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.
MELVILLE PERERA - Kohuwala
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.
VIJITHA ANANDA JAYASENA - Ganemulla
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.)
ELMO FERNANDO - Kalutara North
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.
LIONAL LEANAGE - Ambalangoda
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.
GRAETIAN GUNAWARDHANA - Colombo 4
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?
R. S. - Colombo 4
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.
M. Y. M. Meeadh - Kandy
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.
S. M. WIJAYARATNE - Kuliyapitiya
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.
H. W. GOONESEKERA - Panadura
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.
Shasha M
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.
MANJARI PEIRIS - Maharagama
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