Daily News Online

DateLine Thursday, 23 October 2008

News Bar »

News: Tiger bid to attack food ships foiled ...        Political: Chandrasekeran's statement does not reflect Govt stance - Chief Govt Whip ...       Business: SEC suspends licence of HNB broker ...        Sports: Sports Minister dissolves Rugby Selection Committee ...

Home

 | SHARE MARKET  | EXCHANGE RATE  | TRADING  | PICTURE GALLERY  | ARCHIVES | 

dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

OPA at your service

Questions and Answers

Non-indication of occupation in NIC

Question: I very much thank you for your page in the Daily News paper under OPA at your Service which is very much helpful to the readers to overcome their problems, which they find it difficult to get sorted out.

I thank you for taking action and helping me to amend my National Identify Card with my profession, mentioned therein.

I kindly refer your attention to the Questions and Answers of 11.09.2008. Where my question appeared.

If not for your involvement in this matter I would not have been able to amend my I.D. Therefore I very much appreciate your service.

I wanted to find the OFFENDER because for my matter there was no one to answer. I was not given any reply from any authority to whom I wrote this matter.

Anyway my matter is over. My profession has been entered in my ID and now I am holding the amended ID.

- Somasiri P Liyanage, Galle

Answer: Our service is to help the Daily News readers who write to us for help. We must admit that it is not always that we are able to achieve success with some Department. The Commissioner of the Department of Persons has always been very helpful whenever we contacted him. There is no point in finding the offender as this is definitely a case of someone omitting your occupation by oversight rather than a deliberate action. Very often applicants for NIC do not fill the column on occupation we understand. Therefore, is it possible that the officers checking it or signing it too would not have enquired, let us be happy that your job is done.


Disagreement on rent for houses

Question: I am a retired Government servant senior citizen, 77 years of age. I gave 1 1/2 acres of my land within the MC limit of Galle to foreign contractors M/s Kumagai Gumi Co; on a lease for a very nominal amount for a period of only four years. The conditions laid out were, for them to construct houses (for their consultant staff, to live in) at their expense, and to hand over the houses and premises to me at the end of the four year period, i.e. by June 2007.

However, at the end of the four years they made a request to me to give them the houses for three more years for which they will pay me a rent. They have offered me as very low rental. The rent offered being Rs. 3,500, Rs. 4,500 and Rs. 6,000 per month for 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively. Each house is about 2000 sq ft.. As the rent offered was absurdly low, I requested them to vacate the premises as per our original lease agreement.

I had several discussion with them where they wanted me to quote a total rental for a three year period, taking into consideration the work they are engaged in for our Government. I requested them to pay me Rs. 5.0 million for the period of three years. They told me that they will have to consult their headoffices the figure was too high.

Then I got a valuation from a very recognized, qualified valuer and sent a copy of same to Kumagai Co; The valuers figure works out to Rs. 6.0 million for three years. However, I agreed to accept Rs. 5.0 million as I have already quoted that amount.

Then they agreed to pay me an "On account" payment of Rs. 2.5 million and settle me in due course.

After paying me the Rs. 2.5 million they continue to occupy the houses and premises without paying me the balance and entering into a lease agreement in spite of my reminders.

They are expecting me to take legal action which will take a very long time, by which time, they would have gone back.

I want to know whether the Road Development Authority who have got these contractors, who are trying to take the law into their hands, be directed to settle this issue in a fair and reasonable manner rather than occupy my houses and land forcible. They could pay me and enter into a lease agreement or else vacate the premises as already agreed.

Please advise me very early as I am a retired pensioner of 77 years of age, with all my children living in Australia and nobody else to look after me and my wife.

- C. W. Gunawardena, Galle

Answer: As you have not indicated the number of houses involved, we are unable to comment on the reasonability either the rent claimed by you or the rent (Rs. 2.5 million) paid by them. We wonder whether the person who valued the rental for your houses or you yourself took into consideration the cost of building all these houses. It appears to be very unlikely that in four years. Your tenant would have covered their cost of building these houses. Given the fact that each house is about 2000 sq.ft. and the cost of building in 2003.

We trust you are being reasonable, having got these houses constructed at their expenses. Having considered all these facts, if you still feel Rs. 2.5 million for 3 years is inadequate you have no choice about to send them a letter of demand through a lawyer, if further direct negotiations are not fruitful. The Road Development Authority is not a party to this transaction/agreement between you and your tenant. As such and being a Government department, the Road Development Authority will not get involved in this matter.


Electricity consumption of a refrigerator

Question: What is the electrical consumption (watts) of an ordinary common refrigerator?

If a refrigerator is kept switched off for one month, will it cause any harm to it?

- Dr. B. G. Punchihewa Ratmalana

Answer: Electricity consumption of a refrigerator will depend mainly on the size of the refrigerator and also depending on the age and condition of the refrigerator 2 cu.ft refrigerator (smallest) will consume about 90 watts whilst standard size home refrigerator which is about 6 cu.ft. will consumer about 120 watts. You can switch off the refrigerator for one month or even as much as 06 months to a year but nothing will happen unless it is quire an old refrigerator where a gas leak is possible. Unless there is a gas leak nothing will happen if you switch off. Suggest you leave the door slightly open to avoid any smell when you open and also for air to circulate so that the rubber beadings don't melt at our ambient temperature.

**************

[Send your questions]

"The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) will cover questions in all professions and subjects of common interest to the public in the Daily News OPA At Your Service page every Thursday. Please make your question brief. Questions can be directed to the OPA on e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected], [email protected] Fax: 2559770 or write to the Professional Centre, 275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha,

off Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7."

**************

 

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Gamin Gamata - Presidential Community & Welfare Service
Ceylinco Banyan Villas
www.deakin.edu.au
www.lankanest.com
srilankans.com - news & information
http://www.victoriarange.com
www.ckten.com.my
www.apiwenuwenapi.co.uk
LANKAPUVATH - National News Agency of Sri Lanka
www.helpheroes.lk/
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.army.lk
www.news.lk
www.defence.lk
Donate Now | defence.lk

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2008 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor