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CITIZENS'MAIL
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's praiseworthy concept of
presenting the musical and artistic accomplishments of our Armed Forces
and the 'Ranaviru Real Star' performances which are now being shown on
National TV, are a delight to all music lovers and deserve worldwide
recognition.
These performances conclusively prove that there is absolutely no
truth in the controversial Darusman report artificially concocted by
so-called specialists.
Such specialists are not motivated by a search for justice, but are
attempting to sling mud at our disciplined Armed Forces, in order to
target its command structure, right up to the level of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa, in order to justify interference in our internal affairs. It
is not even possible for any person with an atom of sanity to imagine
that the men and women who performed with such artistry and musical
talent, could be cold blooded murderers, who would shoot down those who
attempt to surrender. On the contrary we have ample evidence of our
Armed Forces assisting even those in the LTTE who were injured.
Those who love music and sing so beautifully, possess the highest
humanitarian qualities. Even a sprinkling of such people are enough to
act as a catalyst to promote genuine humanitarianism, as against servile
obedience and corruption found in many an organization without proper
systems and controls. You only have to look around to find such living
examples.
Therefore it is not even possible to visualize a situation such as is
portrayed by Ban Ki Moon's specialists, who are undoubtedly following
other agendas.
We have had to face cold blooded LTTE terrorism, for the last 30
years. The destruction they brought on us, is so well known to the whole
world. The people in our country know exactly what happened, and who
assisted us, and who provided succour to the terrorists. It is due to
the sacrifices made by our disciplined Armed Forces that we are living
in Peace today.
All the people in our country including Tamils and other Minorities
have already spoken up, against this unfounded and prejudiced report,
except for a few who are always bent on promoting anti national agendas.
Invaders have so many disguises and always resort to the maximum use
of fifth columnists who are lavishly compensated.
The great majority of people in our country are Buddhists who abhor
any kind of killing. Therefore all decent and truth loving people,
whatever their religious convictions or political inclinations should
unite in their opposition to the controversial Darusman report, as a
sheer falsehood. It should be completely rejected as unacceptable, and
not in consonance with the United Nations Charter. Furthermore, we
should tell the world that the U N Secretary General is nothing but a
captive, being twisted around by powerful nations to the detriment of
smaller and less powerful countries. The long terms effects of such
duplicity, cannot be foreseen at present, but will never be for the good
of mankind.
Cecil de Mel,
Moratuwa
Unauthorized constructions and land grabbing in the Bambalapitiya
Govt. Flats Housing Scheme have been resorted to by certain residents
under the very nose of the housing authorities.
In fact, such unauthorized constructions and land grabbing could not
have been possible without the connivance and support of some corrupt
officials, which will be proved if a probe is held.
Certain residents have constructed illegal extensions to their
housing units, in front and behind, encroaching on common (State) land
and even covering common drains, demolishing or shifting stairways
behind, removing fire exits, changing housing plans without the approval
of the NHDA, UDA and the CMC, which is mandatory. Fortresses like
enclosures have been erected enclosing common land thereby causing great
inconvenience to the residents of the upper floors, adjoining land has
been illegally annexed by fencing or putting up six foot walls to be
used as personal car parks or partying grounds. Monopolising of common
land by a few is unfair by the vast majority, when in fact, the
entitlement is only three feet from the boundary wall of the housing
unit of the ground floor residents.
Why no action was taken by the Condominium Management Authority
against the unauthorized constructions and land grabbing is surprising
when is Act provides for taking action even on information or telephone
call. That looks fishy. However, recently the unauthorized construction
by a resident of Block I was demolished (the only unauthorized
construction demolished in the history of the housing scheme) when other
monstrous looking unauthorized constructions in the same block, the
Block behind and the Blocks on either side of the approach road leading
to Block I, have been left alone especially when those illegal
constructions were built long before and complaints were lodged with the
Condominium Management Authority. That is nothing but discrimination and
favouritism which has led to resentment among the residents.
