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The foundation stone for a crematorium at the Minuwanpitiya Cemetery
in Panadura was laid on 24.12.2008 by Reginald Cooray, the former Chief
Minister of the Western Province who is now a Cabinet Minister and a
Kalutara District MP. Although construction of the building for the
crematorium was completed about two years ago, the necessary equipment
has so far not been installed, and as such the crematorium has not yet
been commissioned.
The reason for this has been the lack of funds. As a result residents
of Panadura within the Urban Council limits are compelled to take their
dead bodies for cremation to the crematoriums at Pinwatta, Weragama or
Gorakana Cemeteries situated in the outskirts of Panadura at much
expense and inconvenience.
They come under the purview of the Panadura Pradeshiya Sabha.
This matter has caused great concern to Panadura residents. The
Panadura UC is one of the oldest Urban Councils in the island,
established as far back in 1923.
At the Urban Council elections held in March 2011 one of the pledges
in the election manifesto of the United People’s Freedom Alliance was
that work on the crematorium will be expedited. The UPFA swept the polls
and the Council is now controlled by them. I therefore wish to request
the present Chief Minister of the Western Province in consultation with
the Chairman of the UC to resolve this matter by providing necessary
funds to complete the work of the crematorium.
If sufficient funds cannot be provided by the Provincial Council and
the UC, it is suggested that an allocation by obtained from the
decentralised budget of the Members of Parliament of the Kalutara
District and the crematorium be commissioned early to which the
residents of Panadura will be ever grateful.
H.W. Goonesekera
Panadura
With regard to the law student, Ms. Achala Priyadarshinie (a
left-hander), whose left hand had to be amputated (as to whether there
is medical negligence is under investigation) her friends and well
wishers have requested for funds to meet the cost of a electronic hand.
I suggest that in case if she doesnt get this prosthetic hand on time,
the Law Faculty should give her the privilege to sit for the final
examination viva voce taking it to consideration the tragedy she had to
face. The other option is to appoint a proxy to assist her to write down
her answers at the examination.
Mohamed Zahran
Colombo 3
A Sunday newspaper in its report describing a photograph with some
police officers in front of a barricade says ‘Barbarians at the
barricade’. These words used to condemn the Police service degrade the
uniformed Police Officers in that photo. The police officers are doing
their legitimate duties. So how can a person say that they are
Barbarians? This report should totally be condemned and the paper should
not be giving such serious words to describe the Sri Lanka Police who
are guardians of the law of the country.
This type of reporting should be even banned in this country. It is
not the independence of the media.
Somasiiri Liyanage
Galle
The Public Enterprise Department issued a new circular PED – 01/2013
dated 15.01.2013 on the above subject. Corporation sector employees were
given the opportunity to serve upto the age of 60 years without
requesting for extensions, according to Cabinet memorandum No.
12/1760/504/158.
But clause iii of the Circular mentions that if the management needs
to terminate the service of an employee (for reasons of inefficiency or
even performance-based) after 55 years, it can be done by simply
informing the concerned employee, six months prior to his retirement
date.
This totally violates the benefit of the employees that existed,
namely to serve up to 57 years under Circular PED 60 dated 29.04.2011
without requesting for extensions.
The idea of the Cabinet of Ministers is to give opportunity to
employees to serve upto 60 years without any management barriers.
Therefore, I kindly request the Secretary of the Treasury to remove
clause iii of the PED circular 01/2013 dated 15.01.2013 to enable
Corporation sector employees to serve upto the age of 60 yearswithout
any management barriers.
A. Fernando
Moratuwa
There are thousands of people in Sri Lanka who suffer from physical
disabilities, congenital or otherwise. Disability is just one social
issue, may be temporary or permanent, of different levels but may happen
to anyone at anytime irrespective of age or background. Many disabled
people are quite capable of contributing their talents and skills to
society. Those facing disability or other issues usually have multiple
needs that require assistance to adequately function in everyday life.
Therefore the government can in many ways assist them with medical,
financial and other social support.
Foreign countries have advanced far in providing increased
opportunities and access for disabled persons. Yet in Sri Lanka,
physically disabled individuals in wheelchairs or using walkers have
limited access to many buildings. We are a country with great growth
potential and people with disabilities should also share in this growth
and not be left behind.
Regulations for construction of new or renovations of existing
buildings must begin to address the access issue of disabled persons.
Modern society has an obligation to take care of the less fortunate
individuals in a humane and just way. In Sri Lanka people help on their
own the disabled but this does not seem to be enough. In many cases it
is not just the disabled person who needs support but also the families
that include a disabled person or in some instances more than one
disabled person.
There is a wealth of talented people who can work for the rights of
the disabled, work with the disabled to assist their needs or work in
employment alongside people with disabilities. The government should tap
and utilize these resources.
HARSHI NADIE PERERA
PILIYANDALA
The decision of the Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife to
distribute free organic fertilizer is a great step in the process of
popularizing our traditional varieties of rice.
When these varieties were in use, the incidence of Diabetes,
pressure, Heart Disease were at a minimum .
If this salutary practice gets the support of the Agriculture
Department it would lead to the birth of healthy nation in the future
and easing the burden of health care which is a great drain on the state
revenue.
It is sincerely hoped that farmers and vegetable cultivators will
adopt these healthy practices for the sake of the present and future
generations to come and for the welfare of the country as a whole.
J.C. Boange
Lance Armstrong is a sad example of what sports has become today.
Historically, sports was considered to be a virtue-making machine.
The values that correspond with sports were considered to go hand in
hand with those that go into being a person of integrity and faith.
Today, however, sports is increasingly associated with violence,
drugs, sex, racism, cheating and money. Athletes are worshipped today
for the money they make, for their on-field violence, for their
off-field partying, for their egos and bravado that includes fighting,
celebratory dances, strutting and posturing.
Technical and athletic aspects of certain sports have given way to
steroid physiques, tattoos and various forms of intimidation.
At one time only sailors and bikers wore tattoos. Today footballers
have helped bring these crude images of a decadent society into the
mainstream.
Our media helps promote and legitimize this mentality by glorifying
athletic fighting and violence in a colourful and entertaining way.
Vince Lombardi, former coach of the Super Bowl winning Green Bay
Packers football team, spoke for a generation when he said, “Winning
isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”.
Ultimately, sports should be a vehicle to develop good character, to
make people courageous, loyal, generous losers, and gracious victors.
We have to recover these original principles of sports so that we can
work together to forge greater bonds between people and help overcome
the real and terrible social problems of our time.
Paul Kokoski
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