In my opinion the best part of the SAARC Conference is that Colombo
is getting a long overdue facelift.
If we had kept the city always beautiful and clean, we would not have
to spend so much as well as rush through road work etc. I only hope that
after the conference that the billboards do not come up again. Also I
hope that our politicians’ billboards too get the same treatment.
DR. HERATH
While appreciating Mahinda Chintana in Road Construction, I would
like to add a few more suggestions to reduce accidents on the main road
due to non availability of a spacious pavement for pedestrians.
I have noticed pedestrians find it extremely difficult to walk along
the right or left of the main road safely because the motorists try to
overtake another motorist by using even a little space left open on the
side of the road.
As a result, pedestrians who take the side walk are frequently
knocked by the reckless motorists.
Mostly, schoolchildren take the side walk soon after school hours -
1.30 p.m. or 2.00 p.m. During these rush hours, the careless, speedy
drivers of heavy and light vehicles do not think about the precious
lives of these schoolchildren. They are in a hurry to overtake other
motorists and cause total accidents on the main road.
Hence, I would like to suggest the following precautionary measures
in the interest of the pedestrians.
1. Constructing a spacy pavement along both sides of the main road.
2. Put up a fence to prevent the encroachment of the pavement by
motorists.
M.Y.M. Meeadh
- Kandy
While appreciating Mahinda Chintana in Road Construction, I would
like to add a few more suggestions to reduce accidents on the main road
due to non availability of a spacious pavement for pedestrians.
I have noticed pedestrians find it extremely difficult to walk along
the right or left of the main road safely because the motorists try to
overtake another motorist by using even a little space left open on the
side of the road.
As a result, pedestrians who take the side walk are frequently
knocked by the reckless motorists.
Mostly, schoolchildren take the side walk soon after school hours -
1.30 p.m. or 2.00 p.m. During these rush hours, the careless, speedy
drivers of heavy and light vehicles do not think about the precious
lives of these schoolchildren. They are in a hurry to overtake other
motorists and cause total accidents on the main road.
Hence, I would like to suggest the following precautionary measures
in the interest of the pedestrians.
1. Constructing a spacy pavement along both sides of the main road.
2. Put up a fence to prevent the encroachment of the pavement by
motorists.
M.Y.M. Meeadh
– Kandy
The present mode of settlement of E.P.F. defaulters is to calculate
20 per cent of the total salary and pay the employee, with a surcharge
of 50 per cent to the Labour Department. Yearly interest is not
calculated and given to the employees.
The accumulated yearly interest is a part and parcel of the E.P.F.
The interest surpasses the quantum of 20 per cent salary during a short
period of years. By this sort of settlement, the employers are
encouraged not to pay the 20 per cent joint contributions to the Central
Bank. The employer can utilise this money in fixed deposits and earn 15
to 16 per cent interest or plough back in his business and make more
money.
If a settlement crops up on default he can easily pay the 20 per cent
and the surcharge and he is up on the deal.
Amendments should be brought to remedy this situation by calculating
the yearly compound interest at the rates declared by the panel members
and make the employer liable.
By this, the penalty will go up and an additional income will accrue
to the Labour Department and the employer is bound to pay contributions
to the Central Bank.
S.M. Wickramasekera
- Kalutara
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