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| Tuesday, 19 March 2002 |
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Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries
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Resignation of Renton de Alwis - A reply I wish to draw the attention of the public to the above article (DN. Mar.7). I have been serving the Ceylon Tourist Board (CTB) and the national travel industry for over 20 years and it is my intention to correct the false image of the senior executives conveyed by the writer Percy Seneviratne. In particular, the statement: "Everyone I had met was devoid of fresh ideas - all sadly, victims of that all-too-familiar epidemic that cripples most government departments". It is not my intention to belittle the efforts made by Renton de Alwis. After all, he too was a senior executive of the Board during 1983/1986 before he left for Singapore in search of a prestigious and lucrative position aborad, as described by Mr. Seneviratne. In contrast to the opinion expressed by Mr. Seneviratne, there have been instances of senior executives of the (CTB) having been recognized internationally as men of vision and capability. Mano Handy, a former director of the Board was put in charge of the education program of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) on his retirement from the Board. Lakshman Ratnapala, another director became the CEO of PATA. Incidentally, it was Ratnapala who recruited Renton de Alwis for PATA. This was followed by H. M. S. Samaranayake being recruited for the post of Chief of Asia Pacific of WTO. There had been many other instances of senior executives of the Board being given assignments by WTO and PATA to assist other countries with less developed travel industries. Are WTO and PATA mad to recruit only those devoid of vision? It is a pity that such talent is not recognized in their own land but such persons serving the motherland while drawing paltry salaries continue to be insulted by the very people who reap the benefits from them. The situation always changes as soon as they move abroad and obtain a lucrative position - form of colonial hangover with which some continue to be afflicted. To set the record straight, it was the executives of the CTB that brought the tourist arrivals to the country to over 400,000 in 1982 from less than 20,000 in 1966, the year CTB was set up. Due to the continued violent incidents that took place from 1983, the tourist arrivals plummeted to 230,106 in 1986. That was the year Renton de Alwis left the Board. Nevertheless, the rest of the executives did not abandon the fight for rejuvenation of the travel industry. By end of 1993, they manage to increase the international tourist arrivals to reach 392,250. In one of those super market promotions, I also saw the only new poster produced during Mr. de Alwis's tenure. Two glasses and a bottle of champagne on a patch of sand on top of Ruwanveliseya, Sigiriya, an elephant and a smiling girl! If we downgrade the destination ourselves, how can we blame the terrorists? When will we ever learn? There was another promotion that took place within Sri Lanka to woo tourists from abroad. The launching of a new logo, following the footsteps of SriLankan Airlines busting up millions for the tamasha. It was a hand in the Mudra of Goddess Tara of Nepal holding a flower with the most absurd slogan for a destination with unique attractions - Sri Lanka - A Land Like No Other. What does it convey about the tourist attractions of Sri Lanka? Cannot it be used equally meaningfully by bin Laden to promote Afghanistan or by Idi Amin to promote Uganda? It is good entertainment but it is valuable funds that are spent from the meagre grant CTB receives from the treasury. It is no laughing matter. So comparing the funds spent and the benefits accrued, one can agree with Mr. Seneviratne that it was innovative. There is also, no doubt that the tourist promotional funds of CTB have played a crucial role in achieving the high level of respect in the international scene. During his short term of office he was so dynamic as to be able to visit Germany, India, England, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia! ITB is the leading international travel fair in terms of both participation as well as scope. It is also the largest pavilion Sri Lanka uses (360 sq.m.) at such travel fairs. ITB correctly recognizes the crucial role that the political leadership of a country plays in the development of its tourist industry. Therefore, special forums are provided for the ministers in charge of tourism, political leaders and secretaries of ministries of different countries to meet, exchange views and plan steps for co-operation. The President of Germany and the Mayor of Berlin led these forums. Mr. Seneviratne has mentioned but has not elaborated, the specific circumstances that led to the resignation. It was specifically that the CTB refused to recognize the importance of participating at this leading travel fair with a delegation consisting of both executives and policy makers of the industry and insisted on a free hand. We