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I refer to the letter of January 09 written by Rita Perera on the
above subject.
According to the letter, I understand that Freedom House, situated on
Oswald Gomis Mawatha, Kelaniya, has given shelter to half cured mental
patients transferred from the Mental Hospital, Angoda.
If its true that such patients need long-term ongoing medication, it
is a sin for the authorities who have done this wrong act. What a
pathetic view of 25 men and 20 women cages from 50 to 15 years, with one
70 year old too in this over crowded home.
Our sympathies go to Sagarika Perera and her capable assistant who
attempt to accomplish the task of caring for these patients on a
voluntary basis.
All philanthropists should extend sufficient monetary donations to
this home for regular maintenance.
The Ministry of Social Services too should provide regular funds for
its proper maintenance as the mental patients need direct assistance
from the Government.
It is the great responsibility of the authorities to start a special
fund for this Home.
I personally feel that this uncared lot of mental patients will be a
curse to the future prosperity of Sri Lanka.
All the people of sound mind and bodies are answerable to God for
their neglect of duties to do charity for the mentally sick people.
All the religions are promising great merit for those who spend a
part of their wealth in the charitable cause.
M. Y. M. MEEADH – Hemmathagama
We should thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa for raising the fine for
killing milking cows to Rs.50, 000 from a measly Rs.100-200 previously.
He should extend this fine to the illicit transport of cattle too.
I wonder whether the President is aware that cows in Government farms
such as Ambewela, Mahaberitenna farms, after years of giving milk, when
old, are culled and auctioned - such animals are invariably bought by
butchers at a nominal fee and slaughtered.
It will be merciful, if old animals can be put into a sanctuary and
not killed.
Their excreta can be used for production of compost manure and bio
gas.
DR. C. GODAMUNNE - President, Kandy Humanitarian
Organisation
Military intelligence has information that terrorists have devised a
new method of targeting and exploding bombs.
For example you park your vehicle in a public area and go away to
attend to your work. Someone can plant a bomb in your vehicle connected
with a GPS system and track your movements/whereabouts and activate the
bomb when you are passing or close to the desired target area.
Hence it is best for us to be vigilant at all times as this could be
a possibility which the terrorists will look at.
The bad side of this is unknowingly you can be carrying a bomb with
you and if you are stopped at a check point, you will become an innocent
victim and it goes without saying what trouble you will have to go
through thereafter. Please be mindful of such possibilities. Every one
has the right to return home safely.
M. RANJITH FERNANDO
The whole country was horrified to see a fully naked white man
streaking through the grounds during a recent England Vs. Sri Lanka
cricket match in Colombo. In recent times, we have seen that the
diplomats from the Western countries trying to impose their political
will on our country.
But this is the first time we have seen the corrupt and disgusting
cultural values and practices of the Western countries being imposed on
our Motherland.
It may be the done thing or an interesting pastime to have sex in the
open or run naked on the streets or sports grounds in their own
countries.
It may fit into their lifestyle but not ours. I hear that this person
escaped with a mild fine and deportation. Stringent punishment should be
imposed with a mandatory jail sentence as deterrent punishment for these
type of offenders.
In countries like Saudi Arabia this offender would have his head
chopped off. I hope this disgusting practice will not infect our local
spectators. This mentally deranged person has brought shame upon his
glorious country.
P. V. RANJAN – Dehiwela
Kudos to Sanjay Srivasta, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax in
Delhi who effectively utilised the RTI Act to expose wrong-doings in his
own department by getting details endorsed through RTI Act. I by my own
experience can say that it is the most wonderful Act in free India which
has given power of a Parliamentarian to a common citizen to ask
questions.
Public-authorities covered by RTI Act have to do similar exercise to
reply to RTI petitions as they have to do for preparing replies for
questions raised by MPs in Parliament.
The Act has touched even ‘untouchable’ areas like judiciary to move
towards transparency and accountability. Central Information Commission
rather than Government should be given funds and responsibility to
popularise RTI Act in a big way, so that members of public may
themselves become watchdogs to root out corruption from the nation.
SUBHASH C. AGRAWAL
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