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I learnt in school, if I may recollect correctly, the definition of
democracy as ‘By the people for the people and of the people.’ Upto 1956
we had in this country ‘Gentlemen Politicians’.
Our beautiful country got ruined only after 1956 with ‘Pachabahus’
who’s only motive was to gain power and enter the Parliament under the
pretext of serving this country and the suffering masses who elevated
them into power.
They never had any patriotic feelings to this country or the
suffering masses. What they anticipated was to lead a comfortable life
at the expense of the poor people.
Politicians at least now open your eyes, be honest, patriotic and
lead a simple life like Mahatma Gandi, and Jawaharlal Nehru of India,
who sacrificed everything on behalf of their suffering masses. If not we
too have limits to our patience. One fine day same thing could happen to
you all as well. A Muslim has offered according to mass media a sum of $
10,000,000 - to buy that particular shoe.
D. E. ABEYWEERA - Kelaniya
It is a very unpleasant sight to see rotten vegetables for sale
outside the Kandy Market complex. People rush there to buy them at very
cheap prices without thinking of the diseases caused by the consumption
of the dirty rotten vegetables.
In this regard, the health conscious consumers will take precaution
of choosing these cheap items while those who are unaware of health and
sanitation will become poor victims of these discarded vegetables.
If the buyers care to test the bad smell emanating from such food
items outside the Market, they will quickly quit the place and go inside
the market to purchase the fresh vegetables.
May I appeal to the Public Health Inspectors of the Kandy
Municipality to inspect the surroundings of the market and check the
sale of rotten vegetables in order to maintain public health which is
deteriorating day by day.
Once I visited the General Hospital in Kandy, I was surprised to find
that a large number of patients receive treatment for abdominal
disorders. They have no beds to occupy but they just lie on the
corridors of the wards.
The drains around the market place give an unbearable stench for the
people who walk about buying food items. How can they consume the things
displayed near places close to stinking drains?
Let the Health Department of the Kandy Municipal Council open its
vigilant eyes to look at this unhealthy scene and take immediate
measures to remedy this malady.
M.Y.M. MEEADHU - Kandy
I was rather dismayed by Shaik Ahamath’s comment (DN December 19)
whereas he described an isolated incident from a far off land of Somalia
of a rape victim who was killed, and then using this incident as a
rallying cry calling for the Holy Quran to be revised to bring in line
with modern culture. Whatever his intentions may be, it appears that he
has unwittingly become a sounding board for the ignorance of many.
The Holy Quran ceases to be Almighty’s revealed text if it is revised
to the desires of every generation who wants change. However, different
interpretations of the Holy Scripture might be debatable and we should
seek the guidance of learned scholars for advice. Expressing a negative
opinion about Sharia on rape and adultery without giving proper details
can be misleading.
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the
Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
If a person makes an allegation of adultery against another person
(male or female) he or she must produce four witnesses to support such
an allegation; otherwise, he or she is guilty of slandering, which is a
grave offence in Islam, for we are not to tarnish the honour of anyone.
A woman who has been raped cannot be asked to produce witnesses; her
claim shall be accepted unless there are tangible grounds to prove
otherwise. To insist that she provide witnesses is akin to inflicting
further pain on her. If anyone refutes her claim of innocence, the onus
is on him to provide evidence, and she may simply deny the claim by
making a solemn oath, thus clearing herself in public.
The Prophet said, “The onus to provide evidence falls on the one who
makes a claim, and the one who denies (the same) can absolve himself or
herself by making a solemn oath to the contrary.”
Many Muslim scholars, led by Sheikh Al-Qaradawi, have maintained that
young Muslim men should hasten to marry women who fall as rape victims,
so as to reduce their suffering and console them, to compensate them for
the loss of the most precious thing that they possess. This reflects
mutual love, rapport and altruism that prevail in the Muslim society.
Victimising the victim is not Islam.
We do not know the details of the case of the Somali girl except that
we know Somalia has no Government and violence is rampant. It is clear
that Islam gives a fair hearing for the accused and the accuser. Islam
is open to all mankind and anyone can claim that they represent the
truth. However, it is our duty to verify before we express our opinions.
TUAN RIZA RASSOOL - USA
It is amusing to read that trishaw drivers have turned down the
request for a fare reduction by the Transport Minister informing him
that “the small reduction in fuel prices has not brought any relief to
them? “This is a very puerile argument.
