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It is quite evident from the Central Province election result that
the general public has appreciated the Government's genuine approach to
the elimination of terrorism from North and East of Sri Lanka.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa's progressive steps towards the solution
of the ethnic problem in the North and East are very well recognised by
the right thinking voters despite the Opposition political parties'
false propaganda against the stable Government.
Even the price hike is justified by the enlightened consumers on the
ground that a massive expenditure is incurred by the Government for the
defence of the country.
The people of the Central Province have realised the truth that the
price rise has been an unavoidable one under the adverse condition of a
defensive war against terrorists. However, the Central Province election
result has proved that the people cannot be hoodwinked by
anti-Government Forces.
The victory of the ruling political party in the election will pave
the way for expediting the further development measures in the city of
Kandy and the Up country Estate Tamil areas where the estate workers
still live in abject poverty.
M.Y.M. Meeadhu Kandy
It is apparent that listeners of the Sinhalese program Sandeshaya of
BBC, aired after the Sinhalese news bulletin at 9 p.m. on National
Service, would find that it is heavily biased to cater to those who have
distaste for good things done by the Government. Rather than
appreciating the achievements of the Government, Sandeshaya is keen on
pinpointing issues usually in disfavour of the Government.
This trend is clearly seen when reporting news on military activities
in the North. The presenters look for disgracing the Government at every
turn, always passing the benefit to the person or group clamouring
against the ruling party. While they make good news fade off without due
emphasis, whatever bad said against the Government is often garishly
highlighted with references drawn from every facet to substantiate it.
It is difficult to understand why a foreign news service is allowed
to act on its own in such an irresponsible manner, misguiding listeners
many of who consider news on Sandeshaya more credible than what they
hear on the local radio network.
When reporting news on the warfront, Sandeshaya is often stressing on
the number of civilian causalities and commiserating for them, deviating
the minds of the public from the fact that such people are intermixed
with the enemy and that they are apt to perish in an attack as long as
they are held as a human shield by the LTTE. Sandeshaya queries from the
military spokesmen almost on a daily basis what precautions they take to
curb this situation. The questions are fired at them in a demanding and
discourteous manner as if in a court proceeding.
Even the basic courtesy of addressing or referring to leaders of
Government and military officers is flouted when they are addressed for
querying or obtaining their views, with low concern for them. It would
be all right for them to be addressed in English as 'military spokesman'
or 'President', but in Sinhalese, calling them by the names of their
mere positions often has an undertone of insolence.
When Sandeshaya is all out to run down the Government and take great
pains in gleaning facts to do so, not a mention is made on activities
worth reporting. The capture of the LTTE held areas by our valiant
Forces unearthed the insidious role many NGOs had been playing under the
pretext of humanitarian activities. In fact, most of the NGOs were hand
in glove with the LTTE, offering every support they could provide for
the most heinous terrorist organization in the world. When BBC is poking
their finger in every pie, why they have not delved into such an
important issue, even after ample proof of NGOs' liaison with the LTTE
and made listeners aware of the true situation?
This is yet more proof of the double standards of BBC in reporting
news in Sri Lanka. BBC, like many of its Western counterparts which
functioned as wolves in sheep's clothing in Sri Lanka, spares no chance
in aggravating situations with biased news reporting, aimed at
discrediting the Government whenever possible.
It is time those who held BBC in high esteem as being unprejudiced in
reporting news of Sri Lanka cleared their minds that it is no better
than the NGOs that tarnished the image of Sri lanka, splashing false
news world-wide and heavily contributing the LTTE to achieve their
ghastly expectations.
Manil Gunawardene
Talangama
New lane and Hevananda Mawatha belong to Matara Municipal Council has
been utterly neglected for a long time. This cause a great inconvenience
to motorists, pedestrians and the people of the area.
The situation gets worse during rainy season and the roads leading to
the Matara bazaar become muddy pool. In consequent of this situation,
the roads become impassable. However there seems to be no attention from
the officials concerned regarding this pathetic situation. Mayor Matara
please have your eyed on this bad status quo in due course which would
be highly appreciated.
