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I became so delightful and amazed on hearing your above highly
welcomed record breaking promise to increase the salaries of government
servants within one month of assuming duties as the Executive President
of Sri Lanka. I reasonably believe that you will give this facility also
to the pensioners at least at 1/2 rate as usually done today.
Of all the promises, the politician have given to the people of this
country, yours seems to be so outstanding and marvellous and victorious
and so unequivocal as the war victory against LTTE.
To be very accurate dear General, just as your war targets hitting to
the point, can you please, explain how you propose to find within one
month after assuming duties i.e. by February 26, 2010 a massive sum of
168,000 million roughly calculated as follows:
No. of Government Servants = 1,200,000
Amount of salary increase per month = 10,000
Cost of salary increase to Government
Servants for one year (2010)
= (1,200,000x10,000x12)
= 144,000,000,000
Pensioners 400,000x5,000 (at 1/2 rate)
= (400,000x5,000x12
= 24,000,000,000 = 24,000m
Total expenditure for the year 2010 = 168,000m
You also say, dear General, that you will relinquish all the
dictatorial powers of the Executive Presidency immediately after
assuming duties and hand over such powers to the Parliament in the most
democratic manner, also as promised, and the Parliament naturally cannot
act dictatorially as the Executive President may, and will wait till
November 2010 budget to implement it on your returning democracy and may
perhaps by going for a new IMF loan.
Being in the Army for 40 long years, you rightly did not have the
need or the time to acquaint yourself with the subject of economics as
required to run a country, as its head. May I therefore know since both
the subjects Executive Presidency and the salaries of government
servants are very serious and important matters how do you propose to
find the required funds within one month of you assuming duties. Is it
that you are going to convert the small stick, we see the senior army
officers carrying, to a magic one. In reply to the criticism your
statement that no salary increase or reduction of prices can be done
because of the economists, further confirms the uncertainty of the
possibility of its implementation. Is it not?
Padmashantha Wickramasooriya - Rajagiriya
Thank you Mr IGP, your public statement to crack whip on errant cops
is most welcome by those who are affected by corrupt practice of some of
these officers. The affluent lawbreakers stand above the law with the
blessings of these officers. Most are from the business community
looking for police protection to cover up certain corrupt practices and
quick action in their favour. They need a good rapport with the Police,
and common practice to achieve their relationship with the Police is to
help certain officers in the local area. There are numerous ways how and
what extend they go to. I need not go that far to detail how they build
up the relationship with the Police officers.
Coming back to the warning to corrupt police officers, I would like
you to implement an action plan to monitor the Police performance in
dealing with complains against Police corruption. A senior officer in
the region need to liaise with the public directly either by telephone,
e-mail messages or by writing that will make much easier for the public
to express their concerns rather being confronted by Police officers in
their offices. For the reason that some officers do not welcome the
public making complains against the Police. Mostly, public prefers to
stay anonymous in fear of reprisal.
I have no doubt that you would maintain the department to its highest
level and work with close relationship with people.
It is worth mentioning the good work done by former IGP Jayantha
Wickramaratne and wish him good luck in his future endeavours.
Ranjith C
A new phone line opened on December 16, free for anyone in Sri Lanka
to dial. CCCline is an initiative by the Courage, Compassion, Commitment
(CCC) Foundation in partnership with the National Institute for Mental
Health (NIMH) Angoda, Lifeline International and Lifeline, Hobart
Australia.
CCCline is a telephone counselling service that provides emotional
support and guidance to people facing challenges in their lives. Its
primary purpose is to enable people to cope with crisis and help them
get back on their feet.
Dial 1333 to talk to a counsellor to help you through any kind of
distress. Calls will be answered by health professionals and trained
volunteers who are ready to listen and assist. CCCline’s 1333 number
offers a non-judgemental service and staff are able to contact local
emergency services to assist callers with more urgent needs.
People are encouraged to call if they are experiencing difficulties
with relationship problems, workplace issues, psychiatric disorders,
drug and alcohol issues, suicide concerns, bullying, child abuse,
personality issues or any concern that affects their emotional
well-being.
The guiding principles of the CCCline are based on Courage,
Compassion and Commitment. These values live in all of us and play an
important role in how we care for ourselves as well as others. The
strength of these attributes acquired through experiences in life makes
a difference in the way we perceive ourselves and others and gives us
the ability to lead a rich and fulfilling life.
When things are down and self-esteem is low it takes an enormous
amount of wisdom and COURAGE to admit to needing assistance.
