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LECO Ltd has interrupted electricity supplies to St Peters Road,
Moratuwa and beyond, 16 times since January. Some interruptions are as
long as 10 hours. When the engineer is contacted, he informs that it is
for maintenance work or to give new connections to factories. Even if
advance publicity is given, it still causes many problems which LECO
engineers do not appear to understand.
Engineers are of the view that the interruptions are better done
during the week, instead of the weekend as the latter would be an
inconvenience to families who get-together during weekends.
The Government is all out to promote and help Small and Medium
Enterprises (SME). These are the very enterprises that lose money due to
these power cuts. The SMEs cannot afford to have generators which the
engineers are of the view they should have. It is more sensible to
eliminate the power cuts completely so that national productivity and
national goals are not prejudiced.
If there are defects in the power lines of the area, they must be
permanently repaired or replaced. Till such time, improve the
productivity of LECO maintenance gangs so that power will be restored in
the shortest time. The following applies to both LECO and Ceylon
Electricity Board:
Often the maintenance work is cutting branches of trees and creepers
that are lying on the power lines along public roads. This work in the
CEB is contracted out - some engineers have such contracts with a front
man.
In LECO it might be the same. As in certain other countries, the
electricity authority should give publicity to the obligation of the
customers to cut these branches and creepers.
After several press notices and radio and TV announcements, LECO and
CEB should cut these and include the cost in the consumers' electricity
bill. The amount must be a reasonable sum for which a private contractor
would do the work. LECO and CEB should not include their huge overheads
nor bill the cost of their own workmen and equipment of very low
productivity.
If it is a reasonable amount, most consumers would pay. If they do
not, the supply must be terminated in the usual way. This system would
encourage consumers to grow trees and creepers well a way from the
electricity overhead wires.
The Minister may appoint an investigator to look into these aspects
and thereafter the Minister should order the changes.
Electricity Interruption
Victims
A lot of prominence has been given in the media over animal and fowl
sacrifices in Hindu temples.
The Kandy Randoli Maha Perahera of the Esala Pageant took place on
August 24, 2010 night and the following day in the premises adjoining
the Sri Bathrakali Amman Kovil at Munneswaram, Chilaw misguided
devotees, sadly, with the 'blessings' of the High Priest of that temple
cruelly, brutally and mercilessly slaughtered ('sacrificed') more than
300 goats and 700 or more fowls under the pretext of 'ritual sacrifice'
of animals and birds for Kali Amman.
This is horrifying and sadistic event indeed which in my opinion
would have not caused happiness or joy to Goddess Kali Amman but rather
shedding of tears of blood from Her eyes as a consequence of this
ritual.
Quite rightly the Jathika Sammelanaya (a group of Buddhist monks) and
'right thinking' lay public had planned a peaceful mercy 'protest' march
and procession to the Kali Amman Temple on the date scheduled for the
animal and bird 'sacrifice' but this was prevented and banned by the
Police on a Court order given to them to prevent and avoid clashes.
I am perturbed and saddened to learn that animal and bird sacrifice
has up to date not been banned in Sri Lanka, an island visited,
venerated and blessed by the Buddha. It is never too late!
I appeal to the authorities to take immediate action to ban animal
and bird sacrifice in all places of Hindu worship in Sri Lanka in
keeping with the principle of Ahimsa (Compassion) and Mettha (Loving
kindness) as preached and practised by the Buddha and the axiom of
'Reverence' for life as emphasized in correctly understood Hinduism.
Professor M. Sivasuriya
Colombo 08
Buddhists visit the Sri Maha Bodhiya for religious observances
venerating the Sri Maha Bodhi. In the Uda Maluwa, in one of the covered
areas meant to offer flowers and pay respects to the Bodhiya, two or
three Kapuwas, standing in front of a picture of Kalu Kumara Bandara,
hanging from the wall shout prayers to him, with misled devotees
gathered round them handing over Panduru to the Kapuwas.