have to recognize the fact we have to be team players even if we can claim to be a Sanath Jayasuriya or a Muralidaran, if we are to achieve success. Narrow mindedness - to be the lynch pin at every forum or demanding that the political leadership delegates authority while keeping the responsibility will not get us anywhere. In bad times, there were instances of getting cold feet. There have been desertions before. Nevertheless, as happened before, once recovery is achieved they will be back. Until then, the show must go on. DUDLY S. JAYAWARDANE , A food court in Colombo sells Chinese and Sri Lankan food at Rs. 99 a portion, displaying the price in huge figures to lure the customer. No customer gives the exact amount. They render a 100 rupee note, but the balance one rupee is hardly given to the customer. I wonder how much money the cashiers make for themselves. In countries like the UK, when products are priced at 99p, the customer always gets the balance penny if a pound is rendered. Either this particular Food Court should price the food at Rs. 100. or else give the balance rupee so that the customer can, if he likes, drop it onto the outstretched palm of the beggar man outside. A C ,
I was shocked to see an elderly lady dumped in front of a shop recently. She was seated with two pottaniyas by her side. She had a vacant look and I asked the three-wheeler drivers there, who this lady is. They said that this is common. Children bring their aged parents by vehicles and dump them in town, like waste. What a novelty? Hope some Trust will help them by admitting them to an elder's home for females close to Matugama. W. S. DAYARATNE ,
Customers now and then request for detailed telephone bills when they feel that they have been unduly over-charged during a particular month. They desire to check the telephone bill and ascertain whether they have in fact obtained the calls in question. Under these circumstances, customers would require the details within a period during which they would remember the details of calls they had actually taken. Unless customers receive the details in such a time, the detailed bill would not be of much use. In such a case, the customer would have to accept whatever details are furnished even if erroneous. Sri Lanka telecom Ltd. takes a long time to furnish detailed bills. A detailed bill applied for on 15.02.2002 has still not been furnished. When contacted, the reply was that detailed bills are prepared at the head office and that the delay is at that end. When a complaint was made about the unduly high amount in the bill, the reply was that it would take about a month to look into the matter. Thus the purpose of obtaining a detailed bill is nullified by the delay in furnishing same. It is surprising that Sri Lanka telecom Ltd. managed by a firm from Japan, a country so much advanced in technology should take such a long-time to furnish a detailed bill of just a month. K.D. PATRICK,
Referring to my recent book Evolution and Development of Water and Soil Conservation Ecosystems - from Ancient Dry Zone Forest Garden to Modern Jaffna Market Garden. M. B. Mathmaluwe (DN Feb 7) has exaggerated beyond limits of credibility my contribution to the struggle to save the precious Eppawala apatite deposit from depredations of multi nationals. That was a combined effort led by the Ven. Mahamankadawatha Piyaratana of Eppawala, supported by many others including Nihal Fernando, Prof. Jonathan Walters of USA, Prof. Illeperuma of Peradeniya, scientists and well-wishers some of who still remain anonymous. That struggle is not yet over; as Mr. M correctly observes what has been achieved is a reprieve. My own contribution was to focus on the ancient water and soil conservation ecosystem of the Rajarata, brilliantly documented and described by R. L. Brohier in his well-known historic lecture at a Royal Asiatic Society meeting in Colombo in 1935. In the first book in my Eppawala trilogy, titled Eppawala, Destruction of Cultural Heritage in the name of Development, Jonathan Walters describes Kalaweva Jayaganga as the "jugular vein" in the beautiful throat of the fair lady Lanka. This appealing turn of phrase draws attention to the critical function of this unique yoda ela in the human-made water and soil conservation ecosystem of Rajarata, the term used also in Justice Dr. A. R. B. Amerasinghe's Supreme Court judgement in the Eppawala Fundamental Rights case. Appropriately, Mr. Mathmaluwe's article starts with that description of Jayaganga. Incidentally, that Judgement set right a surprising misconception concerning this unique achievement of the ancients, in the report of a Committee appointed by the Minister of Science and Technology in the National Science Foundation. The NSF report, quoted in the judgement, said that the "Jayaganga is an engineering marvel that must be preserved for eternity as the Heritage of Humankind just as the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids or Ruwanweli Seya are preserved for posterity. Fortunately, since this judgement is said to be already a landmark in the literature of environmental law, the Supreme Court (unlike some