|
Citizens’ mail
It is heartening to note that plans and blueprints are on the drawing
boards for the shifting and relocating of the many out-dated eyesore
landmarks and buildings in the city of Colombo in keeping with the
flagships “miracle of Asia” war cry concept initiated by our visionary
President and leader. It is satisfying to realise that the projects are
grandiose in remunerative alternatives and initiatives of a long-term
flavour too.
The various buildings of the Armed Forces and also of the Prisons
being earmarked for shifting, was common knowledge as per the
newspapers.
The non-mention of the Sri Lanka “Treasure chest” the Central Bank
building gives one the impression that automatically it had “pride of
place” with the master planners and planning due to its very importance.
Admittedly, the building looks solid, yet how about its exposed flanks
along with busy vehicular traffic surprisingly alongside and also the
‘bee-hive’ hubbub situation and atmosphere around? The building do
attract an attack once and can we truthfully say it’s “as safe as the
Bank of England” or as “impregnable” as “Fort Knox”.
Hurrah! for the beautiful Colombo being planned and the eventual
“miracle of Asia” concept emergence.
W. Meadows
Dehiwala
I entered Bodhiraja Mawatha from Main Street to purchase some
vegetables. On May 2,2011. But I had to wade through a huge pool of rain
water collected on a badly broken area of that road. Passing it I also
came across another one.
If one takes a walk along several streets in Pettah one is compelled
to walk over the muddy waters. I have rarely seen the CMC patching such
broken roads and such ones after a few weeks again get loosened for the
rain water, then break into pieces and become muddy again.
The road has been carpeted at the Gaspaha Junction. Only half of it
has been carpeted, leaving the other portion for the rain water to
stagnate. This is how the District Engineer of the CMC patches work
solution to the road with pot-holes.
When the government is building new roads running into several
kilometres, cannot the CMC carpet all the broken roads of the Pettah
instead of patching them every time.
The Gunasinghepura area is an eye-sore. Some underground work
started, has been left as it is. So is the new structure coming up there
for the Federation of Self Employment.
Ferlyn Junkeer
Colombo 13
There is an unauthorized building selling wholesale dried fish in
Gampola area. This building was erected recently.
How can a stall selling dried fish to be opened in Kahatapitiya, in
Gampola where a mosque, a wedding hall as well as residents are living.
It emanates a nauseating odor.
Residents in this area cannot keep their doors open or send their
children outside to play due to the odour.
When this was brought to the notice of this mudalali, he was furious.
How can the Environmental Authority and the local body issue a
licence.
A peace loving citizen
Employees of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) who have retired
since 2005 and not paid their gratuity should be thankful to the
Minister of Transport for his intervention and obtaining necessary funds
from the General Treasury to pay their gratuity though belated.
In this connection I wish to draw the attention of the Minister as
well as the Chairman of the SLTB that according to Section 5(1) of the
Payment of Gratuity Act No 12 of 1983, gratuity is payable with a period
of 30 days of termination of service and failing which such payment is
subject to a surcharge ranging from percent 10 to 30 depending on the
period of delay as provided under the provisions of Payment of Gratuity
(amendment) Act No 62 of 1992. If the payment has been delayed for more
than 12 months the surcharge applicable is 30 percent. In the
circumstances it is hoped that the Minister of Transport will also
intervene in this matter and arrange to pay the due surcharge as
applicable to which the ex-employees concerned will be ever grateful to
the Minister.
H W Goonesekera
Panadura
The General Post Office in Payagala has turned into a public
nuisance.
A few years back, though this post office was modernized with the
fax-machines, photo-copiers and e-mail facilities, now all these are no
more.
Though there is a responsible officer to handle these equipment. They
are bundled into a nook and nobody pays much heed to public
requirements.
C.M. Kamburawala
|