COMPASSION is about empathy and caring for others as well as
yourself. Self-esteem is the turning point in valuing life.
Focus and perseverance is vital to achieving our goals and can be
hard to come by when you face a situation that you feel is hopeless. A
little support and guidance may be all that is required to ensure your
COMMITMENT to see it through.
The CCC Foundation was first started in May 2003 to assist children
suffering from cancer at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in
Maharagama by Jetha Devapura following a visit to the children’s wards
at the NCI. The CCC Foundation works with three strategic alliance
partners, namely the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Peter McCallum
Cancer Centre and the Centre for International Mental Health, all in
Melbourne. To find out more about CCC Foundation projects please call
0777630055 or visit www.cccfoundation.org.au.
At a ceremony to launch the CCCline held at the NIMH Angoda in the
presence of the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Kathy Klugman
as guest of honour, the Director NIMH, Dr. Jayan Mendis stated that
while 3 percent of the population of Sri Lanka have some form of mental
health problems only 40 percent of those receive treatment.
He was hopeful that the opening of the CCCline will promote a
dialogue among the population and thereby reduce the stigma attached to
mental illness.
Currently the phone lines are open daily from 6 p.m to 10 p.m and the
objective is to have a 24 hour line from mid 2010. The initial batch of
volunteers for this service was trained by Steve Barker and Kathy Mason
of Lifeline Hobart, Australia. It is another objective of the CCCline to
be accredited by Lifeline Australia International by 2011. If you are
interested in becoming a volunteer telephone counsellor please call
CCCline on 1333 and make a difference.
The CCCline 1333 number is a free service thanks to the generous
sponsorship of Sri Lanka Telecom through the chairperson Leisha de Silva
Chandrasena. Aliya polo shirts retailed by Carlo and Dillys at their
Crescat and Bullers Road stores will donate 100 percent of the profits
from the sale of their polo shirts to the CCC Foundation for one year.
The World Health Organization supported and sponsored this initiative
from its inception.
Kithsiri Fernando
The historical ceasefire agreement signed by UNP leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe and LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran is the first time
LTTE trapped UNP leadership.
The CFA signed in year 2002 end up as the biggest black patch in Sri
Lankan history. During CFA, LTTE strengthened their military power with
powerful ammunition and almost completely destroyed the Sri Lankan
military intelligence system.
Now for the second time UNP leadership has been trapped by the
remaining LTTE leaders and the countries that support LTTE to divide our
motherland. Appointing Sarath Fonseka as UNP common candidate UNP is
fulfilling the needs of LTTE. Next LTTE can shout to the world that a
dictator has come to power and no longer Tamils can live peacefully in
the island.
C.J.
I read a very interesting and timely article published in August 25,
2009 on the significant results obtained by the Nation Building Minister
Salinda Dissanayake from his paddy plantation using SRI (System of Rice
Intensification) system of paddy cultivation.
This high yielding technique was developed in the late 1980s in
Madagascar. According to the newspaper article, the yield obtained by
this simple technique is four times the normal yield. With so many
Ministers and Deputy Ministers appointed to promote agriculture in Sri
Lanka along with several rice research and breeding institutes to
increase the paddy harvest, why don’t we follow the Nation Building
Minister and utilize this technique to increase our paddy harvest in the
country. This is in line with the projections of Mahinda Chinthana
program to achieve self sufficiency in rice.
Moreover, according to this news article, Dissanayake obtained this
bountiful harvest without using any chemical fertilizers or herbicides.
This fact itself is sufficient for us to seriously consider adopting
this technique for our rice cultivation. Minister has reaped this
enhanced yields for four seasons and proved the viability of this
technique. He has obtained 17 tons/hectare with BG358, a variety
developed by the paddy researches of Sri Lanka.
I am not sure if our Agricultural Ministers are not aware of this
beneficial technique or if there are other technical issues in
practising this technique by our rice farmers. However, since this news
is now open to the public, it is worthwhile to investigate this
technique seriously. To the officers in the Department of Agriculture;
please educate the general public on this issue.
A. Senaratne - Colombo 5
Like an eternal war a debate is going on the question that who are
the deserving personnels for winning the war.
In true sense only the LTTE deserves because they made the Sri Lankan
Army one of the first and strongest armies in the world which can fight
against the prolonged terrorism.
In a teamwork irrespective of one’s rank and cadre everyone deserves
the credit jointly and severely.
Self boasting is also a sin according to Buddhism. Further, blowing
one’s own horn loudly gives a wrong notion that the former officials are
inefficient.
A. B. S. Kotte
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