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| Thursday, 19 February 2004 |
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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.
The 1978 Constitution is particularly party oriented and not at all purely people oriented. This Constitution decidedly denies the people of the privilege of electing their own party members to represent them in Parliament from their own electorates. This is an undemocratic act against the principle of the government of the people by the people for the people. Now that we are doing is to vote for individuals district-wise in order to elect them to represent their particular parities in Parliament. Another omission is now we do not hold by-elections if an MP for whatever reasons loses his seat. The party nominates the next in the list in his place. This, too, is a denial of the democratic right of the people. The present plight and the confusion compounded atmosphere we are now facing before the General Elections on April 02, 2004, is entirely due to the patchwork Constitution of 1978. Under the PR system of government, no single party could ever likely get a two thirds majority in Parliament. Let us go back in good faith to the pre-1978 Constitutions with necessary changes, alterations and amendments to meet the aspirations of the ethnic minorities: the Tamils and the Muslims to live on equal terms with honour and dignity. Also, let us make the people and the Parliament supreme by empowering it with all the executive and legislative powers, with the President being the ceremonial head of the government as before. Al Haj M. L. M. Jabir, Dehiwela I had the occasion to visit the Lionel Wendt theatre recently to watch a play. A vast majority of the theatregoers present that day appeared to belong to the educated and westernized upper echelons of Colombo society. Prior to the performance a courteous announcement was made requesting all patrons to switch off their mobile phones. This request was not adhered to instead the varied ring tones of mobile phones permeated the enthralling performance and caused annoyance amongst many people. I was most unfortunate to be seated next to a young woman who constantly used her mobile phone to send copious amounts of text messages during the performance. In addition to that behind me were three women who with callous disregard to the other patrons insisted on speaking quite loudly about their relationship to the various cast members. My theatre companion and I had no option but to turn around and politely stare at them in the earnest hope that they would get the hint and hush. Sadly it was of no avail. To add to our woes patrons were allowed to enter the theatre even more than half an hour after the play had commenced. This again ruined our evening, because people at various times entered the theatre disturbing our viewing. After the performance, which ran for nearly three hours, I was desperate to visit the toilet. What a surprise that was. One would think that the people who visited the toilet that evening were people who had never seen a western toilet before. This made me conclude that the appearances of some people belied their actions. It was filthy to say the least. There was waste on the floor, the toilet seat was wet and there was neither toilet roll nor even any paper to clean the seat. Given that the Lionel Wendt is one of Sri Lanka's oldest, finest and most popular theatres, it simply beggared belief that the toilets were left in such an appalling state. One would assume that the Wendt would have engaged the services of a toilet attendant to keep the toilets clean. It is not only locals that attend performances at the Wendt but expatriates and tourists too. Therefore, it is imperative that the Lionel Wendt should buck up and sort out the above issues and make theatre going a pleasureable experience rather than have their patrons suffer at the hands of some selfish and uncouth theatregoers. TINA EDWARD GUNAWARDHANA, United Kingdom Why waste money on election posters? Even before the political parties could select their candidates to contest the respective Parliamentary seats, posters of candidates started appearing in the city walls and the countryside. The Poster War will reach its peaks in the coming weeks up to the Election Day April 2, 2004. Millions of Rupees would be spent by candidates for printing coloured posters, banners, decorate the streets with paper, polyethylene plastic streamers, with Party colours for display. If I can remember Mr. Karu Jayasuriya and Mr. Susil Premajayantha once set an example by not putting up posters in an election campaign. The voter (King) would have by now decided to whom he should cast his/her vote on Election Day April 2, 2004, which opportunity he gets once in six years under our Constitution. Violence and thuggery with the underworld gangs may start with rival political party supporters, but who suffers most the innocent people and bystanders who go on their normal business are killed and maimed for life. Why waste all this money for printing coloured posters and for tamashas? Surely this money can be given to charity and to Elders' Homes, who solely depend on public donations to maintain Elders' Home for the sick and the destitutes and the poorest of the poor, and these inmates are not sure when the next meal will come. We have to learn from developed countries like England, Australia, Canada, France where elections are held regularly and no violence before and after the elections. The election day is another day, the people get on with their normal day to day work. F.A. Rodrigo-Sathianathen, Kelaniya |
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