|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 10 January 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries
|
Like Robert Bruece of Yore our Prime Minister has done it. Despite several setbacks he forged ahead undaunted. He never got disheartened or discouraged by the gloomy foreboding of the prophets of doom. Undeterred by threats he marched foreward. Finally bankrupt critics raised the religious issue linking his kinship to a Christian priest. But the people did not listen to them. We are now delighted over his success. The main theme of the election campaign of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was to put an end to confrontational and vituperative politics. In keeping with this policy on the day he assumed powers as the Prime Minister he offered the olive branch to all other political parties and invited them to join him in solving the pressing problems of the nation. We hope that this olive branch he offered will not be spurred by the Opposition parties. The Prime Minister will face unsurmountable obstacles and tribulations in his task of building the nation and prevent it from falling into abysmal depths. In this exercise we should back him to the hilt. His ushering in peace to the Country will not be welcomed by those frustrated few who beat the communal dream. But the people will be with him in this noble task. He deserves the Nobel Prize if he brings once and for all solution to our ethnic problem. Some talked of constitutional imbroglios in his relations vis-a-vis the President. We are certain that the President will stick to the policy of peaceful cohabitation, as followed in countries such as France and USA. Our Constitution provides no inhibition in this regard. The success of any constitution depends on those who operate it. People who gave the reins of the government to the Prime Minister by their mandate expect his plans will not be thwarted by trotting out the provisions of the Constitution. Changing the Constitution will not be a panacea for all the ills of the country. Some rethinking is necessary by the Opposition specially the major group, the P.A. when they attack the Government. They will be attacking the President too because She is the Head of the Government, the State and the Cabinet. The Opposition will have to be mindful of this new trend and be cautious in resorting to destructive criticism of the Government. D.P. Gankanda-Polgasowita.
I think the present Government must impose a ban on the issue of liquor permits to open up new outlets throughout the island for the sale of local and foreign liquor, in order to create a sober society. This most laudable act is something what the previous government failed to do, for reasons better known to the public. Anyone who could afford to pay the price, got a license to open a liquor shop. On the other hand, no temperance movement has ever been successful in putting an end to this social menace. Even the Buddhist clergy have not made any practical attempt to prevent the opening of liquor outlets, contrary to the precepts of Buddhism in a country where 79% are Buddhists. Publicity is also not given, through mass media, to prevent the abuse of alcohol and to enlighten the boozers about the lethal effects of excessive drinking. The government spends a large sum of money to treat those unfortunate boozers, who, after all, repent for their folly of having been habitual drinkers. Now, what about the moonshine drinks ('kasippu'), the illicit brew, that has a ready market, despite the long arms of the law to apprehend the brewers? Needless to say that 'kasippu' brewers have brisk business, specially in dry and rural areas, in marketing their illicit products, since most of them have the support of people who are in power to prevent arrest and prosecution. Sometime, we hear of raids by police, but the business goes on as usual, regardless of deterrent punishment under the law. Addiction to liquor is not only a health hazard but also a threat to society. How many wives have found fault with their husbands for returning home thoroughly drunk and blatantly upbraiding them for no valid reason? How much money is wasted on liquor, finally to get diseased? How the children mentally suffer when there is no peace at home? Opening up new liquor outlets only mean a threat to society hard to contain. Those who deal in licit or illicit arrack, or any other kind of liquor, are not the least concerned over the health of the people but only bent on making money at the stake of the boozers. What a disgrace to Sri Lanka, a Buddhist country? ARYADASA RATNASINGHE- Mattegoda.
