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We are aware that our Government’s intention is to reduce the Cost of
Living and also make essential goods available to the public at large at
affordable prices. All must co-operate to make this plan successful for
the benefit of the country.
Unfortunately, some traders are engaged in sabotaging this for their
own benefit. At present vegetables from Jaffna are reaching Colombo
through the A9 Road at cheap prices. Unfortunately at Dambulla (which
controls nearly 60 percent of vegetable market) these vegetables are
purchased and sent to Pettah at exorbitant prices.
They are making super black profits. Eg. Green chillies which are
sold at the rate of Rs. 30 are sold for nearly Rs. 300. By adopting this
method the following disadvantages occur:
(a) Consumers in Colombo do not purchase vegetables at low prices.
Vegetable producers in other areas especially in Dambulla do not fetch a
reasonable price for their products and they throw them into the
dustbin. This is a serious matter. In India several farmers committed
suicide, as there was no reasonable price, for their paddy.
(b) The super black market profit results in accumulating black
money, as these traders do not pay taxes on the hidden profit. It is
true that the producers cannot directly reach the consumers. There are
distributors, wholesalers and retailers inbetween. In fairness a
producer should earn 20 percent and others earn between 10-12 percent.
In this case the distributors at Dambulla earn more than 210 percent.
The same thing will happen to seafoods coming from Jaffna and
vegetables from Nuwara Eliya. Early corrective action should be taken.
It may be true that the Government will not interfere in free market
operations i.e. demand and supply meet and decide the price. However, it
should be noted that this is tantamount to the monopoly which should be
broken for the benefit of the public at large.
I suggest that the Government permits the Consumer Protection
Authority to take necessary measures as they have done for essential
goods (milk powder), so that producers, consumers and all others are
benefitted.
S. R. BALACHANDRAN - Council Member - National
Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka
Veteran journalist Philip Fernando in his ‘Parallel Perspectives’
column has correctly pictured the contemporary status of the English
language worldwide. His piece gives valuable information and statistics.
As a student and teacher of English literature, I found his analysis
worth studying to feel the reality. Congratulations.
K S Sivakumaran - Colombo 6
Apropos of the article in lighter vein ‘Burning your books’ August 25
the philosopher’s action in burning his books at the end of his study
would appear to be rather bizarre. Had he known the advice given by
Franklin Roosevelt to the booksellers of America he would have instead
preserved the them. Here is what the American President said.
“We all know that books burn - yet we have the greater knowledge that
books cannot be killed by fire. People die, but books never die. No man
and no force can abolish memory. No man and no force can put thought in
a concentration camp forever. No man and no force can take from the
world the books that embody man’s eternal fight against tyranny of every
kind. In this war, we know, books are weapons. And it is part of your
dedication always to make them weapons for man’s freedom”.
C. Rudra Wattala
When I was watching on TV, the afternoon session of the 2nd Test
match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand played at the SSC, I was
delighted to see the young New Zealand tail-ender Ian O’Brian’s
conscientiously walking out before the umpire’s ruling was given.
It is indeed a fine act of sportsmanship which we rarely see in
present day cricket. When he departed, he was holding out his end
solidly for his skipper to push the score up and the game was gradually
heading for a sensational finish.
Although it was barely appreciated by the commentators and critics,
sporty attitudes and gestures of that sort by players undoubtedly keep
up the spirit of the game. It also helps to ease the pressure exerted on
umpires doing an onerous job in the middle.
I would also like to mention a few instances in modern cricket where
players similarly showed their true colours of sportsmanship while at
play i.e. Ricky Ponting’s walking out in a World Cup Final against
Pakistan at the London Oval, Kumara Sangakkara’s indication to the
umpire at the last WC final in Caribbean that the ball bounced on the
ground before it came to his gloves.
I also remember former Sri Lanka skipper, Marvan Atapattu walked back
without looking at the umpire, who hesitated to give his decision, as
the ball touched his bat on its way to the wicketkeeper in an
international match.
Examples set by sportsmen of the above calibre should be emulated by
players and commended by sports lovers.
R.D.P. GUNAWARDENA - Kalutara
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