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Dr. Rambukwella, who has written to the Citizen's mail column,
deserves praise and appreciation for his ideas on the deteriorating
state of the campuses.
Realising the sordid incidents of the campuses I never encouraged my
children going to a campus where students with brutal tendencies abide,
for higher education. Even without a degree they are doing well,
career-wise.
My elder brother a BSc honours graduate of the 1940s related to me
incidents of the ragging of that period. All freshers had to wear their
coats back to front, roll up their trousers up to the knees and march
down Thurstan Road. A treat had to be given to the seniors at the tuck
shop thereafter. LTTE terrorism is over, it is campus terrorism now.
Immediate action should be taken to expel not suspend raggers, and also
prohibit ragging.
A concerned elderly citizen
It is with a very painful heart and mind that I am compelled to write
to obtain some valuable relief after 25 years of suffering.
I was the project manager in charge of building construction and
refurbishing of old buildings at the Police Training College, Kalutara,
contracted by a building constructions company.
I had to travel in the company lorry on December 10, 1985 with a load
of building material and ceramic toilet fittings packed in the front
driving cab where I had to sit.
While going along Galle Road, the brakes of the lorry suddenly did
not function resulting in the driver cutting on to the opposite side of
the road and meeting with a head-on crash with an oncoming container.
The lorry engine and the body had to be broken to take me out.
Both my legs were fractured and there were cut wounds all over my
body due to the ceramic fittings breaking.
The accident took place around Waskaduwa.
I was thereafter rushed to the Kalutara - Nagoda Hospital from where
I was transferred to the Colombo accident ward because my injuries were
very serious. After some time I was discharged though not fully fit. I
was compelled to obtain treatment from other private hospitals as well.
The former employer did not pay me a cent, citing the clause of ‘Act
of God'.
Hope this letter catches the eye of the relevant authorities who
could get me some sort of compensation for my sufferings.
S. Singha Atukorale Rajagiriya
Trishaw drivers have increased their charges and are fleecing the
public at their own free will with the increase in fuel prices. The hoi
polloi are wilting under the escalating cost of living.
Time is ripe for the powers that be, to order the installation of
fare meters in three-wheelers mandatory. This appeal is to the President
to intervene in this matter and grant redress to the people on this
important issue.
Nanda Nanayakkara, Matara.
Reference the news item in the Daily News Business Section of 16th
February on the above subject, we wish to express our concern, and make
a clarification as the Sri Lanka Institute of National Tourist Guide
Lecturers.
The article depicts Tour Guides as blood sucking monstrosities that
prey upon innocent niche service providers. This is a sad and a blatant
misrepresentation of facts.
In fact almost 95% of elephant rides, which was the specific subject
of this article, are directly booked through travel agents, and tourist
guides have absolutely nothing to do with those except taking the
tourists to and bringing them back from the elephant rides as specified
by the Travel Agent. As per our understanding, travel agents too have
their own guidelines, specifically with regard to safety and quality in
choosing specific service providers for obvious reasons.
Joe Livera / President - Sri Lanka Institute of National Tourist
Guide / Lecturers
Public roads in and around the Mahiyangana town area are in a very
poor and neglected condition.
The road leading from the clock tower junction to the tile factory,
and the road by the central bus stand are examples. Both contain ‘crater
size’ pot holes.
Travelling on these roads especially after dusk and on rainy days, is
a nightmare. Residents say that these roads have not been repaired for
over eight years.
Another complaint is the parking of vehicles on pavements. Certain
people park their vehicles on pavements almost the whole day. As a
result pedestrians are compelled to walk along the roads.
This is a common sight in the Mahiyangana town area. The public say
that the police or other authorities have not taken action against this
irregularity.
Navaratna Bandara - Mahaweli systems corr
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