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Very often accidents are taking place at railway crossings. It is
true that the Railway Department cannot maintain gates at all crossings.
Why not the Railway Dept construct speed breakers at the level
crossings. They can put three breakers on either side of the crossing.
The first one about 75 yards from the crossing, the second about 50
yards and the third about 25 yards. These will give an indication about
the crossing and also reduce the speed of the vehicles. Over speeding
may be one of the causes of the accidents. Sign boards can be put about
the humps on the road.
V Visvanathan Batticaloa
As a resident of Mabole, Wattala and a motorist, I am using Colombo-Negombo
Road frequently and quite often severe traffic jams during the rush
hours at Wattala (Hendala Junction) is a common sight. As a result the
motorists and passengers face great inconvenience due to the
interception of traffic to and from Hendala, Old Negombo Road and
Hunupitiya Station Road. With a view to overcome this situation I would
suggest installation of a “fly over” in this particular junction to
reduce traffic from Negombo to Colombo and from Colombo to Negombo.
J V R Dias Wattala
The stretch of the above road spanning from Sri Subhuthipura junction
up to Battaramulla junction is in a deplorable condition, particularly
the pavements on either side of the road. These pavements were laid
decades ago with the widening of the road when the Parliamentary Complex
was shifted to Sri Jayawardenapura.
Since then due to lack of proper maintenance these pavements have
turned to be deadly. There are a number of ‘Death Traps’ created over
these pavements. On a casual count I observed 17 such Traps which are
virtually dangerous.
If somebody accidentally steps into any of those Traps, he/she would
be an eternal victim or even end up with death.
Let alone the Death Traps, these pavements are being indiscriminately
obstructed and are being used as parking grounds. The tradesmen have
found an easy ground the pavements, to exhibit, their wares. The
pedestrians are therefore forced to use the main road risking their
lives and limbs.
These pavements are too wide in certain points as much as 10-12 feet.
Such wide pavements are a waste of precious land space. It is therefore
suggested that these pavements be narrowed leaving a safety passage of
about four feet in width for the pedestrians and the resultant land
space so saved reserved for parking.
The main road from Subhuthipura junction up to Battaramulla junction
should be given a facelift. Permanent structures should be built
bisecting the road and the necessary traffic lanes should clearly be
marked to enable the smooth flow of traffic. Special attention should be
drawn to evolve a system to control of traffic congestion at
Battaramulla junction.
The RDA should take cognizance of the above and should take remedial
action particularly, the immediate removal of the death traps on the
pavements.
P A V Dias Battaramulla
I refer to the above program aired on a private channel on 10th
November 2010, this episode is meant to be a comedy to make people
laugh. Unfortunately one segment of this programme left us with much
disgust and anger.
Let me explain to the producer of this programme, who seem to have a
sick sense of humour, that in order to make people laugh at the expense
of traumatizing innocent pedestrians, is certainly not funny. This is
just what happened to a young girl who was left carrying someone else’s
bag as a help to that person, which contained some shop lifted articles
as the story goes... This girl got so frightened when she was confronted
by the other actor who was a security guard, was so upset when accused
of shoplifting items worth Rs 2500 that she started sobbing and when to
the extent of calling her father. We, the public do not laugh or enjoy
seeing people traumatized, petrified and in misery on Television, as
this girl was.
Also let me mention that if it was done to a hypertension or heart
patient it would definitely have caused serious complications. However I
wish they had done it to someone who was bold enough to slap the other
‘so-called actors’ and take the private channel to courts for making a
public nuisance of themselves. It is no wonder that a TV station that
produces such ‘bull’ is smashed up occasionally or was that also one of
their usual jokes?
T de Silva Ratmalana
It is a common practice in Sri Lanka that words and names of
political parties are changed with new words and names to fall in line
with the needs necessary. Sometimes, the existing ones are dropped
altogether for best reasons know to the party hierarchy.
I guess that there are unnumbered party names and symbols cropping
before a prelude to an election of any kind. And that’s a privilege. But
after the election is over, these lines of names are unheard of and soon
forgotten. They may not resurrect again. Instead, some new names are on
the spring board at the election time creating a confusion in the minds
of the voter.
In a lighter vein, I wish to state that it is a novel idea to compile
a Dictionary of names and symbols with synopsis and down load them on
the world wide web for knowledgable reason.
H L D E Perera Mattakkuliya
The story of Historic Ragama Walawwa begins in the times not more
distant when the sea faring Dutch held sway in the maritime provinces of
Sri Lanka.
Chief Mudaliyar Migel Perera Siriwardena Jayawardena Amarasekere was
the founder of Ragama Walawwa.
Migel Perera had served as a Mudaliyar under Dutch Government
(1794-1860) and later continued his services under British. His
ancestors were the high class Sinhala Brahmins who had converted as
Catholics, after the arrival of Rev Father Joseph Vaz because Father Vaz
too was a Congani Brahmin. So, these Brahmins got together under the
faith of Catholicism and served the country. His father and Grandfather
too were Mudaliyars under Portuguese and Dutch respectively.
Mudaliyar Migel Perera was a brave gentleman with a sensitive heart.
Hence, he had followed a reasonable policy on religion, and became an
intimate friend of Rev Mohottiwatte Gunananda Maha Thera.
Mudaliyar Migel Perera’s residence “Ragama Walawwa is manor House
older than 200 years. This manor House bear the serial number 35 in the
“Walawwa Namawali” compiled by us. Now, Ragama Walawwa faced to a
critical situation and it is the duty of our government to get a quick
step to protect and declare this Manor as a National Monument.
Mirando Obeysekere Madipola
Toppling of containers on highways either destroying a life or
damaging public properties has become a news to be seriously concerned
about. Such things have already occurred. The main reason appears to be
youngsters behind the wheel and some amongst them with no enough
experience to drive even a normal heavy duty vehicles.
Therefore, to avoid major incidents like plundering of human life,
drivers below the age of 40 and possessing driving experience less than
10 years should not be allowed to drive containers. Young blood does not
have tolerance, does not feel of a family life instead enjoys thrill on
highways by driving those giants vehicles.
By the suggestion made, a few may lose their jobs, but being drivers
they will not suffer long but the life of the public is very important.
Further, containers should not be allowed to run during the day time but
only between 10 pm and 5 am. Furthermore, 40-foot containers greatly
inconvenience the public and the motorists.
Request relevant authorities to consider suggestions mentioned above.
Nazly Cassim - Colombo 13.
I would like to thank the Daily News for having published the
excellent review by Vidyajyothi Professor Lalitha Mendis of the Sri
Lanka Patients’ Formulary (SLPF) edited by Professor Colvin Goonaratna
and three of his senior colleagues.
The SLPF is goldmine of information for laypersons, patients and
their carers. By checking the ‘General Index’ and the ‘Generic Names vs
Brand Names Index’ readers can access information on over 400 medicinal
drugs by generic name and over 500 by brand name. The index of normal
ranges of laboratory values is also extremely useful. Go ahead and buy a
copy!
I enjoyed also reading the Preface and Introduction that give
valuable information.
At Rs 500 per copy it is good value for money - a real asset to the
home bookshelf. However, it is available only at two outlets at present:
Rajya Osu Sala, Colombo 7 and Sri Lanka Medical Association, 6 Wijerama
Mawatha (the latter only Monday - Friday
1) What about people living far away from Colombo 7, Prof Goonaratna?
May I also suggest Tamil and Sinhala translations as soon as possible,
if you wish to disseminate knowledge among the really needed people?
R. M. Rambukwella, - Polgahawela.
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