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We should be very pleased that a law has been passed compelling
passengers of motor vehicles to wear seat belts. I feel less than 3
percent of us have been wearing them till now despite their availability
in our vehicles, and this law would, in the months to come, achieve a
very high degree of compliance in view of the proposed heavy fines.
It has been proved beyond doubt that seat belts reduce the risk of
being thrown out from a vehicle or tumbling about inside sustaining
serious injury or death, by about 60 percent. Thousands of passengers
die every year in the globe having not worn a seat belt when the vehicle
crashed.
There are even reports that unbuckled rear seat passengers have
caused the death of front seat passengers.
It was in the 1950s that safety features that were incorporated in
the aero planes started to be applied to motor vehicles; seat belts were
one such item, and it was found that they could absorb the energy caused
by rapid declaration in a crash, and also spread the forces from a crash
over hard bones rather than on softer internal organs like the heart,
liver, spleen and the kidneys.
It was the United States federal government that gave the lead by
introducing regulations requiring new vehicles to be fitted with seat
belts.
By late 1960, most vehicles had seat belts, but their use remained
low because their benefit was not widely publicized. So, with the rise
in vehicle population, deaths from road crashes continued to rise. In
1970, the state of Victoria in Australia introduced a safety belt law.
This had resulted in the rise of seat belt wear to 90 percent, and
other countries too started introducing laws in this regard. After
strict law enforcement and increased fines, the percentage of seat belt
wear had risen to 98 percent in Korea in 2001. Having started late, our
aim should be to have that level of success soon and save dozens of
lives every year.
Even though all passengers would like to comply with this new law
there would be many who would forget to ‘buckle up’, having not done so
for many years. In Sweden, 35 percent of new cars are said to be
equipped with an alarm that sounds, with gradually increase in
intensity, when the seat belt is not worn.
Even though there is a light indicator in our cars in the dashboard,
we have been ignoring that for so many years, and so it is not likely to
help. It would be great if a commercial establishment prints a sticker
with a short message such as ‘wear the seat belt’ along with their logo
and make them available free in petrol filling stations.
That would increase the seat belt wear, help us to avoid fines, and
the organization too could benefit by getting some publicity.
Dr. Wijaya Godakumbura
Consultant Surgeon, Member, National Committee for
Prevention of Injuries, Member, Traffic Accident Prevention Committee of
the S/L Medical Association
If one analyses the recently concluded Iranian elections that legally
elected President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad once again with a two thirds
majority, it is with deep regret that one notes that the Iranian nation
is being demonized by a minority by staging uncalled for protests.
When one looks back at the Master Plan of the U.S. which had
allocated US$ 300 Million to de-stabilize the legally elected
government, one can see that this plan is now coming to play with the
Mousavi’s and Rafsanjani’s, which is very evident with the recent
turmoil brought about by them.
Every Muslim all over the world should be proud of the fact that a
man of the noble calibre of Ahmedinejad has once again come to power to
fight every type of oppression, not only against the Muslims, but
against all the oppressed rulers, be they Christians, Buddhists or any
other ethnicities.
One can only hope and pray that the minority Iranian nation who have
been misled, will see the whole situation in a brighter and broader
perspective and revert to support this great leader in performing his
duties to the betterment of a stronger and purer Islamic Nation, in
spite of all the obstacles set by the great oppressors of the world.
D. Haris Jalill
It is well-known that many previous incidents of bombings on roads in
Colombo by the LTTE resulted in death and injury to politicians, defence
personnel, motorists and civilians who were caught up in slow moving
traffic.
As a result, about three years back the authorities took a decision
to re-arrange some two-way traffic systems to one-way systems in some
areas of Colombo including Cinnamon Gardens.
This hurriedly implemented decision was successful with less traffic
delays, ease of movement for the politicians and other LTTE threatened
personnel. This also ensured reduced collateral damage and death to
motorists and civilians.
However, it is very unlikely that Colombo’s one-way traffic systems
will be reverted to the previous two-way systems in the near future.
It is observed that the changes implemented have been subject to the
following;
1. Giving little attention to convenience of motorists and civilians.
2. Having few traffic direction signboards and road markings thus
confusing motorists.
3. Disregarding the serious situation where motor vehicles cross each
other without any facilitation thus endangering motorists.
4. Non installation of essential traffic lights at junctions where
risk of motor accidents are great.
5. Pedestrians being unable to cross some wide roads without risk of
death and injury. (Very few overpasses and underpasses for motor
vehicles and the public).
6. Inadequate street lighting at night and badly lit pedestrian
crossings making it risky for motorists and pedestrians. (Most
pedestrian crossings do not have Orange night flasher Globes).
7. Very little or no facilities on roads for the Traffic Policemen to
protect them from the hazards of weather, injury and death when on the
roads. (Need for elevated, covered and illuminated Podiums, safety
barriers etc.)
