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Our history and civilisation is connected to water resources. The
rivers and the wevas were used by our ancestors for the benefit of the
nation as a country based on paddy and agriculture. During the last two
millennia, hundreds of tanks of varying capacities were built to store
rain water to be used in the dry season for agriculture and domestic
purposes, and also to nourish the landscape. The rich water resources
emanating from the central highlands that receive rain during the
monsoons are very many. However the water accessibility in different
regions varies due to the geography and the rainfall patterns of the
country. The mean annual rainfall in Sri Lanka is 900 - 6000 mm and the
island wide average rainfall is 1900 mm. Based on the rainfall the
country can be divided into wet, intermediate and dry zones.
Sri Lanka has a network of 103 rivers starting from the central hills
and flowing through the island. The water flow from these rivers is
considerably utilised by people for agriculture as well as domestic
purposes. The ever increasing demand for water in the agriculture,
industrial and urban sectors has created much pressure on both surface
and ground water resources in recent times. The patterns of usage
negatively affect both quality and availability. It is not surprising
therefore, that there has been large scale development of water
resources for irrigation and hydro-power in the last 50 years.
According to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) reports the
total cultivated area of the country was estimated at 2.4 million
hectares in 2012 of which 1.27 million ha came under annual crops such
as rice, kurakkan, maize, green gram, green chillies and cowpea and 1.01
million ha were under permanent crops such as fruits, tea, rubber,
sugarcane and coconut.
Due to the ever increasing population growth and the demand for food,
it is clear that there will be greater demand for water in the
agriculture sector in the future unless more efficient irrigation
systems are popularised. There are about 30 government institutions
contributing to water resource conservation and management in Sri Lanka.
These institutes address a variety of water related issues, and
co-ordination among these agencies is critically important for more
effective water management. There are 40 Acts of Parliament related to
the water sector. These laws have been enacted over time to meet
specific needs often with little consideration for existing legislation
or future needs.
Laws are administered by numerous agencies with a wide range of
responsibilities but unfortunately characterized by overlaps, gaps and
conflicting jurisdiction. Since water is critical for many reasons,
communities tend to be vigil about water related issues. Water resources
of the country should be properly mapped before planning large scale
water projects. Further, the cascade system of tanks should be restored
to ensure efficient water usage. Also laws should be implemented to
control water pollution in urban areas.
HARSHI NADIE PERERA
PILIYANDALA
With the revised electricity tariff which came into effect from
20.4.2013 there has been no change in the Fuel Adjustment Charge (FAC)
except in the case of the 61-90 block where the FAC is 10%. In view of
the heavy rains in the catchment areas resulting in reservoirs reaching
spill-over level, it is high time the Public Utilities Commission and
the Ceylon Electricity Board consider removing the FAC or reducing it by
at least 50% as more hydro-power is being generated now with saving on
fuel for energy production, consequent to which the removal of reduction
of the FAC will have far reaching impact on the cost of living of
domestic consumers. It should be noted that in the case of domestic
consumers between 90 and 180 units, there may be middle-class
householders in urban areas who use utility items such as a
refrigerator, fan or an iron and the FAC applicable to these consumers
directly affect them. These items are now not considered as luxury
items.
It is hoped that my request will receive consideration of the
President who is also the Finance Minister, and also the Power and
Energy Minister as well as the PUC and the CEB.
H.W. GOONESEKERA
PANADURA
The retirement age of public servants is when they reach the age of
60 years.
If on 31.12.1996 one retired at the age of 60 he would be entitled to
the provisions stated in government circular letter No. DN 1012/G dated
25.2.2004. Those who retired between 1.1.1990 and 30.12.1996 are today
in the age group 76 to 83 years of which more than 95% may have passed
away.
Those who retired between 1.1.1980 and 31.12.1989 are in the age
group 83 and 93 years and you can be certain that 99.9% are not alive.
Of those who retired prior to 31.12.1996 only 5 to 10% are at present
among the living.
They are sadly deprived of the pension they are entitled to in terms
of the circular.
In their old age since they frequently fall ill, they have to meet
the cost of medical bills, and drugs are expensive nowadays. For a
consultation only, a doctor charges Rs. 200 to Rs 300.
What about the drugs they are prescribed to purchase from the
pharmacy? The Medical Officer gives cheap medicines such as Vit B
tablets, panadol, Vit C etc., yet other items have to be purchased from
the pharmacy outside.
At the last budget, a meager increase of Rs. 1000 payable in two
installments of Rs. 500 in January and July was granted to those who
retired prior to 31.12.1996.
How about food expenses which have sky rocketed? I need over Rs.
10,000 for food and I draw a meagre pension of Rs. 11, 576. I live with
my wife and daughter aged 24 years.
I am unable to give her in marriage as I cannot provide her with a
dowry.
I earnestly appeal that all pensioners who retired prior to
31.12.1996 should be placed on the correct scale with effect from 1st
January 2014.
L.S.B. PERERA
JA-ELA
I thank the President for his assurance at a meeting of newspaper
editors at Temple Trees recently, that no new licences will be issued
for casinos in Sri Lanka. Casinos were brought to Sri Lanka by the UNP
government in the 1980s. Joe Sim was the boss of the casino business
during that era. Casinos were rampant during the Premadasa regime as
well.
The SLFP had never thought of encouraging casinos. The President at
the editor's meeting had explained that there were no new liquor
licences issued during his tenure in office and in future too, that
position would prevail.
Though casinos have business dimensions of tourist commercial
culture, it will have adverse cultural and social impacts on Sri Lankans
as the country is mainly a Buddhist country.
It is imperative that all liquor shops and bars be closed down in
this country since 60% of the people of this country consume liquor. We
very often see before a poya day, people flocking to liquor shops to
make purchases in large quantities to stock their requirement for the
day on which the liquor shops are closed.
I urge the Buddhist clergy or the Bodu Bala Sena to commence a
campaign to discourage people consuming liquor through religious
preachings, to discourage people consuming meat and to refrain from
engaging in activities causing communal disharmony and arousing racial
feelings among the peace loving people of Sri Lanka. To have the
existing casinos confined to a zone would seem to be the most practical
solution as far as casinos are concerned.
Z.A.M. SHUKOOR
ARANAYAKA
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