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Thursday, 23 May 2013

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Land - the important resource

Sri Lanka is an island nation and land is one of the most important natural resources. Around 37.9% of the population of the country depend on land-based activities for their survival. Provinces located in the Wet Zone, that is the Western, Central, Southern and Sabaragamuwa are relatively smaller in extent but have a high population density compared to those in the Dry Zone which are larger in extent but have relatively a lower population density.

In ancient times, most of the human settlers were village level farming communities. People worked in harmony in agriculture and other livelihoods. Their traditional farming methods were in line with the natural cycles like weather patterns.

However this harmonious lifestyle and pattern of land use was changed gradually mainly due to colonial rule. Most of the forest lands in the central hills of the country were converted into plantations with mono crops like tea, rubber and coffee. Currently, the share of agricultural land is about 57%. The change of land use is related to demographic changes. It has caused an increase in the demand for land for urban development in addition to agriculture.

When considering the ownership of land, 93% of forest lands or above 80% of the total land area is formally owned and administered by the state. The two main state institutions responsible for the management of around 40% of the total land area are the Forest Department and the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The major pressure on land resources is caused by population. Population expansion also creates a huge demand for agricultural land as well as land for settlement purposes.

Over-exploitation of sand from the bed of the Kelani River has been one of the main reasons for environmental problems. Gem mining is another land-based industry that has caused several environmental problems mainly in and around Ratnapura.

The miners do not adhere to the relevant regulations and the violation of same has created a lot of problems in the area. Encroachment of state land or reserved land for agricultural and other purposes is seen in many areas of the country.

This should be stopped. Action should be taken by the authorities concerned to:

* Make land use sustainable for the country.

* Ensure the protection of ‘Protected Areas’ from human encroachment by strictly implementing the laws and providing alternatives for the people.

* Land grabbing should be stopped forthwith and all large land use plans should be subject to consultation with the relevant local community.

HARSHI NADIE PERERA
PILIYANDALA


Pensioners await rectification of anomalies

State pensioners are in a dilemma unable to make ends meet due to the sky-rocketing cost of living, increases in prices of vitamins, drugs, medicine, transport and electricity.

I venture to draw the attention of the government to help state pensioners to lead a comfortable life by bailing them out of the problems they face.

Pensioners have faith in President Mahinda Rajapaksa and eagerly look forward to the implementation of the ‘Respected Senior Citizens’ programme as laid down in the Mahinda Chinthanaya, the President’s vision.

Former Prime Ministers, Ministers of Public Administration and several ministers from time to time indicated that the salary anomalies arising out of salary increases granted to public servants effective 1st January 2006 will be removed. However upto date that has not been done despite promises made over and over. Frustrated over failures to keep the promises, the Pensioners’ Associations met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees.

The President gave an undertaking at this meeting that the anomalies arisen will be rectified, and the pensioners are very satisfied and happy and eagerly await implementation of the rectification of the pension anomalies. The pensioners have strong faith in President Mahinda Rajapaksa who rid the country from terrorism and launched development programmes all over the country for the benefit of the people.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a leader who always keeps his promise.

UPALI S. JAYASEKERA
RAJAGIRIYA.


Duty Free concessions for retired public servants

It was stated in the newspapers that the government has decided to extend the concession to import duty free vehicles to ex-members of Provincial Councils who had served for a period of two years.

A service of two years anybody would certainly agree, is a short period. However not arguing on the justifiability of this concession, I urge the government to consider the situation of retired public servants who have been using vehicles they obtained on duty free permits at the time of retirement long ago, after serving in the public service for decades, generally thirty to thirty five years. These retired persons continue to be saddled with family responsibilities, face problems of old age and find it difficult to maintain their old ram-shackled vehicles which incur much cost and trouble.

Therefore, we request the government to consider extending this duty free concession to retired public servants, who have been using vehicles obtained on duty concessions, for a period of at least ten years.

T. WICKRAMASURIYA
NUGEGODA


Fax charges

This is in reference to the letter titled ‘Fax machines out of order at post offices’, which appeared in the ‘Citizens’ Mail’ column recently.

This is true in most post offices in the country. The break-down of fax machines at post offices, drives people to use the fax facility at private communication centres. Their charge for one A 4 size page is Rs. 40 for faxing - the process which takes them only one minute, and costs them Rs. 10 in the maximum. Thus communication centres make a good profit on outgoing faxes alone. Incoming fax messages are charged at Rs. 50 per page at some of these booths. Some post office employees are said to have close connections with private communication centres and this probably accounts for fax machines at post offices going out of order very frequently, sending more business to private booths run by their friends.

The government should regulate fax charges at private communication centres while providing an uninterrupted fax service at Post Offices.

CHARLES A. DE SILVA
PILIYANDALA


Walking safely on roads

Most pedestrians find it difficult to walk safely on our roads nowadays. One reason is the heavy number of motor vehicles that ply on the public roads. The other is that certain motorists drive these vehicles in a very risky and careless manner.

The latter is the more dangerous which causes accidents with injuries and loss of lives of innocent pedestrians on the road. The worst of the culprits are found to be three-wheeler drivers followed by motor-cycle riders who probably believe that the public highway is a race-track. They are a law unto themselves. This is one clear reason which can be attributed to knocking down innocent pedestrians on the roads.

A friend of mine who returned to Sri Lanka after some years abroad, states that he is unable to drive on our roads. This is despite hes possessing a driving licence for several years now. His complaint is that there is no road-discipline at all and that he was flabbergasted when vehicles overtook him from both the left and right sides while he was driving. It is high time that the authorites concerned took action to discipline vehicle drivers who travel at break-neck speeds and ensure the safety of pedestrians.

M.G. ASOKA KARUNARATNE
PANNIPITIYA

 

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