Now that the anti-LTTE operations in the North and East of Sri Lanka
have ended, the Government will attempt to revive the Sri Lankan economy
by inviting international and local investors to set up enterprises.
Furthermore, tourists too would be encouraged to visit Sri Lanka.
As such, there is an immediate need to upgrade the roads in Colombo,
carry out improvements to the one-way and two-way traffic systems so
that Sri Lanka’s commercial capital will be upto international standards
and will facilitate Sri Lanka’s development.
Therefore, the Government should embark on a comprehensive project to
develop Colombo’s road network and other required facilities. This no
doubt will involve all relevant State agencies such as the Western
Provincial Council, National Transport Commission, Road Development
Authority, Colombo Municipal Council, Police Department etc. Needless to
say, such an exercise will require project funding which will have to be
found as well by the authorities.
Themiya Hurulle - Colombo
With all the prayers and praise that is bestowed on our beloved
President for relieving masses for ending the war, I now plead on behalf
of my and others’ children who are asked to pay an annual visa tax of Rs.
15,000 to Rs. 20,000 if holding non Sri Lanka passports.
Sir, withdraw this tax and thus give a sigh of relief to parents who
find it difficult to pay this tax for children who are 17 years of age.
This request goes to the Foreign Minister too, to consider my plea
and help us immediately.
Zahida A. Kadar
Dengue has risen up to its top domination governing most parts of the
island. Although Government and Ministry of Health have taken many steps
to curb the growth this dreadful mosquito, it seems not easy for us to
eradicate it.
Measures have been taken by the health authorities to conduct
awareness program in schools and schoolchildren are guided on how the
Dengue breeding places can be destroyed. But its growth is going
uncontrollably. Is the environment cleaned properly? No, not the public
are serious about it.
The arrival of coconut shells and empty tins and other containers are
non-stop objects in our country as those are linked with our daily food.
When such objects are destroyed in a home the disappointed mosquitoes
domicile in a new shell in the neighbour house.
Therefore eliminating the mosquitoes is more important than
destroying the containers. If all the breeding places in our country are
closed in a day, all the flies will be eliminated.
At the present situation of high-rise of dengue domination in our
country, a single or a multi programs either district wise or
provincial-wise will not safeguard public from this fly. A National
Level Dengue Eradication Day should be declared by the government.
When millions of hands be embarked in this program nowhere the
mosquitoes could domicile because everywhere cleaning work, burning
garbage and spraying chemicals will take place.
Not only Dengue but also other hidden dangerous flies also be
destroyed. So to do this it should be either a Monday or a Friday. Or it
should be working-day adjoining a holiday. Almost all the people of this
country should labour at their own land genuinely not hiring labourers
because those labourers too have their own cleaning work at their own
homes.
As this program is in a week-day, for employees in private sectors,
this day should be counted a payday. On that day no schools, no offices,
no other education centres function. Whole Sri Lankan should stay home
and do cleaning the environment.
The garbage collector-lorries, tractor-traillers, pull carts belonged
to government and private sector should be used remove the garbage from
homes and dump it at a disposal centre.
A. Abdeen - Sammanthurai
Why is there so much foreign pressure in the internal affairs of Sri
Lanka? Well there are the countries whose economy depends on the sales
of weapons. They would want a conflict going on anywhere in the world,
and their underhand agents would sell the weapons to the terrorists
while they themselves sell the weapons to the governments.
There are those who want a separate state out here so that later they
can demand for separate states using this as a base. There are those who
like the big nations breaking up to smaller states, so that they would
be weakened militarily and economically; while they themselves remain
united and powerful may be such forces are acting behind the scenes.
Unfortunately there are a few local elements who would betray
anything and everything for a little money or power.
Then there are those who tell us what to do and what not to do when
fighting the terrorist but when they fought their enemies they didn’t
adhere any of those. They should practise what they preach. Leaving
aside, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We know how they fought in Vietnam, Iraq
and in Afghanistan.
Also we could see how Israel fights their enemies. The world turns a
blind eye about the atrocities committed to the civilians by such
powerful countries. We are the only country in the world that sent
medicine and food to the enemy while fighting them and it is so great to
see the civilians in the South no matter what their creed or race
helping the civilians.
Our President and the Armed Forces not only had to fight the Tiger
terrorists but also they had to face the international pressure.
Gerard Perera - Pannipitiya
There is a bus halt located almost in front of the Maradana Post
Office at Punchi Borella junction. There is a mad scramble by bus crews
to get the maximum passengers into their own bus.
The bus first in line takes its time to load passengers while the
several other buses behind (some of which have even jumped the red
traffic light thereby blocking traffic) continuously blast their trumpet
horns creating a deafening din.
The staff at the post office are compelled to undergo this torture
during working hours every working day. I wonder how they do it. the
worst affected are those at the counter, at times even including
expectant mothers.
This noise pollution might cause permanent injury to the staff.
Can some action be taken to help these poor souls?
P. B. Heart
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