justice Percy Colin-Thome
and Volume 70 (2005), which I edited, contains three interesting essays
reproduced from earlier issues of the Journal.
Muller does not subscribe to the view held by Van Schargen (DN, Oct.
5) and by me (DN Oct. 12) when reference was made to the fighting among
Burghers themselves and the speaking derogatorarily of fellow Burghers.
Muller has his view, but all I will say is that more often than not
in the higher echelons of Burgher groupings rifts, splits, rancour,
jealousies and all that goes to cause in-fighting have occurred
especially in recent times.
Pecuniary considerations are invariably the root cause. If Muller has
been as long as Van Schargen and I have in or on the periphery of some
of these groupings, be they family or society, he may very well agree
with us.
E. H. OHLMUS
At the recent UN Session on Environment attended by world leaders,
Sri Lanka had been judged the outstanding country in the world to
protect the Ozone layer.
Our President and Minister of Environment were there to receive the
award.
We should congratulate the Sri Lanka Ozone Authority, Forest
Department and also every Sri Lankan who worked towards this cause. We
had banned the use of CFC and HCFC gases in manufacture of fridges and
deep freezers and made them environment friendly which is a good move.
Sri Lanka is known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean mainly because of
its greenery. All the visitors and tourists who have come to Sri Lanka
have endorsed it.
Sri Lanka winning the prestigious Ozone award is a good opportunity
for our Ambassadors world wide to promote tourism to evergreen Sri
Lanka.
Today, all developed countries are facing severe hardships due to
adverse weather such as excessive rain, heat waves, floods, cyclones,
gales mainly due to burning of fossil fuels in vehicles and other
industries with less tree cover to absorb Carbon Di-Oxide and other
gases which are harmful to the Ozone layer.
In 1950, we had a forest cover of 50 per cent. Today it had dwindled
down to a meagre 18 per cent mainly due to wanton illicit felling and
clearing of forests for food production and other development schemes.
Even today compared to other countries in the world, as a whole, ours
is an evergreen country,thanks to the coconut, rubber and tea
plantations and home gardens.
Sri Lankans are tree conscious, even in a small 15 perch home plot,
there will be one or two coconut palms, mango and other fruit trees and
flowering plants.
N. B. EMBOGAMA – Mattegoda
The revised telecom tariff would give no relief to rural internet
users who use dial up services for their internet surfing.
According to the new charges system, an internet user who logs on
after 9 p.m. (most internet users take advantage of discounted time
band) have to pay nearly 66 per cent more for the use of Internet than
earlier as the new system charges by the minutes consumed. the
Government’s sole idea of taking the internet to the villages is negated
by this sharp charge increase which comes into effect from November,
thereby affecting a large number of rural internet users.
Let authorities take some measures to lower the tariff for the
internet users as is done in some private operator services.
U. MUNIDASA
I am an ardent admirer of Nelson Mandela. I made a special visit to
South Africa, especially to see Robben island where Mandela was
incarcerated for over 25 years.
I was shown the tiny prison cell where he spent these years.
In passing I asked the guide whether the South African people ever
disliked or criticised Mandela’s private life viz his many wives etc.
This is what the guide told me. Sir, we in this country never worry or
even try to find out about our leader’s private lives.
If they perform their political responsibilities properly, that’s all
that matters and we love and admire them for ever.
How nice it will be if Sri Lankans too follow suit!
DR. W. B. WIJEKOON – Nawala
Over to you Chairman Kelaniya PS
We write with regard to the poor condition of the Nungamugoda Road-Kelaniya
which has been neglected for the past two years. It has now reached a
stage that vehicles find it impossible to travel on due to the large
pot-holes that look like craters formed after a bombing raid.
Numerous meetings were held with the local Provincial Council
Chairman, however regretfully, no satisfactory action has been taken so
far although promises were made to all the companies present at several
meetings that immediate steps would be taken to resurface the road.
Sadly nothing whatsoever has happened and the condition now is much
worse than it was before.
Recently, an open trailer truck which had a 35 ton machine loaded on
it almost toppled over due to the pot-holes on this road, which caused
the truck to over-balance.
Fortunately timely action by those present with support from heavy
lifting equipment averted a serious accident.
Had the accident taken place, the road would have been closed for
several days and possibly lives lost with the residents seriously
affected?
This is the second occasion that a major disaster had been averted
and it is only a matter of time before something untoward happens.
The companies that access this road earn substantial foreign exchange
for the country and provide employment to over 1000 workers.
It is regrettable that our legitimate requests are treated in this
manner. Further, it is a disgrace to our country when our foreign
customers visit our respective factories and have to travel on this ‘pot
holed’ road to reach their destination.
As a result, they have a poor image of our country.
We therefore like to highlight this inaction by the local Provincial
Council authorities and hopefully they will react to repair this
important access road.
GAMINI JAYAWARDENA
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