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The traffic flow on the Colombo city limits, roads have been changed.
As a result, the volume of traffic and the vehicles’ speed have
increased.
This has become a deadly issue to the pedestrians who want to cross
these one way roads.
Vehicles approach on four to six lanes at very high speeds on these
roads.
Therefore, a pedestrian who is going to cross the road has to wait
until the road gets cleared. But the drivers maintain a very high speed.
Therefore pedestrians are unable to find a clear time slot to cross the
road. There were several fatal accidents in these areas recently.
This has become even more dangerous specially after dark. The people
who travel in their own vehicles will never be able experience this
situation. I think this is the very reason that the responsible
authorities are not taking any action.
D. WICKRAMASINGHE
Dehiwala
Reference my letter under ‘Over to you, P.M.G. and the P.M.G.’s reply
published in the Daily News of September 7, 2007, I am glad that the
Postmaster-General K.A.S. Senadeera himself attended to the matter for
which you yourself have given so much prominence.
Anyway, I thought of writing this letter because I find that the door
of the recently repaired and painted letter box at the Namal - Araliya
Mawatha Junction has been entirely removed in the night and taken away,
leaving the box quite open.
Unless the police are informed and they apprehend the culprits
(vandals) and give them deterrent punishment, it would be a case of
making (repairing) and breaking. I do not know why these unscrupulous
elements are causing such senseless destruction, inconveniencing so many
people.
LUCIAN
Ratmalana
We all now know that the killing of stray dogs has been completely
stopped on a directive given by the President and that any one can
observe their rising populations in cities and other urbanised areas.
They wonder here and there, in search of food and many scavenge
around places where garbage is dumped. It is heart burning to see their
struggle for survival and it is pretty obvious that they cannot find
enough food to fend for themselves, from the garbage disposed of.
They are eternally on the move for food and almost every one bears
wounds and other fungal and bacterial infections, showing their
miserable life.
Some are almost devoid of fur due to various infections. Bitches
could be seen with pups and how they feed the pups is quite
unimaginable. Very many can be seen inflicted with various types of
diseases.
We all are aware that for centuries dogs and cats are the most
trusted friends of mankind.
Besides that, it is a well-known fact that we have thrown these
hapless creatures to the streets and we are responsible for the agonies
they undergo at present.
In cities, specially in market places, we wander through, to fulfil
our household requirements, we never notice or do not bother to notice,
the predicaments that these creatures undergo at these places.
However, very recently, a soothing news was seen in a Sinhala daily
newspaper, i.e. the Anuradhapura Urban Council is going to establish a
shelter for stray dogs on a two-acre block of land and an NGO is
assisting the Urban Council for the maintenance of it, including
providing much needed veterinary care.
This will be a relief to all animal lovers and certainly an example
to other Local Authorities, as well.
Certainly, there would be so many philanthropists to assist the local
authorities, if they really want to establish similar compassionate
ventures in their respective areas.
We are hopeful that the Government will take into account the much
needed rights to survival of these creatures when enacting the Animal
Welfare Act, in the near future.
Sunil Saputhanthri
Panadura
The above captioned news item appeared in the Daily News of January
21, is a great relief for all senior citizens of this country.
Although the Social Services Department has issued a card to the
senior citizens of this country over facilities in medicine, banks,
transport etc., it is not recognised anywhere.
This is because the officials of the Social Services Department have
miserably failed to educate the officials concerned over the aims of the
Department of Social Service.
I urge and pray that the Federation of the Senior Citizens will bring
relief to all suffering senior citizens of this country specially in
transport, medical, local Government administration work etc, under
Mahinda Chintanaya.
H. G. P. JAYASEKERA
Senior Citizens Club, YMCA
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