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It is disheartening to observe that a large extent of paddy fields
remain uncultivated in the Kegalle district particularly in the villages
of Dumbuluwewa, Kotegoda, Wadiyatanne, Madulbowa etc.
These paddy fields had been cultivated before and yielded bounteous
harvest for these villagers. But, the situation is now the reverse due
to the neglect of these fertile fields. What a set back in agriculture!
The decadent condition of paddy production in this region is quite
contrary to the Mahinda Chintana of the President. It is non-cooperation
of the Sri Lankan farmers with the Government in developing the
agricultural sector.
According to owners of these uncultivated paddy fields, it seems that
it is unprofitable for them to cultivate these fields by spending money
for purchase of fertilizers and other requirements.
Therefore, it is the duty of agricultural advisors and Waga Niladaris
to meet proprietors of these fields and discuss the problems and advise
them on how to make paddy cultivation profitable in the present economic
development process.
A.Y.M. MEEADH - Kandy
The Presidential election campaign is gathering momentum. Brickbats
are hurled at each other reminding the public, at times, of their past
experiences, seen, heard or read. One such thing has begun to haunt me,
which, I think, might be food for thought for the reader. After deciding
against the murder of his own king, Duncan, Macbeth gives vent to his
sound judgement in this way:
We will proceed no further in this business.
He hath honour’d me of late; and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon.
But Macbeth had to yield to the pressure enforced by his power-hungry
wife. At the end Macbeth reaped the bitter harvest that cropped up from
the poisonous seeds he sowed. Time will not be long before the history
exposes another Macbeth.
T.M.J.B. TENNAKOON - Demataluwa
It is with heartfelt trepidation that I wish to bring to the notice
of medical authorities, the exploitation of sick by some private
hospitals. The case in point is that when one goes for consultation of a
specialist, you pay 60 percent of the doctor’s fee as hospital charges
for giving a number to see the doctor and a chair to sit on for hours as
the specialist never come on time or they send messages through the
reception that they are not coming due to various reasons such as they
are performing surgery/operation.
With the Government’s efforts to bring down the Cost of Living, I
hope the Health Minister with the guidance of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa will give some solace to these patients, who due to delays in
Government Hospitals, go to private hospitals to consult the same doctor
as specialist, who is working in the Government hospitals and paid by
the Government.
All these are crimes committed by big Mudalalal’s popularly moving
with the society as philanthropists.
The President should interfere into this and order them to fix same
charges to all hospitals.
R. Mahavimalaratne - Colombo 13
The above is a dangerous proposal for many reasons.
First, the country cannot afford to pay Rs 10,000 per public servant.
The salary and wage bill is around Rs 313.9 billion or 53.6 percent of
revenue (2007 figures) collected.
Raising it by Rs 10,000 will raise public expenditure even further
while no precise estimate is possible given that the number of public
servants is not generally known.
If we assume, an average monthly wage of public servant as say Rs
16,500 a month, this will raise the salary and wage bill by 60 percent
and the wage bill to Rs 502.2 billion. In that case the salaries and
wages will claim 85 percent of revenue. This is an utterly unrealistic
proposal on the face of it. Remember that we already dedicate nearly 90
percent of revenues to payment of interest on existing public debt.
Second, even if it were tried, it will have dire consequences for the
economy which is reeling from a very expensive war against the LTTE
which is why our public debt is so high. Since revenue cannot be
increased without adversely affecting the private sector, this amount
has to be financed from borrowing from inflationary sources, namely the
Central Bank or the public owned bank.
It is likely, that a 60 percent increase in salaries and wages will
lead to a high rate of inflation, even if half of that increase is spent
on goods and services.
It is therefore self-defeating. As money income rises, inflation will
also rise to reduce real income (or goods and services that we can buy
from money income) of everyone. The general public will be worse off
than now. In point of fact, the 2009 budget will raise salaries and
wages by Rs 4,500.
What is proposed will raise it to Rs 14,500, in which case inflation
will rise further since there is no accompanying increase in the supply
of goods and services.
Third, Sri Lanka has a stand-by arrangement with the IMF in which we
have agreed to keep the fiscal deficit to 7 percent of GDP in 2010 and 5
percent of GDP by 2011.
A salary increase that is proposed will break all these ceilings and
break the arrangement we have made with the IMF. It will send a bad
signal to the rest of the world that we are not a responsible country
that follows self-defeating economic policies.
Nobody will be willing to extend credit to us for a long time, if
this happens.
Finally, the proposal shows that the common candidate is not making
responsible statements about what he will do, if he is elected. This
should give a good signal to the voters that persons who make such
irresponsible statements to get votes cannot be trusted. He is prepared
to hoodwink the public and it is insulting to the public to be thought
of, as being so easily hoodwinked by an amateur, inexperienced and
irresponsible politician.
PREMASARA EPASINGHE
It is a known fact that crooks on the run be they in the island or in
foreign climes, develop overnight illnesses when arrested or resort to
loopholes in the law to avoid arrest. Hospitalisation is their immediate
need and worse prison hospitals are not good enough for their overnight
illnesses.
Most victims of the above-named are undergoing immense trauma and
cannot even afford basic travelling expenses leave alone medical
expenses while these fraudesters continue to enjoy all facilities in
comfort at taxpayers’ expense.
In fairness to such victims, I believe Courts have the power to order
these fraudesters to pay for their own maintenance when in State custody
proportionate to the wealth they have illegally amassed.
It is rumoured that the above- named is having a whale of a time at
night in Singapore disguised as a Philippine housemaid wearing a fancy
wig.
With all the laws intact - local and international - it is puzzling
if not surprising, strange and amusing, why this fugitive cannot be
arrested or extradited at least ‘KP’ style.
MELVILLE PERERA - Kohuwala
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