What relevance has the ritual to the place of worship? What role have
Kapuwas in the Buddha Dhamma? The ritual disturbs the devotees offering
flowers, reciting Gathas or meditating. It is wrong for laymen to be
allowed to commercialise the premises with rituals that have no
relevance to Buddhism-the Buddhist Philosophy. Those Kapuwas should be
removed from the precincts of the Sri Maha Bodhi.
Robes and other offerings are offered to the Bodhi by devotees and
they have to hand them over to a person with a Sash on, invariably an
employee of the management. It is he who takes the offerings up to the
Bo Tree. I found that this person insists on currency notes being placed
on the offerings as Panduru. There is nothing called Panduru in
Buddhism. What happens to the Panduru demanded and given? The procedure
needs change as it is not appropriate to the venerated place of worship.
Even at the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, a receptacle made of palm leaf,
Wattiya, is placed for collection of money under the watchful eye of a
member of the Sangha. That too does not seem to be a pleasant sight
within a building where the most venerated Sacred Tooth Relic is housed.
Upali S Jayasekera
Bambalapitiya
Scanning the Sunday Observer pages it was amusing to note that almost
75 pages had numerous advertisements on various education courses by
private as well as voerseas institutions. In fact such advertisements
appear daily in all local newspapers.
There are many who fall for these attractive and enticing gimmicks.
Unfortunately our education system is not geared to provide such
advertised dream results which has helped the growth of these private
institutions with international connections all over the country like
mushrooms. The bottom line in this entire episode is the fee levying
section as large sums are payable as deposits or advance fees for
enrolment on non refundable basis. Private tuition generally is not an
investment but to embark on educational activities with foreign
connections, large financial capital is required and can be manipulated
successfully by a single person needing only a laptop and backyard.
The question is - are these "educationalists" operating under
Government approval even though they might be registered.
Rumours reveal that most are INGOs in disguise in which case
institutions such as the Central Bank, Income Tax Department,
Immigration Department and the Education Ministry must step in and check
on the genuine of these "educationist" as vast sums of monies are
involved.
Hopeful applicants can end up as in the Sakvithi scam and many other
"honourable" financial scams now brought to light.
An added dimension to this are the many financial sponsorship ads
promising visas and transfers to various countries the Charges are 75
percent of the course fee, one wonders also whether human smugglers are
involved in this 'lucrative' trade.
Melville Perera,
Kohuwela
When a loaf of bread was sold as one pound (454 grams) the price was
stipulated. With the recent increase in the price of flour, the All
Ceylon Bakery Owners' Association Executive Committee decided to
increase the price of a normal loaf of bread by Rs 4.00 and the weight
brought down to 400 grams. The price to be between Rs 39 to Rs 44 a
loaf.
According to the Association about 75 percent of the bakery owners
are producing bread below 50 grams. In the circumstances it is most
unfair to charge the above rates.
I wish to request the Trade and Co-operatives and Development
Minister and the Consumer Affairs Authority to fix a uniform price for a
normal loaf of bread with the weight instead of allowing bakery owners
to exploit consumers by selling bread with different weight and prices.
It is suggested that the standard weight of a loaf of bread be 450
grams with the price at Rs 40. If bread with lesser weight is sold, the
price should be proportionately reduced.
H. W. Goonesekera
Panadura
The President's decision to return the lands belonging to the temples
and devalayas is commendable. This decision is sure to benefit the
respective institutions of making maximum and proper use of these lands
for their sustenance, thereby not being dependent in the future.
Some of these lands are underdeveloped and neglected by their present
owners, maintaining a dog in the manger attitude, which is harmful to
the country's development.
Hence, re-vesting these lands with the owners would give a new lease
of life to these lands benefiting the country as well.
Use of land to the maximum under proper administration, both private
and State plantations should be made compulsory, if this country is to
be developed, which situation unfortunately remains far from
satisfactory.
If you compare the planted extent against the actual stand per
hectare maintained on most plantations, this position would be proved
beyond doubt.
Tommy Wanigesinghe,
Kurunegala
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