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Women must be especially proud of the woman Civil Defence Force (CDF)
member who, through her vigilance and courage, was able to detect and
arrest the Wellawatte train bomber at the Irattaperiyakulam check point,
Vavuniya.
The bomber had passed undetected through several barriers, although
his photo had been sent to all check points. It is indeed remarkable
that a woman serving as a homeguard from a remote area, and a
grandmother too, should carry out her duty so courageously and with
commitment.
She puts to shame the horn tooting, bullock cart riding women
‘activists’ of Colombo and their antics in the so - called war against
rising fuel prices and Cost of Living.
We must thank the CDF bosses for their prompt recognition of the
bravery and vigilance of this woman homeguard, showing no gender
discrimination.
They have lost no time in promoting her to the rank of warden and
rewarding her with Rs. 50,000.
According to the newspaper reports of this bomb incident, an
important part in identifying the bomber was also played by a taxi
driver named Mohamed Gafoor, who had grappled with him when he was
fleeing the scene of the bomb explosion, making him throw away a bag
with a remote control device and his ID card.
The taxi driver had said that if only the people on the street at
that time had joined him, the bomber could have been caught.
However, with the bomber’s ID card in their hands the security
authorities were able to circulate his picture to all check points which
led to his being arrested. If the story of the taxi driver’s part in
grappling with the bomber is correct, then his bravery too must be
recognised and rewarded.
Such examples of exceptional bravery and vigilance as shown by the
woman homeguard and the taxi driver should be an inspiration and
encouragement to us all facing increasing threats from terrorists.
SAGARICA RAJAKARUNANAYAKE - Dehiwela
The roads in the centre of Kandy are in a poor condition. H.B.
Udurawana Mawatha which is one of the main roads is dotted with
pot-holes and is virtually impossible during the rainy season.
The stretch of road in front of the Bogambara Prison along H.B.
Udurawana Mawtha leaves a lot to be desired.
It resembles a pit and has not been repaired for a long-time.
Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe Mawatha which is busy at all times with a
never ending flow of traffic is full of ruts.
This road leads to Peradeniya, Pilimathalawa and Ampitiya and its
poor condition is causing a great inconvenience to commuters.
Hanthana Road which leads to the Kandy Teaching Hospital faces the
same plight and is still to get the attention of the authorities.
Pedestrians have a nightmare walking on these roads during the wet
season as the flashing water further exacerbates the situation.
It’s high time the authorities take some measures to remedy the
situation.
Hansika RANAWEERA
It is hilarious to watch the Opposition making one blunder after
another in trying to show their protest against the skyrocketing Cost of
Living.
First they went and broke pots when people could hardly buy a new
pot. Then they took the bullock carts to the main roads which upset
animal lovers.
The latest of their blunders is to toot horns, which did not have any
impact.
True to form, the Leader of the Opposition either does not take part
or makes a mockery of the whole protest as he did sitting in the back
seat of his car while asking others to toot their horns.
Why can’t they think of a constructive way to protest?
The Leader of the Opposition must come down from his high horse and
get parallel to the people, if he really wants to capture their hearts.
Even if he does not actually take part in the protest, for these
actions are alien to him, he must mobilise enough people who will.
These half hearted attempts, sitting in limousines and talking about
the Cost of Living is not going to whitewash anyone anymore.
Here are some suggestions.
1. Each UNP MP to give back the salary increase which they recently
got to the poor constituents in their electorate.
2. Go to the Parliament canteen and takeover the kitchen and get only
minimal necessary food cooked for the parliamentarians and insist all
the other MP’s too eat only one kind of meal. Let it be a good
sufficient meal, no harm, but show their dessent by refusing to eat the
extravagant spread of meals.
3. Pay one months salary to the poor constituents of the flood
affected areas.
4. Go and get the food and essential items distributed to the flood
victims. There are areas the Gramasevakas have not distributed any food
at all yet. Make sure it is distributed.
5. Share the vehicles in coming to Parliament and insist the other
Government MPs too must share so that the expenditure is curtailed.
6. When expensive vehicles are imported sit in the well of the
Parliament and protest peacefully until the cars are sold and money
given back to the coffers.
When a Government MP is having a tamasha take the poor constituents
and go for these parties.
If they are not allowed in., let them sit outside the five star
hotels and show silent protest at these birthday parties and dinners.
All these need courage as well as true feelings for the poor man’s
problems. Do they have it? If not, as it is very apparently seen today,
the people see through them and are having a good laugh at them - that
is in spite of having to bear the Cost of Living burden.
DR. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI - Dehiwela
Both letters on the above subject by Dr. Wickremesinghe and Vernie
are very appropriate and informative. These letters make the public open
their eyes.
Most of the problems brought out could be solved, solved to the
advantage of the public. If the three-wheel drivers are to tamed as
suggested by Vernie, we the members who patronise them must open our
eyes and seriously plan the remedies.
Some of the ways are to negotiate the hire before the commencement of
the trip. You cannot negotiate with them after the distance is covered,
when you are getting down at your destination. They certainly become
abusive knowing very well that the chances of his three-wheeler being
employed by the very same customer are remote.
One could choose a good three-wheel driver one whom you have come to
know well, as most of them carry hand phones. One could ring them up
when their services are essential.
The most important way is not to patronise them at all if you can
walk the distance. Many people both young and old have got used to
hiring three-wheelers even for short distances. After all, walking is
good for your health. Walking is being recommended by the doctors. Most
of the people who walk are certainly healthy.
Walking short to moderate distances thereby improves your health,
improves your financial status, reduces the environmental pollution, as
well as make the three-wheel drivers to think about the langauge they
use.
W. HARRIS
I am a resident of Kelaniya. There is an elderly mother who has been
abandoned on the roadside by her next kith and kin.
It could lead some organisation providing her with shelter.
She must be around 75-years-old and completely blind. She has been
abandoned near the Northern gate of the Kelani temple. On rainy days she
gets wet and is compelled to sit in a puddle of water.
She is not allowed to sit under the shade of the temple entrance arch
by the watchers of the temple. Residents from the area give her food and
try to cover her with polythene on rainy days.
I have written to a few charitable organisations, that have not
responded so far. It will be a great meritorious act if anyone could
find her suitable shelter or compel the Police to investigate and send
her back to those who have abandoned her.
NANDALAL PERERA
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