of the learned NSF scientists) understood and recognized Jayaganga's function as a human-made water and soil conservation ecosystem. Please allow me two more comments on Mr. M's over-generous article. First, the quotation he uses viz. "The major hydraulic works are not created rationally and systematically, but haphazardly as pieces of self-advertisement by individual leaders", is from Professor E. R. Leach's well-known 1959 essay Hydraulic Society in Ceylon. had used it to show that Leach's misconceptions and errors have surprisingly escaped criticism by historians and scholars, to date. In passing I said that these remarks apply better to engineers responsible for the design and construction of Lunugamvehera, and others who are now promoting the design and construction of Moragahakande. Second, the reference to Samanala Weva is from a paper titled: "Some Thoughts on Technology Transfer for Irrigation and Multi-Purpose Development Projects in Sri Lanka" published in 1977, nearly 25 years ago, well before the project was constructed. D. L. O. MENDIS ,
Generally every lottery is a hara-kiri to a middle class person. I have seen some people buying between 20 to 50 tickets so as to win a prize. But feel sad as they see the results. The tickets are mostly printed in close numbers like 7/8, 15/16 or 35/36/37 etc. Because numbers hardly favour anyone to win a prize in such a style. We have seen prizes snowballing to several millions of rupees week after week and finally reaching a winner. If it reaches an ordinary man, on the one hand he does not know what to do and sometimes becomes somewhat made and on the other hand his life or that of his family becomes dangerous. Therefore, if a sweep buyer wins a considerable amount that will be a very great consolation to him. For that, the lottery tickets should be adjusted in a manner for all to win with good consolation prizes. Or if the prize accumulates to 1.5 million rupees with no winners, the following week's prize should be doubled to the other prizes. For example 20 rupees prizes to be doubled to 40 rupees, 500 to 1,000 and so on till the first prize is won. The other alternative for everyone to win lakhs instead of millions is to reduce the numbers to a limit of at least 60. After the new government came to power and with the assuming of duties by the new administrators in the Development Lottery Board they boast about their introduction of a prize of Rs. 10 one number in the 'Sanidha Vasanava' ticket. (Normally the lowest prize was Rs. 20 for two numbers. But the way, they make it entitled to win that 10 rupees makes me laugh. Because the lowest number amongst all the five other numbers drawn should be in the ticket to be a winner. How is that? Why play a trick just to pay Rs. 10 to a winner. NAZLY CASSIM,
Care in using mobile telephones It will be useful for the medical profession to study the results of investigations made on the ill-effects of the use of mobile telephones. This use has escalated dramatically and has its uses in communication, business and daily living. The industry too should take a positive approach in the public health interest of such results rather than, as is done by some, defend their sales and act similar to-for example the tobacco lobby. Many of us are aware of literature and media programs. I have seen illustrations in vivid colours of the damage done to the region around the inner ear and damage possibilities of the brain especially when the user is of minor age. There is advice that the use of mobile phones should be minimal to children below around 15 years of age and especially if they are below about ten as their system is more susceptible than that of an adult. Mobile phones are often a status symbol to some and often with no consideration for the disturbance of others. The industry itself is developing new designs to minimise or eliminate the risks. A code of practice (use) will be helpful and in this respect the industry too can help. PROF. P .P. G .L. SIRIWARDENE ,
I read with some interest the news item (DN Mar 9) under the above heading. Why this campaign is directed against cattle slaughter only? How about the millions of poultry, thousands of goats and pigs slaughtered daily and buffalos periodically. Don't they have life? Wasn't it Dr. Adhikaram who stopped his car noticing millions of ants crossing his path and walked to his office leaving the driver to bring the car after the ants had gone. My point is instead of making a hue and cry at Lipton Circus and Vihara Maha Devi Park and spoil the scenario there those who campaign against slaughter houses will do well if they can take their protest to opposite our tourist hotels in the city and as well as the beach sides to persuade the inmates not to eat beef so that no tourist will step in to Sri Lanka because there will be nothing to eat except vegetables and fruits! And, we all will be vegetables thereafter. Welcome, Bravo! I am all for anti-meat eating. S. GUNERIS ,
