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• The Australian example
  
  
• Public awaits the judgement
  
  
• Overcharging of tourists

The Australian example

I felt compelled to respond to Prof. E.C. Kalpage's letter of (Jan. 9) regarding Australian attitudes. I found his racist tone objectionable. Of course, Australia was founded as a penal colony, but is today a vibrant, prosperous, and above all, generally peaceful multi-ethnic society. In urban Australia, people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds co-exist peacefully.

Of course, all is not perfect. Australian treatment of asylum seekers and Aborigines needs much improvement.

However, for the most part, theirs is a civilised and modern society, where racism is generally not acceptable. To rant against all Australians as "convicts" simply because their sportsmen play a tough game is unacceptable. As a Sri Lankan, I always found Australians of all colours to be generally helpful and considerate people, although, as in any society, there were odd exceptions.

We in Sri Lanka are just emerging from decades of war with a glimmer of hope for peace and prosperity on the horizon. We should be learning from the Australian example of tolerance of diversity and playing sport to win; not insulting them in this crude way, which is unbecoming of our own great heritage.

DILAEN PERERA-Colombo/London.

Public awaits the judgement

It's over a year since the Udatalawinna massacre and more than 3 months since the death at Sri Jayawardenepura University.

The public awaits eagerly for the satisfactory conclusion of these two cases as it affects the very root of democracy. The more the delay, the more the public feel that the UNF is incapable of handling the situation.

If and when these cases are concluded I sincerely hope those found guilty will be hanged as nothing short of it will satisfy the public.

The only way in which election violence of varsity & school violence which sadly is in the increase today can be curbed by enforcing the death penalty & seeing that it is carried-out without delay.

P.S. RODRIGO-Colombo 3.

Overcharging of tourists

I am writing to you as a foreign tourist who has spent a month in your lovely country.

I have really enjoyed my stay and have especially been impressed by the warmth and kindness shown by the Sri Lankan people.

There has only been one dark spot during my time here and that has been the policy to discriminate against foreign tourists and grossly overcharge them when entering certain attractions.

Perhaps it is the perception here that all foreign tourists are rich and can afford to pay inflated admission charges but I can tell you that we are not all rich and we have to struggle to save up enough money to come to Sri Lanka for a holiday.

By charging us Rs. 1650 to walk to "Worldsend" at Horton Plains or Rs. 1500 to visit Sigiriya when local people only pay a few rupees, we feel that we are being "ripped off" and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Tourism is now the biggest business in Sri Lanka, even ahead of tea and if you want to see it expand further then the Government must start a fairer pricing policy towards admission charges.

N. SCOTT (U.K). 

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