Citizens' mail
I write to pay my heartfelt tribute to Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe,
for safeguarding respect and dignity of our Motherland at the recently
held United Nation's Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
Sri Lankan delegation spearheaded by Minister Samarasinghe and Dayan
Jayathilake, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
was not only able to annul the might of LTTE sympathizing Western Block,
but amply demonstrated and proved the strength and unity of the Asian
countries representing 3/4 of the world population.
We should not forget that our President, Mahinda Rajapaksa has the
knack of appointing right persons to right positions, thus giving
opportunities to capable politicians like Samarasinghe to come forward
and give their utmost contribution to the country in decisive
situations.
Dedicated, knowledgeable and upright politicians are an asset to the
country. Since his induction as the Minister of Human Right Affairs
Samarasinghe has rendered an immeasurable service with an undaunted
courage and relentless devotion.
Being a voter of Kalutara District, I wish him every success in his
all future endeavours.
R.D.P. GUNAWARDENA
Koholana
I was shocked to find out a beggar woman just sitting inside the bus
halt shed causing the writer inconvenience. They are found to be unclean
with urine and faeces since they have no toilet facilities at all. The
dirty smell coming from the squalid bus halt cannot be tolerated by
commuters. Nobody from the public could do any thing to clear the place
of beggars.
The commuters only pass remarks upon the beggars who dirty the bus
halt. Even the police officers pass that way but they do not care about
it. Both gentlemen and ladies teachers, students, secretaries, officers
etc. pass that unpleasant scene every day in the bus stand close to the
clock tower in Kandy. Chairman of Kandy Municipal Council has not taken
any action to solve this problem.
May the authorities of Health take prompt action to keep the city of
Kandy clean!
M.Y.M. Meeadhu
Kandy
We understand that a hotline has been installed at the Health
Ministry to make complaints of those who violate the Mosquito Breeding
Act regulations and accordingly to take action against those who found
guilty.
I would like to state that it is not only the public who violate this
law, but there are many instances where the Urban Councils that are
negligent on their responsibility to the public.
At Maharagama down Cancer hospital (Daham Mawatha) the garbage
collectors of the Maharagama Council do not collect garbage regularly,
but take one-two weeks or at times more than that to collect garbage.
For instance, at Daham Mawatha, they collected garbage on June 15 last,
17 days since collecting the previous lot. People dump garbage
everywhere with the expectation that garbage collectors would come and
collect them regularly on a particular day. Thus owing to the reason
that garbage not being collected for weeks, and dumped on the roads for
weeks, it brings unbearable smell added with the rain water. Do people
pay exorbitant tax to Urban Councils to receive this sort of unpleasant
service?
Why not the Health Ministry take legal action against these
authorities as well?
Chief Public Health Inspector please take necessary action.
Manjari Peiris
Maharagama
S. R. Balachandran's letter deserves the attention of all Sri Lankans.
The only cancer institute in Sri Lanka is situated in Maharagama and
patients from all over the island come here for specialized treatment
and sometimes have to stay overnight with their chaperons.
I wish to inform Balachandran and the public, that the Young Men's
Buddhist Association of Maharagama has already undertaken the task
refereed to the ground floor of the new building they are putting up has
been earmarked for a free hostel for cancer patients and their chaperons
and is being custom built for that purpose and also includes facilities
for washing clothes and drying. As suggested by Balachandran, a Bank
account has been opened. This association which is incorporated by act
of parliament has also been accepted as a charitable organization for
income tax purposes.
It undertook various projects to collect funds, both here and abroad.
Work on the building is going on though the association is still short
of funds, it is hoped that the free hostel will be ready by the end of
the year. The facilities at the hostel will be provided irrespective of
ethnicity or religion, in the same way the king hearted Buddhist monks
did as mentioned by Balachandran in his letter.
Anyone interest in contribution to this worthy cause can remit funds
direct to the Association's Bank Account (Sampath Bank, Maharagama
Account No. 101360000436) or contact the President Asoka Devendra
(0112850500) Secretary Evip Samarasekara (0112 843187) or Treasurer
Gunadasa Alutge (0112 850773).
They can also visit the site at 25, Vidyakara Mawatha, Maharagama
(next to the town water supply tower) and see the work in progress.
Walter Silva
Young Men's Buddhist Association of Maharagama
Sri Lanka experienced an unprecedented national trauma for a spell of
thirty years. The country did sacrifice life and limb of over a lakh of
innocent citizens; property and assets; lands and many resources thus
aiming a death-knell to an entire civilisation. LTTE terrorist
organization in the pursuit of a separate land in this small island,
committed such terrific genocide and treacherous acts with the blessings
of certain foreign powers. Blood-baths and intense misery were common.
Peasants, farmers, workers, the rich and poor, priests and monks of all
denominations fell an easy pray, in the hands of such barbarous brutish
beasts. The dawn of 2005 with a new President for Sri Lanka, echoed a
truly turning point in the peace process, and all forms of atrocities
faded away slowly but steadily, thrusting the LTTE to the wall. The
three Armed Forces, Police and auxiliary services were consistent in
destroying the enemy cadres in the North and the East. Valiant War
Heroes, gained confidence, strength and stature with the visionary
leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the indomitable and sincere
leader, Sri Lanka ever witnessed.
The ignominious LTTE was routed a month ago and Sri Lanka emerged
liberated under the very able hands of our warriors; gratitude and
salute to the three Commanders of the Forces, IGP and Civil Defence
Authorities for their most elegant contribution to the country.
The next formidable task remains against infested corruption and
wastage. It is easier said than accomplished. The nation is still being
haunted by sinister national and international powers who are watchful
to arrest the national progress and forward march. They do pressurize
our national objectives towards rebuild and re-construction. They also
cultivate corruption and wastage in our soil through various means -
ways and agencies. However, the nation is confident that the state in
the hands of our able leader - one and only leader - President Mahinda
Rajapaksa. It is the ardent duty of our undivided nation to afford
fullest co-operation unparallel support and unblemished confidence to
the President in the realization of our national goals during the next
couple of years, the clouds will soon roll by! Let there be peace,
prosperity, harmony and serenity throughout the nation and may all
nationals unite under one banner, ushering a very bright future for Sri
Lanka in the hands of our sincere and vibrant leader.
Susantha S. Edirimuni
Moratuwa
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