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This has reference to the news items which appeared in your esteemed
journal on May 31, 2012, under the heading “Used yoghurt cups to be made
environment friendly.” At a time when dengue has become a life
threatening epidemic in all parts of the country, it is very heartening
to note that an environment loving organization has come forward to
collect, clean and recycle used yoghurt and drinking cups, which
hitherto, (when disposed indiscriminately, of course) was considered a
major environment threat.
In reality, it is not the yoghurt cup which polluted the environment
but the persons who disposed it indiscriminately, causing a major threat
to the environment. Several well known and reputed business
organizations which used them too should be held responsible for this
offence. It was a common sight to see used cups and bowls being thrown
all over as a result of sales vans selling food items such as noodles,
milk, coffee and fruit drinks in public places. It was disheartening to
note that those who serve and sell such food items did not make
sufficient effort to ensure the recollection and the disposal of the
used cups in which their foods and drinks were served.
Now that an organization has come forward to collect them, every one
responsible for such indiscriminate disposal of the used cups, (thereby
contributed towards polluting the environment) should make sure that
they now collect and hand over the used cups for recycling. Collection
and recycling would not only help to ease out the fast spreading dengue
disease, but also would avoid them being dumped into dump yards, where
these items would remain in-tact without decaying for several hundred
years.
Even traders and other users of such cups, should make use of the
opportunity to avoid polluting the environment and facilitate collection
and recycling of the used cups. Health authorities too should be very
strict with such offenders who allow the environment being polluted with
used yoghurt and drink cups scattered all over.
Local government authorities, under whose purview the subject of
waste management lies too should take the initiative to arrange for
collection of the relevant type of plastic separately, without them
being just thrown into a dump yard.
Sanjay Fernando
The name board of ‘Cholmondely Gunawardena Mawatha’ in the Kalutara
town area adjacent to the Secretariat Building has been displaced and
put into a stagnated water ditch. What a disgrace! Cholmondely
Gunawardena devoted much of his time and life to the well-being of the
Kalutara electorate as well as to the Kalutara UC limits. He was the
chairman of the Kalutara Urban Council and thereafter held the portfolio
of Constructions and Highways Minister in a previous regime of coalition
government.
It seems that all the good deeds of the past have been forgotten by
the present members of the Kalutara Urban Council.
Munidasa Kamburawala
I live along Pantaleon Mawatha in Rilaulla. Several by roads branch
off from the Pantaleon Mawatha and all such roads are concreted, except
this road which is adjoining the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
About six months back Technical officers of the Pradeshiya Sabha
measured this road and I was present at that time.
I remember that this stretch of road measured only 300 ft (100
yards). The Pradeshiya Sabha has carried several development projects in
this area including the concreting of roads, excluding the road
adjoining the Seventh Day Adventist Church. I have made representations
to the Chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha on several occasions but they
have not been answered to up to now.
Therefore I humbly appeal to the Pradeshiya Sabha to concrete the
road adjoining the Seventh Day Adventist Church as the people living
along this road face lots of inconveniences especially during rainy
seasons.
T.J. Victor Silva
The Maharagama SLTB bus depot decades ago, tried out a unique scheme
‘marrying crews to buses’ on certain prescribed routes. The commuters
showed their appreciation with its success by planned annual gifts to
the selected crew. Unfortunately, the success achieved had to be
abandoned due to pairing off difficulties with insufficient buses as of
the daily time-table requirement to play about with.
A well maintained smart bus (thanks to the new self-styled owner crew
and their homage keeping accurate time schedules coupled with good
driving habits sans, grabbed brakings, body swings at bends, outer space
take-offs speeding, etc, made all the difference with this trial trips.
Hurrah for the SLTB and all its endeavours!
W. Meadows
Cassim’s suggestion in CDN of 5/6 is well worth giving due
consideration. I would like to redefine it as follows taking into
consideration the poor transport facilities that exist.
The law as it is may remain but do not apply it to roads and lanes
where there is no public transport available. When there is an
alternative no one could argue.
D.P.Y. Abeywardhana
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