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Monday, 21 January 2013

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Black marketing at World’s End

I visited World’s End once again and found it to be a place which attracts more tourists than ever, both local and foreign. Although access to World’s End had been free, a charge is now being made from visitors by the Wildlife Department which controls the area. During my visit, there were many children who had come from distant rural villages of Jaffna, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Most of the visitors take the Nuwara Eliya - Pattipola route to enjoy this beautiful site. However there are several shortcomings which need to be rectified as soon as possible.

The last boutique along this route is at Pattipola, which is about eight kilometres from World’s End. Since the road is washed-out, vehicles halt midway and people are compelled to walk almost four kilometres from the Wildlife ticket counter to the destination point.

Most people arriving at the destination are tired, hungry and thirsty after the long walk. They rush to the restaurant, but find the prices there unimaginable. There are no common bakery items such as bread, buns or biscuits available here.

A bottle of water normally sold at Rs. 70 is sold at Rs. 125, a bottle of soft water which is Rs. 50 is Rs. 100, a cup of tea is Rs. 40 while a cup of plain tea Rs. 20. These items are sold to foreigners at double and treble the price. Rural school children who come with just Rs. 50 in their hands have under the circumstance, to satisfy their hunger and quench their thirst by filling their bellies at the water tap near the restaurant.

The restaurant mudalali attempts to justify his exorbitant prices by the claim that he has to cover up his tender fee of Rs. 132,000 and other expenses, by the sale of food at this restaurant. His other complaint is that no steps have been taken by the authorities concerned to provide the restaurant with the much needed electricity.

The restaurant is owned by the Wildlife Department which earns a colossal amount by both the gate charge as well as by tendering the restaurant. It is the opinion of most visitors that if the Wildlife Department hands over the running of this restaurant to the Tourism Ministry or a reputed caterer instead of calling for tenders, a much better service at a more reasonable price could be provided to the visitors to World’s End.


Misleading advertisements

A firm has been advertising on the local TV channels, the availability of a shaving razor for an attractive price of Rs. 18.00 usable for one month, which sounds a bargain.

What is advertised is a razor with a pivotal–head moving from side to side and a young demonstrator on the TV visual keeps on shaving while dancing to impress on the gullible, that shaving is done so pleasantly, swiftly and with ease with this improved version of razor.

But what is released to the local market is a different type of the brand with a fixed razor-head, which is not so convenient and leaves behind cuts and aberrations. A complaint bringing the matter to the notice of the Director of Consumer Affairs Authority was made on 5.12.12 but not even an acknowledgment has been received to this day. Perhaps the culpable local advertiser is more important than the gullible, hapless consumer!


Translators’ concerns unaddressed

This refers to the letter titled ‘Translators’ concerns unaddressed’ published in the Citizens’ Mail Column on 17.01.2013. The letter lists out some of the problems in the Translators’ Service and goes on to say that ‘out of the 26 officers recruited on 15.08.1997 only two remain in service’. I am one of those two officers and I fully agree with the views the writer has expressed regarding the present predicament of the Translators’ Service.

I was appointed as a Class I Translator in 1997 and still remain in the same Class being a victim of the said ‘second-rate’ treatment to the Service, since the only promotion examination available to us has not been held from 1999 onwards.

We were not allowed to sit for the promotion examination held in 1999 as then we were in our period of probation. We witnessed how officers recruited into Class III/II of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in the year 2000 were afforded the opportunity to be double promoted to Class I within a period of 12 years. We also saw how many other services also had a very free path for promotion and are utterly disappointed with the Translators’ Service which has only one promotional Class and the lack of interest by the authorities to hold even that promotional examination for 13 years. Many of our colleagues in the Service left this profession for better paid jobs with proper recognition for their skills and qualifications. We still remain in this Service as we have gathered skills in languages and have much interest in this field. We genuinely hope that our grievances will be addressed very soon.

There seems to be a silver line in the dark cloud of the Service as that by now the government has declared a decade (2012-2021) for a Trilingual Sri Lanka in which the Translators’ Service is expected to play a vital role and its Action Plan has stressed the necessity of revising the present Service Minute of the Service to keep up with the present market realities.


Cancel licences of food hoarders

A large stock of rotten potatoes and onions which were hidden by traders was detected recently in the Pettah.

Traders in Pettah have been adopting this ruse for years to create a shortage and sell them at higher prices. But due to natural causes the items turned rotten.

When natural or artificial shortages occur, the government is blamed.

When artificially created shortages occur the government fails to trace the unscrupulous traders and thereby earn public wrath.

However, people of whatever living standard eat at hotels, eating house etc. sub standard food cooked from items purchased at cheap prices.

If the government policy is to protect consumers and also be free from being accused of shortages in the country it should declare that in future if traders are caught for similar offences or for hoarding food stuffs, their trade licence will be cancelled and they will also be imprisoned.


Workers’ Benefits regulations need revisions

A country could be considered prosperous only when its artistes and working class are leading a satisfactory life.

It is the duty of the government and the Opposition to ensure that workers’ rights are safeguarded.

From time to time workers’ benefits should be revised and relief measures by granted.

At present the following matters need immediate attention.

1. EPF and ETF Benefits - EPF and ETF benefits are not enjoyed by all. These should be made compulsory savings and strict laws for compliance should be implemented.

(i) EPF is not deducted from all liable income sources.

(ii) EPF deducted is not paid together with Employer’s Contribution. In the event of a company being liquidated, EPF and ETF dues cannot be recovered even from the Directors in full.

(iii) EPF and ETF dues are not settled on time.

(iv) Several employees especially from the estate sector, are not aware of the correct procedure to obtain EPF and ETF refunds.

(v) Unions do not show interest in checking if EPF and ETF contributions are remitted on time.

They do not assist their members to receive refunds on time.

(vi) The government should appoint a team of investigators to check whether EPF and ETF regulations are complied by all.

Unemployed graduates could be offered employment for this purpose.

2. Gratuity payment - The qualifying period of five years should be reduced to 2 ½ years. At present if the number of employees is less than 15 no gratuity is payable, however employees could appeal to the Labour Tribunal.

This regulation should be removed to avoid delay in receiving Gratuity Payment.

3. Service Charge to hotel employees - Service charges paid to hotel employees do not qualify for EPF and ETF benefits. However, they are liable for PAYE Tax. Commissions received by Sales Representative qualify for EPF and ETF benefits, likewise service charges should be made liable for EPF and ETF benefits.

4. Overtime - The normal overtime rate of 1 ½ times which was fixed about 60 years ago needs revision. EPF and ETF benefits should be paid on at least 50% of the overtime.

5. Lieu leave - For work on poya days, weekends, and statutory holidays, executives are not paid overtime. However lieu leave could be granted when they work on weekends. A person who works for 5 ½ days needs some rest. This is acceptable by labour laws.

Consideration should be given to grant lieu leave to executives and others when they work on weekends, poya days and statutory holidays.

6. Domestic Employees - At present Sri Lanka has a fair percentage of domestic employees (servants, drivers etc).

They do not enjoy minimum fixed salaries and annual increments, EPF and ETF benefits, Eight hours work, Leave facilities, Maternity leave, Workmens’ Compensation cover or Retiring Gratuity.

The Labour Department does not interfere in appointments or termination of domestic employees.

At least EPF and ETF benefits and retiring gratuity should be paid to domestic employees as they do not have any savings. Since it may be difficult to monitor EPF and ETF contributions, a Post Office savings book for EPF and ETF payments to be deposited by the employer every month should be introduced.

 

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