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Monday, 22 February 2010

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Opposition’s political buffoonery

Based on the current scenario, the Opposition has now dropped to the deepest depth of political bankruptcy with no hope of a resurrection. Their vociferous language and anger as well as their dejected expressions as can be seen during TV dialogues.

From the very inception of the elections launched by the Government after the defeat of the rebellious war, they have suffered number of defeats. Going into details is a waste of time but the fact remains they faced a stunning resounding defeat in spite of their very dubious most powerful alliance created by a clueless luck by chance lackey in the South who I understand is not going to contest the up-coming General Election.

Whatever said and done they are the best performing clowns in town attracting crowds not for their economic acumen which they lack but for their oft repeated political bunkum which the intelligent crowd revel in with that every striking line from Julius Caesar “But Caesar was an honest man” at the back of their mind.

The ‘clowning’ glory was the production of burnt ‘certified’ ballot papers found in a garbage heap in Ratnapura, as proof of election fraud. Is this not belittling the erudite intelligence of the Buddhist clergy which surpasses that of the above UNP member and his alliances? Everyday they have new performances.

Now the ‘gilmart’ issue has been left out in their Court application. With the dissolution of Parliament and removal of security to them - an accepted procedure - they are demanding security for their protection. How amusing considering the guts they have to demonstrate and challenge government action. It is at such occasions that their security is at risk. One wonders what happens to the security provided during these demonstrations. Are they not needed then or are they sent on leave? Clowns in circuses display a better sense of intelligence.


National list MPs

I hope defeated candidates will not be appointed at the up-coming General elections to any important post like Provincial Governors, ambassadors and High Commissioners, Chairmen and members of Government and Statutory Boards and Corporations and other similar posts and to the proposed Senate, because they have been rejected by the people.

I would also request to re-activate Capital punishment as this will greatly reduce the number of grave crimes in Sri Lanka. A person who plans to commit a gruesome murder or rape will think twice if hanging is in operation.

A panel consisting of the Chief Justice as Chairman of the Panel, the trial Judge, the Attorney-General and a Senior President’s Counsel as Members of the Panel and if all the Members of the Panel are unanimously agreed, then the sentence of death could be carried out. I trust that this will greatly reduce the number of heinous crimes in Sri Lanka.


The National Congress and after

The United National Party was formed in 1945, in view of the forthcoming 1947 State Council Elections which was held under the provisions of the Donoughmore Constitution. The so called National Congress was formed by a motley group comprising Dr T. B. Jayah of the Muslim Congress, the Tamil Congress of Prof C. Suntheralingam, the Professor of Mathematics of the University of Ceylon, at that time. The UNP, which was humorously named the Uncle Nephew Party, just as the present UNPers surreptitiously named the SLFP as the brothers confederation (Sahodara Sanvidhanaya)

The important issue I want to stress is how the UNP insidiously sabotaged the Free Education Bill, on the pretext that the government at the time had no finances to foot the Bill. However, whatever misgivings he may have had, Sir Oliver Goonetilleka who was the Civil Defence Commissioner, invited C. W. W. Kannangara, Education Minister to present the Bill in the State Council and that millions of poor children would be grateful to them.

Incidentally I would wish to quote Sir Ivor Jennings the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ceylon:

“The impression which prevailed in 1947, and it was supported by stories of estate labourers being marched down to the poll marshalled by Communist polling agents was that the Indian vote was cast almost solidly for the common candidate.

Inferences may, perhaps, be drawn by examining the constituencies in which the electorate was reduced in 1950. (Additional Notes on the General Election of 1952-Ceylon Historical Journal), Volume II Numbers 3 and 4.)


Value of old coins

Can any knowledgeable reader of the ‘Citizens’ Mail Page inform me of the address of a buyer or telephone number of a person who collects antique coins?

I have a few ‘One Cent’ and ‘Half Cent’ coins minted during 1890 (Queen Victoria era), 1914, 1920, 1923, 1925, 1940, 1942 and 1945 bearing the ‘Emblem of King George VI and Emperor of India’ on one side, and on the obverse, the ‘Palmyrah Tree’. Two ‘Half Cent’ coins minted in 1920 and 1940 with ‘King George V and VI Emblem’ with the ‘Palmyrah Tree’ on the obverse, are also available for disposal.


Investment banking

I was heartening to read in the newspaper an article ‘Bank of Ceylon enters investment banking’. This is a long awaited need for this country.

Many people have great ideas and contacts abroad for export of products but they do not have sufficient cash flow to bring this benefit to the country.