Sumith Seneviratne
Noise pollution laws have become another laughing matter. Kirillapona
mosque is back again with noise pollution having loud speakers mounted
on top of the mosque. This is a sad situation where law has become a
joke.
For some time the neighbours around the Kirillapona mosque had peace
when the loud speakers were removed. Shouldn't their be peace for the
people living in this neighbourhood to enjoy noise free environment?
This is for the attention of Minister of Environment and IGP to take
necessary action against the management of this mosque to prevent
harassment and intimidation to the residents living in the neighbourhood
by creating noise pollution.
K.R.
With reference to the above query by Geoffrey Gunesekera, I suggest
that he buy well-known brands with a guarantee/warranty for a long life
span. He should not go for the ones sold on the pavement as there is no
guarantee and we are not sure whether it is energy saving or not.
CFL comes in 2 types - Spiral type and U-type (there again you can
get double U and treble U). And all of which come in pin type, screw
type and screw type thin. As for the colours, you can get daylight and
warm white. The wattage range is from 5 W to 65W with output equivalent
to 25 W to 325 W respectively - that is, the output is a multiple of 5
of the watt indicated on the bulb. The price range is from Rs. 300 to
Rs.1,550. The guarantee period varies from 1 to 2 years.
I also like to share with the readers that according to UK's Health
Protection Agency, UV emissions from some CFL bulbs can cause reddening
of the skin if people get too close for long periods of time. HPA is
advising people to stay at least 1-foot away from CFL bulbs with exposed
light coils. It also recommends going for enclosed CFL lights, where the
coil is covered like a traditional incandescent light, as there is no
emission of UV.
Mohamed Zahran
Colombo 3
A letter issued with the pensioners' salary slip informs that a sum
of Rs. 50 has been deducted for the building fund of the Nuwara Eliya
Pensioners' Rest Room.
These letters are sent by the Provincial Secretaries of the
respective areas that the reduction of Rs. 50 has been authorised by the
Director of Pensions by a Circular. This is an arbitrary action as it
goes against the right of the pensioners who have not given any consent
to do so.
Would the Minister of Finance or any other authority look into the
arbitrary decision of the Commissioner of Pensions?
H.A.W. Hewawasam Dambulla
The Editorial in the Daily News January 27 has hit the nail on its
head in addressing the above issue and its associated cause. Needless to
say the CMC and Councils must take the blame for the current situation.
It is not too late to set up a strategic development plan for Colombo
and identify the key problem area and tackling them in a systematic
manner.
The need for a thorough clean up of the sewerage and drainage system
is imminent. To start with, the canal systems must be dredged and
desilted on a regular basis and construction works carried out to
facilitate ongoing maintenance.
For instance, the cleaning of vegetation and garbage adjacent to the
canals, constructing vertical margins in concrete or gabions along the
toe of the canal. This will create depth and prevent breeding mosquitoes
in shallow water.
The flow of water along canals must be designed for non silting non
scouring velocity with proper canal profiles. Appropriate outlets
designed to discharge the flow into the deep sea and prevent the influx
of sand and sea water are to be given priority.
With global warming the dengue problem may worsen and preventive
maintenance would give some relief. Civic groups and schools must be
encouraged to educate the public in pollution control. Although this is
happening, the people can go a step further by mosquito screening their
home and using citronella based repellents.
I am a frequent visitor to Sri Lanka and having discussed this issue
with the people I find they feel that screening will stop the
ventilation in their home.
This is a myth which must be ignored and furthermore a saving on
toxic mosquito coils and medical bills. Trade fairs in Sri Lanka must
promote this concept with a model home fully mosquito screened for
people to understand how it can be installed.
In Australia almost every home is screened for mosquitoes and sand
flies and we have no problem on ventilation.
Sponsorship and funding from foreign organisations will be the way to
go to prevent a dengue epidemic.
Percy Wijenayake
Australia
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