People in villages such as Dimbulagala, Mamaduwa, Madugoda and
Poppitiya suffered immensely during the LTTE terrorist period. These
villages neighbour the former conflict areas. Despite tremendous threats
to their lives, the people here continued to live without migrating to
safer areas.
In addition to facing severe security risks these villagers faced
untold hardships in education, medical care, transport facilities as
well as disrupted livelihoods. Although terrorism has been wiped out,
the civilians in the villages who survived LTTE terror seem to have been
overlooked. Now that the war is over these villagers need to be treated
equally to enjoy the dividends of peace.
It is high time that the authorities identified the needs of the
people in these areas and provided measures to help them to improve
their livelihoods
Harshi Nadie Perera.
I keenly listen to the evening and night 'Your Choice' request
programme aired by the English Service of the SLBC and though less
frequently, to the Sinhala Service program. The female announcers and a
few of the male comperes do their job commendably but two or three of
them repeat the name of the requester and even the name of the song many
times. One of the comperes goes overboard referring to his domestic
matters. He once made reference to crabs of Kurana as the request came
from a listener from that suburb. On another occasion this particular
worthy spent time referring to the dinner he was going to have at home.
All this is a waste of time which deprives the listeners musical
entertainment.
I tried twice to bring this to the notice of the Dean of the Compere
Corps leaving my telephone number with the private secretary to no
avail.
Comperes should announce the names of the listeners requesting the
song only once and avoid unnecessary profligacy with words on the number
of calls they receive and particularly ranting inanities about the
hearth and home.
There is no such problem on the Sinhala service request program. I
hope this letter will help to solve the problem.
Dr. Leo Fernando.
Important official letters written in English and sent under
registered post, addressed to the Lady Commissioner and to the Lady
Engineer of the Moratuwa Municipal Council are given step-motherly
treatment, invoking a reply after several reminders fall on deaf ears.
Conveniently, the matter is placed in the skeleton cupboard relegating
the subject to the "Forgotten Things of Limbo" in the office. To wake-up
the sleeping beauties, help is sought from the Mayor of the Moratuwa
Municipal Council.
Per chance, letters in English are beyond the comprehension of the
authorities. If so, the Council should ensure that the service of a
translator is acquired without delay in order to maintain good
governance for the benefit of the citizens of Moratuwa.
C.L. Terence Fernando
When I was travelling along the Galle Face Centre road a fortnight
ago, I saw the Presidential Secretariat being fully fenced in steel to
avert access for undesirables. Fine! Why not the Colombo Municipal
Council erect a preventive fence covering the Beira lake which is
adjacent to the Presidential Secretariat and seems to be vital as well?
People with their families stroll along this area to reach the Galle
Face Green and there is a possibility of a child to break away from the
clutch of a guardian in his mischievousness or hyper activeness and
confront fatality. At dusk it is more perilious. Why does not the
authority concerned focus its attention on this type of risk which is a
hazard to human life? Did it not strike the relevant CMC District
Engineer of the area that it should be fenced?
Do they wait for matters to be pin pointed to take action ? Cannot
they sense for themselves such matters that exist in the city when they
are travelling about? Moss gathers as the stone does not get rolled.
Changes certainly needed.
Nazly Cassim
There are many motor repair garages along the Galle Road in the
Katukurunda and Payagala areas. This has led to so many traffic blocks
at peak hours almost on every day and to even occasional road accidents.
The motor mechanics who are attached to these workshops regardless of
the vehicles plying on the Galle Road carry out their repair works on
the wayside, which is the main cause for the inconvenience of the
public.
Several complaints have been made to the local council authorities
but upto now, no action has been taken to demolish these unauthorized
motor garages. The public appeal to the relevant authorities to take
action to shift these structures to more convenient places.
C.M. Karunaratne
It is the earth's gravity that causes objects to fall onto the earth.
Due to gravitational acceleration (9.8 metres per second per second),
the speed of the falling body goes up as it comes towards the earth. The
volume of water between A and B at any level is constant. So as the
speed goes up, the cross-sectional area of the stream of water must go
down.
Dr. B.G. Punchihewa
It is our duty as film goers to mention about the really good film
Wijaya and Kuweni which is currently being screened in the country.
Watching this film, it really made us feel that we were in their midst
2500 years ago. We also did feel the presence of Lord Buddha too, who
had attained Parinibbana the day before Wijaya set foot at Thambapanni
in our island.
The actors and actresses in this film will long be remembered for the
natural and excellent portrayal of their roles. Director Sugath
Samarakoon should be commended for his perfect direction and choosing of
talented actors such as Roger Seneviratne and Dulari Anuradha for their
roles as Wijaya and Kuweni. In fact, Kuweni did bring tears to our eyes
and the name 'Kuwenna, Kuwenna' will ring in our minds always.
Anandi Kulatilleke
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