Damn me for that ONE life giving vote for JVP in 1978! When the peace loving Muslims and Tamils of Sri Lanka observe with utter disgust the JVP attempting to disrupt the universally desired Peace process by raising self-centred opportunistic slogans that could only swing more and more of the Sinhalese chauvinistic vote from the SLFP base into the JVP vote bank, every progressive thinker activist is compelled to meditate upon the ERRORS that we too have committed in fostering this ambivalent social deformity in the past. What arise immediately in my mind are the happenings in the University of Peradeniya from 1976. There, I see the innocent baby face of beloved friend Shantha Bandara alone, crying and twisting in pain, upon the Akbar Bridge on the day of the infamous Weerasooriya Assassination, perhaps around 7:30 am, as I ran towards the Senate Building. He cried, Gehuwa Machang poleesiyen... mulu engama ridenava.." twisting in pain. Bahu and Sivasegaram were running hither and thither in indignant anger trying to help, as always, the large number of injured students, girls and boys. That indeed turned out to be the death knell of then degenerate ULF government. And also it saw the conversion of a large number of apolitical students volunteering to new radical politics. Shantha Bandara turned out to be one of the most significant ones, especially because of his innocent charm and sincerity. Now I regret my failure to have saved him from JVP. Also, fortunately, I'm so very thankful for having been already politically well baptized from my A/L school days at St. Anthony's together with Ajith Samaranayake from Trinity through our association with Jayampathy Wickramaratne, then a Physics teacher at St. Anthony's. He gave us the vital introduction to LSSPers of the then emerging revolutionary left, the NSSP. Looking back, it is indeed this proper initiation that saved me from JVP. But, subsequently, in 1978 I made an error that I shall regret forever. That year I was elected into the Engineering Students Union as the only successful member from the United Left, lead by Ravindra of the CP, against the so-called Independents led by Lal Weerasinghe with a thumping vote for myself that almost surpassed Lal. However, at the end of the elections we worked together as one, as it was quite usual of the ESU. And then the usual PSU formation arises. For the PSU power there was a direct clash between the United Left led by Cyril & company and the shady JVP led by Chandrapala, Shantha Bandara & company. And a fateful decision was to be made with my one vote: they were equally divided, as I remember, to 16 on either side. The ESU, which in effect was part of the shady JVP, wanted me to give my one vote for JVP group. The United Left expected my vote with natural trust. The final second in my moral obligation to the ESU that represented the majority of the apolitical Engineering Students that I truly represented, I gave my vote to the JVP! And that turned out to be the fatal first stepping-stone for the JVP Second Insurgency of the 1980s. And I recall now.... beloved comrade Dayan Jayatillake - the well-read solo self-declared Stalinist, came running to me after the crucial vote, and with total confidence in me as an associate of the United Left, tried to figure out who truly cast the decisive vote. For him Rajasinghe Bandara of the United Left was the prime suspect. The sense of guilt that I felt within myself was overwhelming - but mum to myself, I thought that I should tell the truth someday to vindicate that trustworthy Rajasinghe Bandara of 1978! Well, it has taken 23 years, torrents of bloodshed, thousands of lives and finally the unabated vituperative chauvinism of JVP to compel me to put this on record at least at this point to purify myself of the most ugly political mistake of my life. Indeed I'm so very regretful for this now, and, perhaps, forever! Madawala Sekara Abdul Nizam
A dozen thoughts crossed my mind today. The Daily News no longer has the shrill hysterical accusatory pre December 5th tone to its news reporting. This is indeed a positive step for a state run newspaper. Keep it up. 1. The hunt for illegal weapons is very good. Will the Government and Police only focus on weapons possessed by PA politicians and their cronies? 2. Will the Police also target UNP politicians and their supporters if they also have illegal weapons? 3. Or will it be another eye-wash and a witch hunt? 4. The first acid test for the new Government will be when and how they conduct Local Government Elections in March. 5. The whole nation and interested international parties will watch the Government and how it conducts elections. We expect a real change. It is imperative that it earnestly starts to set up a new civil culture. 6. If it resorts to previous PA and UNP methods, the country will once again lose confidence in its democratically elected leaders. 7. Any attempts to unleash violence and rigging on the scale seen during the PA regime and previous UNP regimes (referendum) will only result in more people moving towards the JVP and its past undemocratic means of capturing power. 8. Everyone loves a winner but very few will call a spade a spade for the greater good of the nation. 9. Look around you and be wary of adoring fans and the hand shakes from new found "friends" who want to wine and dine and bear gifts. 10.Ask yourself did I get this treatment 3 months ago? Were people coming up to me to kiss my cheek or to slap me on the back 3 months ago or immediately after 1994? Ask the marooned PA men where the sycophants have gone today! 11. Hence due to fact #8, 9 & 10, I ask Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Government to beware of sycophants and opportunists. As we Royalist know, "DISCE AUT DISCEDE". 12. Be wary of corrupt Civil Servants, officials, and even military men who have an incredible ability to change hues faster than Chameleons and who will try to mislead the new Government for personal gain just like they did in the past. Know how to filter insincerity from good. MANO RATWATTE - via email
