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I think the writer to your column (DN 30/9) has given very valid
points regarding above.
However I wish to add following comments too. I was once fined away
from Colombo, and I explained to the officer that I will pay the fine
and send the receipt to his Police Station by post and told him to send
my driving licence by post to me.
Glad to say he responded favourably. I think by law they have to do
it. Only risk is that driving licence may get lost in the process. No
need to say how.
It might be interesting to note the offence I was supposed to have
done. It was 'not driving on the left hand side of the road', an absurd
offence.
People are driving dangerously all over the roads in busy roads and
towns. I wonder how many have been nabbed under such an offence.
He had no other reason as I was driving behind a lorry. My mistake
was that while most of the drivers ignored when he flagged them down, I
stopped.
I have been stopped in London by traffic police, but if they do not
have sufficient evidence, they will not proceed to charge. Here of
course the police is the judge as well.
I do not think the officer here knew the difference between a single
and double white line. Perhaps he knew, but thought that I did not know.
This showed that he was all out to book me. First question he asked
was, whether I was a businessman. I said no.
Then he asked me to go and take the ticket from his assistant who was
seated under some bushes.
The only comment I made was that the Government need money, so I will
pay the fine. I do not know whether a part of it goes to him as well,
like the commission that goes to the post office.
Therefore, a spot fine should be made a spot fine unless the offender
has no ready cash.
D. P. Y. ABEYWARDHANA,
Nawala
The proposal of the Minister of Public Administration and Home
Affairs to introduce and implement a Citizens Charter in order to uplift
the prevailing deteriorated corrupt public service and to prevent the
bureaucrats to work and discharge duties according to their wishes is
definitely a wonderful move in order to offer the suffering masses
redress.
The citizens charter is a document where the employees role to the
public, particularly the manner in which to offer the services is
clearly defined.
However, to achieve this objective which is a long felt need, the
latest modern technology should be implemented.
The caption of this article is a very clear example. In this country
similar to the usage of a mobile phone by the majority, credit cards
which are world renowned issued by banks and reputed institutions are
also used by many as a mode of payment for bills/purchases etc.
With the introduction of credit cards over two decades ago, most
people do their money transactions through them, which is very
convenient rather than carrying physical cash along with them.
There is absolutely no doubt that the highest number of bills paid to
a single Government institution by individuals, institutions, companies
is to the Ceylon Electricity Board.
The clients who are compelled to pay the electricity bill on a
monthly basis and as the amount of the bill varies one cannot place a
standing order with the bank. Hence, a personal visit has to be made by
each subscriber to a payment centre of the Ceylon Electricity Board. Of
course now many Banks and Post Offices do accept payments for bills.
The payments however have to be made by cash and there too payments
are not accepted by credit cards. These payments take a considerable
length of time to be credited to the respective accounts of the millions
of subscribers. Those amounts paid do not reflect in the following
month's bill and invariably the amount paid is added on as arrears
making the subscriber worried.
Although credit cards are not accepted the bills of the Ceylon
Electricity Board and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS&DB)
could be paid by personal or official cheques drawn in favour of the
respective statutory institutions.
A certain percentage of such cheques are bound to get dishonoured for
lack of funds or for technical reasons such as, 'cheque post dated',
'drawers signature differs from the specimen in our possession',
'account not stated', etc.
Hence, there is a definitely a risk factor involved in recovery of
the payments due to these Statutory Institutions. The members of the
staff handling the work of dishonoured cheques and follow up will have
to devote valuable time to resolve these matters.
But on the other hand, if the payments are accepted via credit cards,
it is just like paying physical cash. The bank charges for obtaining
immediate credit for the credit card payment vouchers could be easily be
exempted in consultation with the respective credit card dealers, banks
or credit card institutions.
So why not the authorities of the Ceylon Electricity Board and the
National Water Supply and Drainage Board commence the exercise of
accepting the subscribers' credit cards which would benefit them as well
as millions of subscribers scattered islandwide.
The credit card holders would benefit by this exercise mainly for the
sake of convenience and the respective cards they use would have more
transactions thereby the approved credit limits would automatically
enhanced through a system certain multi national banks adopt.
It is surprising why these two institutions do not accept the world
renowned credit cards for settlement of bills of the subscribers. At Sri
Lanka Telecom, this facility is available not only at Regional
Telecommunication Centres but also at the Tele Shops.
Well it is time that this globally accepted norm of accepting credit
cards at the Ceylon Electricity Board and the National Water Supply and
Drainage Board commence this exercise immediately for the benefit of the
respective statutory bodies and the millions of subscribers who are
holders of prestigious credit cards.
SUNIL THENABADU,
Mount Lavinia
I made a complaint at a suburban police station on June 30 regarding
death threats levelled against me for demanding the money which I lent
to a married couple on three different occasions.
The total sum of money I lent was Rs. 180,000 which was given in
three installments commencing on May 28. On two occasions, a sum of Rs.
40,000 was withdrawn via a Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) and on the
third occasion a sum of Rs 100,000 was given to the couple. I was given
a bank cheque by the couple as surety.
The money was given on sympathetic grounds that on the understanding
that it would be settled within a month or two.
The Police Sergeant who took down my complaint made me understand
that an inquiry would be held shortly and I would be summoned for an
impartial inquiry. But I was never summoned for an inquiry to date.
When the couple came to know about the complaint I made, they became
aggressive and threatened to cause physical harm to me.
Thereafter I received threatening telephone calls. When I brought
this to the notice of a police Inspector, I was informed that there was
a counter complaint of attempted criminal harassment by the respondent
party. I believe that this alleged counter complaint was an attempt to
force me to withdraw my complaint. I believe this was meticulously
planned to deprive me from recovering my money.
VASANTHA JAYAWARDENA,
Mount Lavinia
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