The hotel room-rates in Sri Lanka need to be trebled in order to meet the tourism challenges. Many people have beautiful locations to build hotels but require partnership with an investment bank taking preferential shares in order to carry the burdens regarding return on investment and other risks. As such, hope you will be liberal in identifying the country’s need to expand exports and tourism and launch this program as soon as possible.

Congratulations and wish you all the best.


Humps on the road

It is being observed that there are many humps on the road. Some are unauthorized. Humps should have some kind of luminous markings across the roads in white or yellow so that elderly people like us suddenly do not get lifted in the air and thrown down and hurt our backs.

Could the authorities look into this and do something to remove the humps or have them noticeable to the public?


Avoid walking along railway track

It is a usual sight of leisurely walk along the railway track by young and old. The worst part of it is that they walk completely oblivious of the train, chatting over the mobile phone so deeply that they cannot hear anything else. As a result, they are subjected to train accidents at any time because they are not vigilant about the coming of trains.

Newspapers have reported many train mishaps suffered by these needless walkers on the railway track. Such news of warning seems to be unbelievable to such careless people. The school boys and girls have failed to realize the impending danger by walking on the railway track. They should be advised and instructed by school principals and class teachers on a voiding the dangerous situation outside the school. They should be repeatedly reminded of such prohibitive activities at school assemblies.

As far as the elderly people are concerned, they should take precautions against the mishaps due to train coming suddenly without giving them chance to escape. Some elderly women walk on the railway track holding the hands of very young children. If the train suddenly comes they can hardly go out of the track to escape from the speedy train.

Therefore, let all those walkers on the railway track stop doing so in future.


Let’s build a virtuous society

We see senior schoolchildren and university students behave very violently on many occasions at schools and universities. It is because they never like to listen to elders and the wise. Through newspapers, we have seen many undergraduates destroy and damage public property when they are overcome with anger, malice and hatred.

This is high time to launch meaningful program to pacify the burning minds of senior student population of this noble land, Sri Lanka. Academically qualified youth alone are not useful to any country. Computers, mobile phones and Internet have been used by misguided youth for negative purposes and hence many educated youth have to be rehabilitated for the good of the present society.

I respectfully ask for the prompt measures to be launched by religious guides of all faiths to put the misguided youth on the proper track of noble human life. Then only we can be satisfied that our Motherland is blessed with a noble future generation.

Massive practical religious programs to dispel wrong conceptions in youth generation should be organised at schools and universities. At the same time, teachers of these institutions too should set good examples for pupils.

There are children who do not look after their aged parents as these children are not touched with the noble feelings of great motherhood or parenthood.

We are not too late to put the society on the correct path. Let’s work together to build a virtuous society in the time to come under the able guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.


Colombo South Teaching Hospital Kalubowila

I was a patient in Ward No. 25 (Surgical) and the Intensive Care Unit (Medical) of the above hospital for about a week in December, 2009 for a major surgery.

This letter is written in appreciation of the services rendered by the doctors as well as nurses and the minor staff of the Ward. They were duty conscious and very courteous and always prepared to help the patients irrespective of their status.


Public access to publications and library at universities

It is a pity that Government Universities which are knowledge hubs, do not wish to share information with the public. I recently called up the Colombo University inquiring whether I could get information on Commerce, preferably publications or books. I was told that the public does not have access to such information, which is only available to the university students.

In this year of ICT and English, should not everyone have the right to learn at least these two subject areas? Universities in other countries allow public to access specific general area of their library or photocopy information of other reference books or journals.

Knowledge is for everyone. We may not be scholars, but our thirst to learn should be respected. Universities in Sri Lanka may be for the very few intelligent people. But appreciate if publications, at least in photocopy mode be available to the public.


Promoting smoking scenes through media

I was delighted to read through the Daily News that NATA Chairman had cautioned EAP Network Chairman on indirect advertisements aired through Swarnavahini.

I wish to express my appreciation and congratulate the NATA Chairman of the bold decision that he had taken.

On January 3 in an article which appeared in a daily newspaper about tobacco smuggling, the newspaper promoted smoking among women in Sri Lanka by inserting a glamorous smoking scene of a young woman and a packet of cigarettes which didn’t have any relevance to the subject matter of the article.

Therefore, I would like to suggest NATA Chairman to kindly take the following initiatives too:

* To write to all the heads of media institutions requesting them not to promote smoking scenes through media.

* To publicize through media requesting all film/teledrama producers not to promote smoking scenes through their future creations.

 

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