There are many instances during the last decade where Police officers from the rank of Police Constable, Police Sergeant, Sub Inspector, Inspector of Police, Chief Inspector of Police, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police, who had to go before court of file cases for violation of fundamental rights for unequal treatment to get their due promotions to the next rank. I have never come across any Army, Navy or Air Force officers going before a court of law to get his due promotions. Their promotions are granted on the due date. If I am wrong, I am subject to correction. Going before court to obtain a due promotion which has been denied to an officer is a hazardous and expensive procedure for a policeman of any rank in addition to the fact that it causes a lot of heartbreak for him and the family. It also makes a Police officer lackadaisical, disillusioned, irresponsive to the needs of the public, inefficient, neglects his basic duty of prevention and detection of crime, performs his duty as a matter of routine, without dedication and responsibility and finally the odd Police officer may take a fling at being dishonest or his honesty may become uncertain. Most of these are due to frustration, consequent to being abandoned in the same rank for a long-time. Sometimes it so happens that very junior officers get promoted above very senior officers, which leads to a lot of bickering among the seniors, combined with sighs, sobs, heartbreak, enmity, under cutting, emergence of snakes under the grass and the blade wielding fraternity. There were and are many officers in the top rung getting extensions of service after passing the mandatory sixtieth birthday on which date he should have retired. As a result of this, the officer next to him who should have got promoted to the next rank, stagnates, the convenient reasons given being 'no cadre', 'no vacancies' by the powers that be. There were also hilarious instances of promotion to the gazetted rank from the inspectorate. A few years ago, the Officer-in-charge of a remote police station had gone to a top notch politician to get a transfer to a more congenial station. The politician informed the Inspector that all transfers of his electorate have been finalized and no more transfers could be done. However, the politico informed the Inspector that he could help him by way of a promotion to the rank of ASP and the latter was asked whether he would mind a promotion instead of a transfer. Initially, the Inspector was flabbergasted, dumbfounded and could not believe it. Nevertheless, he jumped at the idea and today he is a Superintendent of Police. The Inspector has later quipped that it was the luckiest day in his life, not second to the happiest day - the day that he got married. Quite recently, a Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police was suddenly transferred to a lesser post, as he did not see eye to eye with another senior. He appealed against the transfer and when he went to office the following day, he found his office locked and he was virtually locked out. He had to go to court on plea of violation of fundamental rights and unequal treatment before the law, to get back his substantive post. The causes for these happenings are primarily political influence into promotions and transfers. Majority of superior officers in the Police Department are hand in glove with the politicians. Politicians and senior police officers are obligatory to each other. There are also the "Yes Men" who utter "Yes Sir, Yes Sir, three bags full". There is another category of people who supply "Goods and Services" to the politicians and superiors. They rule the roost, their word is law and they are a law unto themselves. There was also a rumour floating some years ago, that a high up took a lakh of rupees each from two Inspectors, to promote them to the rank of ASP. This was subsequently found to be true. Quite recently, a batch of officers were selected to go to America for an Advanced Course of Training on VIP security. Three aggrieved officers filed a fundamental rights application, resulting in the cancellation of the original selections. A fresh batch of officers were sent for this training. This is yet another example of haphazard selections, similar to the granting of promotions in similar fashion. Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights Leader has said,: "To put injustice right, it must be exposed". In this context, I wish to quote from Circular No. SE/B7/78 of 24.02.78, issued by the then Inspector General of Police Rudra Rajasingham, which goes thus: "Our duty by our subordinates must be kept in mind and they should not be made to suffer in their promotions for no fault of theirs". This would suffice as a guideline for future promotions boards. The promotions in the Police Department has a similarity to the game of "Snakes and Ladders". The latest addition to the series of episodes is reflected in a newspaper of 12.02.2002, which states that 34 Superintendents of Police promoted in the year 2000, have been demoted by a 3 Bench Judgement. It has further ordered the Bribery Commissioner to probe the conduct of the Inspector General of Police and Secretary Defence, in this connection. BANDULA SENEVIRATNE,
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