OPA AT YOUR SERVICE

Questions and Answers

Erecting of Cable TV lines

Question: It is observed that some men carrying large Aluminum ladders on their motor cycles climb on to LT electricity Posts and draw Cable TV cable lines along and across the LT cable lines. They travel on their motorcycles, carrying the long two piece Aluminum ladders day and night and draw TV cables. It appears that those TV cable lines are drawn illegally along the LT electricity cables and on the electricity posts. At times these men wear a T Shirt with the name Cable TV.

Is a pillion rider allowed to carry large aluminum ladder? Is it dangerous to other road users? Can they draw their TV cable lines on the LT electricity posts and lines?

If not who is responsible to monitor and put a stop to this dangerous act of the Cable TV operators in the City and the suburban areas. Further it is observed that the motor cycle used by the TV cable men are without a registration number plate on the rear side. How did they pass the high security areas and the Traffic Policemen.

According to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka is empowered in the supplies and distribution of electricity.

It would be appreciated if someone could educate the public as to how to deal with such instances.

Marikkar e-mail

Answer: To our knowledge TV Cable lines are drawn on posts planted by the TV cable company. If you say that TV cable men are climbing the electricity post it is the risk they take, very much like those who tie white flags for funerals and other such banners.

Similarly carrying ladders on motorcycles is also a risk they take. If the traffic Police spot them they may take action. Unfortunately, not many traffic offenders are being taken to task by the Police, although the police is now active against pedestrians who Jaywalk and cross the road at any place they wish overlooking the Zebra crossings.

As a concerned citizen, we suggest that you first take up this matter with the higher management of the TV cable company who may not be aware of the risk taken by their men. Unless the TV cable lines are drawn on to the lamp post or the cable likely to come in contact with electricity wires, the Electricity Board or Commission cannot take any action in which case you may report to the Electricity Board.

 Additional charge by CEB Colombo East

Question: A complaint was made to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, by letter dated 19.10.2009, on the above subject. The Consumer Affairs Officer of the Public Utilities Commission by letter dated 21.10.2009, informed the Area Electrical Engineer, Colombo West of my complaint and requested his full report clarifying the above bill within three weeks.

In between this period the CEB issued a special order to disconnect the supplies to the premises, after the receipt of the letter from Public Utilities Commission. An officer from the CEB came to the shop on November 4, 2009, to disconnect the supplies. On 4.11.2009, I sent a fax to Public Utilities Commission about the disconnection efforts of the CEB and also called the PUCSL Office and informed about this incident.

In reply to the Commission’s letter of 21.10.2009, the Area Electrical Engineer addressed a letter to the PUCSL, dated 10.11.2009, with copy to me.

By letter dated November 18, 2009, I addressed a letter to the Area Electrical Engineer, CEB, Colombo West, in reply to his letter sent to the Commission with copy to me and this letter sent by Registered Post (Regd: No. 8431) also the copy of the same letter sent by the CEB to the Commission.

Again on December 9, 2009, the same officer of the CEB came by auto three-wheeler bearing No. 204/5149, to disconnect the supplies. On this day I called the Commission and the Consumer Affairs Officer Galappathy was informed about this incident and she connected the call to the Inspector Chadnrasekera and he inquired everything and I requested protection from the Commission against the illegal disconnection attempt of the Electricity Supplies.

So far I have not heard from the Commission anything about my request for protection.

O Ahamed - Colombo 9

Answer: We contacted the Public Utilities Commission and the Consumer Affairs Officiate. Having checked the details the officer concerned stated that, they did not get a reply from the Area Electrical Engineer, Colombo West to the PUCSL letter dated 21.10.2009.

Although you have received a copy of the letter dated 10.11.2009 as a reply to PUCSL by the Area Engineers the Consumer Affairs Officer states that such a reply was not received if so the PUCSL appears to have failed to follow up for the reply within three weeks and not even to date.

Consequent to our discussion with the Consumer Affairs office, we faxed the copies of your letter to the OPA and to the Chief Engineer dated 18.11.2009.

This officer promised to look into your matter and after discussion with the Area Engineer will respond to you. We will follow this up with the Consumer Affairs Officer. We are unable to publish your letter in totality as it was for too long.

Unfair deduction of interest

Question: Five years back I deposited Rs one million on behalf of my son, in a Seylan Bank subsidiary which was later taken over by the People’s Bank, renewable annually, the date being July 17 every year. The interest was remitted to his account monthly but when my son made a request to withdraw money on June 17 this year they deducted over Rs 15,000 and refunded the balance claiming that it was a premature withdrawal and that there is still one month for the deposit to mature. Is it correct? Can they retain such a big amount for a matter of one month?

Similar thing happened one year back with the same when I obtained a debenture for a big amount a certificate was given to the effect that an interest of 15 percent will be paid once the period is over, and in the meantime I had taken a loan keeping the debenture as security, and after paying the loan installments for twenty months I requested them to set off the loan against the deposit and pay me the balance, they recovered a huge sum and refunded me a paltry amount lowering the agreed interest rate from 15 percent to 13 percent. Is there any place I can go for redress? Your valuable advice is greatly appreciated please. At the same time I wish to convey my humble gratitude for the great service you are rendering.

U N Nanayakkara - Gampaha

Answer: You refer to a subsidiary of the Seylan Bank but as you have not stated the name of this firm, we do not know whether it is a bank or a finance company. It is not clear whether it is now part of the People’s Bank. In any case the amount of Rs 15,000 deducted by the bank for premature withdrawal by one month is only 1.5 percent which works out to rate of 18 percent per annum. This penal rate appears to be reasonable.

