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The Kalapura Housing Scheme was the brain child of late President
Ranasinghe Premadasa and inaugurated in the mid 1980s when he was the
Prime Minister.
The housing scheme, which was under the purview of the Tower Hall
Foundation Theatre, was exclusively for artistes, namely actors, film
directors, singers, musicians and others involved in cultural
activities.
This scheme is located towards the end of Templer's Road, Mount
Lavinia and close to the Bakery Junction. All the plots in the scheme
have now been given out and it is now a very respectable residential
area.
To date, the area has been developed to unprecedented heights with
several respectable people having chosen to buy, build and reside on the
available land in the vicinity.
The roads have been widened and a number of garment factories, other
industries, offices and even a supermarket has been opened for the
benefit of the people living in this densely populated area.
During the regime of late Minister C.V. Gooneratne, it was proposed
that an agency sub-post office for the Kalapura residents be opened for
the benefit of the artistes as there was no place in the vicinity to by
a stamp, take a photocopy, send a fax, take a call, send a registered
letter, etc. The building was put up with basic facilities. Although it
had a limited staff, the service rendered was excellent.
It functioned very well without any blemish and the Kalapura Agency
Post Office catered not only to the residents of Kalapura but to
numerous residents in the neighbourhood, officers and to thousands of
innocent girls from rural areas who worked in the garment factories in
the vicinity.
It was definitely a very viable venture as well as a yeomen service
to many. At present, to buy even a stamp, leave alone send a fax, make a
photocopy or a telephone call, those who benefited by the earlier
service now have to go all the way either to the Mount Lavinia junction
or towards the Attidiya to fulfill their urgent communication needs.
The staff attached to this non-functioning agency post office was so
courteous and as I was a frequent customer, I even knew their names.
Over the past two years or so, the activities and the services have
gradually diminished. The building is in a decapitated state with
overgrown weeds and in a few days I am sure the entire sub-post office
building would not even be visible.
With the greatest difficulty, as a true patriot, I climbed the steps
to see the interior and I was however surprised to see some of the
inventory such as the post box and telephone cubicle still intact.
However, I was unable to locate the valuable plaque that was installed
at the opening ceremony.
It may have been covered with overgrown weeds or removed by
unscrupulous elements.
It is my fervent hope that the authorities responsible for this
inexplicable closure of the Kalapura Agency Post Office will take
appropriate steps to revive its activities for the benefit of so many
clients who are eagerly waiting until it is opened to patronize it.
SUNIL THENABDU,
Mount Lavinia
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K.G.E. of Nugegoda writes about the problems encountered with on the
spot traffic fines (DN Oct. 30). To begin with, you are subjected to
traffic fines only if you violate road rules.
In case of spot fines, under the Police Ordinance, you can receive
your driving licence by post if you follow the undermentioned:
1. Pay the fine at any Post Office and obtain the receipt.
2. Obtain photocopies of the documents issued to you at the time of
the offence and the receipt obtained from the post office.
3. Write out a self-addressed stamped envelop (preferably registered
post)
4. Make out a letter of request to the HQI/OIC of the relevant Police
Station (keep a copy of same) and post all the originals to him keeping
the copies with you. (In case you get nabbed again for a traffic
offence)
The letter to the Police Station can also be sent by registered post.
The cost of all this will not exceed Rs. 100 and one does not have to
apply leave nor undergo any harassment as such. The need to bribe any
Police Officer does not arise.
ROHANA SOYSA,
Panadura
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As the immediate past President of the ACWBC, I consider it is my
duty to keep the generous Buddhist public informed as to the use made by
the ACWBC of the funds so generously donated for charitable purposes.
Ramani Rajapakse, in her letter of September 22 was quite right in
highlighting the perennial sewerage problem endangering the health of
the inmates of the Homes.
My predecessor as President had spent large sums on private
contractors to solve the problem of overflowing sewerage, but all to no
avail. During my one year as President I realised that a permanent
solution had to be found.
Accordingly, I contacted the Municipal Commissioner Dr. Liyanage and
the then Mayor Prasanna Gunawardena. The Mayor was kind enough to visit
our premises on two occasions, with an engineer and a team of labourers.
They removed the man-hole covers and explained the problem and the
solution. This was to close all present low-lying sewerage pits and
construct new ones at a higher elevation and join them to the main
Municipal sewerage line on Bauddhaloka Mawatha, instead of to a by-road
as at present. This was in 2005 and we were informed that this would
cost Rs. 1.2 million and would be a permanent solution.
The EXCO unanimously passed this estimate. The Mayor minuted on our
letter ordering urgent action. Soon after this, my term of office ended.
It was now the responsibility of my successor, the present President to
proceed with the work.
Unfortunately nothing was done for the past 2 1/2 years - which
inaction provoked Ramani Rajapakse's letter. The repairs will now cost
more than double the original estimate.
But it must be carried out without further delay. Ambitious showpiece
multi-storey projects can wait. The health of the residents and hygiene
of the bakery should be given the highest priority, not the
exhibitionist projects the President refers to in her letter of October
19.
INDRANI DEVENDRA,
Colombo 5
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There are news reports that yet another rate revision of postal rates
is being considered. This is not a wise move as a rate revision will not
increase revenue as the price elasticity of demand is high and an
increase of rates will reduce the number of letters posted.
So how can the postal service increase revenue? They must introduce
value added services such as return of undelivered letters promptly and
innovative products like one day delivery service in urban and suburban
areas guaranteed delivery within stipulated time periods at higher
postal rates.
The management of Postal Department without recommending rate
revisions to Government, hold discussions with trade unions and get
their support to such proposals.
P. V. D. LEO SAMSON,
Kandana
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I read with interest the views expressed by Van Twest in Saturday's
(November 3) Daily News, about the winner of the Sirasa Super Star
contest.
Of course, the 'supporters' of Surendra Perera would have been
shocked and greatly distressed. People should realise that the contest
had a similarity to the fable of the 'hare and tortoise'. Surendra was
tipped to be the winner by most of the viewers. But at the semi-finals
and finals Pradeep had a wide and varied repertoire.
He sang brilliantly and won the hearts of not only the youth but
people of the older generations as well. Surendra was confident but did
not attempt to show his ability to sing different kinds of song.
Pradeep deserves to be the super star. I think it is a shame to say
that Surendra failed to win because of his faith. At the semi-finals and
the finals the people voted for the best singer irrespective of his/her
faith, caste, creed or gender.
In fact, the main (and absurd) reason put forward for Amila's failure
to win was that she is a village girl. She is an excellent singer but
the other two sang better than her.
Instead of venting your anger at Pradeep, Van Twest, please
congratulate him. I too, along with others in the old generation wish
him well. May his academic career also soar to great heights.
Viewer
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The printing of currency notes is considered a serious offence and
capital punishment too is imposed, in many countries on those found
guilty to this offence.
However, it is sad to note that almost everyday in some corner of the
country the printing of forged notes is taking place with sophisticated
equipment while frequent detection/confiscation of such currencies too
occurs.
The irony of this State is that despite these detections the culprits
are not dealt with accordingly or such offences are being ignored by the
concerned department.
Hence, a repetition of crime of this nature is alarmingly increasing
leading to economical and other set-back to the country. Will the
authorities concerned focus on this matter, at least now?
M. S. J. DEEN,
Kandy
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