Concerned Resident
As a daily bus traveller, I find that the highway from Hemmathagama
to Mawanella has been badly neglected for over five decades without
being repaired or renovated by the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council or
the Central Government. It seems strange for me to think that since my
young age this bus route has been found in the same neglected condition.
It is surprising to observe that so many MPs have canvassed for votes in
this Mawanella electorate without taking up the issue of renovating this
important road.
Some MPs made verbal promises during the election campaigns but after
the election they seemed to have completely forgotten their promise
about the renovation of this highway.
When I asked a member of Mawanella Pradesya Saba about the above
road, he sharply replied, "this highway is under the control of
Sabragamuwa Provincial Council - Ratnapura. It is not our work." Thus,
the long standing work of renovating this bus route remains unattended
by any responsible Highway Authority.
What I feel about this neglected road is why every MP of this
electorate is indifferent to do something to make this worst road the
best one.
The voters of the Mawanella electorate living along this highway
wonder why only this road fails to draw the attention of Highways
Ministry while the road from Hemmathagama to Aranayake and the road
between Aranayake and Mawanella have been already renovated as carpeted
roads despite the less transportation of the latter.
Comparatively, the Hemmathagama-Mawanella route is found to be more
transportable than any other routes around this region. Hence, this
route must have been given priority of renovation in view of its
economic activities like transporting a lot of food items and other
hardware items from the main town of Mawanella everyday. All kinds of
vehicles with passengers and goods are damaged and affected due to the
poor status of this road.
Since this bad road causes undue delay of the route buses and other
vehicles, the officers, teachers and students get late to their offices
and schools. The half an hour journey is lengthened to one hour due to
the worst condition of this road.
There is a low lying bridge built across the river passing through
Vagolla along Hemmathagama- Mawanella road. During the rainy days, the
river is flooded and the bridge is impassable due to its low lying
position. As a result, all the vehicles are compelled to wait near that
bridge for hours and hours till the continuous rain ceases.
Kalabooshana M Y M Meeadh,
Hemmathagama
A scheme was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers last week to
provide bank loans to local University under-graduates to repay on
employment through their employers as the Mahapola contributions are
insufficient to maintain themselves. I congratulate the Cabinet of
Ministers on this decision in deducting loans with retrospective effect
from the employers as that will develop a sense of responsibility whilst
ensuring that education is readily available with ability to afford it,
not being a criterion.
In the same breadth, I would propose to extend same to Srilankan
expats selected as under-graduates to Universities in Sri Lanka and
enumerate the undermentioned reasons in support of my contention.
(a). When children are selected at 19 years the expat parents are old
and bordering the compulsory retiring age of 55 years.
(b). All parents employed abroad especially in the Middle East are
under-paid and unable to pay 5 1/2 lakhs per year for five years in the
case of medical undergraduates.
(c). The selected undergraduate children are threatened in completing
the course when their parents are unable to pay causing anxiety, tension
and a human rights problem also arises.
Upali Peiris
Kadugannawa
Dear Mr Ban Ki-Moon, it is time that you suggested to the Nobel Peace
Prize Committee the name of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the next
award of the peace prize who had the determination and courage to smash
the so called ruthless terrorist organisation in the world and free
innocent civilians from the clutches of the so called liberators and
bring peace to Sri Lanka and to other countries in the Indian ocean.
Harry Goonawardena,
Mount Lavinia
The nature of moon is providing a cool light to the whole world
without any discrimination. She is admired by all for her beauty and
services to the mankind both during her waxing and wanning period. But a
man born elsewhere by the name Ban ki Moon is creating havoc in our
country. His thinking is lopsided and what can be expected from him is
as unbalanced.
When Moon was in our country he was true to his conscience but soon
after his departure his inner feelings again started conspiring against
us.
Obviously Moon has become a goon and is now going to the country
which first sent man to the moon, to present his allegation which we
believe, will soon have his thoughts in the bin.
It is very unfortunate that so unlike the Moon that shed light, this
Moon remains an Amawaka and black spot in our eyes and mind.
Nazly Cassim, Colombo 13
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