As regards the second part of your question, you state that the refund was a paltry amount. We cannot comment on this as we don’t know the value of the debenture investment by you and the amount of loan or the balance due after 20 months.

Only if this organization is registered as a bank or finance company registered with the Central Bank, you can complain. If so you should complain to the Financial Ombudsman at 143 A, Vajira Road, Colombo 5. You may telephone this office on Tel. No. 2595625 and inquire whether the said firm is registered.

Army Volunteer Service

Question: I draw a pension for 19 years departmental service commencing from 1960 to 1980. Due to some political harassment I had to vacate my post and subsequently the notice of vacation of post was served.

On the request of a senior army officer in 1990, I joined the army volunteer service to render an essential service in the field of rehabilitation of disabled soldiers and served for 12 years in the Army. My pension rights were sanctioned back in 2001 by a Cabinet decision mainly due to the service I rendered in the Army, but only my departmental service has been considered for the pensionable service. Is there a law which facilitate me to get my Army service be added up to the civil pensionable service in order for me to receive a better pension.

T Hemawansa - Dodamgaslanda

Answer: You claim that you are being paid a pension for your 19 year service despite vacation of post on account of a Cabinet paper. As an Army volunteer you have to serve 22 years in order to be pensionable whereas you have served the Army for only 12 years. Normally, your 19 year service could be combined with the 12 years service in the army for the computation of your pension. However in your case there is a break of service from 1980 to 1990 as we understand from your statement. This could cause a problem.

We suggest you discuss your problem with the army P&R division as they have to forward your service details to the Pensions Department. There after with the advice of the P&R division you should write to the Director Pensions regarding your case. We recommend that you call over at the Pensions Department on a Monday or Wednesday being public days, along with your letter, copy of the Cabinet paper and any documents from the army and discuss your matter. The policy branch of the Pensions Department will study your case and inform you.

Preserving fruits and Anlene non fat milk

Question: I buy my stock of fruits for about one week as I have to travel about one and a half miles by three-wheeler and spend Rs 200. I am 83 years of age.

* I would like to know if I store them in the fridge and take my daily requirements and off cooling, is it alright to eat. I am subject to phlegm. Once I got very ill with phlegm getting stuck in the throat and was awake for one whole night without sleeping. I was taken to a private hospital the following day and treated by Prof Sham Fernando after staying for four days. I was given the Neubulizer and Seretide Accuhaler besides other medicine. Now I am alright.

* There is an opinion that Anlene milk powder contains too much calcium. Is it correct?

Please be good enough to clarify these two points for me.

V K B Ramanayake - Maharagama

Answer: We understand your problem. Ideally your fruits should be fresh as possible. Given your circumstance preserving your fruits in the refrigerator in an option. You also seem to be having phlegm problem. The best thing you can do is to defrost the fruits you consume on that particular day. In other words keep it out till the coldness goes off. Do not keep out and put back in the fridge as it will affect the quality due to temperature cycling. As regard to Anlene non fat milk, we suggest that you consult your doctor or a dietitian. It depends on your calcium intake from other sources. You may even contact the manufacturer on the customer help line given on the box of the milk powder and request for advice. Of course the better option is your own doctor. Excess calcium is said to form plaque in the blood vessels and this can cause problems.

Age limit for driving licence

Question: I am 67-years-old. I wish to own a motor cycle or a three-wheeler for my personal use. Can I apply for a driving licence? Is there any age limit to get a driving licence? Please let us know through the OPA page of the Ceylon Daily News.

M S Sivam - Puloly

Answer: There is no age limit for obtaining a driving licence in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this must be good news to you. You can not only own but also ride a motorcycle or a three-wheeler once you get yourself a driving licence authorizing you to ride a motorcycle and drive three-wheelers. However, when you apply for a licence you are expected to obtain a certificate from a doctor certifying your physical fitness to ride or drive motor vehicles. Provided you are physically fit there is no age barrier.

Non payment of GOSL contribution

Question: I refer to my letter to you and your reply published in the OPA – Questions and Answers page in the Daily News of March 4, 2010. I wrote to the administrator GOSL in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as suggested by you in my letter dated April 5, 2010. As I had no reply I sent them a reminder dated July 15, 2010. I also wrote to the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia on this matter by my letter dated April 20, 2010. As I had no reply from the Embassy, I sent a reminder dated July 15, 2010. I also wrote to our External Affairs Minister for the attention of the Consular Division by my letter dated June 16, 2010, urging our Ambassador in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to intervene in this matter and get my refund early. As there was no reply I sent them a reminder on July 27, 2010.

I am told that there is a sub-office of the GOSL in Dammam, Saudi Arabia that handles all GOSL matters in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Please let me know whether I should write to them direct. As I do not know the address of the Dammam office, I shall thank you to let me have this address from the Saudi Embassy as I got no reply when I contacted them.

J Nevis Fernando - Nattandiya

Answer: We contacted the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Colombo and they have only the address of the GOSL office in Riyadh which is GOSL, P O Box 2693, Riyadh Postal Code 11461. They are not aware of a GOSL office in Dammam. Why not write to the Riyadh office and request them for the Dammam office address. Did you forward a copy of your GOSL card whilst requesting for the refund. You may also seek assistance from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment at 234, Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Koswatta, Battaramulla. Tel. 2880500.

One should get your GOSL refund before leaving Saudi Arabia, if not you will face this problem.

Send your questions

The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) will cover questions in all professions and subjects of common-interest to the public in the ‘Daily News OPA At Your Service’ page every Thursday. Please make your question brief.

Questions can be directed to the OPA on e-mail:[email protected] Fax: 2559770 or write to the Professional Centre, 275/75, Prof. Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, off Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.