Road rage in Sri Lanka

Editorial Page- July 26

Thank you ever so much for your article about today's road conditions in the country. This has become another war! Every time I take the wheel I am not sure if I would be coming back home in one piece.

The creeping and speeding buses, the three wheelers, cyclists, other vehicles and the pedestrians are becoming like animals on the loose! Not to mention our roads are so narrow and not properly set up for high speed driving.

Speaking about pedestrians, I notice that they walk across the busy dark unlit streets wearing dark clothing. How do they expect the motorists to see them?

The speeding bus drivers think that they own the roads and they come straight at you from the opposite side trying to overtake. I am suggesting that we all take photos of these violators and send them to the relevant authorities - if that helps. - Pam Meepe

Kandy gets Rs 300M for road development Letters- July 26

I was delighted to read the above article in the Daily News. It is a great move as roads in the indicated areas are in a very bad state. However I would like to ask the Highways and Transport Ministers to formulate a Sri Lankan standard for road construction (if there isn't one already) and make sure all contractors and sub contractors and public authorities stick to the standards.

In the past we have seen many sub contractors do quick shoddy work to earn a fast buck and the roads get washed away in the first rain.

This money will be a waste if the same thing happens again. It's high time we think of lasting good quality work that will save money in the long run and will make our roads safer. -Roshan Dodanwela

Online learning

News-July 24

What an excellent idea! I cannot believe our Sri Lankan schools have stepped in the right direction. This is the way forward in this computer advancing world. I am a science and chemistry teacher from UK and I have a few students who study online who takes online lessons from being in Sri Lanka. This technique is working quite well. The students get the lessons without traveling anywhere

-Dr Hector Perera

Malaria control

News- July 24

I am a Nigerian public health worker. I have seen Nigeria struggle for years, spending millions of dollars each year in the fight against malaria. We have the latest drugs and long-lasting, insecticide-treated nets; but most of the efforts do not get to the very poor in hard-to-reach areas of the delta region of the country where the problem has reached epidemic proportions.

The drugs and nets are expensive. The Global Fund, funded free nets and drugs do not get to the poor.

This is why I am interested in the use of kerosene to destroy the breeding places of mosquitoes. How is this done on large scale? Does it not have undesirable side-effects on the environment? Most people use kerosene for cooking here and it is readily available.

-Victoria Madumere-Ndukwe

Garbage eye sore

Features- July 27

Thank you for publishing this article regarding this major problem in Sri Lanka, not only in the city of Colombo but I see it is quickly spreading to the other parts as well.

In respect to the garbage collectors I have been watching the garbage collecting in Colombo city these days. Actually the cleaners are doing their job well.

They are everywhere cleaning, sweeping and collecting the trash that the public constantly dumping. It is the public that is responsible for messing up their own environment as if they care less. They either expect someone else to clean up after them or they are totally blind and careless about pollution.

I also agree that the city fathers must provide a garbage container with a proper lid to every household with each household number on it. I would be glad even if I have to pay a one time fee.

The city as well as the public must work together to tackle this major problem.

-Pam Meepe