The undersigned visited the Colombo Town Hall to pay the rates for the current year and was taken aback at the lackadaisical behaviour of the Green clad officers stationed therein. Three officers were seated inside the Gate cubicle sprawled out with their legs impending the visitors on their way to the offices. Further on at the main entrance another batch of officers were at their desks idling away. Moving, inside the building there were several more leaning on pillars and walls engaged in loud chatter. What are their functions? Security? far from it! Is there no commandant in charge? No supervisor? They all appear to be on a paid holiday, thanks to the C.M.C. On the streets, there are no road sweepers as we had in the years gone buy. The heap of garbage near the Borella junction opposite the Coop premises is a disgusting feature. The Vihara Maha Devi Park which Mangala Samaraweera took over is being restored, I dread to think its fate now that it has been returned to the Municipality. It is hoped that the Mayor and the new Western Province Development Minister will take necessary steps to enforce discipline and responsibility in the Council. Now that the rates have been doubled, adding to the ever rising Cost of Living, they should ensure that our (ratepayers) money is effectively utilized. PERCY UDALAGAMA- Colombo 8.
Happy to hear that Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe is engaging a program of action to reorientate Foreign Employment Agencies under the tutelage of private sector entrepreneurs to eliminate problems facing many Sri Lankans employed abroad, many of whom have in procuring employment subjected themselves to numerous form of financial embarrassment and duress, whilst many are in detention camps awaiting deportation. Factually majority of them, have to work abroad for a great period of time, to absolve themselves from debts they have incurred, and if deported prior to expiry of contract they are in great distress. As I observe, the fault lies, fairly and squarely on the Ministry of Labour and its allied agencies and efficacy of our Embassies abroad failing ignominiously to promote confidence among foreign employers and dissuade such employers, from offering visas to varied categories of middlemen and organizations overseas who market visas at prices ranging from US$ 250-400 each. Secondly, the other salient factor is the low annual registration fee, operative now that too in instalments, enabling the growth of large number of foreign employment agencies, many of them politicised nationally. It will augur well for everyone concerned if steps are taken forthwith, to increase annual registration fee to at least Rupees one million not payable in instalments, for this measure will eliminate square pegs in round holes, and enscone the genuine entrepreneurs to surface. It is also essential a panel of eminent personalities be set up with judicial powers for every foreign employed individual to seek redress, since the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment is an ocean of corruption due to political patronage. If one analyses the massive contribution by a few credible Foreign Employment Agencies of the private sector amidst numerous obstacles, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and its agencies under the tutelage of the State continues unabated to be of no use. Fervently and sincerely hope the "U.N.P." led "U.N.F" Alliance Government, fearlessly take positive and meaningful steps to save this segment, which continues to bequeath repatriation of much needed foreign exchange and save employees from being losers. It will also be a great boon to Employees leaving our shores on employment, if SriLankan Airlines considers favourably to decrease fares. M.H.F.SHERIFF
Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya says in one of his articles, to explain the true status of the availability of electricity to the public and to the industry and considering the financial position of the Ceylon Electricity Board to increase electricity prices asking the consumers to pay up. This would not be a decision the Government will happily take but it has to definitely increase the price and let the people manage their consumption to suit their ability to pay. With all other consumer items that is the way. If you cannot pay for petrol you have no car or you go by bus. When you cannot afford Thora you buy Balaya. When you cannot buy gas you go for firewood. When your telephone bill is high you limit your calls or your talk. With electricity too it should be the same. You consume what you can afford and make alternative arrangements for the balance. Under these conditions, consumers will also try to save electricity and it would be readily available when you need it. And if your bill has reached your affordable maximum you switch to kerosene lamp. But that additional revenue should not go into somebody's pockets or to increase the salaries and perks of the CEB's directorate and the employees who are also responsible to a certain extent to the present situation of the CEB. DESHAPRIYA RAJAPAKSHA-Colombo 6 |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