When the petrol and diesel prices were raised by a small amount, they
jacked up their fares - for a trip of Rs. 40 they made it Rs. 50. But
when the price of petrol and diesel are reduced by Rs. 15 and Rs. 30
they should reduce at least Rs. 5 on a short trip of Rs. 50.
if the 3-wheel drivers are to be tamed the Government should
seriously consider the installation of taxi meters. Legislation should
be passed to make it incumbent on all trishaw drivers to install a taxi
meter and it should be made an offence under the motor traffic laws to
operate a trishaw without a taxi meter.
By this arrangement both the driver and the passenger are satisfied.
Of course the taxi meter should be certified and sealed by the Motor
Traffic Department. Random checks should also be made by Traffic Police
to see any signs of tampering.
Also there should be a minimum rate before the start of the journey.
The trishaw drivers should not have any cause for complaint as almost
95 per cent of 3-wheelers are owned by ‘mudalalis’ who lease their
vehicles to 3-wheel drivers who in return have to pay Rs. 250 to the
mudalali every night. Therefore the ‘mudalalis’ will pay for the
installation of the taxi meter.
Most of them also drive with utter callousness breaking all the
traffic rules, turning abusive to other road users, and above all
driving at high speed overtaking all other vehicles resulting in crashes
and deaths of passengers.
The traffic police should teach then the traffic laws, check to see
whether they are licensed or not whether they are under the influence of
drugs and alcohol, etc.
If all the necessary checks are made only then they can be tamed and
we can look forward to a very disciplined service.
It is nothing but fair to mention that there are also honest and
decent drivers among the 3-wheeler fraternity. Unfortunately they are a
very limited tribe.
Lets hope that before long we could look forward to a very highly re-organised
service.
Transport Minister Alahapperuma, should look into this problem.
VERNIE - Dehiwela
The drug menace gradually penetrating into the most focal sections of
our society is instituting itself in the most confounding and
treacherous manner at an alarming tempo.
As a result, the number of drug addicts in the country is also
mounting at a terrifying tone. Despite repeated expression of acute
concerns by all concerned, the drug trade continues to flourish.
Whichever way the problem is viewed at, this is the truth every thing
will finally boil down to.
While regional and international efforts are crucial in the drive
against trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, local authorities at
Government level have the primary co-ordinating and enforcement
obligation in executing control measures.
International and regional support and co-ordinating bodies can only
harness and reinforce co-operation, expertise etc. and extend assistance
in monitoring progress.
The most prominent and significant cause for the drug trade to thrive
in Sri Lanka is the nexus between police officers and the drug traders.
Just as much as the traders rank from the international mass scale
drug lords to the small time street vendors, police officers also are
spreading over a wide spectrum of ranks from top to the bottom of the
system.
It was not long ago the personal mobile phone number of a high
ranking senior police officer was found in the diary of a drug king pin
who is in custody.
The explanation given by the police top brass was that the senior
officer has given his private mobile number to the drug dealer, in view
of the safety of the latter. Also the enquiry ended up by shelving the
particular diary in a safe place.
Taking bribes, desisting from investigations and recording
statements, profit sharing are a few to mention in the list of
unwarranted events that take place as a result of this affinity.
If not for this, many drug related crimes either could not be
committed or if done so would soon be exposed; with this kind of
connections, most of these offences are readily committed and become
almost impossible to expose.
Hence, any determined and down to earth efforts in preventing this
menace must address this nexus as its primary cause.
A concerted effort across the nation is imperative to obliterate this
scourge in order to eradicate our portion of this global problem. It is
still not too late for the authorities to get the lethargic and
ineffective police force spreaded all over the country on the track, for
us to see a country with a narcotics free young generation.
K.R. PUSHPARANJAN - Mt. Lavinia
Recently some youngsters who went for the driving licence test told
me that they were asked to pay anything from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2,500 to
the examiner if they are to be passed in the test. They have been told
by the trainers themselves; the trainers have told them that it is not
compulsory but if they do not pay this amount the examiner will not
overlook “the small mistakes.”
The argument goes like this: “If you pay them Rs. 2,500 you will
pass, and if you don’t, they will fail you for small mistakes, and you
have to pay Rs. 2,500 to re-sit the exam, so why not pay this anyway and
get it over with? ”
Nice argument to justify corruption and bribery. Will anyone dare to
stop this? It is very difficult to catch. After all there is no way to
prove the driving was perfect!
How do we solve this problem?
DR. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI - Dehiwela
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