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| Friday, 21 January 2005 |
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There is a famous quote 'Sri Lankan cell in hell needs no guards' because every time a Sri Lankan try to escape another Sri Lankan will pull his/her leg. I was shocked and saddened by the comments of Rajitha Senaratne and opposition leader about Tsunami relief effort and foreign aid. Why are these people trying to discourage Government from getting more aid? Why are they against mass development of the country with relief funds? I don't get it!. I have so much respect for Ranil Wickremesinghe but I am sorry sir, on this one I am not with you. Stop criticizing Lankan Government of its effort to get the maxium it can from the filthy rich world. If you criticize too much of how funds are being administrated and faults in the system it will only discourage donors and funds may go to other countries where donors think they can use their money more effectively. Someone needs to tell these politicians to keep their mouth shut for the greater interest of the country for at least 6 months until we get the maximum we can. Once we get the maximum into the country we can go back to political bickering! If I am the President of Sri Lanka I will employ a separate group of people just to call all the big American companies and other big companies around the globe to donate directly to Sri Lankan government instead of donating to Red Cross and other organisations as we have so much doubts about how much organisations like Red Cross will spend in Sri Lanka from massive $800 million collected so far. There is absolutely nothing wrong in exploiting Tsunami disaster! What the rich world is giving Sri Lanka is nothing, absolutely nothing... for cash rich companies it is only a penny's difference written off and also building a better corporate image. for rich Americans, it is a way of getting a tax refund. It is about time they give something to poor countries like Sri Lanka. It is about time they see how people in that part of the world live. For e.g.; What America has promised ($350 million) is only 0.01% of GDP in that country. Government needs to look at spending more on infrastructure while pushing NGOs to compensate and look after affected victims. I totally disagree with the opposition leader that Government should spend more on victims than on infrastructure projects. This is the stupidest thing Government can do, if the government starts concentrating and feeding victims there will not be a role for individual organizations, NGOs, private companies and foreign expats to play. Please don't forget majority of the people and companies donated their money through NGOs like Red Cross, Oxfam etc. Also don't forget people donated money with the intention of helping true Tsunami victims and not for programs like Aids victims in Africa etc. The government should push harder and harder on this point and get Red Cross to spend a substantial portion of the money on building houses, buying boats and feeding real Tsunami victims in Sri Lanka. Also government should do its utmost effort to get individual governments and foreign organizations to built and repair specific projects like schools, hospitals, bridges etc. in affected areas, while government should concentrate on bigger projects like highways,railways and town developments from the money they get officially from foreign governments, IMF and World Bank. If you look at history, after every major disaster countries have come out with a stronger and more developed outlook. This is our turn and the only opportunity god has given to make a difference. I pray and beg every patriotic citizen to stand up to these politicians to ask them to shut up for 6 months (at least). at the way it is going, these selfish idiotic politicians (I have no other way to describe these selfish politicians) may screw up the whole plan even before it starts 'The great Sri Lankan marshal plan'. What JVP, UNP and LTTE should do is to participate in this nation building program instead of criticizing everything. Leave aside your politics for at least for 12 months and participate in collecting money from the world and participate in nation building program! Think about your country first,future of your children first,before thinking about what is there for you first! - UPUL RANASOORIYA. Disaster, relief and reconstruction Moment the Tsunami disaster struck our coastal belt, there was spontaneous relief measures coming from our own people and from the world outside. Their magnanimous gesture at this moment of time is very much appreciated. But we must remember that these displaced people had to be looked after till they are able to get back to their normal life. Most of the people effected were engaged in the fishing industry and it will take some time for them to get back to fishing as all their boats and other fishing materials were lost or destroyed. Immediate relief is now over. Now it is time for everyone to think of what we can do as medium term relief and I would like to suggest the following measurers: All employees of government, private sector and other organisations very willingly contributed a day's salary towards the relief measures or funds, which is very much appreciated. I would like to suggest that everyone drawing a salary or a pension of more than Rs.20,000 a month to contribute a day's salary or a pension every month for the next one year to a recognized fund, so that it will help feed those who are in need till they are in a position to look after themselves. I would also request the government to get the services of those who are displaced and employable to work in the rebuilding of roads, bridges and houses and pay them a salary whereby they will have some dignity without treating them as refugees living on charity till such time that they can get back to their normal life. M.G. MENDIS - Ruins of tsunami for future generation We visit our ancient cities to witness history of kingdoms through ruins. The recent tsunami destroyed our coastal belt in minutes leaving ruins a war could do in years. Goverment has taken a wise decision not to allow construction or repairs some distance from the shore. As a result, all destroyed structures will remain as ruins for future generations telling the story of 2004 tsunami tragedy of Sri Lanka. K. U. PUSHPAKUMARA - It is very sad what had happened to our country Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. Massive international aid is pouring from all countries, leaders of all nations have arrived in our country to assess the damage caused by the tsunami tidal wave. While it will take years for the damage to the infrastructure and economy to be repaired, the immediate emergency in the South of the country appears to be little over and efforts should now focus on reconstruction, yet many more matters for better standard of living of the survivors have to be assisted by every citizen of the country, irrespective of religion, ethnic, political affiliations etc. The aid that is received must go direct to the people who are in pain and trauma after the tsunami tidal wave, under the supervision of the Government any person who divert this aid should be punished and remanded, whosoever they may be. The saddest of the tragedy is the child survivors, whose parents and relatives have perished in the tsunami. the Government will not be able to take the full responsibility of settling this problem, volunteer organisations should step in immediately to solve this urgent matter. I would like to suggest to the authorities to appoint a permanent committee to start a Foster Parent Scheme immediately with local and foreign sponsors to accept the responsibility to adopt a child or two until they reach 18 years of age. F. A. Rodrigo-Sathianathen - |
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