• 'Screaming' ice creams

• Sri Lanka's returning tourists

• 'Thamilchelvam proves himself the No. one liar'

• 'Warped symphony at the entrance to the Pooja city'

• Mattakkuliya canal needs dredging

• When Cardiologists clash

'Screaming' ice creams

Over the past several months many letters have been published in the newspapers concerning the unbearable noise pollution perpetrated by ice cream vendors and lottery ticket sellers. However, this menace goes on unabated, and regrettably, there does not seem to be any Authority to arrest this menace.

A couple of months ago I wrote to the respective CEOs of Ceylon Cold Stores and Cargills as these are the two main brands being sold by these vendors on bicycles. I presume these two companies have franchised the sales of their respective brands of ice cream and I suggested that they request their franchisees to restrict their sales to commercial areas, bus stands, railway stations, schools and such places and not disturb residential neighbourhoods.

We who live in such areas make our procurement, including ice cream, from the supermarkets and have refrigeration facilities too. Unfortunately, these two CEOs, are probably unaware of good manners and the courtesy of replying letters. I do not expected the CEOs themselves to reply to mere citizens such as myself. But surely, they must have either heard or learnt about good governance and corporate responsibility.

In most countries, companies are judged not only by their annual balance sheets but also how they contribute to the well-being of society, and eradication of pollution, noise or otherwise is of paramount importance.

The vendors who visit my neighbourhood daily, when people are resting or children studying, obviously do not have any business, as they are out very fast, but still they persist in polluting this area with their obnoxious music, instead of finding more lucrative outlets.

Unfortunately, we are helpless to report these matters as we do not know who is in charge. Perhaps the newspapers can do a service to society by highlighting this menace and inform the public to report this menace.

QUINTUS DE SILVA, Colombo 5
 

Sri Lanka's returning tourists

I am the father of Chris Armitage. We have been to Sri Lanka many times staying at the Riverina Hotel and we too were caught in the tsunami on Boxing day. The staff at the Hotel were really wonderful as they always have been. We wanted to return this year but because of certain events at home we were unable to do so.

Apart from the fact that my wife and I love your wonderful country and your people, one of the main things we enjoyed was the hotel atmosphere and the lovely staff.

Sadly my son tells me that things were so much different this year, there seemed to be half the staff doing twice as much work and the results were not a good service, atmosphere, or friendliness that was always there. We all understand that cost cutting is now a way of life in a competitive world but not to invest in correct training and attitude of staff is very short sighted and will lose Sri Lanka a lot of tourists.

Countries in the western world have seen an opportunity to recover tourists and are going all out to do so, special offers on the continent, America, Canada and many other places, making them seem very attractive which they are.

As difficult as it must be for your country now is really not the time to short change on tourism because once people get used to another place they will go there.

In conclusion may I wish every Sri Lankan and your lovely country all our best wishes for a speedy recovery and a happy contented and a financially secure future.

RAY ARMITAGE, via email

'Thamilchelvam proves himself the No. one liar'

The letter published on Jan. 17 regarding the above is a very angry one. Now the shoe is on the other foot hence the anger and frustration. Over couple of years, SL Government was playing fire with blaming everything in the East on Karuna faction and even a child in Sri Lanka knew who was behind it.

The LTTE was taking all lying down for over a long period. Now the army/Govt. is reaping what it sowed. The reality is everyone knows that all attacks on forces are by LTTE or LTTE-supported and the attack on civilians by the forces or their accomplices. But the interesting thing is all these happen in the so-called Govt. controlled areas.

So as far as the SLMM is concerned it becomes a civil problem, to be solved by police and most of the attacks on forces also after LTTE retracted their political people from the area (after they lost a lot of them).

I leave it to your readers (if you publish this letter) to judge what is the cowardly act.

JEYA, Singapore

'Warped symphony at the entrance to the Pooja city'

With reference to above thought-provoking article by Padma Edirisinghe (Daily News January 10) I, wish to draw attention to the query raised by her as to whether any action cannot be taken against those who deformed the very popular song, 'Tikiri Menike ambula genalla' to 'Tikiri Menike sausage genalla', a defacement solely done with commercial objectives ie. to increase sausage sales.

There is certainly an act against such distortions which is Act No. 36 of 2003. (Copyright Act. Section 10 reads as follows.)

Moral Rights 10

1. The author of a work shall independently of his economic rights and even where he is no longer the owner, the owner of those economic rights, have the following rights:-

(a) to have his name indicated prominently on the copies and in connection with any public use of his work, as far as practicable;

(b) the right to use a pseudonym and not have his name indicated on the copies and in connection with any public use of his work;

(c) to object to any distortion, mutilation or other modification of, or other derogatory action in relation to, his work which would be prejudicial to his honour or reputation.

BOBBY G. BOTEJU, Secretary, Sri Lanka Performing Rights Society Ltd.
 

Mattakkuliya canal needs dredging

Right now the Sri Wickrema Mawatha, Mattakkuliya, derelict Dutch Canal (opposite the Sr. Mary's Service Station) needs a complete cleaning, dredging and clearing of water hycinth, tall grass and decayed organic matter carpeting fully the entire canal.

It is seen that this stagnated canal is a convenient water pocket for rain and waste water from the network of nearby drains to the catchment Kelani river. But, due to many obstructions to its flow the waste water is not meandering its way to the nearby Kelani river.

If no action is taken to clean this canal and thus make the flow of waste water accessible to the Kelani river, a good part of Mattakkuliya North (including the Summit Pura and all other localities) will get inundated when the canal overflows its bank causing widespread consequences to the people and their dwellings during period of incessent monsoon rain or floods. Notably, there is no satisfaction to anyone passing this loathing and eye-sore canal.

Under serious consequences facing the people both rich and poor, the Colombo Municipal Council, Environment and Natural Resources, Urban Development, Land Reclaimation and Development Authorities should pool their heads and resources to clean the canal not once, but on a schedule basis when required. Whoever responsible, should not lapse into a sense of calmness over cleaning and come out with an excuse - 'we have no funds'.

Incidentally, environmental issues and pollution control command both local and worldwide attention today. But, what is our responsible authorities doing on this concerned matter is a common question asked by most people residing in the locality. In addition, it is a joke to hear politicians on election podium charming the people 'we are for the masses'. Here, a basic healthier environment is ignored.

H. L. D. E. Perera, Mattakkuliya
 

When Cardiologists clash

Laymen are at a loss to understand whose instructions they should follow when highly recognized Cardiologists express conflicting opinions on the same subjects.

A well known cardiologist who has retired from Government service writes to the newspapers regularly giving very useful information to cardiac patients as well as healthy people with useful advise to avoid heart ailments. There is also a booklet published by a very senior cardiologist who is still in Government service giving similar instructions.

However, the comments made by these two eminent men on common food items such as coconut oil, shell fish, nuts, avacardo pears, etc. are contradictory.

It is quite natural for this type of conflicting opinion to cause severe confusion in the minds of laymen. I think these two good doctors should sit together with their other colleagues and thrash this out in depth and express a single opinion and make it public as an authoritative statement to relieve the public of their confused state of mind.

AP, Kottawa