|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 27 January 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries
|
Please forward your letters to editor@dailynews.lk in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Proper strategy can only accelerate useful rehabilitation works The war clouds that enveloped our country for a long period has cleared now, and the country should march towards development. Many developed countries are willing to give their support to develop our country. The aids we receive and the resources available need to be utilised in the proper manner to accelerate the development progress. The success of this endeavour largely lies in the hands of the politicians and service minded government servants of the country. The corporation of all was very essential to achieve good results in this matter. Basic needs of the people need to be fulfilled to lead a normal life, service for the uplift of life of the suffering masses and downtrodden and making those affected by war to overcome their depression in life, need to be the main criteria in rehabilitation works. Those handicapped due to the effects of war and the refugees, those affected mentally and physically need special concern. Priority to give special consideration to appoint committees comprising of educated persons as members from each village and towns, would help to do a good work in this regard. We should keep in mind that only people who reside in the affected areas know much about the grievances of the public. This procedure would help arrest the wastage of public funds. Most of our roads, in the residential areas especially in the war-affected zones were in a dilapidated condition. The recent floods had done more damage to these roads. Hence improvement to roads in the residential areas is one of the things the authorities need to concentrate while effecting rehabilitation works. Service to humanity is service to god, we must not forget the creative thought of Tagore "is that god does not dwell in heaven but everywhere the man struggle to exist". K. SOMASKANDAMOORTHY-Kallady (E.P.) A matter of serious concern, is the impact of the use of Aluminium Cans on human health. Reliable studies indicate that a high proportion of people who have died of Alzheimer's Disease have unusual concentrations of Aluminium in their brain cells. True, Aluminium cans are coated with a lacquer on the inside, supposedly to protect the contents from contamination. The fact is that most soft drinks are simply a concoction of numerous synthetic and other chemicals, many of which may be toxic in high concentration as well as acidic in effect. There has been an enormous rise in the West in the use of aluminium cans for soft drinks, beer, etc and it may not be a mere coincidence there has been an equally enormous rise in the incidence of Alzheimer's. Some years 20 years or so ago, the fad was to use Aluminum cookware but happily it is now a thing of the past. There has been a switch to safer stainless steel utensils. Originally, cans, too, were made of steel or so-called "tinplate" but now a switch in reverse has taken place to Aluminium. MANSOOR GHOUSE-Rajagiriya. Our country has fast become the epitome of how not to do things and of topsy turvy actions. It has often been our experience that when a person suffers some injustice and complains to the authorities about it, he becomes the offender rather than the victim. He is hounded by the real offender and the authorities turn a blind eye to the continuing injustice of the situation. Sadly, this appears to have become an attitude as regard offences where the entire public is involved too. Take for instance the example of the businessman who came on TV and advocated seat belts for bus passengers so that they would not be inconvenienced by ruthless bus drivers - and this at a time when private bus drivers were being roundly criticised for their callousness. More recently, the Police (according to the DN of 2nd Jan 2003) are going to advise pedestrians to carry a yellow flag when they cross the road by using a pedestrian crossing "so that they could be spotted by motorists" who is causing the problem here the crossing pedestrian or the motorist who - (a) Horns when he sees a pedestrian about to cross using a pedestrian crossing (b) Drives at speed towards the crossing when the law states he must travel at a speed which would enable him to stop (c) Does not stop at the give way line to allow pedestrians to cross (d) Shows clearly from his action that he feels pedestrians are a nuisance. What have we done or are we doing to advise the motorist and to penalise him for his blatant violation of the regulations relating to pedestrian crossings. Are we not in a way penalising the 'victim' (the pedestrian) for the offence of the motorist? After all, at a pedestrian crossing in most law abiding countries, the pedestrian has the right of way. If he is knocked down and killed by a vehicle on a crossing, in most instances the fault is with the driver of the vehicle. So why don't we take the drivers to task? Why don't we educate them? Why don't we offer them rewards, if necessary, for observing the rules in order to change their behaviour? J. S. AMERESEKERE-Mt. Lavinia.
|
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
