|
The sidewalks and pavements of our many highways and roads are
veritable stretches of much cursed misery and foot-cramped drudgery,
putting ones powers of patience and concentration to the utmost of
endurance and tests.
Take 'the garland of stones' shaped Dehiwala roundabout and the four
pavement stretches concentric to it - not a step or stride, not one,
could ever be taken with any measured ease on them - apart from the ever
- present gaps in the paying, most stones are broken halves due to bad
masonry (supposed and made to withstand simple and light human weight
and possibly an errant trishaw) - this broken up half-in/ half-out
positioned stones at jaunty and unwary angles also has its amusing
aspects - simply imagine the many hails of "hiya and hellos' flung
across by criss - crossing pedestrians from imperceptibly and perilously
placed pivoted footings on the numerous gaps and defective 'see-saw'
paving stones strewn about.
When will the PRDA who are supposed to be responsible according to a
DMMC engineer revealed to the press some time back, end all this
melodrama and indifference on almost ten year old dilemma (rubberized
metal was strewed on the surface in camouflages right round the
roundabout areas mentioned 2-3 years back before the last Presidential
election.
Many more are the headaches and shortcomings of this busy important
hubbub:
1. Even the thicker concrete slabs over the drains are broken with
plenty of blockages rats and mosquitoes with added stench abound.
2. The traffic lights are in confusion.
3. Buses to Mt. Lavania invariably stop on pedestrian markings adding
to the chaos.
4. Just imagine an inadequate 3-4 pavement from the roundabout to
Arpico with people invariably on leap-frog situations with the much
traversed bus movements.
5. Makeshift vendors structures on most roads of Sri Lanka even some
from pavement shops (extensions) are most risky as they are allowed eye
contact level construction.
Hope Dehiwala will have a huge sigh of relief soon.
W. MEADOWS, Dehiwala
The Nawala Road pavement at Nugegoda is allocated for the parking of
buses and lorries day and night. You find buses even double parked,
forcing pedestrians, schoolchildren, young and feeble to use this very
busy main road, risking their lives.
What has happened to the laws of this country and the authorities
responsible for enforcing them?
Police and the local authority, Kotte seems to be turning a blind eye
to this high handed act by the private bus crews? Whatever it is high
time police took action to remedy this irregular situation.
There is a large open space down Nawala Road, where lorries park with
loads of sand, bricks and tiles for sale.
Why not make use of this place to park buses, during idle-times
without causing congestion and inconvenience to the public? Doesn't
this, solve the problem for all?
There are 'No Parking' signs too along this road, no one cares and no
action taken. What happened to those parking attendants, on this road?
Why don't the Council employ them any more?
It gives them employment as well as an added income to the Council.
T. Seneviratne, Rajagiriya
The sailor who detected the parcel bomb at the Anuradhapura weekly
fair, thereafter taking action to prevent same from blasting is to be
rewarded. This confirms that his above action has been highly
acknowledged and appreciated, for which those concerned should be
admired.
By his action, he has proved to others in the Forces in particular
and the public in general that their duties and responsibilities do not
confine only when they are on duty, but while out of duty as well. In
attending to the above exercise, he has definitely risked his own life,
while saving the lives and limbs of many others, for which they in
return should be greatfull to him for their survival.
This young man is a typical soldier who has the eyes of an eagle and
bravery of a lion, to whom the entire nation should be grateful to,
encouraging others to act likewise specially under the prevailing
situation.
He should be proudly and publicly acknowledged as one who has given a
real meaning to the concept of 'Api Venuven Api' not by mere words but
by action, which he has been fortunate to live to see.
TOMMY WANIGESINGHE, Kurunegala
T. Wickremesinghe's letter titled 'Sacrifice' with consent published
in a daily newspaper January 11, illustrates vividly the dictum 'brevity
is a virtue'.
I agree with him in 'toto' with his statement that animal sacrifice
is barbaric and should be 'banned'.
It would have been even better if he had worded his statement as
follows: ''animal sacrifice (which involves the cruel slaughter of
'innocent' animals'') is barbaric and should be avoided by all (right
thinking) Buddhist and Hindus since 'Ahimsa (compassion) and Metta
(loving kindness) constitute the 'cardinal tenets' of these two major
world religions. It is futile and unnecessary to drag followers of other
religious faiths into this issue.
If only we Buddhist and Hindus adhere to and practice with reverence
both 'Ahimsa and Metta' this alone would significantly minimise the
'suffering' and agony of so many 'harmless'/ innocent animals in Sri
Lanka as a consequence of their 'slaughter for either food or sacrifice
for a religious purpose'.
Many Hindus have in the past been performing and a few till even
today continue to perform/offer 'animal sacrifice' in temples hoping
(wrongly of course!) that this 'meritorious' act would please the 'Gods'
who in turn would grant their desires/ 'wishes'.
Nothing could be further from the truth. This practice is today
condemned by all right thinking Hindus both in India and Sri Lanka and
animal sacrifice has now been 'banned' in most Hindu temples/shrines the
world over.
Although I am in unison with Wickramesinge that 'sacrifice' needs the
consent of the animal concerned, it is unfortunate that no animal can do
so, even if it wants to, because God (the creator) has endowed this
attribute; the faculty of speech, only to the human species by which
he/she can 'express' or 'convey' his/her feelings on any matter.
Even if animals had been blessed with this attribute by the Creator,
it is almost certain that no animal 'forcibly' and/or cruelly taken for
slaughter/sacrifice for man would give its consent for this purpose -
rather it would pose this question to him: "Why take poor me? Why not
'sacrifice' one of your kith and kin?"
PROF M. SIVASURIYA
The letter by S. Peiris titled 'What to eat' is an eye opener for
everyone who is trying to ape the Western way of consuming food.
All the fast food, etc. is now known to be bad for our health and
America and Australia are trying hard to make their people consume 'Our
kind of food' i.e. pulses, fruit, vegetables, nuts and all things
harvested from the ground. Of course, a certain amount of fish, meat and
dairy produce is also necessary.
This is the food that our grandparents and parents gave us to eat and
not the junk food given nowadays to the children growing up.
As a person who has travelled widely of late and have researched into
these foods, I feel it is time the Government advertised the ill effects
of junk food and make our people realise that the food we consumed long
ago is the best food of all for our health.
To build a healthy nation should be of paramount importance now.
ASOKA MUNAWEERA
|
